Takeo took a deep breath.

In front of him was an imposing skyscraper. If everything went right today, Takeo would be spending a large part of the foreseeable future inside it.

Hair? Combed and neat. Clothes? Suit, tie, work shoes, and matching socks check. Suitcase? In hand. Resume? Inside suitcase. Wallet with ID? In suit pocket. And most importantly…

Takeo waited quietly, concentrating on his surroundings before swiveling his head in the direction of a bird’s chirp. A hopping blue jay on a nearby tree confirmed the source of the sound and when another blue jay landed soon after, the two chirped happily together.

Hearing aids, working.

Taking one last deep breath, Takeo straightened himself up and stepped inside the building.

Ever since he handed in his two week notice at his previous job, Takeo had been on the job hunt. His previous company treated him horrendously, assigning long hours and offering little to no benefits. Occasionally, in the haze of stress and exhaustion, Takeo would realize he hadn’t been able to return home even once for the entire week. After almost working himself into the hospital and passing out multiple times at gatherings with his friends, he was finally convinced to resign and find a happier place to work.

Now, properly rested and eating three full meals a day, Takeo was determined to learn from his previous mistake.

“Hello.” A bow and a smile. “I’m here for the job interview at 11:00 o’ clock.”

The receptionist eyed him, fingers stilling over the keyboard.

Takeo continued to smile, hoping he didn’t seem too out of place in a building full of crisp suits and perfectly combed hair.

Finally, the receptionist responded. “Take a left that way. There’s an elevator you can take up to the fifth floor, should be the first room on your right.”

“Thank you.” Takeo nodded, taking the receptionist’s directions upstairs.

As he walked, Takeo took the opportunity to inspect the employees’ condition. Everyone seemed to be relaxed and well-rested. There were no panda eyes in sight, and so far, he hasn’t spotted any sleeping bags under anyone’s desk. The building itself boasted large windows which allowed a greater illumination with natural light, and a brief pass by the cafeteria left Takeo’s mouth watering. But, most importantly, the job listing offered benefits such as paid time off, dental care, an attractive 401k, and health insurance.

If he can work here, it would be a dream come true.

Once he reached the interview room, Takeo paused again to take a deep breath.

He’s got this.

Then, he entered the room.

Within, a row of chairs for aspiring employees were placed opposite a panel of three judges. Takeo turned to greet the judges with a wide smile on his face and subsequently froze.

There, flanked on each side by another judge, was you. From middle school and all the way through high school, you tormented Takeo. Rallying your friends, you would yell at him, mimic his slurred speech, and pull out his hearing aids whenever you could. He’d finally managed to escape you in college and you left his mind soon after, but Takeo would’ve never imagined he’d be encountering you again like this. And, judging from the look in your eyes and smirk, he wasn’t going to get away by pretending to not recognize you.

Taking his seat, Takeo waited to be called on. All of a sudden, he wanted nothing more to do with this job.

“Takeo, was it?” Three pairs of eyes looked over his resume.

You looked him over, gaze confident and self-assured.

“What is your reason for pursuing a position with us?”

Takeo swallowed around the lump in his throat, mouth suddenly dry.

“I wrant—” Cheeks coloring a hot red, he tried again. “I am interested in a possition herre because…”

Wasn’t he speaking just fine before? Why did he ever bother to show up?

Gaze dropping to the floor, Takeo finished speaking with great difficulty. Clasping his sweaty palms together, he resigned himself to countless more hours of job searching.

Please, just reject me quickly.