Standing in front of a company building, Takeo took a moment to collect themselves.

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

A bird chirped nearby, and Takeo swiveled their head in the direction of the sound. A hopping blue jay on a nearby tree confirmed the source of the chirp as another blue jay joined it on the branch.

Hearing aids, working.

Confidence retained, Takeo straightened himself and stepped inside.

He’s been job searching ever since he handed in his two week notice. The current company he worked at had disgustingly long hours and zero benefits. It was a mistake he made right after finishing college. He had been so desperate to get a job that he accepted the first ‘okay’ he got despite warnings from his advisor about certain companies’ exploitation of new grads. After almost working himself into the hospital and passing out multiple times at reunions, his friends finally convinced him to resign and find a happier place to work.

“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. “Take a left that way. Then take the elevator to the fifth floor and it should be the first room on your right.”

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

Already, he was looking forward to working at this company. At a glance, all the employees seemed relaxed and well-rested. There were no panda eyes in sight, and certainly no sleeping bags under desks. The building itself was large with lots of windows, suggesting lots of natural light in the offices. Additionally, and most importantly, the job listing even mentioned benefits such as paid time off, dental care, an attractive 401k, and health insurance.

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

He’s got this.

Brimming with positivity, Takeo entered the room.

The set-up was basic. A row of chairs for aspiring employees placed opposite a panel of three judges. Takeo turned to greet the judges with his resume and his heart dropped.

There, sitting right in the center of the panel was you. From middle school and all the way through high school, you made fun of his partial deafness. Leading your friends, you would yell at him, mimic his slurred speech, and toss out his hearing aids. Luckily, he finally escaped you in college and you left his mind soon after, but he never would’ve imagined encountering you again like this. And, judging from the look in your eyes and subsequent smirk, you remembered him as well.

Taking his seat, Takeo waited to be called on. His bubble of positivity had burst, and he was left to wallow in his memories.

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

You looked up, confident and self-assured.

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

Takeo swallowed, throat suddenly dry.

“I wrant—” Cheeks coloring a hot red, he tried again. “I want to work herre…”

Didn’t he speak normally just yesterday? What is wrong with him right now?!

Gaze dropping to the floor, Takeo finished speaking with great difficulty. Ashamed of himself, he accepted the inevitable fate of more hours of job searching. Hands shaking in his lap, he waited for a rejection.