When Andrew just came out of his apartment unit, he saw a man entering the door code on Macy's apartment unit. His brow furrowed. He looked at the man's appearance. It looks quite elegant – oh he only sees the back of the man's figure, so he can't judge how the man looks.
"Sorry..." he started.
The man turned and looked at him. "Yes?"
“Do you know the owner of the apartment unit? I don't mean to be presumptuous but-”
"Oh, it looks like you are a new resident," the man interrupted. Andrew was silent and just nodded. The man smiled knowingly. “Before, I was a resident of this apartment. Ken Reyes."
Andrew's eyebrows rose. Previous apartment occupant? Is it possible that the man is what he thinks he is?
"You are Editor Cruz’s ex-husband?" he tried to sound not too offensive.
The man nodded slightly. “I came to pick up some of Marcus’ clothes. Besides, it looks like Macy has also gone to work," he said again as he re-entered the door code.
When the door opened, Andrew spoke again.
"Editor Cruz didn't go to work today."
Ken turned back. His hand was still holding the door open. "Why?" he asked briefly. He then checked the foyer and found Macy's shoes neatly stored.
Quickly, the man walked into the apartment unit. Andrew wanted to stop him but he realized that it was not his right to forbid the woman’s ex-husband from coming. With a little force, Andrew came into the apartment as well.
He chased Ken before the man headed for the main room. Andrew held the man's wrist when he was about to open the door.
"Sorry, but you shouldn't disturb her. The Editor still needs rest,"
Ken looked at him closely. "What is it? What happened to her? Is she hurt or sick?”
He let go of the man's wrist and explained what happened yesterday. “Yesterday… uhm, the Editor had a bit of an accident. It was not that bad. It's just that she hit her back. She had taken painkillers and was resting. You came to pick up Marcus’ clothes, didn't you? Just do it. But please don't bother Editor Cruz for now."
Ken looked at him very carefully. Andrew himself felt a little awkward because of that. Well, of course! How many possible occurrences of a new neighbor are so considerate? Hell! It's not even Andrew’s right to prevent the man from seeing Macy’s condition. After what happened yesterday, it feels like he can't let anyone see the woman’s real condition.
Especially her ex-husband.
Ken sighed and nodded. He went to Marcus’ room while Andrew leaned against Macy's bedroom door.
*****
Liam opened the door to Macy's office and found no one. Then he turned and looked at Gil who was busy at his desk.
“Senior Gil…” he exclaimed as he walked towards his senior's desk.
Gil just mumbled softly.
"The Chief Editor isn't in today?" Liam asked.
Gil glanced briefly then focused back on the proposal he was working on. “The Chief Editor is sick. You don't see your e-mail? The Chief Editor sent a blast email to the entire team saying she wouldn't be coming in today."
Liam just smirked. "I only saw the notification. Then how about the draft novel I submitted yesterday?”
"Who knows? It's possible that the Chief Editor just isn't in today, so you can get a response tomorrow or the day after,” Gil said.
Liam sighed. "Okay. But… isn't the meeting with Agent Lee this afternoon?”
Gil was silent for a moment. “Shit!”
Oh, how can he forget about the meeting? Gil immediately grabs his cell phone and calls Agent Lee to reschedule the meeting. While Gil is busy talking to Agent Lee, Liam then returns to his desk to continue editing the other drafts that are still piling up on his desk.
“Hey… Liam,” Shy called, whose desk was opposite Liam's.
Liam looked at her, "What?"
"It's the first time, isn't it?"
Liam's brow furrowed. "First time of what?"
“The Editor-in-chief didn't come in and said she was sick. Several times she caught a cold and flu, but she kept coming in. Even when she's busy dealing with her divorce, the Chief Editor still comes to the office even if it's only for a few hours,” said Shy.
Liam thought for a moment and nodded slightly. "Then? Is that weird? The Chief Editor isn't a
robot who can't get sick.”
"I know. I mean, even if she has the flu or something else, the Chief Editor is always professional and always puts her job first. Was the pain so much worse this time that she had to miss work?”
"But... didn't she look just fine yesterday?" said Liam.
Shy shrugged. "Maybe the pain came suddenly. But come to think of it, who is taking care of her now? Doesn't she just live alone now?"
*****
David handed him a food container filled with porridge that he bought according to his request. It felt very strange when David got a call from him to bring him porridge. Hell, even if the man wants to eat porridge, that guy can go buy it himself without having to tell David.
"You haven't said who the porridge is for," said his cousin.
"Oh? For my neighbor. He was sick and there was no one to take care of him. After all he was sick too because of my fault.” He tried to lie to avoid some suspicions.
But then, his Agent frowned. “Hey, did your neighbor accidentally eat something that he shouldn’t eat from your fan? Like what happened to Editor Cruz?”
Andrew's eyes widened. "No! Of course not!" he exclaimed. Then he tried to give a reasonable explanation, so that David wouldn't think like that. "That... yesterday I accidentally pushed him until he hit his back. I've taken him to the hospital for a checkup, but he refuses."
David rubbed his face in frustration. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. "Yaaaaah! Andrew Coangco… can't you… oh my God! You haven't been here for a month, but you've already made two people into trouble because of you," the Agent grumbled.
Andrew snorted. Well… technically, it’s only one person!
"Ah, never mind! Just go. Thanks for the porridge!”
David grunted. Even though Andrew is his cousin, he sometimes thinks of quitting being his agent because of the man’s annoying nature. But both of them knew that would never happen.
After all, who can stand the annoying attitude of Andrew Coangco other than David?
“Take good care of your neighbors. Oh yes, today's meeting is canceled,"
"I know!"
Andrew's spontaneous words this time made his Agent frown once again curiously. How could he know, when David was the one who arranged all of the man’s meeting schedules? "Do you know? From whom?"
Andrew became silent with an awkward expression. “Uh, Editor Cruz? She called me and said that the meeting was canceled.”
“Editor Cruz? And she contacted you directly and said that the meeting was canceled because she was sick?”
Andrew nodded slowly. Oh, maybe he shouldn't be talking loose like that. After all, of course he knew that the meeting was canceled without needing to get a notification from St. Haven because the meeting got canceled because of his mistake.
"That's how it is. Why?"
David looked at him intently for a moment. "It does not matter. I go first. Editor Gil has not yet announced the change date for the meeting. Maybe he will announce it after seeing the development of Editor Cruz's condition."
Andrew just mumbled softly. Well, it looks like he has to take care of Macy so that the woman gets well soon.
*****
“Why? Just tell me why did you give that permission? Macy Bianca Cruz!”
Macy sighed. Oh, her back still hurts, now so do his ears. Even though it hasn't been five minutes since she talked to Hani. But the voice of Hani Kim’s protest echoed so loud with her actions yesterday. It really made her want to disconnect the phone.
“Lawyer Kim…”
"I'm not currently acting as your lawyer, Macy!"
She flinched when she heard Hani's tone change. “Senior…”
"Are you desperate?! Well, as a lawyer, I might support your decision to let Marcus stay with Ken. I can understand your reasoning. But… listen carefully Macy, I won't say anything if Ken comes directly to you. But it is Katy we are talking about! That fucking Katy Perez!”
Macy closed her eyes for a moment and massaged her forehead. She feels like her back hurts even more than before. Maybe she should go to the hospital. “Senior, can you scold me later? I…” she cursed softly when a dull pain came again.
“Macy, are you okay?”
"I'm well. It's just that yesterday my back accidentally hit the table. Maybe I should go to the hospital for an examination,” she said honestly. Well, there's no point in hiding this now – especially with Hani.
"Should I accompany you to the hospital?" her friend offered.
Macy mumbled. "No need. I… shit! Sorry, Hani. I can go alone. I'll call you later, okay?"
Without hearing Hani's response, Macy immediately hung up the phone. She took a deep breath, then tried to get up even if it's hard. Carefully, she stood up and walked towards the door.
However, at the same time when she opened the door, Andrew also opened it. As a result, Macy almost fell. Impulsively, the man pulled her wrist and hugged her body to prevent her from falling.
Macy held her breath. Her body was still in a state of shock, so she couldn't react quickly to what was happening right now. However, she came back to her senses when Andrew’s hand pressed against her back. And just then, the pain came back.
"Ah..." she groaned in pain.
Suddenly, Andrew pulled his hand from the woman's back. He forgot that her back had not fully healed. "Sorry..." he whispered.
Macy shook her head. But the painful sensation was getting worse and worse than before. In fact, she almost fell again if she didn't grab the man’s arm to hold on. That made Andrew look at Macy worriedly.
"Why? Is it getting worse?"
She just nodded.
"I'll take you to the hospital, okay?"
*****
Andrew thanked the nurse after she put the painkiller into Macy’s Intravenous fluids (IV fluids).
When they arrived at the Emergency Room, Andrew immediately explained about yesterday's incident, the doctor immediately took her to the X-ray room to see if there was a huge impact on her back, especially her spine. And while waiting for the results to come out, Macy was taken to one of the treatment rooms in the ER and given painkillers.
Andrew exhaled and watched the woman lying down while enduring the pain.
"I should have taken you straight to the hospital yesterday," he said, with guilt laced on his voice.
Macy glanced at him and shook her head. "Do not think about it. It was my fault. I was so stubborn about refusing to go to the hospital yesterday, wasn't I?”
"But I should’ve forced you, Macy."
She smiled a little. "I can be more stubborn to refuse it," she said, closing her eyes. The medicine is starting to work well. The pain sensation began to disappear and her body felt much more relaxed.
"I can see it," said Andrew.
Macy didn't say anything. She just kept her eyes closed. The situation in the ER was still busy, but somehow, she seemed to feel so calm. Maybe she could get some sleep. Last night, she couldn't sleep well. Apart from her aching back, Macy kept feeling that something was up.
Andrew took a deep breath and watched the woman with her calm breath. "Are you sleeping?"
Well, he just needed to make sure.
Macy mumbled. “Let me sleep until the doctor comes back with the results.”
“Okay… go to sleep. I will stay here.”
She then smiled faintly after hearing that the man would take care of her. At least, with her condition at a time like this, she is not alone.
*****