Hanley sat on the sofa in his flat, coffee in hand, absently scrolling through traffic updates on his tablet. It had been a decade since he'd left this city, and so much had changed. The metro, shiny new malls, luxury hotels—yet the one constant was the traffic. It was just as chaotic as he remembered. As he pondered it, a soft voice called out to him, pulling him from his thoughts.
Setting his coffee and tablet aside, he rose and walked to the door.
"Good morning, Mr. Han," a young man in a black suit greeted with a polite smile. Hanley blinked, a moment of confusion flickering across his face.
"I'm Shane," the man continued, "Starting today, I'm your personal secretary and bodyguard."
Hanley's gaze shifted slightly as he processed the unexpected introduction. With a slight nod, he motioned for Shane to enter, his expression unreadable. Without further comment, Hanley returned to the sofa, trying to settle back into his thoughts, but the presence of his new assistant lingered. The quiet disruption of his routine had begun.
"Breakfast, Mr. Han," Shane said, holding out the breakfast tray with a polite gesture.
"I'll take it on the go," Hanley replied with a calm nod, gesturing for Shane to sit.
"So, Shane," Hanley continued, his tone shifting to a more businesslike tone, "how long until we reach the office?"
"Just ten minutes, sir," Shane answered promptly.
"Perfect, that gives us enough time," Hanley said, checking his watch before standing up. "Let's head out."
Shane, slightly uneasy, grabbed the breakfast tray and Hanley's tablet, quickly following him out. The two walked in silence as they entered the elevator and made their way to the parking lot. Once they reached the car, Hanley stopped abruptly, turning to face Shane with a question in his eyes.
"Give me the keys," Hanley said, his voice steady.
"Sir?" Shane asked, surprised by the request.
"The car keys," Hanley clarified.
"Yes, Mr. Han," Shane said hesitantly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But the road's pretty congested. I can drive, it would be safer—"
Hanley cut him off, "It's okay, I can manage."
He took the keys from Shane, stepped into the car, and started the engine. The horn blared, snapping Shane back to reality, and he hurried to jump into the passenger seat.
As the car passed through the building gates, Hanley followed the route shown on Google Maps, heading towards the main road.
"Mr. Han... we need to go right up ahead," Shane reminded him.
"I know," Hanley replied with a smile, then pointed at the breakfast cover in Shane's lap. "The food's going to get cold. You should eat."
Shane took the hint, and with a quiet nod, he opened the cover, choosing to remain silent. It was clear Hanley didn't want to discuss it further, and Shane respected the unspoken message.
Hanley sped down the road, his eyes fixed on the screen of Google Maps as Perumbavoor City drew closer. With his carefully chosen routes that bypassed the usual traffic snarls, he made the journey with ease. But as he neared the narrow path that wound deeper into the area, a wave of old memories washed over him.
At twenty-two, he'd ridden this road countless times, each trip driven by the same quiet obsession: to see her. He'd ride for miles on his bike, keeping to the less-traveled routes, hoping for just a fleeting glimpse. His thoughts drifted back to a specific moment—when he'd stopped his bike in front of her house, unsure of what would come next, yet certain that he had to be there.
Now, as he parked the car across from Sebastian's house, that sense of the past came rushing back, vivid and palpable. It felt like no time had passed at all, as if the years had folded into one brief moment.
Hanley's gaze lingered on the house as he peered out of the car window, his thoughts drifting. Shane, attempting to stretch out in the confined space, shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Should I step outside, Mr. Han?" Shane asked, his voice strained as he struggled to catch his breath.
It was only then that Hanley realized Shane had been waiting in the car the entire time. With a slight nod, Hanley gestured for him to stay put. He then motioned toward himself with a casual wave of his hand, signaling that he would step outside instead. Shane gave a subtle nod, understanding the silent cue.
Hanley stepped out of the car and surveyed the area, taking in every detail. It was as if time had stood still—nothing had changed. The tall walls of her house, the branches that stretched out from the overgrown fence—everything was exactly as he remembered. Even the modest little house, once so unremarkable, now seemed beautiful to him.
Was she inside? Had she married and moved on? Perhaps she wasn't even here anymore. But no—something about this place, this very spot, still held the essence of her. He could feel her presence, lingering in the air. The house itself seemed to carry traces of her, as though she had never truly left. It was clear that nothing had changed here for her—she had always preferred things to stay just as they were. If anything had changed, it was him. Only him.
Hanley sat in the car, his gaze fixed on the house before him. As he stared, Bella's face seemed to materialize in his mind, as vivid as if she were standing right there with him.
"Mister Han, do you have any intention of purchasing this house? I can inquire about it for you, if you'd like," Shane's voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him back to the present.
Hanley straightened his tie, shaking off the moment of reflection. "Have you had breakfast, Shane?" he asked, his tone casual but slightly offbeat.
Realizing the question might have been out of place, Hanley immediately regretted it. But Shane, sensing the awkwardness, quickly responded, "Yes, sir."
"Good. Then let's go. Get in the car," Hanley said, dismissing the matter.
Shane, confused, glanced at the open door.
"Me, sir?"
Hanley looked at him with a hint of impatience. "Do you want me to drive?"
Shane, now fully alert, quickly climbed into the driver's seat. "No, sir. I'll drive."
"We have thirty-five minutes. We need to reach the office on time. Understood?" Hanley said, his tone more serious now, as he leaned slightly toward Shane, a clear command in his voice.
Shane nodded, acknowledging the importance of the moment. He started the car without a word.