The Moonlight Lilac Chapter 12: 2 - THE ONE WITH THE INTERVIEW 1.1

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**CHAPTER 2 – THE ONE WITH THE INTERVIEW 1.1**

But because I was already at ease with her and I had nothing to lose if I answered her question, I smiled at her, thinking of Mykel.

*My sweet, Mykel.*

"I have a boyfriend. We've been together for 6 years now but I've known him since high school. He's actually my best friend first before becoming my boyfriend. And he's also my first boyfriend."

Dahlia was shocked by my answer and blushed with a smile. I'm really done with this. We're really close.

"He's a very lucky guy. I'm sure you're proud of that. You're still beautiful, and you're still very polite as a child." She said that if you were to compliment me, you'd think I'd known him for 10 years.

Hahaha I love Dahlia. His intimidating look is just armor. The real her is a soft, mother-like figure. I get it, we all need to wear armor sometimes.

"He's a very sweet guy. And he's not the only one who's lucky. I'm also lucky that he's my boyfriend. He's a very good looking man and also, he's a very intelligent one. In fact, in his work, he's one of the most highly regarded by everyone. He's really good at solving cases."

He really is. That's one of his talents. He's good at deduction. Every little detail is important to him. He told me once, every time evidence is left behind in a crime, he imagines what happened. Like he can see vivid images on how it occurred.

He and his team are just having a bit of a hard time with the Moonlight lilac case. Mykel said that whoever the killer is, he or she is very smart.

"Solving cases? Is that his job? Is he a police man or an investigator?" asked Dahlia.

"Yes, sir. He's a detective."

"Ohhhh. That's amazing. A detective and an educator. What a combination. Nako, I think your future children will be smart."

Dahlia and I both laughed at what he said. Why do people think so far ahead? I love Mykel, but I could never imagine myself having a child. Maybe soon, but not yet. This interviewer is so much of an idiot.

Suddenly, the light mood inside the room changed. In a quick snap, Dahlia's reaction changed. She was suddenly surprised and her eyes filled with defeat. All that happened when the call ended. While Dahlia and I were laughing, her boss suddenly hung up.

I don't like Dahlia's expression. Did I do something wrong?

"Is everything okay, Dahlia?" I asked.

She turned his gaze to me and slowly smiled.

"We've been talking for almost an hour, Ms. Parker. I think it's time to end the interview. It was really nice talking to you." she said at the same time and we shook hands. I immediately stood up and shook her hand.

Please tell me I didn't say anything stupid. Why does she didn’t end the call properly? Why do I feel like, from positive, my interview results suddenly slipped?

When we left Dahlia's interview room, I immediately looked at the red door. There it was again. I guess that was bad luck.

"Ms. Parker?"

I turned to Dahlia, who was now holding her phone and seemed to be reading something.

"Yes?"

Is she reading the results? Will their young lady decide that?

"Ms. Parker. Please wait on the first floor. I'll be with you in a few minutes and I'll be sharing the result of our conversation."

Suddenly my heart started beating faster. She didn't tell me to go home because you're a failure. You're such a chatterbox.

Dahlia helped me with one of the maids to the elevator to go down to the first floor. I'm really really worried because Dahlia's expression is really different. Now, I don't feel comfortable and prolonging the agony is making it worst. I feel like I'm being fucked.

Before the elevator door closed completely, I saw Dahlia approach the room with the red door. She knocked twice and it opened as she entered.

Whattttt??? I thought that was a prohibited area?? Is that why she didn't take me with her??

And then I remembered something that Dahlia said earlier. No one's allowed to go in there, unless she asks you too.

After a few minutes of being stunned, I finally realized...

Her…

Young lady…

Oldest child…

Fuck? Don't tell me, all this time, the heir to Arentsvelt was behind that red door?! The one who slammed the door on me earlier?!

"Y-young lady? R-red door?" I stammered and asked the maid next to me. She seemed to be immediately intrigued by my reaction, but she also replied with...

"Yes. That's the young lady's room."

Shit.

* * * * *

"Ms. Parker?"

I quickly stood up from my seat when I heard Dahlia's voice again. I immediately dropped the fork I was holding.

I'm here now on the veranda of the mansion. The maid I was with earlier made me wait there. I must have been sitting here for about 30 minutes, eating cake. When the maid asked me earlier what I wanted, of course I immediately answered cake.

She was so kind and gave me two slices. I finished one and halved the other. This cake is addictive.

I quickly took my mind off the food. It felt like there was a literal joy in the taste of the cake, but all that joy quickly disappeared and I was overcome with nervousness when Dahlia arrived again.

"Hi again." I said and she answered that with a weak smile.

That smile...I have a feeling it means something bad.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. My boss and I talked for a while, so I won't make it any longer and let's talk about your interview."

I followed him as he started walking. We were now walking together slowly along the wide and long veranda of the mansion. There was no one else around so the feeling was even more tense.

Based on Dahlia's actions and the way she suddenly cut off the interview earlier, there's a part of me that already knows the result of my interview. But of course, I'm trying to put that out of my mind. 

Wow! During that long interview, what are they just going to tease me about?

"Skylar, can I call you Skylar?" Dahlia began.

"Just Sky."

"Alright. To tell you honestly, Sky, personally, I really really like you. You have this special type of humor in you, you're intelligent, polite, and most of all, I can say that you genuinely love teaching. It's not just that you're here for the pay. You're here because you love what you're doing." she stated.

Hmmm, maybe Dahlia has a crush on me? She really likes you. This is the first time I've experienced an interviewer who is this close and comfortable with me.

No, just kidding.

"Thank you." That was all I could answer her.

"You know, you're not the first person to try to apply for this position. I've interviewed many others, but you're the one I felt most comfortable with. Before we started looking for an applicant, my boss gave me one piece of advice: look for someone who will not only be a teacher to the children, but also treat them like family. Someone who can treat them as siblings. Those two are so sweet. They have their own flaws, but they're so easy to love." She said while I quietly listened to him.

I'm still nervous because I don't know if I passed or not. Dahlia is giving mixed signals.

"However, these two kids are very sensitive." she continued to shake her head.

"That's the biggest challenge for this role. Their two personalities are a bit different. AM and PM are very sweet, but if you make a mistake that hurts their feelings, they will both find a way to make you leave voluntarily. Believe me, they have been tutors to many people who didn't last long."

Well, almost all of my students are equally sensitive. I think all kids are. Most of them are sweet and lovable until you hurt their feelings. Children are very quick to hurt. They should always be handled with extra care. I'm not new to students who sulk and tell me to leave or that they don't like me.

But of course, you have to be broad-minded. You just have to show them that you're genuinely sorry. And if you did something wrong in their eyes or if you told them, you did that because you want them to learn and you didn't do it to hurt them.

Dahlia stopped walking and turned to face me.

"I think you possess the personality we're looking for..." she said and she's still wearing that weak smile.

What? Did I pass?

"However..."

When I heard that word, it felt like my heart stopped beating. However, it wasn't over yet.

"However, the young lady, our boss, said that your years of experience are not enough."

I feel like my knees are weak from what he said. I've been teaching for six years. I started teaching when I was 21. I'm currently 27 years old and at my young age I've already taught a lot. All the feedback I got was purely positive. I know the subjects and lessons that I teach like the back of my hand. What experience does he need? 20 years like that??

Also, why didn't they turn down my application immediately when they saw my job experiences on my resume? Why did they have to prolong the interview and then make me wait? This is nonsense.

"And because of that, we decided to look for another applicant."

Oh fuck that! I feel like they just used my work experience as an excuse not to pass me. I wasted so much time here. I even took a Grab from home to here that cost 345 pesos just to arrive early! Back to 690! Then what if they just turn me down because I lack experience?!

That's crazy! What kind of experience does that young lady want???

Deep down, I really wanted to rush into the red room and ask their boss straight away. I knew it wasn't really the experience that was the reason. That was so superficial! What? The interview lasted an hour before they realized that he lacked experience. Okay, next. Is that so?!

What? Did I say something wrong in the interview? I tried to remember the last thing I said to Dahlia earlier…

Just because I have a boyfriend that could affect my job?!!

"I'm really sorry, Ms. Parker." he returned to the last name basis. We're not close anymore.

"But on a positive note, my boss said that you can put her as one of your character references. She also said that she will commend you. You'll be able to get a job quickly if her name is on your CV," Dahlia said, easing my mind.

I doubt that. I didn't accept it. What should I say to her, why is her name there? When I applied to another employer and they asked me about my connection to her? Oh, they felt sorry for me, so they put her name on my resume. She's right.

"Dahlia, can I ask you a question?" I asked boldly. I only spoke now after she said I didn't pass.

"Sure."

"Did I fail because I have a boy---"

"MS. DAHLIAAAAAAA!!!"

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**ENJOY**