Chapter 10: Meeting People
It was noon when Honey woke up. She caught the young man busy with piles of papers on his desk. The amount didn't faze him. Honey stood up and put the bed away. Cody noticed the lady putting the bed away. So he stopped what he was doing and approached it.
He gently snatched the bed from her and put it behind the cabinet along with the blanket.
"Stay for a while. My lunch order is coming." He bought it because it looked like Honey was about to leave.
"Do you want to help me?" The lady asked which he did not expect. But no matter how much the work piled up, he didn't want her to do it. He was too much of a gentleman to let that girl do it.
"Ahm, maybe I'm disturbing–"
"You're not–"
He took a deep breath because he didn't want this. He does not like discussions, or arguments. "...Yeah sure. You are disturbing. Do you ever wonder, in what your love ones would feel?" He took it back because it looked like the girl would insist on what she wanted.
He saw her shoulder flinch and the lowering of his shoulders as a sign of surrender. "Fine, I'll eat first."
Cody couldn't help but smile because she didn't argue anymore.
A few moments later, someone knocked. The delivered was fast. The restaurant was quite close. When the delivery man left, he saw how Honey would stare at the food. Unbeknownst to him, she hadn't been able to eat properly for several days.
He returned to sitting on the swivel chair and opened the delivered one by one. He handed the opened to Honey. She was gladly accepted.
"Thank you." Something was bothering him but his food seemed to be delicious so he decided to eat quietly.
"Honey, won't your boyfriend be angry because you're exhausting yourself?" He couldn't stop asking. He thought she would laugh at the question, but she just shook her head and swallowed what was in her mouth.
"If there was, that probably wouldn't have agreed to let me work with Percy." And then drink bottled water.
"You're right. But, do you still like doc Manley?" Honey choke upon hearing his question.
Cody rubbed his back to calm down. Honey didn't think that the young man would ask her that.
She thought he wouldn't remember him!
"That's a big question!" Honey responded to this which made the young man laugh.
"I saw your cellphone. I didn't remember that it was you. Why didn't you introduce yourself? Is that your way to forget? To be busy?" Honey's eyes widened because of the question after question. Without brakes, she couldn't stop immediately!
"What...I'm just embarrassed because didn't you in a sour mood when we first met?" The young man first put away the food and then reached for his water bottle.
"Because you made fun of my name. What? Golden ages?" He asked with a laugh.
"But, I don't know that's your name– wait! You are Procopio?!" Honey exclaimed which made Cody laugh even more and then nodded. "What the heck! Shame on me!"
"No problem. I'm just curious if you still like doc?"
Honey didn't know what to answer because Cody didn't seem to believe that her friend was the one who wanted it.
"Honestly, it's not that deep, Cody. You know, a decade of being single. So, to add some spice, I looked for a prospect. Inspiration, maybe, that's why there's something a little different here..." Honey pointed to the other chest where the heart is. "…I have to stop it now. So, if I like him? I can't say it's gone, but it's just a little bit more and I'll be able to climb up from almost falling." She e smiled due to self realization.
It's a good thing she didn't get to know him very well. Honey might not be able to get out.
"Is that why you're busy? To move on?" The young man asked again, dropping Honey's shoulders.
"No. My nephew fell down the stairs. I'm in need of money." Cody's mouth was left hanging open. He just shut up because it looks like his suspicion was wrong.
"Actually, he is fine now." Honey take it back.
"You should have said so we could have helped."
"It's alright. It's over." Honey smiled then put away the food. Cody was restless because he felt the approach he took was wrong. So he took the garbage and threw it away. Those are just piles of old papers and he is reviewing them.
"To make amends for my ugly approach, I will first stop what I am doing." He said and one by one neatly piled the pile of papers to one side.
Honey's eyes widened and didn't think the young man would say that.
"Maybe it's not necessary, right." Honey makes excuses because his approached can makes a lot of misunderstandings!
Cody still feels guilty. He smiled looking back at her. "No problem. I don't even know when was the last time I stopped what I was doing for a friend."
Friend? Does he think of me as a friend? Her thoughts.
"Let's go!" Cody was already pulling her and she didn't know why she didn't struggle.
Cody brought her at a fair in a neighboring town. It was the height of the festival there and he was sure that Honey would be entertained there.
They were now walking around near the caterpillar ride when Honey was stopped. There was a mother and daughter riding there as it moved slowly and waved to the father who was below taking pictures.
She couldn't help but smile.
One of her dreams is a happy family. Their feelings for each other are mutual.
Her smile faded as she remembered, her love was only one sided.
Why is the world so cruel? Haaay!
"Do you want to ride it, Honey?" Honey returned to reality when Cody called her.
Honey shook her head laughing. "I just find them a cute family. Let's go round again!" She said before walking away.
Geez. Why did my brain register differently when he said my name?
"No way? Your smiling brightly at them." Cody said that made her stop.
Honey shook her head again and spoke, "Aside from being a famous novelist, I also dream of having a happy and whole family. Let's go! Nevermind it!" She pulled him to the adjacent part of the fair.
Cody couldn't help but smile at what he heard. But why?
When Cody took Honey to her apartment, he couldn't help but think about what she said.
"Aside from being a famous novelist, I also dream of having a happy and full family..."
"I thought women were just short-term love. Looks like I made a mistake." He said after the car was parked.
He took the cellphone that had been ringing since they left. He frowned at it.
Why was someone called to him? Did they think he would forgive him? Tsk! They're wrong!
He put the cellphone back in his pocket and ignored his uncle who was scowling.
--
The next day, Cody was surprised to find Tony in office talking to Honey.
Why is he here? Did that guy order him?
He was about to cut him off by the collar, but Honey spoke.
"Cody, I apologize and that I let him in. You don't have a secretary and I can't leave Tony. Promise, it won't happen again!" He looked down at Honey that was just to his left and fears that he might get angry at her was obvious.
He also turned to the table with coffee that seemed to be offered to the guest. He smiled and nodded.
Why does something else come to his mind? She is a friend's secretary and not his!
"All right. Thank you for taking care of my guest." He said and ruffled her hair.
"You're not angry, are you?" "No. If it's okay with you, make me some coffee before you go back to your table." Honey quickly nodded and prepared something to drink.
Honey left, Cody confronted his uncle's best friend, Tony. He sat as if he owned the world and said, "As far as I remember, you are a doctor and not an engineer? So what are you doing here?"
Tony took a deep breath and sat across from him. His face is serious and based on his going to Cody's office it looks like this is a big problem.
"They said Jonas called you last night but you didn't answer–"
"Like, I would like to answer his call?" He will block him.
"But don't you wonder why he calls you nonstop?"
"No. I don't about his reason." It was a cold answer that opened Tony's mouth.
He did not know the right thing to say to the young man!
"Listen, Cody. Your grandmother was rushed to the hospital! And… And you were the only one the old woman wanted to see since she regained consciousness yesterday. Sge doesn't want to eat, or even drink water without seeing you!" He exclaimed because even though he didn't like Manley's request, he was still his friend.
"So? Are they going to make me Grandma's nanny?" Cody asked bluntly.
"Cody?! Be reasonable! You're grandmother was hit by an unknown car last night! To think that's just inside the subdivision!" And that changed the young man's expression.
"Why didn't you tell me right away?!"
"You're the one who doesn't want to answer your uncle's call!"
"Eh, if only they had asked Giya to called me!"
"Because your uncle can't contact her!"
"F*ck! Where is grandma now?!"
"Still in the hospital." He immediately stood up and grabbed the bag and headed out.
Giya or Gianna is Cody's youngest sister. They are close to each other and she doesn't like her uncle either. Why? She only knows.
He tried to call her and finally, it answered!
He says what Tony said and sends her to the hospital that she immediately obeyed. Tony was behind him who was also walking fast when he suddenly stopped in the hallway towards his friend's office.
Should I say goodbye?
"Cody?" Tony asked in surprise.
"God, wait! You go first!" And he walked down the hall.
--
Manley is not worried because Tony says his nephew is on his way. It's almost noon and it's still not here. And since last night, his mother hasn't really eaten anything without Cody. He pinched himself in annoyance.
When will that one figure it out?!
"Calm down, Jonas. He already texted me, he said here will be soon." A friend calming him down. Giya is also here but it's really Cody who's the old woman's looking for.
"Just chill, Uncle. Brother said he will go, so be it. He will go." The groan of the young woman Giya whose age is 24 came from the living room. A professional environmentalist and traveler.
"See, even Giya."
"I know." It makes him calm but still restless. The three of them are here in the garden and expect to find Cody. And it didn't take long for him to arrive with his car. Because they were on the right side of the house, they could see him driving.
"Let's get closer!" Giya sighed and ran to her brother who immediately hugged her. They also followed. But what stopped Manley was the woman who came out of the other door of the car.
"What.. Cody! Where shall I take these?" He asked and held two large eco bags in both hands.
"Why did you pick it up?! Really! It's on me! Giya, take the little one in the backseat!" Cody ordered his sister. Until the three disappeared from Manley's sight, he was still there where he stood.
"So he took Honey with him, that's why he took so long." Tony said with a smirk, apparently teasing him.
"When did they become close?" Manley asked out of nowhere and even he was surprised. "No-Nothing!"
Tony just laughed at his friend as he easily left him and went inside.
"Told ya, Jonas. She is the first woman you will let go. Figuratively~" He shook his head before following inside.