Chapter 5

Yassmin's POV

"You also use Book Reads?" Harry asked her.

Yassmin looked up at him.

"Yeah, just for a pastime," she replied.

She loves reading, whether in books or on online reading platforms. This serves as her pastime. Yassmin doesn't enjoy going to the Malls because it’s too noisy. She's used to wasting her time while alone and in only one place.

Since she's so busy working as a psychologist, Yassmin doesn't have time to wander or go anywhere, so Book Reads app is what she used as entertainment.

"Really? I also use Book Reads," Harry said while laughing.

Yassmin didn't answer because their order had already arrived. The food looks delicious because of the fragrant smell they give off. She felt even hungrier.

Just a few minutes later, they immediately finished what they were eating. She can’t believe they ended up eating so quickly because there were so many servings per order.

Burp!

Yassmin groaned loudly.

Oh no!

"Sorry, Mr. Lee," Yassmin apologized to her unmannerly behavior. "You're embarrassing, Yassmin!" she sighed to herself.

"It's okay," he said, suppressing a further laugh.

Yassmin blushed as embarrassment continued to eat her away. But despite the embarrassment, she could stare into this man's face.

She never thought she could eat outside together with Harry Lee. And she didn’t expect to see that he's laughing in front of her, even though the reason was her unmannerliness.

Yassmin sat properly when Harry suddenly looked at her. He smiled first before speaking.

"Are you excited on your first day, Ms. Smith?"

Yassmin considered her feelings for a moment before answering his question.

"Actually, Sir, I'm a little nervous. It's very different from the workplace I'm used to. It's noisy in the company, unlike the quiet hospital, but I'm just excited Sir- I mean Harry,"

"Mm, so you don't like the noisy crowd?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered directly.

"Isn’t it noisy in mental health centers?" He asked her again.

"It's noisy Sir but I don't work at the mental health center because I have my office and schedule. So, I can say that my surroundings are quiet," she replied again.

He nodded for a moment before turning to the server who had been taking care of them earlier. When he saw it, he waved to her and then motioned for her to come closer. The server immediately approached them.

"Our bill, please," he politely said. The server nodded and then went to the counter. When she returned, she took the bill and handed it to Harry.

"Here's your bill, Sir,"

Yassmin was just looking at the two of them. She saw Harry pull out three thousand from his wallet.

"Keep the change,"

"Thank you, Sir and madam," the server thanked us then walked back to the counter.

Yassmin just smiled at her. The server immediately said goodbye to them and then returned to the counter. Harry stood up and walked to the back of Yassmin's chair, then helped her to stand up. He looked at her and then smiled. She also smiled in return.

"Thank you,"

He smiled and motioned for her to walk out of the restaurant first. He followed and then faced her again.

"Are you going anywhere else, Yassmin?"

"No, Sir- Harry. I'm going home,"

"I'll drive you home. I'm going home too," he insisted.

"I also have a car, but thank you for asking," she explained nicely.

"Is that so? All right, let's go to the parking lot together. I'll help you with what you're carrying, " he said and then snatched the paper bags that she was carrying.

"Oh, okay," Yassmin hesitantly stated.

Harry's POV

"Yassmin," he whispered.

They both stared at each other, not knowing how to break the panic that was engulfing the two of them.

Who would have thought that with so many people in this village, they are living in the same neighborhood?

Harry coughs as the clot breaking silence.

"Good evening," he greeted her as he continue to stare at her angelic face.

"Good evening too, so we live next door, I see," she stated, and took a glimpse of his house.

"Yeah! Nice," he exclaimed while thinking how they always ended up seeing each other.

"Can't sleep?" She asked once, sipping the wine she was holding.

"This is my sleeping pill," Harry replied while showing his glass of wine.

She seems like she's not buying his reason, then emptied the wine on her glass.

Harry sighed unconsciously.

"That's that deepest sigh I ever heard," Yassmin exclaimed jokingly.

Harry turned his gaze to her again and then smiled bitterly.

"Too deep that I can’t get up," he hopelessly responded...

"You can’t get up because?" Yassmin jokes again, but Harry didn't respond to her joke.

"Forget it," he whispered. As if realization hit him that Yassmin is not the right person to talk to.

"Just kidding. What's on your mind?" Yassmin asked seriously. Realize that maybe Harry doesn't have time to joke.

"A terrible memory that seemed like a nightmare to me that keeps bothering me," he replied.

"What kind of souvenir?" Yassmin interestingly demanded.

"A memory which I'm not ready to tell to anyone else yet," Harry said without looking at her and then drained the wine from his glass.

"All right, but when you're ready, remember that I'm just here. Good night," she whispered, then walked into her room.

When Yassmin left, he looked at the place where she had stood before. She was facing the sliding door between the veranda and her room while he was turning his back on my sliding glass door.

After a while, he went into the bedroom as well and go to sleep. He woke up late the next day, maybe because he was drunk and tired. He went downstairs to have coffee and breakfast. Then go upstairs again to process his unfinished paperwork. He never left the room again. Manang just brings him food, even though he said he'll take care of it.

This is how Harry works when he sits down; he won't stand until he finishes what he has to finish.

He was not aware of the rapid passage of time. Harry arranged the stack of company papers, then lay down on his bed to sleep.

Tomorrow is Monday. He needs to get to the office early. Soon, his spirit became drowsy. He woke up earlier than the time he set on my alarm clock. Harry sat down for a while before entering his bathroom to take a shower.

It's five o'clock in the morning, maybe Manang is awake too.

Harry took a tuxedo that hung neatly inside his wardrobe, then got dressed. After putting everything in his briefcase, he went downstairs. Harry caught up with Manang, who was already serving breakfast. He put his briefcase on the sofa and went straight to the kitchen to brew his coffee. Then sat down in front of the dining room table. The newspaper he's going to read is also ready.

"Manang, let's eat," he called to Manang, who was still in the kitchen.

"Okay Hijo, you go first," she shouted.

"Seriously Manang, you'll let me eat alone?" Harry childishly questioned.

"You can eat without me, aren't you?" Manang said while shaking her head.

He smiled; Manang Lita will never let him eat alone.

"I'll leaving Manang okay, I'll go ahead," he told goodbye.

Manang Lita was currently organizing the dishes.

"Okay, be careful," she reminds him.

He just smiled and then reached out her hand. Harry grabbed his briefcase, then left the house. He opened his car and then turned it on.

It was only 6:30 in the morning when Harry arrived at his company. There are also some employees there. Even Jane comes into their office early. 7:00 am is the exact time of their office hour.