a's

dozens of interviews and countless verbal engagements in the past, and I

evere need of water. I hold the phone hard in both hands. "Yes. I'll b

ir across from me. She took up a chip and tossed it int

re concluding the chat. When the call ended,

sting the chair towards me in a perfect b

le times to demonstrate my ease. In addition, I've been catching up on Korean dramas. I

n the counter. "And you didn't sleep for five da

rson who complains when some

gles rather than squares." Squares are for losers,

at shape

damn

Patric

her brows and gave me

makes me Sp

there are snacks we can eat," she sang

e'll have more fun if we go out instead of sitting around doing nothing. "Let's go explo

ey, you found my long-lost cheese!" She

microwave dings as I push open the microwave, "cheese and-" "Chips!" sh

nd forever!" she screamed as we

Broadway doesn't want you, and I don't want you

pstairs. My hands were on fire, and I was cursing myself for being so dumb. I quickly threw down th

my hands. Lilly lifts herself up and approaches me, hold

s to be rej

s."

hat indicates I can't deal w

y thumbs together. "I...I think I'm going to go

ituation. She finally stopped after my embarrassing drunken night on the streets. That night, I wailed in her arms, begging he

can stay he

my ear. "I've had enough of your kindness, Li. I should know where to dr

embracing me hard. "Believe me, your paren

oint them." I inhaled deeply through my congested nose. "They

. I have nothing but my silly pride, yet pride does not

ole year without your family or that

y weight on my

ing water from my face. "There's a reason I'm you

Can you m

inst her sternum. "Is this a

o you intend

one con

tha

d...you let me cook

on't you mean I shou

ways cooking."

first one." You may no

y n

might as well retrieve the $5 note fro

five-dollar bill un

mergen

world can you purchas

dashes into my bedroom to steal my five dollars. I had

. It was finally the day of my interview. I t

this," Lil

o this!"

it!" she y

same. We were both clutching our fists, arching our

irs neighbor has decided to greet us on

abs our broom and knocks it against the ceilin

are

view!" She decides to inform

r you." I muttere

other girl receive

s for your loving support, Mr.Orien!" I'm sure he picks up on my sar

ll me by one of the many names he has given me. "Oh,

the fact that he had called he

d teach her how to dance a

be t

ks, L

and tossing it into the corner. "What? I'm paid over $40 per hour t

olled herself. Her parents want her to study business, work for the firm, or become a doctor. There is also a third al

parents pay, so she accepts tiny engagements and lowers her standard of living. Lilly is meant to reside in a m

rn with two left fee

an descent. Dancing sh

s being dark-skinned means you can pop it and lock it. I can

't help but exhale in envy at her

r her waist-in the most non-sexual way, if that's po

t your

into my mouth as if she were sparing someone. "If y

munching on my lu

t the job,"

I ran out of toilet paper this morning and had to-. Let's not go there. "

e my heels. "I want the fancy kind of

ensive instant noodles." I'll even toss in some eggs just for

adn't brought a hair tie. "Always there when I don't need you, but when I do, you vanish

urned around. "Another interview

thought you were on

ow the permanent drive

g to an open seat. Lisa is standing in the bus's corner, holding Marisa.

s me; it wasn't as lively as whe

t next to her. I place my hand on her arm,

ght. Allergies." I could see she was lying, but I felt it was improper to question her ab

view,

rock bottom, there's

," she says quietly. I tilted my head at her. "When you hit rock bot

isa, I

upt halt on the brakes. Everyone thrashes forward and backward, gr

baby?" Lisa asked,

h someone will spring out and slap me in the face? Maybe Lisa is asking me to watch her baby so she can go to the police station and re

hoved her infant into my arms and stomped out of the bus before I could respond. "Wait! You forgot about your child!" I

ain. "What are you up to, Bob?" "Didn

he wipes sweat from his brow. I

the baby if something went wr

she had somethin

across the metal surface as I leaned back, watchi

e. She claps her hands and laughs again when it pops. "Your mother probably

b turns around, saying, "Vera,

don't do it." I know what I'm about to do is stup

so there isn't time to go to the police station. I took up the infant carrier