Strangers in Love

CHAPTER 13: TIME TOGETHER

Yohan's POV

I woke up around 5 a.m. and had my morning jog, made some breakfast, check my emails, and read some scripts for approval. That's my usual morning routine, but there is something telling me to check my social media.

At first, there is nothing unusual, but I came across Ada's post; it was an aesthetic photo of an eyeglass. I learned that she likes this kind of photography but there is something in it, I feel. "This is unusual. What happened?" I asked myself and the next thing I knew; I am sending her a message.

"You okay?" but she did not reply. She didn't even view my message.

I arrived at 9 a.m. in the office and went straight to the studio to see Ada but she wasn't there. I went to the editing room, but she wasn't there either. The disappointed me decided to just go to my office, I look around but she's not at her table as well.

"You look so gloomy, dude." Dale enters the office and puts his things on his table. "You haven't seen Ada, have you?" then he chuckled.

"How'd you..." I'm not able to finish my sentence when he interrupted me. "Were you worried about her story last night?"

I looked at him with confusion, so I asked, "What do you think? I think she's going through something."

Dale took out his laptop from his bag and slowly tilted his head to look at me, "Why don't you spend some time together? Get to know each other, you know? I will cover for you." he winked.

"What do you mean?" I asked though I know exactly what he's talking about.

"Dude, you're already 35, you know what I am talking about." he snorts to show me his dismay.

"How? She doesn't even view my messages." I said frustrated.

Dale looks at me again with a long face, "Seriously? I saw her at the coffee shop at the back gate."

"Well, I didn't know she likes coffee!" I said excitedly.

"Go, I'll cover for the both of you today. I support you there, brother." Dale said then he patted my back as I stood in front of the door.

I run as fast as I could and when I enter the coffee shop, she's the first person I see. She's staring at her laptop with earphones on. She looks so cute with her serious face.

I thought she was doing work-related stuff but when I sneak a peek, I just saw a thread of conversation.

"That's a long conversation." I told myself. I headed straight to the cashier, ordered a tall strawberry and cream shake for her and a chocolate latte for me.

I went to her table but she was gazing at her laptop screen, so I knocked on the table to get her attention.

She was still zoning out, so I just stood there to observe her, but what caught my attention is the bruises on her left arm. I decided to put the cold drink close to her arms to pull her back to reality.

Ada jolted in surprise. "Hey, I am really starting to think that zoning out is one of your hobbies." I said while laughing.

"Nah. I was just reading the script." she said pressing some keys on her keyboard.

I know she tried to hide her in denial of facial expression, but I know her, so I responded in a joking manner. "Right, a very long.. long.. long exchange of lines." Then I smiled when I saw her eyes widened.

"You!" then she put her hands on her face in frustration and continued, "You clearly love to invade my privacy!" then we both laugh.

"So, tell me. Is this "script" you're telling me is somehow related to your story last night?" I don't know but I felt the eagerness to know about it.

Ada inhaled deeply before speaking, "Fine." then she exhaled, dropping her shoulders. "Uno was outside my house last night, waiting for me and he was drunk. He kept on asking me who you are, what we are.." she paused for three seconds and she continues, "..and he tried to forcefully enter my house."

I felt a fit of sudden anger inside me, I didn't notice that my jaws are tightening, and my hands are clenching. "Was it him?" I said pointing at her bruises.

She didn't say a word, but she just touched the bruises on her arm and nodded. "What the f**k?!" I shouted and she looked at me in surprise. "That's abusive! Let's file a protection order!"

"Hey.. Stop! I am fine." she said with an unrecognizable emotion in her eyes. "No, Ada! If he can do that to you.." she cut me and said, "Hey Yohan, I am fine, really."

"He could be waiting for you again tonight outside your house!"

"Don't worry, I'll be staying in a hotel until Friday." she said smiling then she took a sip of her drink.

"Fine. But I'll send you home 'till then." Aren't I cool? Ada was about to refuse but I cut her before she could say any word. "I insist. I will be your "hero" until Friday." I emphasize the word hero to stop her from refusing.

We stayed at the coffee shop for I don't know how long. We only laugh, spied and joke about the people who passed by, her family, and her childhood.

She's fun to be with to tell you the truth. You can just be yourself to sum it up.

It's already 6 p.m. when my phone notified me about our episode reviewing, but I just ignored it since Dale is covering for me. To be honest, I put it on silent so nothing can interrupt our "time together".

"Oh, it's already 6. What about dinner?" she looked at me and nodded, "Sure, there's a good place two blocks from here. I'm sure you will like it there." then we started to gather her things and walk all the way to the said place.

We stopped in a bistro with loud reggae music playing and I was surprised with what I heard.

"Marie! We haven't seen you for so long! What do you want? It's on the house!"

I looked at Ada when she answered the man with a wide smile that I've never seen. "The usual! Buffalo wings and beer!" then she pulled me to the farthest table.

"Wow! This place is so cool! I didn't know you're into this kind of place." I said with amusement.

Ada chuckled and a mid-forties man served us three grilled chicken wings and a bucket of beer. "Marie! We missed you! Want me to play your jam?" then she giggled and said, "I missed you too! I'm just busy with work. I'll come here more often." They hugged each other, and the man patted her head as if she's like a pet.

Ada giggled when the music started to play. She closed her eyes, rocked her head back and forth smoothly, swaying her body, and sang along with the music.

And from the scene that I witnessed, I felt something strange, happiness? Excitement? Or perhaps..