Song recommendation: Empty Space by James Arthur
Listen at the first and middle part of the chapter ;)
It is almost two in the morning, the sky is still dark and starry, looking up at it Harry can't seem to find a way to sleep, he just stands there at the 20th floor balcony of a high-rise building. Wearing nothing but a lose pants and holding a bottle of beer on both of his hands as he is leaning on the cold metal fence, drowning his loneliness, he thought to himself 'this cold bottle was his best company so far with everything that is happening'.
Thinking back at that moment when he saw Ada, his heart beat race like it is going to jump out of his chest, he got so nervous as to how she would react seeing that there is another woman in his house but at the same time, he was also excited to meet her again.
He pretended to approach her casually like nothing happened between them now. After all of his waiting, his confessions from the past, he had hoped for her that they would be together one day, that if he endures all the circumstances between them at that time, there would be hope for both of them.
Looking back to that day at the gallery with Justin, he had expected for a different reaction from Ada, she didn't come clean at the first place that she would be seeing his ex-lover and will do a collaboration project with him. It just clearly means that she disregard his feelings for her, though that was already a red flag, a clear sign to stop, he still tried to apologized and had hoped that there would be a different outcome.
But after that day, he realized that maybe this is not meant to be, that they are not really for each other. All the waiting, his accomplishments to be that man he believed he deserves, even when he found out that she already had a relationship with that Justin back then he still hoped for her.
Though he had not hoped for her to be heartbroken with Justin back then, it gave him a new hope for his feelings for her, and so he finally confessed hoping that they can be more than best friends, when she finally opens up her heart for him and their feeling was already mutual, he got more motivated to pursue her, he is giving it all to her, all of him.
However, the sad part was that he never even got that label of being the boyfriend and all of it was just an unofficial relationship, no strings attached, no acknowledgement, no official commitment, simply nothing.
When he finally thought all about it thoroughly, he felt tired for the first time, all the optimism just got drained from his body, and it is like it took out all his energy away from him, he felt less motivated for the first time in his life, he felt suffocated and he needed a way out.
The reason that he took an indefinite leave from his work, getting a new number and maybe like what Ada said awhile ago that he is also trying to have a new personality is because he needed a space, he felt lost and so he needed to find himself.
A good timing when Abby came in the picture, she is his friend from abroad; he met her when he was having trainings back then after graduating. They spent a lot of time hanging out with their common friends back then that their friends thought they got a thing, like they already have relationship.
There was even a time when Abby confessed that she is starting to fall for him, but Harry being a gentleman, he never have taken her feelings for granted. He told her about Ada, and that's when Abby heard all about Ada and came to understand Harry's feelings for her all along.
Going back to present time, when Abby suddenly contact him to offer a business partnership just a week before that day at the gallery happened. He said he would be thinking about it first, and then the gallery thing happened, that's when he decided to accept her offer, and they got reunited.
That time he decided to give his heart a chance with her, but he is still not there yet, he wanted to know her more first after all he didn't want their story to be just the rebound kind of relationship.
But now when he saw Ada once again it felt like he is back from the start, back to zero from moving on, his heart and his mind both in mess again. He hope for all his weaknesses to be hidden, but the moment Ada walks out in front of them a while ago, he wanted to follow her like a lost puppy.
Suddenly there was a drop of salty liquid at the bottle he is holding, with his deep thoughts he just realized that he was already crying all this time. He wanted to shout right there to let all the pain out but he stop himself at the thought that Abby might woke up and caught him in this state.
What if he called Ada at this time, he wondered what she will say or if she will talk to him after what happened a while ago.
'No! Damn it Harry! Get a hold of yourself' Harry cursing himself in his mind trying to control his thoughts and emotions to stop behaving in a foolish way.
This time he needs to learn how to control his feelings, he needs to learn how to handle his emotions, he needs to stand on his decision, and that decision is to give him and Abby a chance. He wanted to move forward, or maybe a new perspective on life, he should wake up every morning with this kind of mindset.
"hahahahahaha" Harry suddenly broke into laughter!
"Harry, look at you now! You look stupid! Crying and Laughing all by yourself?!" he continue to say while still laughing trying to catch his breath that made him slumped on the cold tiled floor.
"Ah...if only you can see how I look like a dumb now! You might think highly of yourself that someone like me became your fool!" he bluntly said imagining Ada was there standing and staring in front of him.
'Was it all just a fake love?' he asked in his mind, Looks like it would be a long night for him once again, he somewhat understood Emy's situation as he seemed to be relating his emotions right now, only it is a lot more difficult on Emy than with his.
The next day, Emy go to work early so she can arrange and organize Saff's schedule for the whole month, she wanted to make notes and study every details so she won't miss out even the smallest thing that is needed to be considered.
It is seven in the morning when she started, half past an hour she receive a text from Saff that says "good morning miss emy! Have you eaten your breakfast?" it made her smile while reading it, thinking what she would reply when the door at the office opened for the other managers to came in.
They greeted each other and went to their respective desks and start their day at the office as well. Emy typed her reply to Saff "Good morning to you as well. Thank you but I'm not used to having breakfast, maybe later. Enjoy yours." She put down her phone at the side of her desk and continues her work.
"Do you want coffee Manager Emy?" Manager Tim politely asked,
"Oh! I'm good Manager Tim, go on have your coffee now" Emy answered and then her phone lit up as she received another text from Saff that says "I had a beautiful dream last night".
Emy replied "what have you dreamed about?" she haven't put down her phone yet when Saff replied and she read as it's written there "You".
Emy's lips curved into a smile as she stares at her phone, unnoticing Manager Kate's attention who saw her expression as she is seated with her table just across Emy's, she teases her "Oh! The smile of an in love! It must have been your husband, I'm jealous of you Manager Emy!" it caught Emy to suddenly look up at her as well as Manager Anne.
Manager Tim who came from the pantry also heard it and he look at Manager Emy as he was putting down the brewed coffee at Manager Anne's and Manager Kate's table. While holding his own cup as he is now standing beside Kate's Table, he then asks "oh! So you are already married Manager Emy?!"
Emy's gaze from Manager Kate slowly shifts to Manager Tim, her smile from earlier are now slowly leaving her lips. Manager Tim had not seen Emy's profile when she had applied for the position and so he asked not knowing about her past marriage story, while for Manager Kate, it's just out of wild guess.
"Yes Manager Tim...I was once…" Emy answered with a bit of sadness at her tone as her voice trailed off,
"Ah…then what happened? If you don't mind me asking now" Manager Tim being a little curious, wanting to know more about Emy.
"He already passed away...car accident" Emy says as she look down at her hands on the table that is slightly trembling now then she puts down her phone and quickly clasp both of her hands to keep it steady and hides it under her table so they won't notice.
"I'm sorry for your lost Manager Emy" Manager Tim carefully says as he gave concerned look at her now, feeling guilty somehow that he had insisted the topic.
"Sorry...I didn't mean to drag it out from you Manager Emy" Manager Kate sincerely apologized as well.