Clueless | DAERIN

epilogue 2

h a e r i n
—

Seven Years Later...

"We'll keep in contact," a woman who appears to be in her early fifties informs me with a bright smile.

I politely return her smile as we both rise from our seats.

The woman is quick to hold out her hand for me to shake, which I do before swiftly exiting her office.

I have been crazy busy with job interviews these last couple of weeks.

I recently graduated from college with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration.

In total, I have done six years of college.

I cannot express how happy I am to finally be done with school in general.

My mother suggested that I pursue these degrees so that I would at least be qualified to get a job at our family business if all else doesn't work out the way I hope it does.

Speaking of the family business, Hanni has done an incredible job running the place—at least from what I have seen. She never allows me to be in there for more than a few minutes for "security purposes." Honestly, I don't understand half of the nonsense that comes out of her mouth.

—

"Babe, I'm home!" I yell as I shut the door behind me.

I do not immediately get a response, which makes me frown, but I just brush it off. I hang my jacket on the hook by the door and slide my snow boots off before making my way towards the kitchen.

Dani and I have been living in the cabin for a few years now.

My mother was kind enough to rent it out to us until we decide to get our own apartment.

Before Dani and I even moved into the cabin, I made sure to buy a brand-new bed.

What?

There is no telling how many people have slept on that thing.

Or done other things on it...

Okay, now I'm grossing myself out.

It does not take me long to enter the kitchen, where I soon find my girlfriend angrily pacing.

"What do you mean I have to go in today?!" the light blue-haired girl yells into her cellphone.

Ah, there's my firecracker! She still has the hidden rainbow in her hair, but she dyed the previously silver-ish section of her hair a light blue.

She says it's because she is in a new stage of life.

Dani works at a fashion studio. She loves her job but hates her hours. At first, she asked for flexible hours, which they took for granted. When she confronted them about it, they said they were "unable to fulfill her request."

Her hours vary from four in the morning to eleven-thirty at night.

The only reason she hasn't quit is because of the pay. She gets paid fifteen to thirty-five dollars an hour.

I silently enter the kitchen, but she is too distracted yelling at her coworker to notice me.

"I've been home for a total of five hours! I deserve a break!" she yells.

I am quick to wrap my arms around her waist, which momentarily shocks her.

It takes her a few moments before she leans back against my chest, still tense with anger and frustration. I place a small peck on the back of her neck, which causes her to elicit a labored breath of air.