In a morning mist, a warm golden light filtered through the upper window and illuminated the large room's old-fashioned brown walls. A little girl's sweet laugh put a smile on everyone's lips, including Gabriel until four people entered the editorial office as soon as the front door opened.
"Dad!"
Gabriel took off his glasses and stared at the door in shock as the young girl jumped into Veron's arms with enthusiasm.
"Is the witch dead?!" the little girl asked eagerly.
Veron chuckled a little as he lowered himself. "No, but your lovely mother kept the witch away."
Brissia stopped in front of Gierra and Nicholas who got up from their seats, one of them covered her mouth. Gierra had tears in her eyes as Brissia hugged her tightly, while Nicholas grabbed Brissia's arm with a look of relief mixed with worry.
"Where have you been, Bris? We're looking for you desperately," Nicholas asked.
Brissia closed her eyes for a moment before turning to hug him too.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Harris saw Gabriel's unblinking gaze on the copper-haired woman. One day by the River of Flowers, Gabriel told him that he knew Miss Savior intimately. He also remembered how offended Gabriel was when Harris teased him for not being able to forget her for some reason.
"Long time no see, Gabriel."
His thoughts disappeared when Alessia said this in front of Gabriel.
"Yeah," Gabriel said softly and smiled faintly, glancing at Harris who approached him carefully, "Have you met him?"
Alessia nodded with a small smile. "He being from the Algor District reminded me of the past."
Gabriel turned his head away while scratching the back of his neck that didn't itch. "Me too."
Harris stared at Alessia and Gabriel for a long time, as if waiting for important information to fall into his grip. But unfortunately, the arrival of Veron who grabbed Ashley distracted all of their focus.
"You're the one who sent us letters through this child, right?" Veron asked, glancing briefly at Harris before extending his right hand to Gabriel.
Gabriel smiled politely as he shook his hand and said, "I did, Veron. It's nice to see that you came here to respond to the letter."
A small chuckle escaped Veron's lips. "I wish I could remember your name in exchange for once saving my life."
"Don't worry about it. After all, I wrote the letter because I believe you can tame Harris."
"Oh come on, Old Man. I was merely traveling around!"
Ashley chuckled innocently at Harris's annoyed look on his face, making Harris glance at her.
"Princess, why did you come here?" he asked, annoyed.
"Dad and Mom cannot fight alone. So, I have to come to cheer them on," Ashley answered with a big grin. However, it changed Gabriel's expression.
"Is she your daughter?"
Alessia's nod was followed by Veron lifting Ashley into his arms. "Yes, she's Ashley. Our only daughter."
Gabriel froze. Harris noticed the change in his expression, which left him speechless.
When Ashley, Veron, and Alessia had left the editorial office, Harris approached Gabriel in the typing room.
"You know, you could have adopted me if you were that jealous of them, Old Man."
Gabriel, who was in the middle of tidying up files on a stacking shelf, sighed and walked in another direction.
"It's enough to bear my subordinates. I don't want any more responsibilities."
Harris chuckled. Then he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "So… you and her were lovers?"
Harris's question made Gabriel, who was already sitting behind his desk, grumble, "Why bother asking when you already know?"
"Just want to double-check. How did your relationship end?"
Gabriel's typing stopped as he turned to Harris, who was looking at him with an innocent expression.
"Seriously?"
He went back to typing after giving Harris a deadpan look. However, when Gabriel overheard Harris's utter silence, he turned to face him.
The hazel-eyed man looked out the window of the room's door, at Brissia who smiled brightly in front of her two friends.
"If you love someone, tell them."
Harris's gaze became dim at Gabriel's words. "I can't. Not when she seems delighted to find her way back home."
Harris lowered his head before exiting the room, making Gabriel stand up. He peeked through the window, how Harris walked past Brissia, which made Brissia look confused at him.
"You should've been braver, Harris," Gabriel muttered, smiling bitterly.
"Harris!"
Brissia held Harris's arm, making Harris turn slowly toward her.
"Meet my friends, Nicholas and Gierra. I usually call them Nicho and Ji," said Brissia, looking briefly at her two best friends as if indicating them to do introductions.
Harris narrowed his eyes. He didn't know how many times he had heard Brissia give the people around her nicknames, except him. It made him suddenly reluctant to shake hands with her two best friends and only nodded with a faint smile before turning around.
However, when he just opened the main door, he was surprised by the presence of someone who looked out of breath with his neat black hair that had become a mess.
"Benja—"
"Your friend is injured…! Debora… her name is Debora…!"
Harris gasped, as did Brissia.
"What is she doing here?" Harris muttered, furrowing his brows. "Where is she?"
Benjamin caught his breath for a moment and was about to answer when he realized his presence had just caught everyone's attention.
"Come with me outside," Benjamin said in a low voice before turning around and walking quickly, making Harris look sideways for a moment.
Brissia gave a small nod before saying goodbye to her two friends then walking toward Harris.
"Let's go, Harris. I won't let you go alone," Brissia said as she passed Harris.
Harris frowned for a moment before turning to Nicholas and Gierra who only gave him a small smile.
"What about your friends?"
Brissia pulled Harris, making him inevitably follow Brissia.
"Gabriel will take care of them. Debora is also my friend and she's in need of help."
Those words weren't enough to make Harris stunned. Because after that brief pause, Brissia said again, "I told them about our relationship and situation."
Harris's eyebrows rose. After a moment of silence, a small chuckle escaped his mouth. He changed his grip on Brissia's hand that pulled her wrist, making Brissia look at him for a moment. What she found was a pair of hazel eyes that locked onto her and a joyful smile on his lips.
"Like the first time I told Debora?"
Brissia straightened her gaze for a moment then nodded slowly. "Like the first time you told her our relationship."
Harris, who suddenly quickened his steps to be beside her, surprised Brissia. However, only when Harris smiled gently at her and asked her to run after Benjamin, only then did Brissia realize and rush to keep up with their fast pace.
***
"Hic… Harris… Brissia… your district is so cruel…"
Harris looked at Debora in surprise who was looking at him, Brissia, and Benjamin with tears in her eyes. Even though Brissia had hugged and comforted her once, she still cried her eyes out.
"What did they do to you two?"
Benjamin took a small breath. "Precisely, what they did to me."
Not only Harris, but Brissia also looked up at Benjamin who was using his fingers to comb his hair.
"What?" they asked in disbelief.