Chapter 7
1998 Words
AUTUMN'S POV
"About your asking me out... I'm saying yes now."
I was left speechless by what Harumi said.
What did she say?
"C-could you repeat that?" Maybe I misheard.
"I said I'm allowing you to get to know me." I let out a deep breath.
Is this real?
"Are you serious?" I asked again, just to be sure.
"Why? You don’t want to? Then forget it!" She was about to leave, but I stopped her.
"Wait. I just wanted to be sure." I gave her a big smile. "So, can I have a hug?"
"You have to prove yourself first, we’re not together yet."
"But we did something more than a hug." She gave me something I missed—a hard slap on my arm. I also didn’t miss how her cheeks turned red. "How did you find me?"
"I asked around until I got here. Why are you here?"
"It’s quiet here."
"Do you come here often?" She looked around.
"Sometimes. I’m usually at the library."
"Why are you so distant from people? As if you're hiding from someone." She sat on a bench, and I sat beside her.
"I’m not hiding from anyone. I just prefer silence when I’m thinking."
"What are you thinking about now?"
"Actually, it’s kind of embarrassing to say."
"Just say it." I looked at her for a moment.
"After what happened during our tree planting and me avoiding you at the mall, I don’t know how to approach you again."
"Why though?"
"Because I assumed too much, then I avoided you. That’s not how someone who wants to pursue you should act." She leaned on my shoulder, which surprised me.
"Sorry, I also made mistakes. I forgot that you’re human too—you have feelings."
Harumi stood up suddenly when we heard a noise.
"Ah, sorry, Am I disturbing you?" It was Bailey holding flowers.
"I thought this place was quiet?" Harumi asked me, annoyed.
"You’re harsh, sis!" he walked towards me and handed me the flowers.
"Sorry, Bailey, but I only want Haru-chan."
"Eww, girl! Eww! Of course, those aren’t from me." He looked genuinely disgusted.
"Who are they from?" Harumi asked, taking the flowers from me.
"I don’t know. The guard at the main gate said a guy left them."
"And how do you know they’re for me?"
"Try reading the card. Reading is still a thing, girl!" I looked for it and read:
To Autumn Lux Ortega
Congratulations!
Just from reading that, I already knew who it came from.
"Who would give you something like that?" Harumi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just someone I know." My answer made her frown.
"Tss. I’ll go ahead, see you later." She left. I was about to follow, but Bailey grabbed me.
"Girl, we have class, remember? We got dismissed last time—we need to attend. She’s just jealous, let her be."
"Can’t I just write my name to mark me as present?" I really want to follow Harumi
"Girl, the prof checks the attendance herself."
I had no choice but to go. I don’t want to fail just for being absent.
After our class, I waited for Harumi outside their room while Bailey chatted with some instructors we met earlier. It seems like he really knows everyone here.
"You really brought that with you, huh?" I stood up straight when I heard Harumi’s voice. She was looking at the flowers in my hand.
"Ah, I didn’t know where to put them."
"Then throw them away."
"I can’t."
"Tss, fine, don’t." She walked off quickly, and I immediately followed.
"Wait, Haru-chan. Let me explain." I breathed a little easier when she faced me again.
"Then explain. Who are they from?"
"From Lucas—" As soon as I said the name, she walked away again. "Wait!" I chased after her. "Lucas—my brother Lucas!" She turned to me again. "He gave me these."
"He’s the one who called you before, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then why is there a heart next to his name in your contacts?"
"We’re just like that in the family. I put a blue heart for my family and yellow to my friends." That’s how I save their names. She doesn’t believe me?
She really doesn’t know.
"Then introduce me to him."
"No." I firmly refused.
I can’t. I don’t want to. If she knows nothing, it’s better.
"Why not? If he’s really your brother, then introduce me." I looked down.
"I-if I introduce you to him, will you not forget me?" I bit my lip when it trembled. I saw her expression soften suddenly.
"Autumn..." She held both of my shoulders. "Okay, I won’t force you if you don’t want to." I felt her fingers on my lips. "It’s okay. Your lips will bleed. Stop that." Then she hugged me and rubbed my back.
Ah, so comfortable.
"Ahem." Harumi tried to pull away, but I pulled her back. "Ahem!"
"Can you shut up for a moment, Bailey?" I said irritably before kissing Harumi on the neck.
"EHEM! We’re still on campus!" That's when Haru-chan gently pushed me away. "Sis, your face looks like a tomato!" Harumi ignored him and dragged me to the parking lot.
"What are we doing here?" I asked, but she didn’t answer until Bailey opened the car.
"Get in. I’ll drop you off. Can’t have someone walking home alone."
Harumi got in the back. Since she was still holding my hand, I also got in the back.
"Wow, so I’m your driver now? You guys are something else." He started the engine and dropped us off at Harumi’s convenience store.
"Hello ladies," Gus greeted us.
"Hello. Where’s Guin?" I asked. She wasn’t the one to greet us this time.
"Inside, crying. Her girlfriend broke up with her," he whispered.
I thought she and Gus were dating.
We entered the staff room and saw Guin sobbing while looking at her phone.
"Leslie honey, why did you leave me?" she cried.
"Leslie?" I asked, confused.
"Her girlfriend," Harumi answered and handed me a vest.
Wait, girlfriend? So she likes girls? I didn’t know that. I really thought she was dating Gus.
"Don’t mind her. They’re always like that. On and off."
I placed my stuff on the table and took off my blazer.
"Autumn."
"Hmm?"
"Why are you always wearing long sleeves?" I was wearing long sleeves under the blazer, too.
"Really? Maybe because I get cold easily. And I have a sensitive skin when it's hot." I was surprised when someone lifted my shirt.
"You’re just hiding that nice body of yours," said Guin while sniffling.
"Guin, stop that!" Harumi quickly pulled my shirt down.
"Fine, It's not like I would steal her. My heart only belongs to Leslie," she said and went back to sulking.
"Let’s go, there might be customers waiting for us." Harumi dragged me out again.
"We’ll take over here Gus. You guys can go or there’ll be a flood of tears."
"Okay. Take care." After they left, we worked quietly until late evening.
"Where do you live?"
"Why?"
"It’s already late when you go home. Isn’t that dangerous?"
"Not really. My apartment is just three blocks away."
"Three blocks? Why didn’t you say so? Do you live with anyone?"
"No, I live alone."
"Ahmm, your parents or your sibling doesn’t live with you?"
I paused for a moment.
"I left home. I prefer living alone."
"Is that why you’re working?"
"Yeah. The apartment I got is quite expensive."
"Wait, aside from this store and your janitor job at the mall, what else do you do?" Maybe since there weren’t any customers, she decided to ask.
"I also tutor a sixth grader and a high school student."
She seemed to remember something.
"Where do your students live?"
"Why? I can’t say it. They’re high profile." She snapped her fingers.
"Ah, so the one we saw must’ve been your student." I was confused by what she said. What does that mean?
"Bailey and I saw you in their subdivision." There’s only one subdivision I visit and where my students live.
"So that’s also where Bailey lives."
"Do you have another job?"
"Actually, I once wrote a script and submitted it to various places until A&Z Entertainment bought it. My brother found out, so he gave me the flowers." That’s the real reason behind the flowers.
"I didn’t know you could write. And A&Z Entertainment? That’s a big company. Isn’t that under A&Z Empire, the owner of our university?" I sighed before nodding. Outono Luxo University is owned by A&Z Empire, a major name in the business world. "So, how much did they pay you?"
"Why? Do you want some?" I joked. But honestly, the pay was so big I didn’t know what to do with it.
"No! You’re already working too much—I wouldn’t ask you for money." After that, we stayed quiet for a while.
"Uhmm... didn’t you say you live alone in your apartment?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Can I visit sometimes?" I thought about it for a long time. I didn’t want to joke, but...
"No, you might be planning something on me." I hugged myself and moved away from her.
"Hey! You’re so full of yourself. Maybe you’re the one planning something on me!"
"Oh, really? You’re the one who insisted at the bar that time." She blushed at what I said.
"B-but you’re the one who made me extremely tired that night!" she shouted, so I moved away again.
"Why are you so mad? I didn’t even get you pregnant—" she suddenly started hitting me.
She’s so aggressive.
But I like it.
"Harumi-chan, what are you doing?" She froze and we both turned to the store entrance. Harumi’s mom was looking at us in shock.
"M-mom, did you hear anything?" she asked nervously.
"Yes, the way you are slapping her was loud. Stop hitting Autumn or she might resign."
"Just try resigning, and you’ll never hear anything from me again," she threatened, and I nodded with a smile.
"You can clock out now, Autumn. It’s late."
"Yes Ma'am, thank you."
"Harumi-chan, walk her at least to the next corner."
"You know where she lives?"
"Of course, we talked on her first day."
"Mom, she’s old enough. She can handle herself."
"Harumi just—"
"Okay, I’m going." I watched them quietly. They were so close. Something I never experienced with my parents.
As we walked, she asked:
"So, can I visit?"
I hesitated.
"Umm... my apartment’s a mess."
"That’s fine."
"Okay. But let me know when you're coming so I can clean up."
Geez, there’s a lot I need to hide.
"Aren’t you tired though?" She sat on a long bench beside a streetlight.
"Tired of what?" I sat next to her.
"You work so much and still study."
"It’s my choice. I need money. And maybe it’s better I keep myself busy."
"Why?"
She’s always so sweet at night—especially when it’s just the two of us. She’s really comforting to talk to.
"I get bored easily, so I’d rather be busy with other things." She stared at me for a long time before hugging my arm.
Oh, Haru-chan. you don't know what you're doing, do you?
I had such a big smile. I don’t mind if she keeps hitting me, as long as we have moments like this.
"What if you get bored of me?"
My smile faded at her question.
"I won’t get bored of you."
"But didn’t you say you get bored easily?"
"Haha. You're an exception"
"Okay, go home now." She let go of me and stood up. She's blushing and it's cute.
"A goodbye kiss first." I joked, but I was shocked when she actually kissed me on the cheek before leaving.
Harumi, Harumi, Harumi... you really are something else.
I was so giddy I didn’t know what to do.
Will I even be able to sleep?
Even as I reached my apartment, I was still smiling.
- Writer
