2 Minutes, 23 Seconds

1' 58"

“W-What? How?” Eury’s lips trembled as she searched for answers to questions she could not even form in her head. Tears started to obstruct their vision but they only saw each other and everything they felt all those years that they repressed.

She neared him with her hand reaching his tousled hair and brushed it gently with her fingers. He closed his eyes as he bowed his head. He could already sense the warmth that she brings and it makes him tear up even more. It’s like he just wants to curl up in a ball and forever stay in Eury’s arms. He grasped her hand and placed it on his cheek where it instantly woke his soul. Her hand was his safe haven from this cruel world. The silence between them was filled with unsaid apologies and time felt short for making up for what they lost.

They needed a few more minutes to gather themselves and their feelings before they decided to finally sit down and talk about everything important. But of course, they spent more time staring at each other, conveying messages through their eyes that never lied. When Eury asked why he was looking terribly ill, he immediately changed the subject by commenting on how clean her unit was. In his head, Van was missing this kind of house, or rather home. Also, he’s not yet ready to tell Eury what was really happening to him or anything concerning his health. It may be obvious externally but still, he’s not going to give any hints or information yet. They just got together again. He can’t risk losing her for the second time.

Eury knew he was hiding something. It was too obvious in his actions but it was never her attitude to ask people especially if she feels like it’s something hard to say. “So… How did you know I lived here?” She asked instead.

Van begun by explaining how he got in front of her door when he shouldn’t have been able to even get past the building’s lobby since he is not a resident. “I was supposed to go here the other day but things happened and I only got to surprise you today. Actually, I think it’s better that I showed up today since…it’s your birthday. Happy birthday, baby girl.”

With that, another tear rolled down Eury’s cheek. Hearing him call her that again leaves her in ecstasy that she forgot how he left her for three years. Him coming back is the best gift she has ever received so far. Having him here in front of her made her ignore the thought that she has a boyfriend now and he might come back any moment sooner.

“You remember Hyacinth?” Van asked to which she answered an unsure yes. “I got information from her about you. Thanks to her, I found out where you lived. It seems that you’re quite famous in school.”

Eury tilted her head in confusion. “Wait, how did you know Hyacinth? We were blockmates in first year, that’s how we became friends. How about you?”

Van leaned his back on the couch, trying hard not to show in his face that the littlest of movement brings him pain. Before he could talk again, Eury seemed to put things together and answer for him. “Is it because of Ax? Oh, yeah. That’s right, he’s her boyfriend, but how did she know where I live?”

“She told me that you worked on a group project once here in your house and she only remembered the building and not the exact room number so I had to do some acting for that,” he answered while finding a comfortable sitting position because his muscles were already killing him.

Eury chuckled a bit and it was music to his ears, relieving the pain his body was causing him. “Oh yeah? What did you do?”

Van cleared his throat, trying his best not to show Eury how ragged his voice really is. “I told the receptionist that I was your brother and I wanted to surprise you,” because I just came from the hospital, he continued in his head. “She didn’t believe at first but I managed to make her do. I showed her my ID as proof that we share the same surname so…here I am.” He ended it with a fake laugh as he remembered what he truly did just to get permission to enter the building and know Eury’s room number. He chose not to tell her how he pleaded the receptionist to give out that information in fear that he might be some sort of con-artist. He even showed an old photo of him and Eury but what made the receptionist give in was actually pity. The situation at that lobby needed for him to almost be on his knees.