The Guy Through My Window

CHAPTER 41

"Thank you Mr. Manchas, I'm pleased to work with you." Mr. Lan shook hands with me, his warm hands radiating heat into mine, a small smile curved on his thin lips.

"It's an honor to work with you too." With this, the meeting ended and the beginning of the project, and the stay in Rosenmud. 

I step outside, the transition from an air-conditioned room to a warmer nature was enough to exhaust you. My black tux absorbing enough heat warming my skin underneath. Claire trails behind me catching up with my long strides, her heels clicking against the concrete floor.

The air cools down again as I occupy the backseat of the limousine.

Memories capture my mind by the passing of every street. I never recall traffic in Rosenmud, it's so heavy. I observe the motorcyclist wiping his forehead with a sweaty palm. Yeah, I'm lucky enough, well protected from heat.

Someone from the sidewalk catches my glimpse. I narrow my eyes, adjusting my vision from the heatwave. Blonde hair dancing loosely on her shoulders, a market basket gripped her fingers and a light yellow summer dress covered her modestly. 

Before I could realize I'm out of the limousine, stepping out in the scorching sun; ignoring the number of calls from Claire. Why should I attend to a name that never belonged to me?

I stood still on the sidewalk, my hands buried in my pockets; a smirk playing on my lips. I stood there watching her approach me, every step she took raised that dusty heart of mine. She looked so peaceful!

Now we stood a few yards away, her eyes settling on my face. At first, she doesn't seem to recognize me but when her curious eyes dig into mine; her face shrinks into a frown she turns her face and walks away from me. 

"Hello, Hannah," I whisper, blocking her with my arm.

"Hello Luke, I'm so glad to see you." Her tone is rich in sarcasm. 

"Hey." I hold her wrist stopping her in her tracks. 

"Get away from me, I don't even want to see your face." She scoffed.

"I'll buy you a cup of coffee." I bribe.

"You appear after seven years to buy me a cup of coffee?" 

Her expression made me titter.

She rolled her eyes.

"Okay...Just let me explain."

She huffed.

"Now come on." I drag her into a small diner. 

"Hey! Slow down, you can't pull her pregnant woman like that." She hissed.

"Whose........Holy cow!!" A small baby plump peeped out of her summer dress. Her free hand protecting it carefully, a diamond ring glistened on her ring finger. 

I pull out a chair for her, she slips into it carefully parking her basket by her side.

She sucks her cold coffee gently listening to my story(I only mentioned about my parents.)My back story seemed too distant like I was narrating a grandfather's tale.

"I'm sorry I behaved so rudely." 

"I totally deserve it."

"So...It's Evan." She couldn't catch up at first.

"Ethan." She corrected.

"I got married last year, I wanted to invite you so badly but I had no clue where you were. Judi told me about your parents, so we came to Marshall's Inc in search of you but your parents were so busy to even attend us. Later we found out that you ran even from there. Nobody would have gone through so much trouble just to invite a friend. I lost hope Luke, but Judi didn't."

'Judi' I totally forgot about her.

"She knew you would come back." Hannah completed.

"You both were such good friends. She was so comfortable around you, you let her come out of her shell. She was so timid and used to isolate herself; she would mingle only around me. It was surprising that she found friendship in you but  you totally broke her when you just left." Those emerald green eyes bore into me.

"Your lucky she is on a vacation now. Go meet her, she would be glad to see you but I wish she could punch you a few times." I titter again, and she joins in later.

Her cheeks heat up, her golden locks bouncing on her shoulders, her eyes wrinkle at the corner. 

'Can she stop growing beautiful?'

She hugs me warmly a sweet smell of jasmine reaches my nostrils; the baby plump separating us a little.

"Don't run away again." She warns.

"Sure," I smirk.

She smiles sheepishly and leaves.

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"IF GOD WANTS SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE, HE'll FIND A WAY TO CROSS YOUR PATHS. YOU WON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN YOURSELF."

{JF Abraham}