Mise Karayo Chapter 1

Mise Karoyo

Chapter 1

Mise wakes up quite early , around 6am as she can't sleep. She is worry about the new job interview around 9.30am later. She tries different  positions, sleep in again, but keeps on waking up.

Finally she gives up the ritual of sleep in, and focus on checking on her resume. Being a perfectionist, she makes sure her resume is spell-proof and grammar-proof, all spacing are equally aligned, phone number and contact number are evenly space. She even check on the paper thickness and texture, to ensure all pages are consistent of weight and smoothness. This would be her fourth job in this year, and she does not want to do another job hunting. It is pretty stressful to keep on changing working environment and learn new skills.

Finally it is 8am, there are some activities happening at downstair, mom and dad wakes up around this time, so are the twin brothers. Although she usually skips breakfast until 10am for brunch, but she would still make breakfast for everyone whenever she wakes up early before anyone. (Which happen quite often these day). The brothers murmuring something about omelette before they disappear into bathroom. Meanwhile dad and mom request something about banana pancake from their bathroom. Being a well train chef from previous job, Mise manages to prepare everyone breakfast in well under half an hour, including cleaning the utensils and dishes. The whole kitchen looks spotless clean with the exception of some steamy warm breakfast. Carefully she puts the food lid covering the breakfast, and headed upstairs for shower.

Mise usually takes shower with her twin brothers if they happen to wake up at the same time and rushing for the morning routine. However, she prefers to enjoy morning bath by herself, as the brothers always continue doze off in the bathtub, and she has to squeeze herself in between tiny space. Furthermore, water pressure getting low if everyone in the whole house open their taps at the same time. This autumn seems exceptionally long dragging, and it is not wise to take cool shower around cool morning. A gentle knock on the door and a low shout at the twin brothers, however Mise hear no response from them. She tried open the knob, luckily the door is open, and two lumbering bodies stuck in the bathtube. Still got 15 mins before catching the bus, Mise could do a quick shower and groom herself. Putting her boxer aside the laundry bag, she takes a quick wash from the warm water from bathtub. While grooming herself at the mirror, Haski (the elder twin brother) finally awake and warmly greet his sister.

"Morning," he murmuring and gesture of frozen smile. Probably facial muscle still in the process of waking up.

"Good luck with the job interview. Sis, you still got foam stuck at your butt, want me to wipe it off?".

"It is ok, no worry. Your breakfast is ready, just remember to clean up the desk after you gals finish." Mise carefully divide her hair on left side and whistle her brothers to wake up. Sometimes she would ask Haski to help her wash her back or hard to reach spot. He does a good job but the movement can be frustrating slow.

The corridor is a bit chilled as the central air conditioning still have problem clock in the right time, but Mise though of just dash across to her room before getting a cold. While she dashes real fast and about getting in her room, dad emerges from his room and look disapproving at her, "Mise, it is not yet summer, don't run around home naked or you catch cold!". Before she could explain something, dad pats her at the hip and goes downstairs. Mise kind of like her dad to pats her hip, but prefers privately instead of publicly. It makes her feel like being pamper like a baby.

She glances carefully into the mirror, and try to figure what of dress she should wear for the interview. She selected it last night, but have second thought. She likes the formal two pieces but not black and white tone, so she changes it to navy blue and light beige. While waiting for the fabric to reconfigure itself to suit her body size, Haski suddenly comes into her room and surprise to see her there.

"You still here? Can I borrow your pants? Mine seems to be stick on black colour, refusing to change colour. And better wear something, don't catch cold!", Haski asks and comment.

"Ya, ya, " Mise replies. The fabric tighten around her after she slips in. One last check at the mirror of her overall appearance. She grabs her portfolio and tug in a new pants from last drawer to her brother, "Be gentle on my pant, it is brand new and cost me a fortune !"

After kiss her parents good bye, she grad her tablet and bag, dashes quickly to the bus stop. The bus arrives on time and she is greeted by the usual crowd. But today she would stop mid way for a new job interview. After flashing her monthly bus card to the checker, she slip in quietly to her usual seat, only to find her best friend , Johnson is not there.

As the bus about to move, it suddenly shrieks for a stop, then come up a young dark tone strong figure, with short blonde hair. It is Johnson, and he is late but manage to catch the bus. Mise signals a free seat beside her, and asked "Overslept?".

"Not quite", he frowns, "my skirt won't change into the colour and texture I want, so I have to settle to this type !". Mise takes closer look, a maroon top and blue Jean skirt, bit of uneven , but still look nice on him. They have a quick small talk before Mise realise she suppose to stop mid way. She quickly press button for stop and kisses Johnson cheek before she leaves the bus. “ See you tonight at Gym”

The bus stop at Lambton Quay, just outside Hulex Tower, where she is scheduled to have her interview. A glance at her watch, she still got 8 mins before her interview. Upon her arriving at the office at level 8, she is greeted by a friendly android receptionist. "Good morning, you must be Ms. Mise, welcome to Lowe Genetics.  Please have a seat, while I inform Mr Lowe of your arrival. ". She thanks it politely and sit on nearby couch. This Android has a warm welcome smile. It really calm one down, or is it in their nature in their coding. Mise notice it has a beautiful Ukrainian name, HAVRYIL with a noble Northern Indian appearance.

“The Android model is getting sophisticated every year”, she thinks. It has some faint and unusual mark around its wrist and neck. However, she won't persuade this curiosity further. Nevertheless, she heard many stories about this type of artificial assistant. Some heart touching, some gruesome terrific.

“Ms Mise, Mr Lowe is ready to meet you, please proceed. “

“Thank you” Mise says and she let herself in after a knock on the door, and is asked to proceed. It is a small office but with little furniture. White ceiling and wall, with mahogany wooden flooring , the whole office look like casual home, less formality, and yet standing a striking feature by the full height window. He looks slim but strong as Johnson like military personnel.

"Good morning, sir, my name is .." Mise suddenly stopped as the figure turn to face her, is a her? All the while she thoughts of meeting a man, but then turn out to be a woman, even though she dress and walk like a man. And there is only one woman in Lowe Genetics, and the top woman executive.

"Ms Mice, I presume? ", She extend a warm handshake, " Sorry I was caught up with work, and good to see you in person". They have a good talk for about 15 minutes before they manage to engage to a topic about the new job offering. Mise feels like she is interviewing Ms Lowe, instead of other way around. The informal conversation makes feel her feel secure and wanted to tell Ms Lowe the honest answers as possible.

"So, how your job in the kitchen?", Ms Lowe asked.

"Pretty good... And exhausting. " Mice instantly regret of saying the last part, every job is exhausting.

" I know, it takes sometimes to get used to it. " Ms Lowe say it understandably, like a grandparent looking a grandchild who is not used to work overtime. "How do you feel about designing genetic ?"

"Actually I always like designing as it free up my mind to do whatever I want. ", Mice just let out these answers and pull back a big "Ough" when she see Ms Lowe frown again. Apparently Mise is too excited and she doesn’t answer the question properly.

She instantly feel regret of applying this job. Mise comes from design background, and she thought this job might ask her to do app design, web design and media advertising. However her instinct tells her that Ms Lowe wanted her more than designing 2d graphics.

A few more informal conversation and Ms Lowe decides to end the interview and press intercom to ask HAVRYIL to guide her out. Thinking she might not have another chance to come back for second interview, she extend her good luck wish to Ms Lowe of finding a suitable candidate for the job.

" Oh, I am sorry, there won't be any new candidate. When can you start?"

Later in the evening, Mise and Johnson meet up for gym and sauna at the old port of Wellington[1]. Not much crowd in the gym, but the air conditioning seems a bit off today. So, slight dampness and body odour sneaking around here and there. Johnson, being a man is okay with it. But Mise has sensitive nose, trying very hard to stay away from those men and women who work out bare skin. Although the formal dress code is not required in casual sport activities, but Mise prefers to work out in proper sport attire.  It provides better protection, hygienic  and odour adsorbing. She has no objection to work out bare skin, even she does that too, but not on sharing same sport equipment though. Mise's sensitive nose cost her dearly last time when she had a flu. She was in bed for two weeks and whole family practically have to take leaves just to look after her. She recovered finally and would never forget the dreadful nightmare of lying on bed to straight twenty days. Even her best friend, Johnson like to workout nude. Every time she complaints, he simply said,

" My cleanox towel will clean and kill germ every time I wipe the seat", Johnson argues.

"Dogh, and you never recharge your so called high-tech towel !". She hits back. And Johnson just go around workout avoiding her.

After exhausting workout, they have a quick shower and book a sauna session together. While enjoying restful session and massaging each other, they exchange the daily event of their own. Johnson have never heard of Lowe Genetics, but quite fascinated by the entire Corp run by one woman. Meanwhile, Mise glad to hear Johnson still holding up in the former kitchen she used to work. Although few staffs short, he seems to be managing the workload fine. Probably men are born to handle stress.

"Ouch! Could you massage lighter? I know you men has strong hand, but I am lady, your hand is going to leave bruises in me." Mise complaints,

"Sure, I will be gentle next time. You seems pretty sensitive for a girl. Other girl I have been massaging said I am too soft for them " Johnson protests.

“Ya, ya, you think I am our mate for too long, and you can press me like pressing a wooden board instead of a body". Mise companies.

Both of them know each other for too long, can sometimes quarrel like mad but back to best friend the next instance.

After massage, Mise sleeps on Johnson thigh while he sitting relax on the wooden bench. At least Johnson doesn’t smell so bad after shower.

“ Is that the body shower I got for you ?” Mise asks.

“ Oh ya, all in one body shower and scrub. Pretty handy for me.” Johnson is into all in one thing. For example, all in one school -traveller bag, multi-purpose shoe used as sport shoe and casual wear. Those all in one thing usually cost a fortune, but Johnson like the budget version, which tends to breakdown often especially he doesn’t handle them with care.

“Maybe you could try of the seed of oil, or seed of moisturiser ? “, Mise asks “ It is fresh from plant, no additive, organic and more nutrients than the bottled one.”

“Nuh”, Johnson doesn’t like the idea, “It needs water everyday and those seeds are so tiny, I might crushed them even before I put on my hair.” typical Johnson attitude, he likes handy things that do not require much careful handling. Mise remembers he keep on ruins his cleanox towel that could kill germ easily. These towels are made to last, and yet  he could get them replaced every six month.

Mise prefers the moisturiser, shampoo, and body grooming cream that come in plant version to the bottled version. The former is organic, without any preservative and fresh from plant. She just need to pick one of the small fruit, peel it open and put on the cream on her body. Those plant actually cost slightly higher than the bottled version, but more green in terms it is readily biodegradable once it expires in a year time. Johnson however is always on the go, he prefers to take one bottle and handle all his essential shower options.

20 minutes later, they have done sauna and resting, then they have a brief hug, kiss other gently at the ear before they head back to clothes themselves, then a quick sandwiches for dinner and head back home. The bus routes keep on operating for 24 hours. Usually the frequency is 10 mins per bus during peak time, but off peak time, one bus per 30 mins. It usually rain breezily after 9pm, so both of them plan their time properly so as to catch the bus and be home before the rain.

[end note 1]

Wellington is a modest size township, with a population of 200,000. The township was developed from an old fort centuries ago. It suburban area which house the residential, fro low and high rise apartments, extended to its central business district look like a extending palm, with tall office towers fit between the main five routes. There are few pockets parks serves as assembly for emergency and relaxing spots. Lambton Quay is one of the main route, similar to last finger, but extended all the way to the old port. Hulex Tower is few block from last, but the second tallest tower. Its unusual stone sail-like appearance with a concave curtain wall create an interesting dialogue. It is shorted by comparison by other office towers, but it is one of the striking icon when look from afar. The old port has been recently reclaimed and extended for another 15 km. The new urban design mimics the same extending palm of the old city, but from other side. Then these two palms meet at the centre where the old port, being conveniently turn into a public space. It is like two palm from different generation extending to each other, presenting a jewel of the city. With shape-shifting garden located near the hill, interlocking with concrete pavement in the middle section, and finally the whole assembly pavement at the waterfront. The piazza has a few sculptures and statues scattering at different corners, and a few colourful entrance to the substructure beneath it. What lies beneath it makes it as interesting as above. A few art galleries, an aquarium stretches entire site, a few fitness gyms, few performing theatres, public library & rare books library and cafe & shop lots. The spatial design is intriguing that there always a view of aquarium on one side no matter which space you are in. In addition, there is  a few japanese gardens and european rose garden inhabitat in the underground space. Since this urban renewal was official launched about 5 years ago, Mise and Johnson like to hang out here. They like to watch sunrise and sunset here, venture into the gym, swim among the fishes.