My Last And My Only

Chapter 128: The Waiting Game

The first morning after sending her application, Aiah woke up before her alarm.

She reached for her phone almost immediately.

Gmail.

Inbox.

Nothing.

She stared at the empty screen for a few more seconds before letting out a disappointed sigh.

"...Right."

Companies didn't hire people overnight.

She knew that.

Her heart just hadn't caught up yet.

The house was unusually quiet.

Ivy had already left for work, leaving behind a note on the refrigerator.

Don't forget to eat. Don't stare at your inbox all day. – Ivy

Aiah smiled.

"Too late."

She had already checked it three times.

By noon, she had refreshed her inbox twelve times.

At one o'clock, Gwen called.

"You checked again, didn't you?"

"...Maybe."

"Aiah."

"I was just making sure."

"You checked ten minutes ago."

"...How do you know?"

"Because you messaged me ten minutes ago saying, 'Still nothing.'"

"...Oh."

Gwen laughed.

"They're companies, not your friends. They don't reply instantly."

"I know."

"So what are you doing today?"

"...Waiting."

"No."

"I'm—"

"No."

Gwen interrupted before Aiah could finish.

"Open your laptop."

"I don't want to."

"Open it."

Aiah sighed dramatically.

"It's open."

"Good."

"Now send another application."

"...You're mean."

"I'm practical."

By the end of the afternoon, Aiah had submitted two more applications.

Each click felt a little less terrifying than the first.

She was beginning to understand something.

Waiting didn't mean stopping.

Saturday arrived with its usual routine.

Mezzo.

The café was lively with students escaping the afternoon heat, the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the air.

Christine was already there, waving enthusiastically.

"We ordered without you!"

"...Should I be worried?"