Jack glanced over his shoulder, ensuring his supervisor was nowhere in sight. His heart raced, his palms clammy as he pulled out his phone and hit record.

“Yo, tubers! This is Jack of Spades. What’s up? I’m about to show you how to quit your job like a boss. Watch this!”

He grabbed the gooseneck mic at the register and switched it on.

“One, two, one, two. Is this thing on?”

The store’s hum quieted. Customers stopped mid-shopping, their carts stalling in the aisles. Jack cleared his throat.

“Hey, folks. My name is Jack, and this is my last day working at Cheap Mart. Every single minute working in this joint has been hell. We’re all underpaid and overworked, and corporate treats us like animals. I QUIT!”

The speakers shrieked, and a few customers winced, covering their ears. Turning back to the camera, he delivered his grand finale. “Don’t forget to like and subscribe. Share this epic moment with everyone you know. This is Jack of Spades, signing off. Peace!”

He turned the camera off and, taking off Cheap Mart’s forest green vest, dropped it on the floor next to his register. Stanley, one of his co-workers, flashed him a thumbs-up.

“Hey, Jack! Killer speech!”

“Thanks, man! Make sure you check out the video later,” Jack replied, barely pausing to acknowledge the compliment. He was riding high, ignoring the stares from the other employees and customers. His heart pounded—part nerves, part adrenaline. He needed to get out before anyone could call security. The last thing he needed was to get dragged out of here like some kid causing trouble.

Once outside, he breathed a sigh of relief. Freedom. Finally. He wouldn’t miss this place. It sucked the life out of its workers. The last thing he wanted was to end up like his colleague Stanley—in his mid-thirties, stuck in retail. Jack was meant for more. He wasn’t going to waste his life away like that.

He pulled out his phone and rewatched the video. Everything looked perfect, right down to the dramatic exit. If this didn't help his channel finally take off, he didn't know what would. He hit upload, imagining the views and comments pouring in. Hopefully, the channel would finally blow up and attract sponsors and he would never need a crappy job again.

Checking the time, he realized he could surprise Lydia during her lunch break if he hurried. Jack picked up the pace, heading across the parking lot toward the bus stop. Spotting the hover bus approaching, he broke into a jog. Even though it was a short distance, he still ran out of breath. I really need to work out, he thought.

If only his dad had bought him that hoverbike like he’d asked. But no. His dad always told him to figure things out independently as if he were supposed to be learning some big life lesson. The only thing he had learned so far was that buying a hoverbike with the terrible pay he got from these dead-end jobs was impossible.

He signaled the bus, and the driver coasted over. On the side of the bus, an ad for a new video game was playing. A hero in shiny armor faced a dinosaur. The giant beast tried stomping the hero, but he brandished his sword, sending it flying.

Buy your new VRX Helmet now and receive a 20% discount on your New Earth monthly subscription.

There were ads like this everywhere these days. He would have purchased a VRX helmet if he could, but those things weren’t cheap. He had asked his father for one, but he kept giving him the same answer, the one he also used for the hoverbike: Jack had to buy it himself.

He stared at the screen as the family in the ad shared a group hug, all wearing VRX helmets and smiling happily. Jack shook his head. If only real life were that easy.

The bus was nearly empty, just a couple of people on their way to work. He should’ve been at work too, but now... now he was free. Thank goodness it was over. He let the air conditioning cool him, content that he had regained control of his life.

As the bus neared Lydia’s workplace, he stood and signaled for the stop. His gaze flicked to another VRX helmet ad flashing on a screen in the bus, but he ignored it and hopped off.

Lydia’s cafe had large, inviting windows and an outdoor seating area on the sidewalk, furnished with iron tables and chairs for patrons to enjoy their coffee and fresh air. Seeing his girlfriend, Jack felt his pulse quicken. She looked great as always—hair tied into a neat ponytail, with a few stray strands framing her face. Her blue eyes matched her apron, and she was busy taking an order from an elderly couple.

He waved at her, and she glanced up, her eyes widening in surprise. She returned to the couple, finishing their order before excusing herself and approaching him.

“Hey, beautiful!” Jack greeted her.

“Jack? What are you doing here?” Lydia whispered sharply. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

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Her reaction caught Jack off guard. He’d expected more excitement from her. “I quit,” he announced, trying to sound triumphant.

Lydia’s face fell. “You quit? Jack, seriously?”

“Come on, Lydia. You know I hated that place. Besides, I made an awesome video of it! It’s gonna be huge. This could be the break I’ve been waiting for—wanna see it?”

Lydia bit her lip and looked away. Jack’s excitement faltered, but he pressed on. “You’re on your lunch break, right? Let’s go grab a bite or something.”

“I can’t. We’re short-staffed today, so I’m helping out my boss.”

“Blow her off,” Jack said dismissively. “It’s not like she pays you overtime. Let’s just ditch this place for the afternoon.”

“You can’t be serious, Jack. I can’t just leave in the middle of my shift! It doesn’t work that way. I need to notify my boss well in advance before I take time off.”

“Come on, babe,” he said, pulling her close. “I came all the way here to surprise you. Are you just going to turn me down like that?”

Lydia shook her head. “No, Jack. I can’t do that to Mrs. Jill.”

“Come on. You were supposed to be on your lunch break.”

“I really can’t, Jack.”

“Pfft. I can't believe it. Your boss is the worst!”

“Jack, don’t say that. Mrs. Jill’s been nothing but good to me.”

“Good to you? She’s got you working extra hours instead of letting you take your rightful break. How is that good?” Jack’s voice became more pointed. “Where is she? I’ll talk to her. She can’t take your breaks away from you like this. You deserve time to rest!”

Lydia frowned, glancing between him and the cafe. After a moment, she let out a deep sigh. “You know what? We need to talk. Wait here.”

For a moment, Jack thought she might be mad, but when he saw her approach her manager and gesture toward him, he relaxed. Maybe she was just asking for her break. He watched as Lydia talked to Mrs. Jill, who nodded, and Jack felt a surge of satisfaction when Lydia took off her apron and left the cafe.

“Awesome! So, where do you wanna go? My treat.” Jack offered.

Lydia didn’t return the smile. “There’s a bench over there. Let’s sit and talk for a moment.”

Jack blinked. “Uh, okay.” He couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. Lydia hadn’t smiled once since he got there.

They walked to a nearby bench under an oak tree. Jack brushed off some debris before they sat down.

“Thanks,” Lydia muttered.

“What’s up with you today?” Jack asked. “You look so serious.”

Lydia let out a long breath, and when she finally spoke, her voice was softer. “Jack, I love you.”

Jack felt a small rush of relief. Hearing her say it always made his heart skip a beat. “I love you too.”

She smiled, but it was a sad smile that twisted something in Jack’s stomach. “We’ve talked about the future before, haven’t we? You know how much I want to get married, settle down, and start a family.”

Jack shifted uncomfortably. “Is this about me not proposing yet? You know I want to marry you, too. I just... haven’t caught my break yet. But this video could change things!”

Lydia bit her lip so hard it turned white. Jack felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Something wasn’t right.

“Jack, you’re funny, smart, romantic, and sweet, but... I need someone I can rely on. Someone responsible.” Her voice wavered, and she cleared her throat. “I’ve tried to be patient. I’ve given you so many chances. But I don’t think you’re that person.” A tear rolled down her face.

Her words cut through him like a knife. “Lydia, what are you saying?”

“You can’t hold a job, Jack.”

“It’s not my fault!” Jack shot back, his voice rising. “You know how tough it is out there. These corporations work us like slaves and pay us nothing. I’m trying!”

“No, Jack. You’re not,” Lydia said, her voice firm but calm. “You show up late, fool around, and keep arguing with your employers. You were ready just a few minutes earlier to get into a fight with Mrs. Jill! If you were your own boss, would you keep an employee like that?”

Jack opened his mouth to argue, but her sad eyes stopped him cold. He clenched his fists in his lap, staring at the ground.

“Was it really that difficult at Cheap Mart? Just now, you said you quit because you wanted views on your stupid videos! Which one is it? Did you quit because it was hard? Or was it just a silly way of trying to make easy money online?” Lydia’s volume grew as the conversation escalated, drawing the judgmental looks of passersby.

Jack’s head hung lower. He couldn’t meet her eyes.

“For goodness sake, Jack,” she said, her voice trembling. “You’re twenty-five, but sometimes... you act like a kid.”

Jack’s face flushed with anger and fear. “And you think all of this is fair? You want to call off our future because I quit some dead-end job?”

“You just don’t see it,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air. “It’s not your work situation. It’s your attitude.”

Jack blinked. “My attitude?”

“It’s not just how you keep quitting jobs. You aren’t even trying to find your place! You just keep borrowing money from your mom and mooching off your dad. What if we get married? Is that how you’ll treat me?”

Her words hit him hard. Jack tried to argue, but fear had crushed his voice. Lydia was serious.

“I love you,” he blurted out, desperate.

Lydia shook her head, her expression full of regret. “You say you love me, Jack, but those are just words. Do you have a plan? Do you even know when you’re going to get your own place? Or when we’ll actually get married?”

Jack’s heart sank further with every word. She was right. He hadn’t thought about any of that.

“Tell me, Jack. Be honest.” Something about her tone told him this would be the question that would make or break things. “Did you think about me when you quit your job?”

“I-.” Jack looked down, ashamed. He hadn’t.

“I’m sorry, Jack. I wish it didn’t go this way, but we need to stop seeing each other,” she stood up and walked away.

Jack tried standing up and following her. He told himself to run and kneel before her and promise her he would change and be the man she needed. He tried but couldn’t. Her words had cut deep because, deep down, he knew they were true.