Antonio's POV

Whatever job it is, I'll take it!

Another day of pointlessly browsing job vacancies on the internet and in every paper I can get my hands on. There are actually plenty of jobs available, though none of them fit my studies. I probably should have reconsidered studying pediatrics after all.

All of the hospitals I apply to keep rejecting me because I don't have any experience, but how am I supposed to gain any if no one will give me a job? I can't apply for nurse either because: 'Your studies don't overlap the requirements, you can apply after you finished nurse school.'

I'm Antonio Fernández Carriedo, currently 24 and jobless. I can't find a job for my degree, due to lack of experience and other jobs reject me because I don't have the right qualifications. Thus the only option left is babysitting people's kids in the neighborhood for 5 dollar an hour. And there simply is no way I can make a living of that! Maybe some café needs a waiter or something.

Before I could even start looking on the internet, someone knocks on the front door, or maybe slam is a better word to describe it? I move the old laptop from my lap and set it on the glass coffee table and get up to open the door. "Toni! Antonio? Are you asleep? Open the door!" Followed by furious ringing of the doorbell. "Toni! I got to pee!" Great idea, shout it louder next time, I don't think the people in Australia have heard about your tiny bladder yet.

It takes a moment for me to unlock the door and open it. As soon as I open the door, I'm shoved against the wall and a wild albino flies by, dropping parts of his equipment on the way to the bathroom, luckily though, this apartment is small.

That was my friend Gilbert just now, we studied in the same year. He's about a month older than me, but acts like a hyperactive child most of the time. He has a tiny bladder, which doesn't do well with his, uh, love for beer. Not that he's an alcoholic, he just likes beer, a lot. Guess that didn't sound very convincing though. He also has a huge ego, ever since I knew him, though that doesn't make him any less awkward, and a good heart, but it's buried quite deeply under his ego. Gilbert is an Albino and a German, a very proud one to say the least.

The two of us are friends with another guy, Francis, he is a year our senior and we also met at university, where he was a sort of 'mentor' to me and Gilbert. He mainly showed us around to our classes and such, telling us who is safe to fuck and who most likely has an STD, spread rumors and tried to pair us with girls. To be honest, he didn't make a good first impressions on us two, awkward virgins with all the sex-talk, but we grew close anyway. The three of us would play pranks on teachers and tell jokes all the times, I didn't understand half of them, but we are good friends nonetheless.

I should really do something about the constantly getting distracted, what was I doing before Gilbert interrupted the peace anyway? Oh, right! A job! Maybe I'll find a nice part-time job in a café for the time being. Sitting back down on the couch I glance at the laptop in front of me.

The toilet flushes as the bathroom door gets unlocked with a soft click and a muttered "I feel so awesome." Really Gilbert? You feel awesome from taking a piss? I have a feeling I'll have to go look for a job later.

"Hey Toni," he says with a grin on his face, that can't be too good, "I have good news, want to guess?" He picks up his coat from the floor and hangs it on the coat rack before coming back and sitting in the couch opposite of me.

"Does it involve beer?" Usually his good news means he found a new favorite beer brand, "No, guess again!" He really is excited about whatever this is, "You have a girlfriend?" I ask excitedly, judging by the glare he's giving me that's not what he meant. I'm reaching an end to possible subjects that could excite him that much, "Uh.. Something about Germany?" It's worth a shot.

"No Toni, better, think awesome!" He's grinning like a child and I can see he can't keep this great news in him for much longer. What could possibly be so awesome that Gilbert is practically jumping from excitement, "Did you win a million dollar?" That wasn't meant to come out that loud, but what can I do, I'm getting just as enthusiastic as he is. His face drops slightly, but he's still grinning, "Well, no, but that would indeed be very awesome. Okay, the awesome me will tell you the great news!" He's trying to calm his laughter before sharing whatever got him in such high spirits, "I, the awesome Gilbert Beilschmidt, found you a job! Ain't I the best friend ever?"

"Gilbert, you really are as awesome as you claim to be!" That's amazing news, where would I be without such wonderful friends? He's muttering something about being awesome and it not being a problem at all. See, he really has a good heart.

"So, what is this job?" Well, I might want to know what I will be doing, possibly for the rest of my life, right? Just to make sure that the 'Lord of Awesome' sitting opposite of me, didn't sign me up for 'mobile toilet cleaner' or anything.

"Ah, yeah." He starts, now I'm really starting to worry about the mobile toilet cleaning, he couldn't do that to me, could he? He starts rubbing the back of his neck, "Well, you see, uh, how should I say this?" He really will! Oh no! I can already guess his next words: 'Toni, you're going to clean those transportable festival toilets that stink of the plague and death. But at least it's a job!'

"So, I have acquaintances. You could say they're friends of the family, don't worry, they're nice people." He can't find his words, I feel like crying! Gilbert, just spill it so I can start looking for another job as soon as possible! "Well, you see," come on Gilbert, just say it, get this over with! "they have like, a, um, disabled family member. I mean physically! And so there has to be someone who brings them their food and such things." At last he finished.

"No toilets?" I wasn't meant to say that but it slipped before I even realized. Gilbert looks at me as if I turned bright green, that would be awful! No one will hire a green man! "No, well, you might clean the bathroom once in a while, but that's all." What a relief!

Okay Tonio, calm down, no festival toilets. "So, what am I supposed to do then?"

Gilbert is nervous again, maybe it's because the disabled person is someone very close to him? "Well, as I said, you'll pretty much be a personal assistant, bringing food, putting something away. Maybe even do a bit of cleaning. It's nothing extremely difficult, but…"

I'm waiting for him to continue, he doesn't say anything though, staring at the glass coffee table as if it were the most interesting thing on earth. "But what, Gilbert?" His gaze shoots up to meet mine. "Oh right, well, you see, the person you'll be working for isn't always the most pleasant to be around. But you can't get out of this, I already promised you'll be there tomorrow to meet the family."

"Ah, any more about this person I should know?" Just a grin and a shake of the head, "You'll see tomorrow, Toni. Go shower and go to bed, we're expected to be there at 8 in the morning." Maybe he's right, nice shower and sleep it off, start tomorrow with a clear head.

I quickly shut down the laptop and got my sleeping attire to get ready for the shower. By the time I'm out it's already 10:24 PM, I'm so tired I can hardly stand, or are those the nerves? I really can't tell anymore.

I'm lying in my bed now, shifting, but just can't fall asleep, maybe I should turn over the pillow, that usually helps. Tossing and turning but still wide awake, Gilbert comes in the room with his still slightly wet hair. And lays on the bed on the opposite side of the room. "Toni, don't worry, it'll all be fine." Gilbert says before falling asleep quickly. How can he just fall asleep while I'm too nervous to even close my eyes.

I must've fallen asleep eventually because at half past 6 in the morning Gilbert is shaking me, a little too harsh for my liking, in order to wake me up. "You're finally up Toni, It's already 6:37, get dressed, breakfast is already made."

"That's too early, let me sleep some more, I still have more than an hour to get there. Just let me sleep a bit longer." I know I must be sounding like a kid not wanting to go to school, but 6:37 is really too early to be awake. Gilbert doesn't seem to agree with that idea though. Because as soon as I rolled over he pulled off my bedsheet, so now I'm not only tired but also cold.

"Toni, for the last time, get dressed and eat or I'm throwing a bucket of cold water over your head." How cruel, my friend is such a slave-driver in the morning. "I'm coming, just, no water." He seems to accept this answer, seeing as he throws my bedsheet back at me. I curl up again under the thick bedsheet, the peace doesn't last long though, because I get random clothing pieces thrown at my head.

Gilbert stands over my bed again, "I'm leaving you to get ready now, if you're not dressed by the time I'm back, I'm getting the water." He left without giving me the chance to say something back. Not that it would have helped anyway.

So, if I don't get dressed, I'll be receiving a cold shower, but, it's too cold to get out of bed! Then again, I could always get dressed under the covers. First wriggle out of my pajamas, and then, awkward patting the bed.. Got it! A shirt! Now, where's the front? I got it on, and then pants. How nice, Gilbert even thought about giving me a pullover to wear in this cold weather!

Gilbert walks into the room, looking disapprovingly, "Don't make me get the bucket." He really isn't joking, he acts too calm for it to be a joke. "N-no, I'm finished, just my socks. What time is it?"

Gilbert looks at his watch, "It's 6:52, hurry and go eat."

I enter the kitchen when Gilbert spontaneously starts laughing at the table. "Hey Toni, those pants don't seem to fit too well, do they?" Is my friend a mind-reader now? How cool! "How did you know that?" He chuckles, "Well, just a guess, and you're wearing your pants the wrong way around."

Looking down, I really am wearing them wrong, better get them on right before I forget. Leaning against the wall, I take off my pants, "You should be glad Francis isn't here, he'd attack your tomatoes without a second thought." Yes, Francis would do that kind of thing, I can't help but chuckle at the thought as I pull my pants back on.

"How is Francis anyway, now that you mention him?" I sit at the small table, opposite to Gilbert.

"You already know he went back to France after the love of his life, right? Well, it seems he lost sight of the poor girl and is now looking for her. He told me he is in the Rhône-Alpes, or whatever it's called."

Poor Francis, fell in love with a girl and now he can't find her. But he'll probably find another 'love of his life' while looking for this one. I ate my toast and Gilbert pushed me out of the apartment by 7: 20, he didn't even give me the time to lace my shoes, I had to lace them in his car.

I'm getting that nervous feeling again. I don't even know the people. Sure, Gilbert said they're nice, but he also said that the person I'm working for has a troublesome personality. I really hope they don't end up hating me.

Gilbert is quiet, having his attention fixed on the road, muttering to himself about the wrong-way driver they just reported on the radio. He's driving some place I've never seen in my life, and I live here for years already. I'm still so nervous, I should keep my mind off it, but I don't know how.

"Toni, we're here." Gilbert says, looking through the window at my side of the car. Following his gaze, through the thick morning mist, I see a mansion, or maybe even a palace, I've never seen such a large building from close by! No, no, no! I just can't do this! They'll hate me as soon as they spot me, I thought I was going to work for normal people, not nobility!

"G-Gilbert, why didn't you say that I'll be working for nobility?" I just can't do this, it's Impossible! Gilbert looks at me worriedly, "It's okay Toni, it's 7:48 now, relax for a bit." Yes, relax, okay, I can do it! Slow breaths now, don't think about it.

It's not working! "Gilbert, I really can't do this, drive back home, I'll go work in a café or something! Just, not here!" He turns off the motor of the car and unbuckles his seatbelt, "Come on, it'll all be fine, you should worry less." He gets out of the car and closes the door behind him.

He walks over to my door and opens it, or at least tries to, as I'm pulling as hard as possible to keep it closed. "Come now man, you're acting way un-awesome now, grow a pair and get out." He finally managed to pry the door open.

"No, no, no, no, I really, really can't do it, please understand!"

He sighs, "Alright, fine, let's make a deal then, you either prove you're a man and get out now, or you will sleep outside tonight. And the weather forecast said it will be freezing."

Neither of those sound very pleasant, but I'd rather not get hypothermia and die. I look at Gilbert, he really is going to make me do it. I unbuckle my seatbelt as slowly as possible and get out of the car at the speed that must be close to that of an average turtle, "Good boy, now, let's go."

I feel myself being dragged by my arm to the large gate that surrounds the light-colored villa. Directly to the right of the main gate is a smaller one, for letting people in and out. Gilbert turns the handle and opens the smaller gate, wait, It was open like that? I didn't see him getting a key from anywhere. Wouldn't people with so much money be more careful? So people can't just come in and steal everything?

"Come on Toni, people are waiting on you." Right, don't get too distracted now, it'll all be fine, just calm down! Gilbert starts talking again as we walk on the long driveway to the house, "So, this is the family Vargas, they're from Italy. There's actually just four people living here, uh, actually three, the youngest one is studying somewhere abroad I think. Don't know him too well, but yeah, don't worry, they're all really nice." I know he's saying it to calm me down, and it's actually helping a bit, not much, but I'm slightly calmer now.

He doesn't let go of my arm until we reach the front.. Is that a door? Can I call it a door? It's so big! Not like that of a church, but still! I got distracted again because I nearly jumped in the air when Gilbert knocked on the massive doors, hard as well, might I add.

"Well then, I have to go work now, so, have fun, I'll come pick you up around 7, alright?" With that he ran, he just left me standing there! The traitor! And I can't even move from the nerves! "Gil, you traitor, how could you!" I shout after him but he's already out of sight.

I hear the door open and in it a man stands, "You must be Antonio, right? Come in boy, you must be cold." I couldn't even reply before being dragged inside and the door being closed behind me. It's so warm inside, I'm getting dizzy as a wave of heat hits me. "Go ahead and take your coat off, you can hang it anywhere." He points to an elegant coat rack behind him. Just as he says, I pull off my shoes and coat and lay them neatly next to the others, hanging up my coat on an empty hook.

"Haha, must be very cold out, seeing how hard you're shaking." This must be mister Vargas, he has dark brown hair with strange curls, I mean, I also have brown, curly hair, but his curls seem different. They're literally sticking up in some places. He seems like the type of person who takes very good care of himself, he's wearing an elegant suit and a friendly smile. Is that a stubble on his chin? I can't say it doesn't fit him though.

"W-well, it's end-November after all, sir." I reply, the nerves are still eating me up from the inside. Mister Vargas laughs, "That's true. Please follow me for a moment." I follow him through the large entrance-hall and a spacious corridor into a very nicely decorated office.

"Please sit down." He motions to one of the chairs in the room before sitting in the one behind the desk. As soon as I'm seated he eyes me calculatingly, making me not only incredibly nervous, but also plain uncomfortable. "So, Antonio, tell me more about yourself."

What am I supposed to say? Usually they ask you questions. "Uh, well," He keeps looking at me expectantly, "Uh, I'm Antonio Fernández Carriedo, I'm 24 now. I just finished my studies in pediatrics and, uh, to be honest, I really don't know what I'm supposed to be doing as a personal assistant, but I'm really hoping to get a job and I'll do my very best if you hire me." He's still staring at me with his light-brown eyes.

I probably messed up before even starting, now I'll have to spend all the time until 7 outside the gate in the freezing cold. People always told me I'm too honest for my own good, but what's the point is saying I can do something when it'll just turn out I can't do it? Mister Vargas smiles, "Don't worry about it, everything will fall in order soon. Just one thing, my Bambi has a very delicate personality, and can be quite unpredictable at times. Just so you know. Take good care."

Bambi, so I'll be taking care of his daughter? I can do that, I hope I can do that. Wait, don't I have to sign something when I'm hired? Maybe not if I'm working for a family or so, I mean, you don't sign contracts when you go babysitting, it's probably normal.

He stands up with his hand outstretched. I hesitantly stand up from my chair and shake his hand, "Well, you're hired then, you can go now." I nod and turn to the door, it's already open when I forgot to ask something. "Excuse me," I turn to face mister Vargas, "I don't know where I have to go."

"That's right, go upstairs and then turn right, it's the last room on the left side." Mister Vargas smiles at me, "Thank you." I quietly say before closing the door.

Now that I see it for the second time, the corridor is really nice, it's painted a nice red color, much like mister Vargas' office, but a bit lighter. On every wall there are portraits, on closer inspection they are all hand-painted, having someone paint a portrait must've cost a fortune, but then again, so does everything else here. Tonio, focus, don't get distracted by paintings, you have a job to attend to!

The entrance hall is beautiful too, it's all yellow and golden and even has one of those big chandeliers with all the crystals on it! It really looks like a place you'd see in a movie, it even has those super-wide stairs with a red carpet and all! Just walking on them makes me feel more important!

Now I have to turn right, and last on the left side, don't get distracted by the interior, just go to the door and… There are even more portraits here! They're all so well made, I wonder whether those are family members, everyone sure does look important.

Good job Tonio, now you got yourself nervous again. Just go there and knock, can't be that hard. It's just a girl, she's probably nice enough, there's nothing to worry about. When I reach the door I hear someone talking, is she on the phone? Maybe I should wait then. Then again, it doesn't sound like a phone call, it's probably the other person living here that Gilbert mentioned.

Well, they must be expecting me anyway, so, I suppose it won't hurt. I knock on the door a couple of times and wait as everything goes silent.