James, having been retrenched and out of job for a while, is doing a variety of gig work to supplement his income, all without his wife’s knowledge. They meet unexpectedly at a themed dinner and dance. James watches on helplessly as his wife’s bosses, ply her with drinks before taking her up to their room.
Life is unfair.
People do well for their ‘O’ levels, go to JC, direct route to NUS or NTU, graduate with a job. I had exactly the same thing.
O levels, checked. A levels, cleared.
Direct route to university, i also have.
I survived national service, girlfriend intact mind you.
We took our graduation shoot together, we applied for BTO, we got it at the first try.
Don’t you think Simin and i are the classic example of a ‘successful’ graduate couple? In singapore context at least.
Both are graduates, 4 room BTO at Clementi. We even got a 8 year old Japanese car. Simin and i fly twice a year for holiday, and make multiple drives across the causeway for short staycations. No kids, parents still young and healthy, it’s like playing tetris and you only get the long and straight pieces.
Stack all horizontals on the left, then just nice, when the time comes, slid the straight one down and you’re done.
Simin was in the Civil service, while i’m doing Logistics. Stable, boring jobs, increments every year, 13th month, average 2 months bonus since graduation, what can i complain about?
No complains, i’m full of praises for the government. I wake up everyday and i smell roses.
Every Chinese New Year, i’m one of those that shouts ‘Huat ah’ the loudest too.
When the 4 room flat hit MOP, Simin and i sold it for a 400k profit.
400k brother, you work need how many years to get 400k for a regular worker?
We upgraded to a condo, we got a new car. With higher expenses, Simin decided to switch career, joining a wealth management firm. I would have done the same too but i was given a promotion, and the money works for me.
Life is good, or rather, life was good.
For a while at least.
Then one day, everything comes crashing down.
You know the moment when you keep stacking your tetris on the left, getting the layers up while waiting for that long vertical piece to complete the line but it didn’t come. Instead, those short pieces keep coming and they are coming fast. Before you knew it, you are screwed.
It was game over.
My company underwent a restructuring and my entire team was cut. Just like that.
16 of us let go.
I didn’t dare to tell my wife about it.
How to?
The bills, the mortgage, the car. It’s like you’re comfortable with 5kg weights in the gym and someone suddenly dumps you a additional 10kg.
Not enough to kill you but it’s taking everything in you to keep holding onto it.
I didn’t dare to tell Simin about it, i was not ready to.
So i did what most men who could not put down their ego do.
I got dressed every morning, i pretended everything is fine, and i went to work.
What work?
Basically every damm thing i could find while sending out my resumes.
I have some savings but at the rate we’re leveraged, i’m bleeding fast. I won’t last 3 months with all the bills.
In the morning, i will find a foodcourt, set myself up in the corner and start sending resumes until the library opens. Then i’ll relocate to the library and continue sending resumes, not just to companies i want to work for, but also for gig work.
I needed one that pays fast and preferably daily. From packing hampers, to temp staff at road shows, i did whatever that land in my lap. The most stable of these gig jobs were however, a server at a banquet in one of the 5 star hotels.
$13 an hour, uniform and meals provided. They cover transport if you stay late beyond 12 to help with the clean up.
Monday to Thursday i ‘return’ home on time. Friday i work late, and i have the perfect excuse for it.
Entertainment.
Since i have used to have clients in another timezone, i use to work Saturday mornings and over lunch too. So i stretched that and took on more banquet jobs.
Sundays, i have to spend it with my wife to keep up appearances. If not, she will start suspecting something is wrong.
Yes, i know i can’t keep up this lie forever.
She will surely lose her head if she finds out i’m lying to her.
However i’m just not ready to face her yet. Not when i don’t have a job lined up. Everything will be fine when i get an offer.
When.
Yes, the big question is when.
Well, definitely not on the night of her company’s dinner and dance.
10900 words
Title includes links and password to a page with AI generated gallery (Simin in uniforms) and videos. (no NSFW content)
One of the video is a 2.5 minutes mini-story.
Subscribers, please login to access a teaser AI generated video of what happened in the bedroom. (No NSFW content)