Whisper of the Heart (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER XI

Just by looking at her face Edward knew he couldn't make her.

"Ah, no.. just kidding. You can call me 'Sir' if you are comfortable with that."

"Ah, hehe." Maymay sits at the other window looking relieved. But she's totally out of composure and Edward felt responsible for that. He's starting to feel uncomfortable himself, seeing her twist in her seat. One moment she was looking at the floor, the other moment outside. And Edwards thinks she's looking uncommonly pretty, the sun outlining her profile.

Both were silent for minutes, and the more the clock ticks the more it gets awkward to speak. Finally Maymay broke the silence.

"Bakit po pala kayo naparito, Sir Edward?"

That's the question Edward had been asking himself too and though he couldn't make a reasonable answer himself, he's quite ready to answer that question in case this happens.

"Ah, yes of course. I, ah.. I felt responsible for you because of what happened. And... I haven't heard from you since you were discharged from the hospital and i am afraid that there may be complications ensued by the accident. So kamusta naman ang pakiramdam mo?"

"Naku sir, kahiya-hiya man po!" she said apologetically clasping her hands."Naabala ko pa kayo. Alam ko marami po kayong ginagawa. Pasensya na po talaga. Kung nakatawag lang sana ako, hindi na kayo naabala pa para pumunta dito. Pero sobrang ok na po ako. "

"Ah no, don't worry too much. I have business naman within the area so I decided i might just as well pass by." That's a lie of course.

And before he could make up too many lies he decided its time for him to go. He stands.

"So, that's all i have to know I guess. I got to get going."

"Salamat sir Edward at pasensya na pong muli talaga. "

And what is going on the minds of Maymay and Edward when the latter left?

Maymay felt all the more indebted, she felt she had caused Edward more trouble than she already had. If she had ways to give back,  she definitely would do. Observing his expressions, partcularly his kind brows, she feels that this guy is a good guy. He doesn't look proud at all. When he asked her if she can call him just by his first name, she knew, he wanted her friendship.  And as she watched his back, as she watched him walk away,  if she had been brave enough, she would have called him back.  But what's stopping her from creating this kind of relationship with him? Her mind starts to unconsciously draw the wall, between her and this rich guy, and it felt real.

On the other hand, the reader might suppose that Edward fell in love at first sight with Maymay. But that isn't the case. The truth is, he felt drawn to the girl. A little envious perhaps. It seemed to him that she is everything he's not. Living in complete simplicity. He's a moth attracted by her light. He is the heir to the CEO of EJB Properties, employing 20,000 people. Like business became his world, swallowing him whole. Even the weekdays he seldom spend with his family. Either his father had business trips, or Edward dines with business partners. And if ever their schedule would be so kind enough to allow them have dinner together as a family, the talk over dinner would still be about business. Business. And business.

And here is Maymay, living in a less than 20sqm piece of land. And she looks all the more happier than Edward thinks he can ever be. Why? He suddenly felt tired of his life. The perfect life he was made to believe in crushes down.

He wants to befriend her. But even his being an Edward Barber draws an invisible wall, which he observed with her behavior towards him.

And so their roads intertwined by the accident deem to separate again. Edward knew when he walked out that splendid arc, he's back to the lonely road he'd been tracking for years, which he thinks he is deemed to track all his life.

                                    •  •  •

Edward has this friend he's been friends with since they were kids. The name's Marco, and the only person in the world who knows Edward better, except Edward's parents of course, though he had to admit there are more things he could freely say to Marco than to his own parents. Marco is studying in London and they haven't seen each other for like centuries. Nope, for months. They still communicate virtually, but nothing compares to seeing each other personally.

And so when one day, he saw Marco standing in his office's door, his eyes couldn't get any wider.

"Oh, Bro! When did you arrive?" Edward leap up off his seat and the two give each other a tight hug. They are more like brothers, brothers from different mothers.  To have a clearer view of Edward's feeling, that meeting felt like being alone for the longest time and then seeing a human at last.

They entered the adjacent room, smaller than the office. It is more like for entertaining guests. Much more cozier than the office itself. Walls were painted grey and white. There is one large oil painting, that is, the the only hanging decoration on the wall. There is a small veranda.

"Yesterday. Just yesterday."

"And when are you leaving?"

"Wow! I've just arrived and you're asking when i'm leaving. That hurts." Marco buried himself in the couch.

"Haha, believe me bro. I missed you super big time! If only you can just stay here and not leave for London at all. Im asking so, you know we can plan ahead schedule. I can take a leave." Edward winks.

"You wish. " Marco laughingly said. Even if Edward file a leave, just a call from his Dad will send him flying back no matter where in the world he is at the moment. He remembered that as a kid he envied Edward for having been born with a golden spoon in his mouth, but as an adult, he pitied him. "maybe, two weeks?"

Marco's eyes darted on something that piqued his interest.

"Edward? What happened?" Marco suddenly asked, half smiling, half-smirking, looking at the row of violets that ornamented the small veranda. Each in a white porcelain vase.

"What." Edward's clueless as he watched Marco stands and walk over to the violets.

"What's the meaning of this?" still at awe.

"What do you mean. "

"Just when did you start to have a liking on this things?"

"What's wrong with that. It gives cozy ambiance to the room i think." True to that,  the violets are the only thing in the room that makes it homey.

"Yeah, i know. But, it isn't you bro. It just isn't you. Hmm... "Marco rubs his chin. "Is there something you haven't told me about?," giving Edward the kind of look (you readers know the look 😂) that sends him laughing.

"oh,  come on Marco.  I know what you're thinking. But no,  it's not about a girl. "

Marco laughed even harder.

"And who told you i am thinking that its about a girl?"

"And what else could you be thinking? "

"Wala. I just said, there is something you're not telling me about. Haha!  I got you bro! So tell me all bout it. "

Edward smiled to himself. So he was infected by her light after all. When she requested Rina to have some plants delivered,  she suggested gerber daisy plants. But Edward just said, "no,  it must be violets. African violets. "

"Iba na to. Ngumingiti nang mag-isa. "

Edward laughed.

"Ok. It's a girl.." he motioned his hands like he has surrendered, "but its not what you think it is." Both returned sitting to the couch.

"I met a girl." his face saddened. "And she's the kind of person that, you know,  like if she's happy, she's that infectious that everyone around her feels happy too. I.. Felt miserable Marco. You know me right. You know me more than any person in the world.  So when i met her- ah,  how can i even explain this. You know i dont believe in love at first sight.  But, is it wrong to say, i wanna be around her?"

Marco's face became serious. Yes of course he knows Edward. He knows how unhappy his life turned out to be. And Edward wishing to be around that girl?

That girl is really something.

"You know what Edward? I want to meet her, too. " Marco said.