Chapter 5 It All Started With Excitement Ii

• What should she do? Should she arrange to meet him and talk things through? Or should she leave it as it was and wait for the inevitable day when he officially ended things with her?
• Over the past two days, it felt like she started coming to terms with the situation. Part of that acceptance stemmed from seeing her zombie-like face in the mirror. It finally hit her that crying and wallowing in sadness was only making things worse.
• The morning air was bright and clear, with no sign of impending rain-a perfect day for a fresh start. Ladapha stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her outfit for her job interview. She had carefully chosen a new set of clothes for the occasion, ensuring she looked polished and professional. After double checking her documents, she gave herself one last glance in the mirror, grabbed her bag, and headed downstairs.
• "You're up already?" Tharatchanan asked, her voice laced with mild surprise as she watched her sister walk into the kitchen for breakfast. She hadn't expected Ladapha to be up so early, let alone dressed so formally. It wasn't every day that Ladapha looked this put together.
• "Where are you headed?" Tharatchanan added, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
• "Job interview," Ladapha replied with an excited smile, her voice tinged with nervous energy as though it were her first job opportunity.
• "They already called you?"
• Ladapha nodded enthusiastically and took a seat at the table, her eyes lighting up as she began eating the breakfast in front of her.
• "I'll be heading out to meet a client today," Tharatchanan said, setting her utensils down. "Want me to drop you off at the company on my way?"
• "Well, of course!" Ladapha grinned cheekily, taking another bite. "I'm not about to take the bus and risk messing up my hair!"
• Tharatchanan chuckled softly, her sister's humor momentarily lifting the weight in the room. She glanced at Ladapha again, noticing her radiant confidence and energy. It was refreshing, but deep down, Tharatchanan couldn't help but worry.
• "Have you come to terms with it yet?" Ladapha asked gently, her tone serious now. "About him"
• Tharatchanan paused, her smile faltering for a brief second before she nodded. "Yeah," she whispered, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her voice wavered as she added, "Let's just go. It's getting late, and the traffic will be terrible."
• Without another word, she stood, grabbed her plate, and headed to the kitchen. Once out of sight, Tharatchanan let herself pause and take a deep breath. Her mind churned with indecision. Should she meet with Art and confront him? Or should she take the easier route and simply send him a message to end things?
• Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her phone and composed a quick text message:
• Art, Are you free after work today? I need to talk to you about something.
• After sending the message, she turned back to see Ladapha watching her quietly from the doorway. Ladapha's concern was evident, but she didn't press further. Instead she smiled reassuringly.
• "Let's go," Ladapha said, grabbing her bag and heading toward the door.
• Tharatchanan simply nodded, following her sister out of the house. Ladapha locked the door behind them, and within moments, they were in the car, heading into a day full of possibilities, decisions, and, hopefully, closure.
• She *had* to pass this interview.
• Ladapha repeated that mantra in her head as she glanced around the waiting area. Other candidates sat quietly, their faces a mix of confidence and anxiety, waiting for their turn according to the queue numbers they held. Her nerves were on edge-her body tense, her hands icy and trembling despite her best efforts to steady herself.
• Although this wasn't her first job interview, this opportunity felt monumental. The company was a renowned producer and exporter of ready-made food products, with an impressive reputation both domestically and internationally. The position came with excellent salary and benefits, making it the kind of job many could only dream of. Naturally, she was anxious.
• Nearly two hours passed as Ladapha waited. One by one, candidates entered the interview room and emerged, some looking confident while others appeared visibly shaken. She took a deep breath, glancing down at her chilled hands to ground herself. When her name was finally called, she stood up quickly, forcing her legs to steady beneath her, and walked into the room.
• The interview was grueling. By the time it was over, Ladapha felt drained, both mentally and physically. The intense questioning and discussion had pushed her to her limits, and she had to muster all her composure just to get through it.
• She left the interview room with a heavy heart, her energy depleted. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had fumbled and ruined her chances.
• Inside the bathroom, Ladapha leaned against the door, her documents and bag resting on a nearby counter. Her face was forlorn, her mind replaying the interview questions and her own responses repeatedly.
• "I've definitely blown it," she thought, exhaling as she pressed her back against the door. She rubbed her hands over her face, trying to shake off the lingering nervousness that left her body trembling.
• Suddenly, she heard the low, unmistakable sound of a man's voice. Her ears perked up, and she froze, her heart sinking as a horrifying realization began to dawn on her.
• Did I... Did I accidentally walk into the men's bathroom?
• "Wanna grab some drinks tonight? I've got a blind date lined up with some girls," a man said casually, his voice carrying from somewhere nearby.
• Her face turned pale, and panic set in.
• *Oh no! Not again!
• Ladapha felt like sinking into the ground.