"He is so handsome," Jessica said to her best friend Unice as they sat on the sidewalk in front of her house, resting a bit after their morning run.
"I am sure you are not kidding," Unice replied. Jessica had talked so much about Stephen that she already knew who the 'he' was that she was talking about.
"I mean, he is just so good looking and smart to boot, he passed his bar exam just like my dad," Jessica continued, "I can not wait to pass the civil service interview so I can show him that I am smart too and deserve to be with someone like him."
Unice was so tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. She had reached her limit and she did not care if she hurt Jessica with her next words.
"Do not get your hopes up, I do not even think you'll pass the interview. Maybe it was just a mistake that you got through the first stage. Maybe there was a mistake in the intake or something."
"Are you saying I cheated or what?" asked Jessica, feeling violated. How could someone she considered a friend say such hurtful words? Are friends not supposed to support each other?
"It would not be the first time in this country, but I am just saying that it could be a mistake, so do not be too sure you'll pass the test this time," Unice replied.
"How can you be so cruel? You are my best friend after all and should wish me well and encourage me." Jessica said on the verge of tears.
"I am sorry to have to tell you this, but things have changed. For weeks you have not talked about anything else, it's always been about Stephen, Stephen this. I am tired of hearing that. Oh! If you want to pass the interview and get a job and then get married before me, I am sorry, because that's not going to happen. You will never be there before me. I will always be the master of you. You will always remain in my shadow. The sooner you realise that, the better for you," Unice finished.
By this time, tears were welling up in Jessica's eyes. "All right, I will prove to you that I will pass the interview. I am going to make it into government service and I am also going to tell Stephen about my feelings for him," Jessica stood up from the sidewalk, "and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"We will see about that," Unice said brutally.
_ _ _
Kylie could not believe that she was really doing this, leaving everything she knew behind to take on a new challenge.
She had left her apartment, her old job, and even her boyfriend Christian behind. She was already estranged from her father and there was no other relative that she knew of.
She was searching for something. Something that was out of her reach. Something she felt she could reach if she just stretched out her hands. But she did not even know what that 'something' was.
That's why she had been on fire the moment Jessica had told her about the role. She was ready for an adventure.
Kylie rolled her luggage forward as she stepped to the side of the road, trying to see her cousin Jessica, who was picking her up from the airport. Long-distance travel always made her tired and exhausted, and being in a place as big as New York without knowing her way around bothered her.
"Where are you? I thought you were going to pick me up at the airport," Kylie said into her phone. She had been waiting outside for Jessica for several minutes.
She was in a bad mood anyway, and now all she wanted to do was take a bath and sleep for hours.
"Oh! Oh! I am so sorry, Kylie," Jessica answered the phone. "There has been a delay and it will be some time before we get to the airport. You might just sit down in the lounge with a cup of hot chocolate. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Kylie just sighed. This was getting better and better. She turned and walked back into the airport, which was still swarming with people either waiting for someone to pick them up or waiting for the next flight.
She took out some money and bought a cup of hot chocolate as suggested. She also grabbed a magazine and started flipping through it.
When she looked at the clock again, she saw that thirty minutes had already passed. "Where is Jessica?" she asked herself, "Where could she be?"
"Hey Kylie, wake up."
"Yes?" said Kylie, as she awoke exhausted from her slumber. She had not even noticed that she had dozed off while flipping through the magazine. Jessica had taken longer than she had expected. "Jessica?"
"Yes, it's me," Jessica replied.
"Oh my goodness! It's been forever since we last saw each other," Kylie squealed with delight.
"Yes, I am so sorry you had to wait, something came up and the traffic jam was hell," Jessica apologized.
"That's all right. All I need now is to have a hot bath and then at least a week's sleep."
Jessica laughed. "I understand the feeling. I am really sorry," Jessica apologized again.
She grabbed Kylie's luggage and led her out of the airport. Jessica drove to the apartment where Kylie would be staying while they talked about other things.
"I took the liberty of getting a few things ready for you, and dinner is in the microwave, so get settled in and then.
I'll come by tomorrow to pick you up." Jessica said to her as she reached her room.
"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow," Kylie said. Finally, she could rest now.
She unpacked her bag and put her clothes in the closet. She took a bath, just as she had wanted, and then laid down in bed, which was really comfortable and fluffy. She remembered that she had promised to call Christian as soon as she got settled, and now was a good time to do it. With that in mind, she pulled out her phone and dialled his number.
"Hello," he answered after the first ring.
"Hey, it's me. Kylie."
"Oh! I am really glad to hear from you.
Thank goodness your flight went well. I hope you have settled in well and comfortably?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you for asking," Kylie replied politely.
Suddenly he said quite seriously, "But you know, I still do not know why you had to move so far away when you could have stayed here with me. I do not understand what you are looking for so far away."
"I have already explained everything to you; it is only for the duration of this film. I just needed a break from New Hampshire and my life in general. It's not like it's forever, I just want to expand my horizons and try some new things."
"And what about me? What about us?" Christian asked sullenly.
"I just need to clear my head and know if this relationship is really right for me. Let us just take a break from each other and see how it goes," Kylie replied firmly. "I am doing this for myself. I need to discover myself and know what path I want to take."
"Good, then I will respect your wishes. I'll talk to you later," Christian said, breaking the connection.
Kylie heaved a sigh of relief. That had gone better than she had expected. At least she had kept her promise and could now rest.