LOOK MUMMY, I FOUND HIM

Asuka stood outside the doors of the sleek, towering office building, trying to steady her nerves. "Here goes nothing," she whispered to herself, forcing a small, hopeful smile. "This is my third interview today," she muttered, her words filled with exhaustion. "If I fail another one, that'll make it fifty failed in-person interviews. Don't even get me started on the online ones." She groaned at the thought.

Her mind wandered back to her daughter. "No, no, Asuka, stay focused." She lightly tapped her cheeks, trying to shake off the growing anxiety. "Do your best, for Sakura. She promised to make you proud in her studies. The least I can do is keep trying for her." But deep down, she knew that this wasn't some grand achievement-this was just the bare minimum. Clothes, food, education, and a roof over her child's head were basic necessities every child deserved. Yet here she was, feeling like a failure for struggling to provide even that.

More than once, the weight of her circumstances had her convinced that she was a failure. Her heart ached as she thought of everything Sakura had endured because of her. Growing up without a father, living in inhumane conditions, getting by on scraps, and even being bullied at school. Some kids, and even the teachers, whispered cruel things about them, calling Sakura and Asuka a "mistake."

A tear threatened to spill, but Asuka quickly swallowed it down. "Tears won't solve anything," she reminded herself. "Actions and smarts will." With a determined breath, she pushed open the door and walked into the immaculate lobby of the building. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on the receptionist desk, where a young woman sat, typing away at a computer.

Asuka approached cautiously. "Good morning," she greeted the receptionist politely.

"Good morning, ma'am. How can I help you?" the receptionist responded, her voice friendly.

"I'm here for a job interview. Could you direct me to the right place?" Asuka asked, her voice a little shaky with nerves.

"Of course!" The receptionist smiled. "Just go down the hall, take a right, and you'll see an office with 'Director Sean' on the door. Trust me, you can't miss it."

"Thank you so much," Asuka said, offering a grateful smile before turning to walk toward the hall.

"Wait!" The receptionist's voice called out before Asuka could get too far.

Asuka turned back, surprised. "Yes?"

The receptionist studied her for a moment before asking, "Are you from around here? You don't seem American."

Asuka nodded, though she felt a little shy discussing her background. "I'm mixed. I spent my childhood in Japan and moved to the States during high school."

"Oh, that's interesting," the receptionist replied, her tone light. "Well, I won't hold you up any longer. Good luck with your interview!"

"Thank you," Asuka said, smiling once more before hurrying down the hall.

The receptionist watched Asuka disappear around the corner, her smile slowly fading. "Oh, she's not getting the job," she muttered to herself, pulling out a folder with Asuka's name on it. She flipped it open, skimming through the contents. "Asuka Sim, twenty-two years old and already a six-year-old kid?" She chuckled under her breath. "Wow, that's... something. At least she graduated high school... barely." The receptionist couldn't help but laugh, amused by Asuka's life story as she skimmed the details.

Meanwhile, Asuka continued down the hall, turning right as the receptionist had instructed. Relief washed over her when she saw the name Director Sean etched on a large, polished door. "Okay," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath. "For Sakura." She knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in," came the voice from inside.

Asuka stepped into the office, her heart pounding in her chest. "Good morning, sir," she said, bowing slightly. "I'm here for the interview."

"Of course, please have a seat," Director Sean gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.

"Thank you," Asuka replied, nervously taking her seat, her back stiff with tension.

"Excuse me, we'll need to wait a moment," Director Sean said. "I always conduct interviews with my daughter."

Asuka tried to keep her smile in place, even as her anxiety spiked. "That sounds wonderful," she said politely.

It wasn't long before the office door opened again, and a young woman entered-Asuka's eyes widened in surprise. It was the same receptionist from earlier, now dressed far more professionally.

"Hello, Miss Asuka," the young woman greeted coolly, taking a seat next to her father.

"Oh... hello," Asuka responded, her smile faltering as she processed the sudden shift in the woman's demeanor. "We meet again."

"You two know each other?" Director Sean asked, glancing between them.

"Not really," the young woman replied coldly, her earlier warmth completely gone. "She just asked for directions."

Asuka was taken aback by the sudden change, but she didn't have time to dwell on it before the young woman turned to her father. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" she said with an edge to her voice. "You're twenty-two, with a six-year-old child. You barely managed to graduate from high school, and from the looks of it, you don't even know who the father is," she said, her eyes scanning Asuka from head to toe with thinly veiled disdain. "You lived with your mother until she passed last year, and you couldn't inherit anything. You've been fired from every small job you've managed to get. So, tell me, how exactly do you think you're qualified for this position?"

Asuka sat frozen in her chair, shocked and hurt by the harsh words. She had thought, for a brief moment, that she had met someone kind earlier, but now it was clear-this was no friendly receptionist; she was a spoiled boss's daughter, determined to cut Asuka down.

"Nina," Director Sean interjected gently, "can we please allow Miss Asuka to speak?"

"What's left to say?" Nina shot back. "She's not qualified, Dad."

"It's a cleaning job..." Director Sean tried to reason.

"Dad, we run a multinational high-tech company. Even our cleaners need to meet certain standards," Nina replied, her tone dripping with arrogance. She turned back to Asuka. "Miss Asuka, I'm twenty years old, with four degrees and a 4.95 GPA. So, let's be real here. You're out of your depth. But I'll commend your bravery-for showing up here, at least. You've got guts. Now, take those guts and your folder and leave."

With that, she aggressively slid Asuka's folder across the desk and stood up, walking out of the office without a second glance.

Asuka sat there, trying to hold back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She swallowed hard and reached for her folder, preparing to leave.

"Wait," Director Sean said, holding out an envelope. "Take this. It's a thousand dollars-compensation for my daughter's behavior."

Asuka stared at the envelope, torn between her need for money and her pride. "I don't need your pity, sir."

"It's not pity," Director Sean assured her. "Why do you think we're still hiring for a cleaner? I've spent fifty thousand dollars on applicants my daughter has rejected. Make that fifty-one now."

Asuka hesitated but finally accepted the envelope. "Thank you," she said quietly, bowing before rushing out of the building.

As soon as she was outside, the tears she had been holding back began to fall. She hurried to a nearby public restroom, not wanting to cry in the street. Inside, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, feeling utterly defeated.

"Another failed interview," she whispered to herself, her voice breaking. "I don't know what to do anymore."

Her phone alarm went off, reminding her it was time to pick up Sakura from school. Wiping her tears, she straightened her clothes and fixed her hair. "I can't let her see me like this," she muttered.

The walk to Sakura's school wasn't far, and she arrived just in time to see her daughter playing with two friends. Asuka forced a smile, trying to push the day's events to the back of her mind.

"Mummy! You're here!" Sakura squealed, running to her and wrapping her arms around her mother.

"How was school?" Asuka asked, managing a genuine smile at her daughter's excitement.

"Tiring!" Sakura groaned dramatically.

Asuka chuckled. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad."

"Oh, it was worse," Sakura insisted, burying her face in her mother's clothes.

Asuka laughed softly and kissed the top of her head. "Say goodbye to your friends, Sakura."

Sakura turned to her friends and waved. "Goodbye, comrades! Your captain needs some rest. Tomorrow, we'll take over the school!"

Her friends cheered in unison. "Yeah!"

"No, no," Asuka corrected with a playful sigh. "Tomorrow, you'll do your homework, go to bed early, get up early, and respect your teachers and classmates."

"Nah!" Sakura laughed, grabbing her mother's hand. "Let's go, Mum."

As they started walking, Sakura asked, "How were the job interviews?"

Asuka hesitated. "They were... eventful."

"Eventful as in... you didn't get the job, right?" Sakura asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Asuka sighed softly. "No, I didn't. But I made a thousand dollars today."

Sakura looked up, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes still held disappointment. "That's nice, Mum."

They walked in silence for a few moments before Sakura added, "I think I'll just head to bed early tonight. I've already studied and finished my homework."

Asuka blinked in surprise. "How? You've been home for only a little while."

Sakura gave a sly grin. "I have my ways."

Asuka laughed. "Well, aren't you cheeky?"

Sakura's smile faded slightly, her tone more serious now. "I'm not cheeky. I just know I won't be able to do it later. You didn't pay the electricity bill again, did you? There won't be any lights on tonight."

Asuka's heart sank at the blunt truth in her daughter's words. She knew she had tried her best, but it didn't feel like enough. "I'll fix it soon, Sakura. I promise."

Sakura turned her gaze toward the ground. "It's okay, Mum. I know you're trying. But... you're disappointed in me, aren't you?"

Asuka stopped in her tracks, caught off guard. "Disappointed? In you? Never."

Sakura didn't meet her eyes, her voice lowering to a whisper. "I just... I feel like it's my fault. You'd be in a better place if I wasn't here, if I hadn't been born. You're still so young. You should be living a healthy, happy life, but I'm making it worse every day. Even my own dad doesn't want me. I'm just... a mistake."

Asuka's heart shattered as she heard her daughter's words. Tears welled up in her eyes as she knelt down to be at eye level with Sakura. She placed her hands gently on her daughter's shoulders.

"Hey, stop it. Right now," Asuka said, her voice firm but filled with love. "Those thoughts you're having? They're wrong. So, so wrong."

Sakura finally looked up, tears spilling down her small cheeks. "Mum, you've lied to me before, and this... this feels like another lie. Where's Dad? Where is he if I'm not the mistake?"

She turned away, walking slowly ahead, leaving Asuka standing there, heartbroken and at a loss for words, watching her little girl carry the weight of emotions far too heavy for her to bear.