Chapter Text
Kamari’s stomach twists and turns as she sits on her bed, her laptop open while checking her emails.
Her room was cluttered with boxes piled on top of one another, clothes hanging from every possible surface, and furniture half finished – her bed being the only thing that she managed to get done.
She took deep breaths in and out as she refreshed her email every second, like it was life or death, until a new email popped up. She froze, staring at the title of the email. “Front Desk Application.”
She whispered to herself, trying to convince herself that she would get the job. “Please, please let me get it…” She said one last time before clicking on the email. For the past few months, Kamrai has been trying to get a job in the city; she had no promises for one until now.
Her eyes scanned the words on the screen, trying to keep her excitement tamed until she finished reading. “Yes!” She grinned and held her arms up in victory. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” She couldn’t stop smiling. Excitement and nervousness mixing together in her body. Then a realization came.
“Oh shoot… I start on Monday.” She shut her laptop and quickly got out of bed. She went through the mess of clothes she had, trying to find a nice outfit to wear
This will be Kamari’s first “real” job. She’s had many others, mostly in retail, but none got her enough money to fully move out and live on her own until now.
A few months prior to this, she managed to get accepted as a paid intern at a successful business company. There, she learned the ins and outs of different people’s tasks, but unfortunately, she got stuck shadowing a receptionist. So that’s the only skill she got to learn from that internship.
No surprise she managed to land a job as a front desk person at the Daily Planet, right in the city of Metropolis.
As Kamari throws on different pants, skirts, sweaters, and shirts to make an outfit, her phone rings. She stood at the edge of her bed, looking at the different options she had when she heard the phone.
She looked at her phone, which was currently sitting on her nightstand next to her bed. She grabbed it and answered. “Hi, Mamá.” Kamari put the phone on speaker so she could continue her search for an outfit.
“Hi mija.” Her mother answered back as Kamari switched from a skirt to a pair of pants to go with a shirt instead. “How’s everything going over there? Did you get a job yet? You have all your stuff with you, right?” Her mother immediately asked, not giving Kamari a chance to answer.
Kamari rolled her eyes. “Everything's going fine over here, Mamá. And yes, I do have a job now.” She answered calmly, not wanting to start an argument with her mother. “Oh, that’s good. What kind of job is it? Where are you working?” Her mother asked.
Kamari made another outfit, switching the shirt for another style. “I’m working at the Daily Planet. I’ll be a receptionist there.” She told her. “Oh, see? That intern job did help you then.” Her mother told her.
Kamari let out a breath and put all her clothes back into a pile on top of a box. “Yeah, I guess it did,” Kamari answered back. “How’s Papá over there?” Kamari grabbed her phone and lay on top of her bed, her phone being placed next to her.
“Ya lo sabes, trabajado como siempre.” (You already know, working like always) Kamari simply hummed in understanding, not too surprised by the answer. “Well, tell Papá I said hi.” She told her mother in a soft reply.
“Of course,” her mother said. There were a few seconds of silence. Kamari was not too sure about what else to talk about, while her mother was waiting for her to say something else. “So when do you start?” Her mother broke the silence.
“Um, Monday,” Kamari answered, staring at the ceiling as the sunset was bathing her room in an orange and yellow color. Her room had one wall with big open windows, overlooking the city's buildings. The Daily Planet’s globe in the far distance.
“Oh, that’s tomorrow, no? Do you have everything ready then?” Her mother continued to ask. “Yeah, don’t worry. I have everything I need. I’m good.” Kamari said in a mild tone. She was getting tired and needed to go out soon.
“Okay, well, you seem tired, so before I let you go, I have to ask…” Her mother paused. “Did you get to see him yet?” She asked. Kamari sat up and looked at her phone. “See who?” She asked her.
“You know, Superman?” Her mother’s voice was filled with excitement. “Oh…” Kamari grabbed her phone and walked to her window, her eyes gazing down at the streets filled with cars and people. “Yes, I did. Only once though.” Kamari finally answered.
“What was he like?” Her mother’s voice rose with excitement. Kamari couldn’t help but smile at her mother’s excitement, looking back at the memory.
“Well… It happened when I first got here.” Kamari’s mind went back to the moment it happened, like it was only just yesterday it happened and not a few weeks ago.
Kamari told her that it happened during the first week she got to Metropolis. Kamari already had most of her things taken care of, except for her bank account. So when she took a taxi to get to the bank, that’s when trouble stirred.
As Kamari paid the taxi driver and got out, that's when a loud boom was heard and a gust of wind flew by; everyone took cover from it. Kamari looked around with everyone else, trying to figure out what that noise was.
As the taxi quickly pulled away, she turned around towards the street, her back facing the bank she was supposed to go into, and saw up in the high sky… Superman. The sunlight was beaming from behind him, hiding his face like he was a god.
Kamari was starstruck. She constantly saw him on TV, saving people’s lives and helping anyone with even the simplest tasks. She'll hear and read all about the good he’s done for the city and the world.
But to see him in person was on another level. Then a figure stood up from the ground in the middle of the park that Kamari faced towards. The figure had made a small crater from being slammed on the ground.
The figure jumped up to Superman, and they took their fight elsewhere. But for that brief moment of seeing Superman in person felt like a lifetime. Kamari couldn’t believe such a person could exist in this world.
As Kamari finishes her story, she hears high-pitched giggles through the phone. “Oh, how are the twins?” She asked her mother. “Oh, they’re doing okay. Running around like always… Mira, deja de correr o te vas a lastimarse!” (Look, stop running or you’re going to get hurt!) Her mother yells while still on the phone.
Kamari felt a small hint of guilt start creeping its way back into her body. “Sorry, mija, but yeah, the girls are fine.” Her mother said. “That’s good, and what about Alexander?” Kamari asked. “Oh, he’s doing fine, I think. Siempre metido en su cuatro.” (Always in his room.)
“Yeah, that sounds like him.” Kamari softly said. “Well, it seems like you get plenty more opportunities to see Superman. I’m going to go. Have to tuck estos ninos (these kids) into bed.” Kamari’s mother told her, and ruffling sounds were heard at the end of the line.
“Yeah, alright,” Kamari said. “One last thing. I suggest you wear silver jewelry. It goes well with your tan skin.” Her mother suggested. “Alright, thanks for that.” Kamari gave a small smile.
“Te quiero mucho.” Her mother told her. “Te quiero mucho Mamá.” Kamari said before hanging up. When she looked up at the buildings before closing the curtains, she saw a small blur of red and blue go across the sky.
She smiles before closing the curtains, preparing for her first day of her new job tomorrow.