I could see her struggling to keep a straight face, and I was just as surprised by the word "wife" coming out of my mouth. Yet, I didn't feel any regret and it doesn't hurt to say that word again.
"Let me be honest with you. I don't think there is any vacancy. A lot of people have come here looking for a job, but we're not hiring at the moment," she said tersely, her words resounding in my ears.
"Okay, thank you for the information," I replied, standing up and heaving a sigh. It seemed like it was no use requesting to see anyone since there were no vacancies.
As we ambled to the exit, I was expecting Jasamina to ask me about why I didn't use the word "wife," but to my surprise, she didn't. She simply asked me where we should go next.
"Let's just keep moving around. Maybe we'll see another job opening somewhere," I suggested.
We continued our journey on foot, keeping our eyes peeled for any sign of a job vacancy. We didn't want to waste our time going in and at the end, having nothing to show for it.
The only job we saw was a vacancy for a marketer position pasted in front of a firm. It was way too complicated for Jasamina to handle, as it required extensive traveling from one city to another, and even from one country to another. Not to mention qualifications.
She couldn't risk being seen again, even if she had the qualifications. So, we had to forget about that.
"How about we go over there?" she pointed to a cottage adjacent to the firm.
"Oh, I can see the paper pasted on the gate. They need someone to help them with the cleaning for their aged parents," I said to her as she patted the baby's butt through the carrier.
As I approached the gate, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of nervousness. I knocked several times until the rusted metal slid open, revealing an elderly woman who looked like she was in her seventies. Her fragile frame and slouched posture made her seem so tender, yet so weak.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," Jasamina and I greeted in unison, smiling softly at her.
"Good afternoon. I barely know any of you. Who do you seek?" The woman peered at us through her spectacles, cocking her brows.
Before I could even utter a word, Jasamina spoke up. "We saw the job offer pasted in front of your gate. So, we thought we should come here and maybe...see if I could get a job here."
The woman heaved a sigh and took an unsteady step forward to the front of the gate, staring at the paper. "I was supposed to have removed this paper. Someone has gotten the job already. I'm sorry for the stress." She looked at us apologetically, a sheepish smile creeping onto her face.
"It's no problem, ma'am. Thanks for attending to us anyways." I smiled back at her, exchanging a quick glance with Jasamina.
After thanking her, we made our way to a quiet spot close to a garden where we could sit and rest for a while. Jamie, who was in the baby carrier, was already whining, probably very hungry.
As we found an empty chair and sank into it, Jasamina unsnapped the carrier and pulled him out. She flipped her hair down to cover her breast as she bared it and placed the dark puckered nipple in her baby's mouth. He suckled hungrily, replacing his soft cries with happy coos.
Although I was trying to remain focused on the task at hand, the sight of Jasamina's bare breast was almost too much for me to handle. I had to look away to avoid getting carried away and losing my focus. It was crucial for me to keep my sanity if I wanted to achieve my aim for the day.
Despite the attraction I felt for Jasamina, I had to remind myself that she was off-limits. It was a hard truth that I had to accept, no matter how painful it was.
MARK
I spent the morning and half the day with Anya, watching movies and discussing life. Xazix was still holed up in his room with his laptop. Anya and I got to talking, and I learned a lot about her.
It was heartbreaking to find out that she grew up in Cedom, the largest brothel in Texas, and her mother worked as a prostitute. I couldn't help but feel disturbed by the fact that a mother could remain in such a job while raising her child. But then again, I knew not to judge or point fingers unless all evidence pointed that way. I've always prided myself on being open-minded.
Anya shared more about her life growing up, and it became evident that she had a close relationship with her mother, who loved her deeply. Despite barely finishing elementary school and not attending high school, Anya was very intelligent.
After lunch, we took a walk around my compound, and I found myself asking Anya about her mother. "Why did she work at Cedom?" I inquired.
"Mama always hated that place," Anya replied sadly, kicking sand with her foot. "But she couldn't leave at all. Her father sold her to the General Mother, the woman who owned Cedom."