"Brandon, why didn't you knock before coming in?" Austin clucked in annoyance voicing his dislike.
Brandon replied, "Haven't we been friends since childhood? Should I have asked permission to come in?" He raised one eyebrow. Then his attention returned to Kenan with a scornful look, "So, you've made up with your pet rabbit?"
The tone of derision pierced Kenan's eardrums, igniting anger in him. Both he, Austin and Brandon knew how complicated their relationship had been. For a second Kenan would never forget what this man named Brandon had done in the past, and for Austin's sake he was still trying to heal his hurt because he believed Austin's view of him had changed.
Austin sighed, "Brandon, can you not remind me of the past?"
Snorting, Brandon gave Austin a probing look. "What's wrong with you? Has your heart been melted by him?" His eyes glanced at Kenan with a condescending look before returning to Austin, "Oh, come on! Where's that asshole Austin who was my buddy?" One of his lips lifted.
Austin didn't answer, nor was he able to. Beside him, Kenan who was starting to get angry was about to step towards Brandon. However, a cold hand grasped his arm. The coldness of the man's hand slightly quenched the anger in Kenan's heart.
"Go. I'll talk to him," Austin said before releasing his hand.
At that moment, Kenan walked out of Austin's room at a fast pace. As soon as he passed Brandon, Kenan still took the time to give the man a piercing glare.
The door was slammed by Kenan violently, the boom of his voice filling the room now inhabited by Austin and Brandon.
*
Helena walked while lowering her face to the floor. Her mind filled with the video on the USB, she really didn't expect that what happened between Austin and Kenan was as far away as she thought. Like diving into a dark ocean, you'll find something you've never imagined before—once you cross the threshold of the deepest trough.
Again, the surprises came back to Helena right after she almost reached the door of Austin's office. Her slowly easing heart skipped a beat when she saw Kenan coming out of her husband's office with an angry expression, the sound of slamming doors filled the hallway that was quiet from employees because now people were busy in their respective rooms.
Helena quickly hid behind another hallway—as soon as Kenan took a step towards her. Through the wall, she saw Kenan's fingers hanging at his sides clenched into tight fists as if ready to smash them into someone's face. Even his anger could be felt through the floor Kenan walked on, creeping up to make a tap tap tap sound.
*
"I looked everywhere for you, and here you are."
It was a sunny afternoon when the statement came from the handsome man whose smile seemed to persuade his cranky girlfriend. The place was the top of the Keano Company hotel building or what is commonly called the rooftop. On the guardrail, Kenan leaned his body as he smoked a cigarette between his fingers. Not a word came out in response, only a cold, disappointed look was implied in his pair of brown irises that were now nailing Austin's figure.
The light whistling of the wind made Austin's unbuttoned black suit dance softly as his body faced the wind. After a few seconds of silence, Kenan was still silent, his mouth only used to smoke a cigarette. Then he exhaled his cigarette smoke roughly, forming a transparent white wisp that disappeared in an instant, wiped away by the wind.
A light sigh was the beginning of Austin's admission of guilt. The man took another step to get closer to Kenan, once they were no less than a meter apart Austin exhaled slowly and said, "Okay, I was wrong. I was the coward for not defending you in front of Brandon. I'm sorry." The last two words were spoken by Austin with trembling lips, probably because he wasn't used to saying sorry.
There was a faint snicker before a single word replied, "Forget it!" Kenan flicked the ash off his cigarette before it was snatched by Austin and stomped right in front of Kenan. Kenan finally looked at Austin. The man realized that behind Kenan's narrowed eyelids he found a brown bead that shone in the sunlight, his gaze almost penetrating the soul.
Austin smiled to break the ice and melt Kenan's icy expression, "You know Namaaz Dining?" He asked to change the subject so that Kenan would forget what happened this afternoon.
"Yes, I do. Why?"
"Wait for me there on Sunday."
"What for?" Accompanied by an apathetic tone with a mix of curiosity.
However, Austin didn't want to tell. "You'll find out eventually."
"Forget it, I'm not coming." said Kenan flatly rejecting the obvious.
"Come on ..., is this a request on my special day?" Austin pleaded.
Kenan's brow furrowed at the word special. Austin immediately confirmed, "My birthday, we celebrate together. Just you and me."
"Sounds like a boring invitation."
"It will be boring if you don't come."
Kenan didn't reply, he rose from his seat to give a threatening look. "Fine, I'll wait, but if it's not fun," Kenan narrowed his eyes, "I'll kick your ass."
"That won't happen."
*
August 13, 23:15 pm
"Happy birthday to you ..., Happy birthday to you ..., Happy birthday happy birthday, happy birthday to you ..."
Austin was frozen in place as he returned home after having a drink with some of his business partners. His hand that was originally holding the door knob fell to his side spontaneously. Helena's appearance had never been expected by him, even since he had entered their room, Austin had not sensed her presence. Now, he was just silent as he looked at Helena's figure who slowly stepped towards him with a cake in hand, Helena was in front of Austin who stood right in the doorway of their room.
"Isn't it a day too soon to wish me a happy birthday?"
Austin was so surprised that his birthday was on August 14, and now it was only August 13. Helena chuckled, "Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call it a few minutes early?"
Austin smiled. He blew his candle without making a request. "I have a present for you." Helena placed the birthday cake on the table beside him. Then moved briefly from in front of Austin to retrieve something from a drawer. Her hasty steps made Austin furrow his brow. It wasn't until Helena returned to him that his expression changed back to normal as Helena handed him an envelope.
Wanting to leave quickly, the man also hurriedly took it and opened it immediately.
"This ..." Austin read every word on the piece of paper before his gaze turned to Helena for confirmation.
She nodded, a genuine smile on her red lips, "That's right, I'm pregnant."
The line of dialog that fell from Helena's lips blanked Austin's mind for a moment, the man digesting the words into his heart and mind. Silence greeted the second as Austin's dark irises stared into a pair of eyes that sparkled at him. As the seconds passed slowly a feeling of happiness crept into his heart, along with a pair of hands that brought her slender body into his arms.
"Thank you." A heartfelt sentence passed Austin's lips, a trace of moved expression adorning his handsome face. His embrace tightened as Helena hugged back, wrapping her arms around Austin's neck and shoulders. Soft gasps of breath mixed together in the silence of the room that was shrouded in an atmosphere of happiness.
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