A Contract Marriage with My Professor

CHAPTER 3:

JILLIAN'S POV

​Three days had passed since I moved to the city. My stay was going well, mostly because Roxane had become my best friend. Enrollment at Gardon University was only a few days away, though classes hadn't started yet.

​"Hi Roxane, have you eaten yet? I cooked breakfast. You might be hungry," I said to her.

​She usually came home in the early morning, right when I was waking up at 5:00 AM. To thank her for being so kind to me, I had made it a habit to cook for her. We shared our food budget, so while I had no classes yet, I chose to do the cooking at the boarding house. I was used to waking up early back home anyway, so I did it every day.

​"Thanks, Jillian, but I'm so sleepy. Maybe I'll eat later," she replied before throwing herself onto her soft bed.

​Roxane's job was really tough. Working at a call center meant she never got enough sleep. You really need a lot of patience for that job if you want to earn your own income. Since she was tired, I ended up eating my fried eggs and garlic rice alone. I rarely got to eat with Roxane at this hour because she was always exhausted.

​I decided that since school hadn't started yet, I would try to find a temporary job. I didn't want to spend all the money my parents had given me. I felt bad relying on them; we are not rich, and their budget was tight. I didn't want them to work so hard while I just waited for them to send money. I couldn't let that happen, so I went out to look for a part-time job.

​After breakfast, I took a bath and put on a simple outfit: just a T-shirt and jeans. Even though my clothes were simple, I felt confident. Many people back home had told me I was pretty, so I kept that in mind to stay positive.

​It was exactly 7:00 AM when I left the boarding house. I immediately smelled the exhaust from the cars. Smelling the city air made me miss the fresh breeze of the province.

​"Where should I apply?" I asked myself. "Maybe a small shop? Or a fast-food place? Well, I'll see where I get lucky."

​I walked around, keeping my eyes open for "Hiring" signs. While walking, I saw an old woman who was having a hard time crossing the street. I didn't think twice; I went over to help her.

​"Good morning, Ma'am. I don't mean to meddle, but it's dangerous for someone like you to walk here alone. The cars drive very fast," I told her.

​I felt a bit shy saying it, but I was worried about her. She was old and shouldn't have been crossing in this street by herself. The people around here didn't seem to care; no one else had offered to help.

​"Thank you, dear. But I'm not crossing the street," she said.

​I was shocked. I felt a little embarrassed. I had tried to be a hero, but she didn't actually need my help to cross.

​"Oh? You're not crossing? Then what are you doing here, Ma'am?" I asked. This old lady had really given me a scare for nothing!

​"I'm just waiting for my son. He's taking a long time, so I keep looking at the cars, hoping he sees me," she explained.

​"I see. But please be careful. Don't stand too close to the road," I advised her.

​"Thank you," she replied simply.

​"You're welcome. Well, I'll be going now. Take care, Ma'am! And please tell your son he shouldn't leave you waiting like this. If I were your child, I would go with you everywhere," I said, waving goodbye.

​I couldn't stand the thought of a parent waiting like that. Why couldn't the son just stay with her? In my mind, that son had a very bad attitude. But then again, why was I worrying about that? I was starting to act like a gossip.

​As I continued my job hunt, I found a fast-food place. The manager was about to interview me, but there was a problem-the owners arrived. The staff had to hurry to serve their boss.

​So, my interview was canceled. What a bad luck! I almost had a job, but it slipped away.

​"Just come back and apply another time, okay? Maybe tomorrow. Our bosses are here, and we need to serve them. It's rare for the mother and son to visit," the manager told me.

​"Sure, no problem," I replied.

​It was such bad timing. But who were these owners? They must have been very rich. The restaurant was beautiful and looked very expensive.

​"Sir is here! Hurry, Madam is with him!" I heard the manager shout.

​I wanted to see who they were, but it was too crowded. I didn't get a chance to see them, so I decided to just head back to the boarding house.

​But as I walked out the exit, I accidentally bumped into a man. I hit my head against his chest. His body felt like stone-he clearly spent a lot of time at the gym.

​"Ouch! Watch it! That really hurt. You should learn how to look where you're going!" I snapped at him.

​I didn't know if he was just confused or being rude. I was clearly at the exit, and he had tried to come in through there even though there was a separate entrance! But the guy didn't even say sorry. He just walked straight inside.

​Unbelievable! I didn't even get to see his face, and I didn't care to know him anyway. What a rude person!

​"You're lucky I'm applying here tomorrow. If not, I would have punched you," I muttered angrily.

​That was the second time I had met a man with no respect and no manners. I walked home in a bad mood, and Roxane noticed it immediately. She was awake and eating when I got back.

​"What's the problem? Did you get into a fight?" she guessed.

​"Not exactly. I just don't understand the men in this city! On my first day, a guy judged me and thought I was pregnant. Now, another guy bumps into me and doesn't even say sorry! It's too much!" I complained.

​Roxane just laughed at my reaction.

​"You're cute, Jillian. I don't know if I should feel sorry for you," she chuckled. "Anyway, I told you the city is different from the province. People here are different. You'll get used to it. If a man won't respect you, then punch him to wake him up."

​I nodded in agreement. She had a point. The problem was, I didn't even see the guy's face.

​"Fine. I won't let any man look down on me again. They'll taste a punch from a province girl. I have a strong grip," I said bravely.

​My body was used to hard work, so I knew my punch would be strong enough to knock someone out. I wasn't a fighter back home, but here in the city, I was ready to show my tough side.