Moment: Lost in the Past

Chapter 6

I sleep that night only to be woken up by Irene looking so really worried while shaking my shoulders.

“Izzy, are you okay? You’re having a nightmare.”

I am gasping for air and am breathing heavily as beads after beads of sweat drip from my forehead. Irene is constantly running her hand up and down my back to soothe me.

“Here, have some water.” I bring the bottle to my mouth and gulp the water down.

“Thanks.” I mutter. “I’m sorry I have woken you up.”

She shakes her head. “It’s okay. I was barely asleep anyway.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s quarter to 4. Are you okay?”

“I am now. Thanks again.”

“No problem.” She retreats back to her bed while I get my phone and put my glasses on, and went out. I need to call Andie.

“Hey, Izz. What’s up? Are you okay?” I hear her yawns very clearly.

“My nightmares are back.”

She gasped and there was a moment of silence between us. I’ve had this problem for few years now and I thought it already ended. Somehow, it comes back every now and then and sleeping pills are all but my relief.

“Something is troubling you, isn’t it?”

“No. Nothing’s been troubling me Andie.”

“You know, even on the phone, you are still a terrible liar.”

“It’s just that, my interview is today and I think I am pressured.” I lie.

“Relax, okay? You got this. Just be yourself. They are already impressed as it is because of your records and all. They’ll be more amazed if they would really meet you in person.” Yet, my lie seemed to be convincing.

“Okay. I’ll try.”

“Cheer up, Baby Girl, okay? Don’t worry yourself or else your nightmares will always come back over and over again.”

“Okay, Andie. Thanks.”

“Okay. Call me again as soon as your interview is done, alright? Aunt Heather’s been anxious too, you know?”

“Really?” Excitement is evident in my voice at the thought of my mom worrying about me. Maybe she still cares, after all.

“Of course, she is. It’s what you’ve been dreaming too when Uncle Vince was still alive, right?”

“Yes. It is. Listen, I have to go, okay? I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye, Izz.”

“Bye, Andie.”

I didn’t lie back on my bed after that. Somehow, I feel a little scared. But I spent extra time at the shower that it was already in broad daylight after I am done.

“Someone’s got a package.” Irene teases with wiggles of her eyebrows.

“From whom?”

“From Luke, of course.”

“What?!” Okay, I said that mentally. I am blushing and my breath is fogging up my glasses as I take the note and read it.

“You got this. Good luck” and a smiley face as a signature. Real smooth, Fluke. Real smooth. Anyways, it was just a bag of cheese-flavored kettle corn. This is my favorite and could it be coincidental that he knows this?

I glance at Irene who gives me a knowing smile. She told me he came by our room and check on Irene before he asked her to put it on my bed. Turns out he is never late in his classes, especially if it is as early as 7 am. But, it’s just 6:30.

My class starts at 8 next is 20, but I can be absent. It’s only minor subjects anyway. My interview is at 9. I still have time to grab something to eat and head to the Lab.

By 7:10, I am already dressed in pink blouse and black skinny jeans with my black Van’s of course. I am also wearing corporate blazers just so I look quite formal.

Irene insisted I should add on some colors on my face and then I would be more presentable. So I let her take over. She braided my hair simply on my side and curled the stray ones. Lose locks hang by my cheeks framing my face. She lines my eyes and hell, they were more enhanced even behind my glasses. She said I won’t be needing blush because I already have a natural flush on my cheeks. Lastly, she swiped a very thin layer of very faint pink lipstick on my lips and she said, “Voila!” I must admit, the woman is a fairy god-mother. I am still me but I feel…confident. Maybe beautiful, even. And she’s only done it for thirty minutes. She also tells me I should wear ballet flats instead of my Van’s and I wouldn’t wear heels. I oblige with protest of course.

I thank her and she basically throws me out of our room and she wishes me luck. I didn’t get the chance to stop by Starbucks for I will be running late already. The Lab is a 30 minute drive from the campus, traffic excluded. There was quite traffic though, because it’s the first day of school and additional swarm of people was added to what already existed.

When I arrive at the building, it never fails to amaze me all the time. From outside, it looks like a simple establishment, but once you are inside, you will be welcomed by the most advance of all technologies when it comes to science. Oh, God. I can’t wait to work here!

I inquire at the front desk and the very friendly receptionist told me to head straight to the 5th floor for my interview. I thank her and find my way to the elevator where I get to ride with Mr. McDonald’s guy. And we both shared smiles. Man, he is a man of few words.

The top floor was all neat and grand and I am surprised to see also 3 college-looking people there. The girls, a red-hair named Jessica and a brunette named Amanda are both Biology majors and the guy whose name is Philip is a botanist having his Master’s degree at WSU. They are also interns here and I am glad that I am not the only one.

My name is called first and I enter the large office. The owner, as I have guessed it, identified himself as Mr. James Harris, and he has British accent. I was asked about what I can do for the company, and what I would want in the future after I graduate.

I told him I am really in to science and I want to help the earth by creating organic products. In addition to that, I told him I want to see myself as someone who tries harder again each time my first procedure doesn’t work. It’s a metaphor, and I know he gets my point.

He also asked why I applied for their internship program when in fact I could have make it to an Ivy League school, and have better internship at a bigger company.

I told him I don’t have to settle for a better company because wherever you will put me, I will always perform to my best interests and it doesn’t matter where it is. If I am brilliant just as they say I am, I will always come out on top and I don’t need a fancy Ivy League school to tell me where to fit in, and where not to. Especially where I can and can’t work.

I must have impressed him by my speech for he hasn’t asked for any further questions. He told me they could really use someone like me and we talked about my benefits. I’d get a weekly allowance of 750 dollars and insurance if given that any accident would happen to me like burning a sodium chloride-dihydrogen oxide solution. I will be working 8-hours a day, Thursday through Saturday, and I will be additionally paid for over time. My classes are already credited for those two days since Schrödinger’s is in partnership of WSU regarding their pharmaceutical, biological, chemical and other scientific needs. An apartment will be provided for me in a building where all their interns live, all bills covered. He also promises a full-time laboratory working experience, hands-on and all.

It’s all too much to take and I am literally jumping up and down for joy. Mr. Harris laughed together with me and he says we are all worth it. And by we, I mean all interns. He shakes my hand and I am grinning like an idiot. He says I can start the sooner the better, and then summons someone named Ashton to give me a tour around the building and I thank him profusely.

Oh my God. I am so not regretting and dumping and take this opportunity of a life time for granted. I am so excited and I can’t wait to tell Andie about this.