Aida
"You sure did stand up to the Jingh'ans." Jinx gushes, her eyes alight with mischief.
I grin at her, I haven't been sacked yet, I am surprised that Mr. Xi isn't screaming his head off at my insolence and sends me packing. I had come back to the appraisal department to find him gone with the heir-borns. I had gone back to work, until it was time for our lunch break.
I sit with Jinx in Fred's munches and mouthfuls, eating my usual sandwich. Jinx is tucking into her salad. "You know what, I recognize you as my Sifu. Tell me whatever you want from now on mistress." She kowtows, bursting into gales of giggles.
I roll my eyes and shake my head at her antic. I didn't think that I was brave enough to stand up to the heir-borns.
"It was stupid of me to do that, you wait Mr Xi will kick me out once we go back."
"I doubt it. That black haired one, what's his name? Oh yes Yu, won't let it happen. Have you seen the way he was looking at you? Mmm, I crave for someone to look at me like that." Jinx waves a fork in the air like a banner.
Yu! What are the chances they're the same person? I bat the ribbon of hope away. The universe or whoever's in charge has always been horrible to me. Dealing me a hand that is terrible.
"So I hear there's going to be a company dinner party ,and we're invited for the first time, in like forever."
"Yeah, courtesy of Yu the heir-born." I say bitterness welling up in me.
"You don't like him?"
"No, it's not that, I just…Let's just say he reminds me of someone I knew before in the bottom-dark, before I came here."
"I'm sorry, I have heard tales of the bottom-dark, I know that it's terrible. I don't think I would've survived such ordeals. How did you?" she asks her green eyes full of sympathy, she grabs hold of my hand.
Truth is she wouldn't. The bottom-dark is a dark devil itself, and it always makes sure that no one escapes its clutches. It was a miracle I did, well if it wasn't for Yu looking after me I would still be alive. I've never opened up with anyone about living in the bottom-dark. I sigh and turn to Jinx, laying a hand onto her smiling gratefully, I'm glad I have someone who cares for me a bit, Jinx has lived in the upper-middle dark, her life was a fairytale compared to mine.
"I don't want to give you nightmare Jinx, let's just say it wasn't a walk in the park." I stared at my watch and shoot up from my seat. "End of lunch time."
"I know you think that I can't take it, but I'm stronger than you think."
"I know you're strong, but this is dark." I shudder, and try to pull my thoughts away from the bottom-dark.
I scan my wrist on the edge of the table where a hologram of my bill floats, a ping echoes on the wrist of the man behind the counter, he lifts his head, a smile splits his handsome face, the eye patch on his other eye not deterring his good looks one bit. Jinx sighs, wearing a smitten expression on her face, she copies my movement and pays for her meal.
"If you like the man let him know." I whisper in her ear, making her jump.
She colors beautifully, and shoots up. I head for the door to our cruisers parked on the huge landing pad that stretches meters away from the door.
"I do not."
"Like him you mean, even a one-eyed bottom-dark cat can see it Jinx, if you don't I will tell him."
"You wouldn't dare."
"I will if it means I don't get to see the moony look you have every time he appears."
"I know," she sighs,
"Just do it J,"
"What if he rejects me. what if the conjugal council don't allow us to be together."
"Just try, if you never did, you wouldn't know how it will go. Besides you could always run off to the far-off lands and elope."
"Who are you? And what have you done to my friend?" she asks small hands on her hips.
I chuckle at her pose, my eyes stray where Fred eyes cling to her hips like a dying bottom-feeder who's seen one last drop of water and scrap of food.
"I have come to terms with my life, I have it better than others. In the last twenty-four hours I have come to cherish life, and not my job, if I lose it , I do, but its not more important than the life I have."
"Yes Sifu, if you say so." Jinx bows, and quickly jump into her cruise before I could get her.
I quickly jump into my cruiser and head back to work. I pondered on what I have just told Jinx, I meant every word I uttered, heir-borns rule our lives, they dictate everything we do, the city is run by a council of elites who are above the law. Right now everything is strained, tensions everywhere, I just hope we don't have another heir-war coming, a new council built as soon as the old one is depose of.
I land the cruiser in the parking lot. Jinx was there waiting for me. I lock my cruiser and join her, she was brimming with excitement, I'm glad that she's considering my advice. we both journey towards the appraisal department, the intercom crackles and Mr. Xi's voice fills the speakers.
"Aida I need you in the office."
There goes what I was expecting, finally he'll be able to get rid of me. I give Jinx a reassuring smile and turn on my heels and hurry into the fate that awaits.