Long Story Short (it was mistake)

Chapter Tweleve

I wake up in Harry's house. I decided to sleep in his house and he agreed with me. We sleep on a different couch, Harry kept offering his room to me but I rejected him. I decided to sleep in a living room and he decided to sleep here too which I have no choice but to agree with him because it's his house.

Last night, we almost talked for more than an hour. I learned a lot about his life, and I also told him about my story. And now, I'm here on the his couch, sitting and waiting for him to finish cooking. He insisted to cook breakfast before I leave. I want to reject but he seems like a good cook and he kept insisting that's why I can't say no. Its 6:00 AM, so I still have time to eat before going to work.

"Eunice, the breakfast is ready" he said while preparing the plates on the table. Why does he sound like a mother? I smile in my mind because he looks cute.

I immediately walk towards the dining area and sit on the chair. The table has only 6 chairs. I sit where Harry put a plate on the table.

"You sound like a mom" I laugh.

Harry and I have been less awkward since last night. I can now talk to him without stuttering or shivering. We talked a lot last night, and I realized that he was a chill type of person, he makes jokes and he's kind.

"A handsome mom" he laughs.

He places a lasagna on the table and my eyes automatically turns into a heart shape. OH MY GOD! Lasagna. It's my favorite. I can't believe he can make a lasagna. I always try to make lasagna but it doesn't taste and look good.

"What coffee do you want?" he said as he took a two mug.

"Americano, please" I smile.

"Sugar?" he asked.

"One tablespoon"

After a second or two, he sits in front of me with a two mug in his hands. I think he noticed how I admire his lasagna because I heard him chuckle.

"So, are you just going to stare at it?" he said.

"Of course no, I'm going to eat all of this" I laugh. He passes me a mug that he's holding.

I took a piece of lasagna and start to eat. Wow, he's a good cook.

"Are you a chef? How can this lasagna tastes so good?" I said with my mouth full of lasagna.

"Really?" he asked as he took a bite on his lasagna.

"Yeah, Its really good. I would probably come back here just to have this lasagna again" he just laughs at me.

"You can come back anytime. Just knock on my door, its always open for you."

"Awe! That's cute. But be prepare, I will really knock at your door when I crave for lasagna" I said.

"Yes ma'am" he salutes at me, and I laugh at him. "But don't come at midnight"

"I won't" I chuckle. "But how did you know that it is one of my favoirtes?" I asked as I continue eating lasagna.

"Its everyone's favorites" he casually said.

"I wish I was a lasagna then, if thats the case."

"Why? So you could be everyone's favorite?" he suddenly stops from eating and got serious. I was just actually joking, but I think he takes it seriously.

"Yeah, but I was just kidding" I fake a laugh and I shift my gaze to lasagna because his staring at me and it makes me feel awkward again.

"You don't need to be everyone's favorite. I think a person or two is enough to make you feel special and love by making you their favorite person" he said and continues eating. The awkwardness is now gone.

"I agree, but isn't it much better if the person that you admire a lot is admiring you too?" I ask but it sounds like I'm actually stating it.

"Yeah, it is much better, but I think, when you really like a person, you don't expect her or him to like you back. It's going to be enough for you to just watch her in the distance and knowing she's okay and happy makes you happy too. Love is not about giving and taking, it's only about giving, and if the love that you give comes back to you, your lucky, treasure it." I was stunned by his words. How did the topic goes about love? I just talk about lasagna and here we are talking about giving and taking love.

"I don't want to argue so, I'll just agree" why do I feel like he means every words that he said. I'm not being assuming here, but I feel like I'm that person that he's talking about. He said 'she', so he probably pertains about his self and the girl that she likes.

"I'm not arguing here" he chuckles. "I'm just saying my thoughts."

"Okay. I agree on you, but for me, one sided love shouldn't be enough. I mean, yeah! It's good to have someone that loves you and not expecting anything for returns, but don't you think that you deserve to be loved too, everyone deserves to be loved. We shouldn't settle for less than what we deserve." I stated, I was staring at him all these time. I want him to realize that he deserves to be loved.

"I think we have different perception when it comes to love" he said.

"I wish you didn't mean what you said because you deserve to be love. Trust me, it is much better to love someone that loves you too."

"Okay, enough of this topic." he looks at his wrist watch. "Don't you think you have to go home now? You have work, right?"

I gaze at the wall clock in my left side.

"Yeah, I think I have to go now" I took a sip of my coffee, I feel bad because I didn't consume the rest of the coffee. I was busy enjoying lasagna and talking to Harry.

I stood up and fix myself. Harry did the same.

"I'll take your unit" he said.

"Thanks" was all that I say before we leave his house.

I click my passcode and before I could get in. A huge hand stop me to get inside.

"I'll go first" I let him go first, and I follow him.

He walks immediately in my room and examines if there is someone. He gets inside the bathroom and in the kitchen and dining area, and check it.

"There's no one here" I sigh on what he said.

He gives me a smile that tells me that 'its all okay now.'

He walks towards to me. "Just knock on my door if somethings happen again or if you need anything."

"Yes, I will." I smile at him. I walk to the door and open it for him. He was about to leave when I speak.

"Harry" I call him and he looks back at me. "Thank you Seriously, thank you very much." I continue.

I flash my sweetest smile to him before I close the door. I find myself smiling like a crazy woman. I'm just happy because I feel like I have found a savior. I know I sound corny, but I can't help but smile.

I decided to take a shower before I get late to my work. It took me 30 minutes to finish. I fix myself and do my make-up and my hair. After an hour I'm ready to go.

Just like my normal day, I go to my office and check some files and bills, there are a lot of complaints that I have to review.

Time flies faster than usual, maybe because I'm doing a lot of work. A knock on the door bothers me from what I'm doing.

"Are you busy?" Conan sneak inside without my permission.

"Not really, why?" I asked. He get inside and sit on the chair that is in front of my table.

"Are you not going to eat lunch?"

I gaze at my wrist watch, its already 11:55 AM. I didn't notice that its already lunch time. I stare at all of the papers that I need to check and see all the tenants complaint about the housekeeping system.

"I don't think I could go" I gave him a gloomy face. "I have a lot paper to read. I also need to check the maintenance and laundering area later. Sorry!"

"It's fine b***h. Just don't overwork yourself, okay?" he stood up.

"I'm already overworking" I chuckles and shift my gaze to the paper that I'm reading. "By the way, can I request something?" I ask.

"What?"

"Can you please tell Nicole to bring me a cup of coffee? Please?" I make a puppy eye.

Nicole is like my secretary but not actually my secretary, he works in the housekeeping team.

"Okay, what else ma'am?" he sarcastically said the word ma'am. He roll his eyes on me.

"Nothing else. Thank you very much baby" I tease him.

"Stop calling me that or I swear I'm going to pull your hair"

"Okay, but make sure to tell her to bring me coffee. She already knows what I like."

"I will" he walks out the door and leave.

I continue on my work, and after a minute or two, someone knocks on the door.

"Come in" I said. I'm still not use in saying 'come in' because I sound like a boss when I do that.

Nicole came in with a cup of coffee in her hand. She walks to me and put the coffee on my table.

"Here ma'am"

"Thank you. Did you have lunch?" I said as I took the coffee that she gave me and blow on it.

"Um, not yet. I just had my breakfast, I think I'm going to skip lunch today. Do you need anything else ma'am?" I nod at her.

"Coffee is all I need" I chuckle. "Thank you" I thank her again.

"If you need anything, just call me" she smiles at me. She was about to leave but she suddenly stops from walking.

"Um, ma'am do you have a guest yesterday?" she asks, instead of walking to the door, she goes back to me.

"No, why?" my eyebrows met as I ask her.

"Really? Then who's that guy, that said he is your cousin?" her eyes gets wide and she looks surprise.

"A guy?" I can't understand her. I don't have any cousin that lives here in Manila, most of my cousins are living in the province, and the only family member that I have here in Manila is my sister.

"Yeah, a guy. Last night, I was in the front desk with Abigail, then I notice an unfamiliar guy that entered. He looks like a suspicious bad guy because he's wearing a cap. So I blocked him before he could get on the elevator." she explains.

"What did you do?" my hands start to shiver. I think the guys that he's talking about is my intruder.

"I ask him if he's a tenant here, but he said that he was just going to visit his cousin. And when I ask him, who is his cousin, he said that you are his cousin"

"So, you let him in, just because he told you that he's my cousin?" I started to piss off at Nicole. She shouldn't let a suspicious person to get in.

"Its because he knows your full name, even the middle name" she stated.

"You shouldn't let him in, Nicole!" I shouts at her. "The rules and policy are very clear. You should use your mind" ai was carried away by my anger. I didn't notice that I had already said those words.

I look at her to see Nicole bowing at me and saying sorry.

"But I followed him, because he really looks suspicious that's why I follow him." she said.

"Did you found out something by following him?" I sarcastically ask.

"Nothing, I thought he's really your cousin because he knew the passcode of your door." she explains.

My whole body feels chill as if cold water had suddenly been poured all over my body. I was so surprise at what she said.

"D-did you see him get inside my room?" I stutter. My tears start to fill my eyes because of my fear and nervous. How come that I didn't hear anyone enter my unit? I should at least heard him pressed my passcode.

"Yes, he clicked your passcode and entered your unit. I actually waited outside for five minutes but nothing happened. So, I just leave."

"D-do you remember the exact time that he entered my unit?" I asked.

"I really can't remember the exact time, but I remember that it was during a fireworks display. He exactly entered when the last explosion of fireworks burst."

I remember it. I was talking to Harry in my terrace at that time.

My whole body start to shiver, and I started to panic. I put down my coffee and close my eyes to calm down myself.

"ma'am, are you okay?" I feel her caressing my back. "Did something happened last night?"

I didn't answer her. I took a deep breath and stood up.

"Come with me. I need to check the CCTV footage last night" I didn't wait for ger to speak. I walk to the door, and we immediately go the CCTV surveillance.

When we reach the room, everyone greets me. I bow and smile at them in return. The room is full of screens and computer. I can see the different angle and position of the condominium in their screens. There are more than 30 persons that work here.

"Good morning ma'am! Do you need anything?" Mr. Mendoza asks me. He is the person that in charge to the CCTV surveillance.

"Yeah. I need to see the CCTV footage of the 40th floor last night." I said. Nicole is still with me.

"Renzo, show her the footage" Mr. Mendoza commands on a guy named Renzo. I walk to Renzo's huge screen.

"What's specific time ma'am?" Renzo asked.

"I can't remember the time. I think maybe 8:00 PM, during fireworks display" I answer.

"Let's see" Renzo type something on his computer and in just one second I can now see the 40th floor in the screen. He fast forward the video, and my body start to shiver because of the fear that I feel.

In the screen, I see a guy wearing a polo shirt and cap. He was talking to someone in the phone while walking towards my unit and click my passcode and enter inside.

"Am I playing the right time?" Renzo asked. I didn't have the power to talk. I just stare at the screen. How stupid I am that I didn't notice that someone has already get in my house, and how did he know my passcode?

I have a lot of questions in my mind, but not one can answer it. Thinking that I sleep in my house with the guy that wants to hurt me is making me crazy.

"Ma'am are you okay?" Renzo ask again.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Can you please pass that forward" he obeys me.

After a second, I go out to my unit and runs to the elevator. And just like what happened, Harry found me and I come inside his unit.

Renzo and Nicole are staring at me, maybe they are wondering why I come insides Harry's unit. But I didn't bother to think about what they are going to think of me. All I care right now is about the intruder, my whole mind is still processing.

We waited for a minute or two before the guy that enter my unit goes out. He is now wearing a black shirt, black pants and black cap. That was his exact clothes when I saw him in my terrace.

"Okay, stop it" I said when the intruder left the 40th floor. He left at exactly 2 AM.

Renzo stop the CCTV footage. I can see that he wants to ask and he's curious. But I just ignore it.

"T-thank you very much, sorry for inconvenience" I bow to him and shake his hand.

"No worries ma'am. You can come here anytime if you want to see something" he smiles at me and shakes my hand.

I turn around and greet Mr. Mendoza and bid a goodbye before we already leave the room.

"Ma'am is everything okay?" Nicole ask. We are going back to my office.

"I need to ask you something" I stop walking to speak at her. "Do you hear the conversation of that guy in his phone?" I seriously ask her.

"Yeah, I heard it clearly" she stated.

"What did he say?" I grab her shoulders to make an eye contact on her.

"This is what exactly he said 'I'm already here, do I have to wait to do something?' That's what he said on the phone" she stated. I remove my hands on his shoulder.

"What else?"

"He said also said that he's going to give you something" she answers.

Something? What does he mean?