The Interview

In the human world everyone aims to be renowned and preeminent. Someone special and out of the ordinary. Yet they don't accept someone unordinary. And I am not ordinary. I am not "normal" as they call it. I was 9 years old when the doctors concluded that I was suffering from Asperger Syndrome. My behaviour and human interaction has always been different from people around me. My parents were worried that I might be mentally ill and they might have to send me to an asylum but they were wrong. I am smart. Very smart. The doctors said I'm autistic but that doesn't mean I have inferior intelligence. It is quite contrary. I have an above average intelligence with an IQ of 149. But some dumb people don't understand this. They believe that being autistic is equivalent to being insane. I don't blame them though. Humans are stupid, most of them are.

"My baby has grown into such a handsome adult, going to a job interview for such a big company. Eomma is so proud of you baby." My mother said as she fixed my tie for the 7th time now that's already in place.

"This is my, my eleventh interview today Eomma. If my categorisation into a handsome adult is is based on going for interviews then I turned into one on 24th September 2017. 2017. You're getting old, old. Very old. You don't remember things anymore. You're old now. Old." I chuckle while speaking.

"Yes yes I'm getting old but you don't have to rub it in my face like that. And I do remember this is your 11th interview but that doesn't mean a mother can't be proud of her son. Remember baby getting selected or not doesn't matter what matters is-"

"That I tried. Unlike those who take their disorders as their weaknesses and never do anything to achieve their dreams. Such dumb human breeds. Sigh." I say completing my mother's sentence that she has been repeating since two years now, every time I go for a job interview. I don't know why she has to repeat the same thing every time. I am the one with autism who gets stuck with words. She isn't.

"You and your sharp memory. Very well, get leaving now. You don't want to get late and leave a bad impression now do you." She counsels as he brushes her palm against my coat and hands me my sunglasses. I have sensitive stimuli. So certain light and colour scare me. With my glasses everything dulls down to almost similar colours.

"I won't get late. No. I have time. Quite a lot of time." I say glancing at my watch. The interview starts at 11 AM and it's 9AM right now. It takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Jeon corp. I have to take a taxi for a 10 minutes drive but if I face traffic then it might take me 20-25 minutes. Taking the maximum option I'll still have 20 minutes in my hands. No I won't get late.

Just like my calculation I was standing in front of Jeon Corp's building 40 minutes earlier. After inquiring at the reception's desk I was escorted to the room where the interview was to be held. The lady kept staring at me every so often. They all do. I don't know why they do that. Humans are difficult to understand.

"The names will be called as per your serial numbers. You have to wait here until your name is being called." She instructed me as she lead me to a sofa where many more candidates were seated with their resumes in hand.

"Thank, thank you Miss. Thank you very much." I thanked her as she nodded at me with a smile on her face.

One by one names were being called and the candidates went in as per their names. I sat there silently as I waited for my turn. Soon I was called in too and so I stepped inside the luxurious looking office. My resume was already taken in by someone so that the interviewer can inspect it before hand.

The office was very spacious with very nice interiors. None of the lights inside the office was too harsh for me since I had taken off my glasses and none of them affected me in the slightest.

"Take a seat Mr Kim." A deep voice ringed in my ears as my eyes turned to look at the source of it. The man sitting on a swivel chair motioned his hands in the direction of the chair right infront of the table. His voice. I like the sound of his voice.

As I sit on the chair as I stare at his face. He has a perfectly oval face with a prominent jawline. His lips are pink and plum. While he has small neatly structured nose. My eyes then trail up to his eyes. Dark brown orbs with long lashes. I want to keep looking at his eyes but I can't. It's difficult. I can't keep eye contact. He's handsome. Very handsome.

"You're staring Mr. Kim. Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to gawk at people's faces? If you do, at least try not to get caught." I tilt my head slightly as I concentrate at his moving lips. My mouth slightly parted.

"Yes I was staring, yes. I pay too much attention to details of things that catch my eye. Too much, little too much. I I memorize details. I memorized your face, your, your face. You're handsome, very handsome." I speak as I make eye contact everyone once in a while, my face devoid of expression like always. He's starting too. Intensely staring.

"Thank you for the compliment Mr Kim. Well what did you observe?" He asks as his finger brushes the paper weight on the table.

"You have a perfectly oval face, oval, with a prominent jawline. Your lips are pink and plum with small neatly structured nose. Small nose. Your eyes are dark brown, dark, dark brown with long lashes. You have moles on the tip of your nose, side of the nose bridge, above your lips, under your bottom lip, on your right chin, on the upper cheek, on the lower cheek, on your right ear and above your forehead which makes them eleven in total. Eleven. Eleven moles." I say in one breath as he keeps starting. Eyes never blinking once. Oh no that's not good.

"You should you should blink Mr. Jeon. Blinking is important. Very important. It cleans the surface of your eye of any debris and washes it out with fresh tears. The coating of tears helps sharpen your vision, clearing and brightening the image your retina receives. Blinking also nourishes your eye with oxygen and nutrients, keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable. Healthy. Blinking is healthy." I counsel that makes him blink multiple times. Yes that's good. Blinking is good.

"Sometimes you practice repeated speech while sometime you're very fluent. Why so Mr. Kim?" He inquires as I scratch my head before answering.

"I have difficulty in interactions, interactions Mr. Jeon. It's difficult, yeah difficult to voice out my thoughts fluently. But quoting things I I already memorized. It's easy, very easy." I explain it to him as he nods in understanding. I am not a stutterer. I can speak very well without interruptions. People often mistake my repeated speech for stammering. They're wrong. Very wrong.

"Okay well, let's start with introductions. I'm Jeon Jungkook. The CEO of Jeon Corporation. And if you pass the interview you'll be working under me as my secretary." He states out all the obvious. I know who he is. I've seen him on news many times. I know I'll be working for him if I pass the interview. I read that on the job application form. So I simply nod. He then stares at me expectantly so I tilt my head as realization soon hits. He introduced himself. It's now my turn. I chuckle at my stupidity.

"Oh yes introduction, yes. I'm Kim Taehyung. Kim Kim Taehyung. I have Asperger Syndrome. In 2013 it was classified under Autism spectrum disorder ASD, autism. That doesn't mean I'm dumb. Oh no. I've an IQ of 149. I'm smart, very smart. But I can't decipher human emotions. No I can't, I can't. People often speak different and mean different thing, completely different thing. I don't understand that. No I don't." I finish up as he reads my resume.

"Yes you have quite an impressive GPA. Various achievements too. This is one of the most impressive resume I've seen so far which makes you one of the most suited candidate for the job but then we a problem. And that's your disorder. Ever since you've come inside you've not once made a proper eye contact. You don't stutter but your speech sounds robotic. If you work as my secretary you'll have to deal with a lot of clients. Communication is the basic requirement for this job Mr Kim. If you're not good at that, how can we hire you." He states as he leans back on his chair.

"Oh no the job requirement didn't state that. No it didn't. It said, GPA more that 3.5 in college, more than 3 in high school. Internship from a company and fluency in English. You're lying Mr Jeon, lying. You're you're lying. Lying, you're lying." I move back and forth in my seat as I speak with slightly raised voice. He's a liar too. Everyone lies. I don't. I can't.

"Okay okay relax. This would be the first time anyone has called me a liar. You amuse me Mr Kim. Well yes we didn't state that but it is pretty obvious. Anyway, we'll end the interview here. Wait outside Mr Kim. If you get selected, you'll be informed so in 20 minutes. Oh by the way. You're pretty too Mr Kim, very pretty" He states with a smirk on his face as I blush and giggle at his last words. Hiding my face as I glance downwards. He motions his hand towards the door which was now opened by the man who had previously escorted me inside. So I get up from my seat and leave his office.

As I wait outside I concentrate on the flowers in the room. White lily. Botanical name lilium, type of species Lilium Candidum. Widely grown in China.

"Attention everyone." The lady from earlier says catching my attention.

"Everyone of you were great in different aspects but in the end there was only one spot so don't get disappointed if you don't happen to be the one. Mr Kim Taehyung." She calls out as I look over at her while standing up from my seat.

"You're hired for the job, congratulations." She declares with a smile. I giggle in delight as I hide my face. I'm happy. Very happy. Everyone else who came for the interview groans as they soon leave the room.

The lady steps towards me as she comes to stand right in front me.

"Congratulations Mr Kim." She congratulates me yet again, this time extending her hand. I look at her hand blankly before bowing and muttering a thank you.

Soon I was called in by Mr Jeon once again so I step in and stop right in the middle of the room.

"Congratulations on getting the job Mr Kim. You're to start working from tomorrow. Be here my 9AM. I don't like people who are late." He informs me.

"Okay, okay." I nod with my head.

"Very well then. See you tomorrow Mr Kim." He says as a goodbye.

"Yes tomorrow. Tomorrow 9 AM. Tomorrow." I mumble under my breath as I step out of the office.

I got the job. It feels good to get the job. Very good.

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