๋࣭ ⭑⚝
The Next Morning - Harriet's House
The sunlight poured in through the windows, casting soft shadows across Harriet's small living room. She had spent the night cleaning up and gathering her things, making sure to return the old man's painting that she'd promised to bring back. She had left early to avoid bumping into anyone and made her way to his house, but when she arrived, there was no sign of him. His door was slightly ajar, but the house felt empty, abandoned. No sound, no movement.
Harriet stood in front of the door for a few moments, her hand on the frame, as if waiting for something. But there was no answer. She gently placed the painting on the doorstep, feeling a sense of finality in the gesture. After a moment, she turned and walked back down the street, her footsteps quiet and steady.
---
Street Encounter - Fred and Harriet
As Harriet walked down the street, deep in thought, she suddenly found herself face-to-face with someone. It was Fred. He stood in front of her, his presence commanding yet distant, like a shadow that she couldn't quite grasp.
For a brief second, their eyes met, and Harriet felt a flicker of recognition, but it was fleeting. She couldn't place him. He didn't look familiar at all.
Fred's gaze lingered for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he was studying her. Something about her seemed so familiar, yet so out of reach. But then, as quickly as the moment passed, he was already looking past her, his thoughts turning inward.
Without saying a word, Fred brushed past her and continued on his way, his figure quickly disappearing into the crowd.
Harriet watched him walk away, her brow furrowed for a moment. She couldn't understand why his presence felt so oddly familiar, but she shook it off and continued on her path, the feeling soon fading into the background of her thoughts.
---
Somewhere Else - Rufei's Day
Meanwhile, Rufei was busy with his work. He sat at his desk, his mind focused and steady, typing away at his computer. The office was quiet, save for the occasional click of keys and the hum of the air conditioning. He was immersed in his tasks, but his mind kept drifting back to Harriet. They had been spending more time together lately, their relationship slowly blossoming into something deeper and more meaningful.
He smiled to himself as he glanced at his phone. A message from Harriet.
> Harriet: "Hey, what's up?"
Rufei quickly typed back, his fingers moving with practiced ease.
> Rufei: "Just working. How about you?"
Before he could press send, a voice interrupted him.
"Hey, Rufei." It was a colleague, a girl who had been eyeing him for weeks now. She was persistent, always coming up with excuses to talk to him, even though she knew he was involved with someone else.
"I wanted to ask you something," she said, leaning over his desk. "Would you want to go out for coffee sometime? Just the two of us."
Rufei sighed, his patience wearing thin. He looked up at her and shook his head gently. "I'm already seeing someone. Sorry."
The girl's face tightened, but she smiled sweetly, not giving up. "Oh, I see. Well, maybe some other time then."
Rufei didn't respond, his mind already back on his phone, fingers typing a quick reply to Harriet.
> Rufei: "Just got interrupted. Let's talk later. I miss you."
He smiled softly, feeling a warmth spread in his chest as he sent the message.
---
Fred's Room - Alone with His Thoughts
Meanwhile, Fred was back at his place, standing in front of a full-length mirror. His shirt was off, revealing the many scars and wounds across his body, remnants of battles fought in the dark, a life he could never escape. He stood still, his gaze distant, focusing on the reflection that barely resembled the man he once was. His muscles tensed as he took a long gulp of wine from a glass in his hand, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat.
As he moved to sit down, his eyes landed on something - a sketchbook, lying open on the table. His fingers brushed the edge of the paper before he picked it up. The sketch was delicate, simple - a portrait of a woman, her face soft yet determined, drawn in shades of gray. He stared at the drawing, his eyes growing darker as memories flooded back.
There was something about the way she looked, something he couldn't quite forget.
---
To be continued...
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