Chapter 7

"How long has it been? I learned you're now an architect. Well, I'm a writer now. I came by to thank you for visiting me in the hospital. I apologize for making you worry."

Hyun drives the car while Cela looks outside of the car's window. She's still thinking of ways to start the conversation with Nate when they meet that day.

"Are you okay, Ms. Cela?" Hyun asked. "Do you want us to turn around and go back to your place or go somewhere else?

Cela turned to Hyun. "But why do we do that?" she asked.

Hyun just smiled. No need to answer or explain his point. He knows she wants this meeting to happen whether she's ready or not.

"It's now or never, Hyun," Cela said as if she read his mind to know what he's thinking.

The turn of events is real quick. It was just yesterday when they first learned about the gallery where they could possibly see Nate but one thing led to another and here they are again. This time, Cela ensures that she will meet Nate at all cost.

A young lady came out and introduced herself as Nina's secretary.

"Sir Nate doesn't hold office here but I can give you his calling card," she said.

Hyun looked to Cela. In his mind he's saying, "what's with this suspense?"

Cela read the calling card. "Oh, he is a freelancer. He's not working for any company."

"What time do they usually come in?" Hyun asked. He immediately noticed the disappointment showing on Cela's face.

"Oh you mean today? It's Tuesday so the assistant curator will be in charged for today's activities here in the gallery," the secretary answered. She also made it clear that Nate frequents the gallery but only on days when Nina's there.

"Can she leave her card with you? Hyun asked.

"Sure but you may also contact him thru the numbers in his card. I think he is going to work until the last week of the month."

"It's okay. Thank you. We're leaving now. We can drop by some other time," Cela said. She prefers not to leave any of her contact information. "Let's go, Hyun."

"You sure, Ms. Cela?" Hyun asked discreetly.

Cela nodded and pulled him away.

Nina's secretary is a little confused by their sudden departure. They left in a hurry even before she could ask their names again.

Cela opened the door to the driver's seat making Hyun worry.

"Don't worry, Hyun. I am okay and I can drive. I'll drive you home now and I promise never to bug you again. You can enjoy your break finally," Cela said.

She tries to assure him she's fine by flashing a forced smile.

Hyun has had enough. He may be younger and not in the position to give advices to his senior but at this point he also knows that between the two of them, he is the more stable one.

"Ms. Cela, it's okay to show that you're upset. It's just us here," he said to her.

"Oh, dear. Is there anything that I should be upset about?" Cela still tries to put a stable front.

Hyun did not answer.

"Yes, Nate's with me. Why do you ask?" asked Nina. She called her secretary to ask for any update while she's not in the gallery.

Nate looked to Nina thinking who might be looking for him in the gallery.

"You sure it's them?" Nina clarified. "Are they still there?"

Nate heard her asking. "Who's that?" he asked.

"My secretary thought it was your classmate with her companion who came to see you today. She remembered them from yesterday. They thought you're holding office in the gallery. Unfortunately, they left even before she could ask for their names and contacts but she can still see their car parked in front of the building. They haven't left the area," Nina said.

Nate thought for a moment. "Maybe they have other business in the building," he said.

"You think so? We can meet them today if you want or at least you can go ahead and meet them," Nina suggested.

"Nope," Nate answered plainly. He focuses on his driving.

"Everything okay?" Nina asked.

"Yeah," Nate answered quickly. "How about having lunch at your place today?" he asked.

"You sure? I thought we'd eat in our favorite restaurant today?" Nina asked.

Nate reached for her hand. "I missed you yesterday," he said.

Nina couldn't believe his cheesiness. "Okay, my place. As you wish," she said.

They look at each other. "I missed you too," Nina said before bursting in laughter.

"I knew that you knew," Cela said to Hyun. "But it's over."

Hyun still couldn't say anything.

"I kept forgetting about the fiancé. I'm so bad," Cela continued.

"What are you going to do now?" Hyun asked to keep the conversation going.

Cela breathed deeply. "What else? Just do what I am supposed to do," she answered.

"You mean you're starting the third book?" Hyun asked without thinking carefully. He wanted to take back what he asked.

"I don't want to think about anything in particular right now," Cela answered. She looks calm. "I'll let it flow."

Hyun understood and didn't say another word.

"Listen, I will be turning off my phone for a few hours or probably for the rest of the afternoon. I don't want you or anyone to need me but if you must, just text or call me tonight, okay? I just want to restart this supposedly relaxing break," Cela said.

Nate and Nina get busy in the kitchen preparing food for lunch. The original plan was to take out food but Nate decided last minute to cook their lunch instead.

"Can you tell me again why are we doing this on my day off?" Nina asked cutting the vegetables for Nate's requested dish.

"I craved for it and you nail that dish. That's all," Nate answered. He's been showering her with compliments.

"Okay but don't expect me to finish by 12nn. We will definitely have late lunch today," she said.

Nate came closer and hugs her from behind. "Take your time. Thank you," he said.

"And why are you suddenly so clingy apart from being cheesy? Are you hiding something from me?" Nina joked.

Good thing he is behind her and she did not see his full reaction upon hearing her question. "Me keeping a secret from you?" Nate asked.

"Who knows you might be cheating on me with any of those ladies who frequent the gallery but are not buying anything," Nina continued to joke.

"Excuse me," Nate said. He still hugging her while she cuts more vegetable.

They look like a real married couple.

"Oh, speaking of. The club's president couldn't believe that you'll be giving him your artwork for free. He called to confirm if that's true and if you haven't changed your mind," Nina said.

Nate closed his eyes. "Yes. I will send it to his office as soon as we finish the activities this Friday," he answered.

"But it's one of your treasured works, right? You kept it for a very long time. Why give it now?" Nina said.

"It's not. On the contrary, I just forgot about it. That's why it stayed in my cabinet all those years," Nate answered.

"Well, I think that will be delicious," he said referring to the food to change the topic.

"It should be done before 1PM. Just go take a nap," Nina said.

"That's why I love you," Nate said. He planted a kiss on her cheek before removing his arms around her.

How timely it is to give away the artwork where the subject is the Cedar bench that's located inside the Trees Park? Suddenly, he recalled waiting for Cela to come to the waiting shed a day after the day they were supposed to meet there.

"That's already beautiful. Why do you have to fix it?" Mr. Bro, the janitor asked. He saw Nate enhancing his drawing as he waits in the waiting shed.

"I just need to color it a little more," Nate answered.

The janitor looked at him with pity in his eyes. "She's not coming here anymore," he said.

Nate looked up. "What do you mean? Did she leave already?" he asked.

The janitor nodded sadly. "Her driver picked her up as soon as her last class ended," he said.

Nate picked up his stuff. "I'll try tomorrow," he told the janitor.

"She won't come here anymore. Today's her last day attending school. She will be homeschooled starting tomorrow and until the rest of the school year. I heard she won't even attend the graduation ceremony," the janitor said. "There are so many nice students here but there are bullies too," he added.

Nate looked away. His eyes may be dry outside but the brokenness was overwhelming inside. "I guess that's it. Thank you, bro," he told the janitor then walked away holding the artwork in one of his hands.

"Are you sure you are okay to wait in that shed?" Cela asked Hyun who is meeting someone for lunch date in a mall.

"Yup, he told me to wait here. Thank you for these," Hyun said while flashing the gift checks she gave him.

"That's nothing. You deserve that," Cela said.

"Oh, there's a flower shop along the way. You won't miss it," Hyun told her before she drove away.

Cela brought some flowers to her Mom. It's probably just the third time that she went to the columbarium to visit her.

"I didn't even have a chance, Mom," she said to her. "I was denied even a single stolen moment. I couldn't even say hi to him. I think he doesn't really want to see me again that's why he ran away when I was waking up. By the way, he's an architect now just like what you wanted him to be. I hope you are happy that I am here instead of me having some coffee time or lunch with him somewhere. Anyway, thank you for buying those copies of my books. They did help in the sales," she said to her mother in her mind.

Her eyes begin to tear up. She feels defeated but found some unexpected solace while sitting there looking at her mother's picture next to the urn.

Outside, the heavy rain is pouring down. Perhaps, her mother is telling her to stay there a little longer to feel some calm.