Old Days Break Free [ON HOLD]

22

The Date

Lorraine's POV

"Sa kabilang dako naman, isang lalaki natagpuang patay, bangkay, namataang palutang-lutang sa may drum sa pasig river~"

The voice of the reporter echoed loudly from the television in my office, filling the room with noise I had no interest in.

I ignored it, allowing my eyes to drift shut, seeking solace in the silence that I could create within myself.

In a few hours, I'd have to head to Heart Hospital for another session with Dr. Brent.

I should feel relieved, maybe even hopeful, but hesitation gnawed at me.

It wasn't that I doubted the process or believed I wasn't healing.

No, it was something more unsettling-an anxiety rooted in shame.

Athena had been on my mind ever since last week, when she had asked if she could stay at my place for just one night.

It was a simple request, one that I should have easily agreed to, but instead, I said "no."

The word had slipped out before I even knew what I was doing.

Why?

I still couldn't figure it out.

My mind had panicked, seizing up, and I couldn't process anything properly.

Before I could take it back, Jezreel had already called Athena, saying she needed her for something.

The opportunity to make things right vanished in that instant.

"Why do you look so stressed?"

A voice broke through the haze of my thoughts, startling me.

I opened my eyes to see Theron, grinning from ear to ear.

"I let myself in since the door was open," he said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

He didn't owe me an explanation, but he gave one anyway, though I was more concerned with why he was here, in my office, today of all days.

"What are you doing here? I thought filming for the new advertisement was finished?"

I asked, trying to shake off the discomfort that lingered in the back of my mind.

He nodded in response, still smiling.

"Yeah... I was hoping we could go on a friendly date tomorrow. You know, just a casual hangout," he said with that same easygoing tone.

I smiled back and agreed, though my mind was far from the conversation.

He scratched his neck awkwardly, said his goodbyes, and left the office.

Alone again, I reached for the remote and turned off the TV.

I glanced at my phone to check the time-it was almost time to get ready.