Chapter 3 Jobless
Johnny didn't notice that his hand had been injured and was bleeding after saving the kid. He opened the door and grabbed the driver but couldn't pull the driver out as the safety belt was still on. Johnny laid on the ground and crawled into the car. He released the safety belt and then dragged the driver out. He used all his strength and was finally able to get the driver out. He then carried the driver and ran several steps before hearing a boom as the flames shot to the sky.
Johnny's legs wobbled when he saw the scene as he had two close shaves with death in a matter of minutes. He was in a daze as he continued to carry the female driver while looking at the burning car. The onlookers started to call for emergency services while several traffic policemen saw the accident and rushed over. What Johnny didn't realize was that when he was staring blankly at the car, the female driver was looking at him closely too before closing her eyes and passed out.
After Johnny came to his senses, he placed the driver down and then realized that the driver was a woman and how dangerous the situation was.
Johnny didn't notice the gender of the driver when he rushed to rescue. After the ordeal, both of their faces were covered with soot and dirt. He couldn't make out waht the woman looked like and didn't have the mood to. He placed a finger under the woman's nose and ascertained that she was still breathing.
At that moment, the traffic police ran over here and Johnny stood up to walk back to his tricycle. He was drenched with sweat and covered in dirt.
Johnny took out his jacket and gave it several hard flicks to dust off the dirt. He then realized that his arm was bleeding after saving the kid. A large portion of his skin had been scraped off. It was only now that the pain started to set in. Johnny quickly rolled up his sleeve, his arm was in a mess.
Johnny looked back and saw that many emergency vehicles had arrived. He took out a cigarette and lit it. He started to ride his electric tricycle and a while later heard the wailing sirens of an approaching ambulance.
Just behind Johnny's electric tricycle was the entrance of the villa complex where a BMW stopped. Inside the BMW was a lady who saw the entire event unfold before her eyes. The lady looked in a daze at the pathetic-looking Johnny. She seemed to be in deep thoughts before she smiled radiantly.
Johnny would have been shocked if he saw this exceedingly beautiful lady smiling, as she was Jasmine who had filed a complained against Johnny.
Johnny looked at the time and it was already half-past six. All the drama had cost him about half an hour and he had to rush back to the company. If he didn't go back to the company in time to submit the invoices, then he would be penalized again. At this point, he couldn't be bothered with his bleeding arm.
When Johnny returned to the company, he was pleasantly surprised that not everyone had left. At least the manager was still there at that hour.
"Sir, why haven't you gone home at this hour?" Johnny smiled flatteringly at the manager.
"I'm waiting for you." The manager replied coldly.
"Waiting for me? Oh? You are really a great example for us to learn from. I will take you as my role model and work hard. I will ..." Johnny assumed the role of a shameless kiss-ass.
"Oh stop it. Do you know why I'm waiting for you?" The manager said impatiently.
"Could it be... waiting for my invoices?" Johnny said in surprise.
"Is that my job? Do I have to wait for those invoices till this time of the day?" The manager snapped, and then he took out an envelope from the drawer and tossed it to Johnny and said, "This is your salary of last month and commission of this month. Give it a count."
"Salary? Why are you paying me now? We're not even halfway through the month! Sir, why am I feeling that something is not right?" Johnny was puzzled.
"There are eight thousand and three hundred inside. I checked with the finance department. Your last month's salary is five thousand four hundred and to date, your salary for this month is one thousand nine hundred. Of course, today's pay is not included. That comes up to seven thousand three hundred. I acknowledge that you had been very diligent in your work and I've instructed finance to give you an extra one thousand. It's considered compensation from me plus your commission today. Take it and take care of yourself." The manager said calmly.
"Sir, what's going on?" Johnny was still bewildered.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? Fine. You've been fired. Take your money and leave the keys to your tricycle here."
"Why? Why are you firing me? Sir, you should at least give me a reason instead of dismissing me like this!"
"Would I fire you without any good reason? Let me ask you, did you deliver packages to a woman called Jasmine Wong?"
"Yes, there was such a woman, why?"
"Why? You've got to ask yourself. She called the head office to lodge a complaint against you. She said that you weren't punctual. Soon after, she called again and demanded the company to fire you."
"Is that woman mad? I was only late by five minutes from the appointed time. Was it necessary to cause me to be fired? You can't just dismiss me based on her call! Why don't you ask me what happened exactly?"
"She said that there were scratches on the item which was worth thirty thousand. She demanded your dismissal. If not, she will have her lawyers sue the company. You should know that we are a small courier agency and the industrial pressures are already so high. There are already forty to fifty other courier agencies in Pearl City, not counting the logistics companies. I know that this matter was not totally your fault but we can't take this risk. If she really sued us and the company's reputation is ruined, then it would also affect my image in the head office. So, the only thing we can do is to fire you. You are young and resilient and can find a job anywhere. I didn't penalize your salary even after she lodged several complaints against you, and I also gave you another thousand bucks as a form of compensation. We had been on good terms and I had not made things difficult for you. I hope that you will understand my predicament. I really had no choice." The manager explained himself with a lengthy speech.
Johnny was stunned when he heard these words. After a long pause, he scoffed and said, "You ask me to understand you, but who the hell will understand me? So be it, I will not waste my time with you. So what if you fire me. I'll leave since I'm not welcomed. Remember, this extra one thousand was not compensation but it's what I deserved. Damn it, last month I even spent eight hundred treating you to a meal. Add today's salary of two hundred and that makes a thousand. Baldy, with the way you handle things, it would be a damn shame if you don't become the Secretary-General of the United Nations!"☐☐☐☐☐☐