Name: Jennie Sharma (Original name - Jaya Sharma, she thinks her name is way too old fashioned thus...she changed it)

Age: You better not ask (30 looks like 20)

Personality: Obsessed with skincare (Skips on meals to buy products), Careless, Sassy, (You must read further to know...)

Occupation: Ordinary office employee (No comments)

Lover: Crush of many (But she scares them off: Unknowingly)

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Jennie rushed towards the apartment door with a half-buttoned shirt and mouth stuffed with bread.

It's past 9 am. She was late again today.

Why you ask? Her flawless skin is the answer.

Cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and a hint of sunscreen— her non-negotiables. A flawless skin can't be compromised.

Chewing on her food she tugged her collar as she buttoned her shirt. She pulled out her pocket mirror from her purse to reapply the sunscreen while hurriedly descending the stairs.

THUD! CRASH!

She bumped into a feeble-looking handsome young man with a pale chiselled face, high cheekbones and a strong jawline. He had clear eyes, almost too bright for his gaunt frame and with his hair tousled, he gave an effortlessly charming appearance.

'Such loose clothes? perhaps a recent weight loss or prolonged illness or simply is it the fashion nowadays?' Jennie thought, taking in his appearance in a split second.

"Fuckkk! What did I crash into!" she exclaimed.

"Miss. you must look where you are going. Did you get hurt?" The man asked politely while brushing off the dust on his hands.

"My babyyyyy!" She screamed, while frantically searching for something.

"Hm? What? where? Where is the baby?" he started looking around just like her.

"My sunscreen rolled down...Move!" She pushed him aside as she picked up her precious baby and started dusting off the dust with exaggerated care.

In the meantime, she glanced at her watch, "Oh my GODDDDD!" with a scream, she started running; probably faster than Usain Bolt.

The man agape, whispered to himself "Did the fall affect her brain?"

He stood there for a moment longer, before shaking his head and continuing on his way.

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"I am so so sorry sir! this is the last time believe me!" She exclaimed with a 90-degree bow.

The fat burly man with arms crossed had little to no emotion on his face. He said, "How many times has it been? You are young, so why don't you move your muscles and come a little earlier, huh?"

'This old fart.' Jennie thought to herself.

"If you are late again, your salary will be cut in half!"

Jennie's switched gears quickly, realizing her potential mistake could affect her skincare routine tremendously. No money, no products. This can never happen.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

She put a 100-dollar smile on her face as she gently took his arm and started massaging his shoulder as if buttering him up with her sudden attentiveness. "You see, this will be the last time. Your poor shoulder must be so sore. Let me make it up to you. Can I get you a coffee? Or perhaps I can carry something for you?"

The man, taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanour, blinked in confusion. "Uh, no, no, it's fine. Really."

But Jennie continued, her hands still working on his shoulder as if she were an expert masseuse. "Please, let me do something for you."

"Ahem, go and start your work, enough for today. But next time you must not be late. I am warning you the last time"

"Yes Sir!" She said snapping into a salute.

'That old man, always nagging. Just because he is old' , Jennie thought as she returned to her desk. She buried herself with her work, tapping away at her keyboard.

And in no time it was LunchTime.

They sat together to eat, but Jennie couldn't help but notice the tired, worn-out expressions on the faces of her colleagues. They were ageing, their once youthful skin now covered by lines and wrinkles. It made her skin crawl just thinking about it.

"Hey, Sonam," Jennie said, leaning over to her side "Have you been keeping up with your skincare routine? You're starting to look a little... well, granny-ish."

Sonam looked up from her food, a tired smile on her lips. "Oh, you know how it is, Jennie. Life gets busy, and before you know it, 24 hours is finished."

Jennie wrinkled her nose. "Well, you better start applying those creams and serums I suggested, if you don't want to end up looking like a Grandma in her 80s"

Sonam chuckled, "You know, there have been rumours going around lately. People say a strange light is seen in the mountains and they see silhouettes of strange beings from there. What could be the creatures? "

"Oh! yeah right, I wish they grant me flawless skin, or maybe an unlimited supply of products. How fucking awesome life would be then I wonder?"

"My God, I am sure they are not Genies from The Aladdin, who will grant your wishes though?"

"Who knows?...it's just a rumour"

"You are right.."

"Make sure to apply the cream"

"Again..."

Their lunch break continued for a long time.

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Jennie walked down the street, going back home from work.

'Hm? The streets are unusually quiet today.'

The usual sounds of the city—cars honking, people laughing, music spilling out from bars—were conspicuously absent. Ignoring the eerily flickering street lights and the howling of the dogs she kept on walking.

Wondering, when will she find herself a handsome boyfriend or maybe a charming beauty. She couldn't help but wonder when—if ever—she would find the love she so desperately craved.

She slapped both of her cheeks.

'NO! Jennie, appearances are deceptive. Don't you know? But Can't I fucking dream of a handso....'

She froze; her eyes widening in surprise as she beheld the most unexpected sight.

Towering above her, its emerald-green skin glistened in the moonlight, a creature straight out of a fantasy novel — A Goblin.

Jennie blinked, half-expecting a man to pop out from behind a nearby trash can, claiming it was a prank, or perhaps to hear distant sounds of a shooting and a man dressed as a demon roaming freely nearby.

But alas, none of those scenarios unfolded. Only Jennie and the towering figure before her remained in sight.

Jennie's eyes widened in horror as the creature spoke, its voice a growl that sent shivers down her spine. "You, Miss?" —a twisted grin revealing its razor-sharp fangs.

Instinctively, she reached for her purse to find something—anything—to defend herself.

Summoning every ounce of courage she had left, Jennie took a stance with the weapon like a warrior wielding a sword, her eyes narrowing in determination. "Back off, you... you... green monster!" she shouted, her voice trembling with fear.

What came out as a weapon was her trusty tube of SPF 50.

'Dammit' She cursed.

But to her surprise, the creature recoiled, its fangs retracting in confusion. And so, Jennie's oh-so-fast-working brain only had one solution left in this dire situation and that was — of course to Run.

Adrenaline coursing through her veins, she ran for her life.

"Miss that's the wrong way" A growling scream echoed from afar.

"Shitttt! Was Sonam not joking? what kind of creature was that and how can it speak?"

THUD. THUD.

The creature started running towards her, with its thunderous footsteps.

'The heck it's following me!'

'Run Jennie Run. Just like how you run when the products are on sale!'

Jennie had reached the summit of the mountain, her breath coming in ragged gasps. And there she found....

NEXT CHAPTER: PREVIEW

"By the power of the moon's last gleam,

Turn this youth into a dream.

Grant her wisdom, wrinkled and grey,

For she shall age by a century today!"

To be continued...