Moving Forward
1455 Words
Having the right motivation is vital in getting a task done quickly, effectively and efficiently. This was the case with Olivia.
It was a Friday morning, the day Olivia had set aside to begin the process of finding her pact to being a better version of herself. The first issue on this list was her rent which would be due in a few days.
Olivia scanned through the long names of people who had shown interest in the past week since she put up the rent Ad on her i********: page and story. Josh had thought her method wouldn't work only to be surprised with the number of people who showed interest on the first day.
The numbers kept going up until Olivia stopped the collation and decided it was time to interview them. She wasn't going to just take them at their words as people tend to lie about important things. Hence, the reason for the interview —so she could personally see and hear things for herself after which she would decide who her roommate would be.
Olivia was still dancing and twerking to Rihanna's track "what's my name?" When Josh arrived. He had taken the day off at work so he could help with the interview which would be starting in an hour.
Josh almost ran back thinking he had entered the wrong house when he saw Olivia dancing and doing a fake karaoke session with an empty fruit juice can. When Olivia saw his reaction, she laughed so loud and pulled Josh into the dance floor before he could make a run for it.
"Let's be happy Josh, we deserve it." Olivia yelled to him so he could hear from all the loud music blasting. Josh didn't resist but didn't vibe along either, he was just moving slowly and laughing at Olivia's funny moves.
Five minutes later, and Josh had taken the crown from Olivia with his apt dance moves. They cheered, sang and danced like this for twenty more minutes after which they stopped.
They had a quick breakfast afterward and then started going through the interview questions.
The first person was so on time and this impressed Olivia greatly even before they started. She had thought maybe she wouldn't have to interview others since the first person already looked so promising. She was wrong. She and Josh were disappointed and surprised when the interview commenced.
The other people after this were not so different too. It was as of the universe didn't want her to get a roommate and so decided to send unserious people her way. Some were even so annoying and rude that Olivia almost chased them out but Josh would quickly step in and politely ask them to leave instead.
Things continued like this until Olivia and Josh decided to call it a day and pick up from there the next day.
"Day one. A rough start, but a start nonetheless." Josh said with sarcasm as he swiped through the list meant for the next day.
"This is not the time to be cute or funny please." Olivia replied with a frown on her face while Josh grinned a broad smile instead.
"I'm not trying to be cute or funny. I'm only choosing to stay positive and see the bright side." He chimed in.
"Which is?" Olivia asked with a smirk as she tried to figure out what the bright side about the messy day they just had could be.
"What if you had just chosen a person at random? Then we would not know all these. And besides, I think this should motivate you even more to try harder. You said you want to change, right? Then you can't afford to get your spirits pulled down this easily. Always see the good in the bad." Josh explained while Olivia listened with huge curiosity and surprise.
This new side of Josh amazed Olivia. She has always been the quick and smart one with the right words for each situation ever since they met. That was six years ago at their interviews with the marketing firm which they currently work for.
They were seated adjacent each other with a person sitting in-between them. However, they didn't even notice each other until the mid-sitter was called in. In the course of leaving, this person created a mild scene which made Olivia and Josh laugh. That was how they clicked, became friends on the spot and later got the job with three others...
"Tomorrow is another day then." Olivia finally let out after the long motivational speech from Josh. They soon forget about the day as they watched a movie and laughed off while chewing hard on the chocolate coated popcorn which Josh had gotten in the morning when he was coming.
Josh didn't go home that night. Olivia suggested he slept over which would save him the stress of having to drive home and back again the next day. Josh agreed.
In light of seeing good and staying positive, Olivia believed she would get her roommate the next day. So after they had dinner, she started packing the other half of the apartment which she had put off. Her roommate would need space too and that was why Olivia was packing and moving her things.
Olivia and Josh tried to get as much rest through the night as they could. When it was morning, they set out to work again. —It was the second and last day of the interview. No roommate today means Olivia would have to resort to other means to get her rent. Hopefully that wouldn't be the case— Olivia thought to herself as Josh welcomed in the first person.
Just like the day before, this person also showed promising personality. Olivia was already jumping for job inwardly until a tour of the apartment was requested for, which Olivia gladly obliged too. She was so sure the neat and well organized interior would seal the deal. She was wrong. The "soon-to-be roommate" brought out a wipe instead and literally wiped all surfaces while checking for dirt. Olivia couldn't believe the ridiculous complaints she got after the tour despite her efforts to make the house presentable. Eventually, the interview ended with both sides determined not to live with each other.
Olivia was losing patience faster than Josh was. At a point, she dropped her "stay positive" consciousness and decided to stop the interview but Josh would let her.
"Let's try one more, Olivia, and if it doesn't work out, we'll call it quits." Josh tried to convince her. Olivia agreed. Josh kept saying this until the last person on the list.
By this time, Olivia had already lost hope and was only going along because Josh wouldn't let her stop. The last person was a man. A very good-looking one but Olivia couldn't care less. She wanted a roommate not a boyfriend.
While he made himself comfortable on Josh's request, Olivia seemed uninterested and looked distant. The interview started with a brief introduction which revealed his name as Ryan Davis, a tech freelancer who was looking to move into the neighborhood for better job opportunities.
Olivia was slowly showing interest at this point but not fully. Ryan's answer to the first question cleared all of Olivia's doubt. The subsequent Q&A was a formality. Olivia already made her decision the moment Ryan attempted the first question.
"How could he know the right and exact answer to each question? Where have you been this whole time, roomie?" Olivia thought to herself as her countenance changed and her eyes flickered in excitement.
"This is the one, Josh. I finally have a roommate!!!" Olivia communicate with her facial expression to Josh who got the gist immediately and smiled while Ryan just wondered what was happening between the two.
Without further ado, Olivia informed Ryan the apartment was his, once p*****t is made which he promised to do before moving in the next day. Olivia couldn't thank Josh enough for his help and patience.
"What are friends for? If I don't who will?" Josh chimed in playfully as Olivia saw her off to his car...
Later that night, as Olivia sank into her soft designer cotton sheets to sleep, she knew she had just taken the first step in her journey to real change and it gave her immense joy. She had confronted her finances and took control of the situation. She was able to get her rent which Ryan would be bring the next day and moving in as well.
Although she hadn't yet paid the rent, Olivia slept off like a baby with a strong conviction in her mind that it would be sorted the next day.
- Writer
