Chapter 26.

"Mr. Smith, do you know Mr. Kennedy?" One of Adrian's colleagues asked him.

Adrian looked at his colleagues and said, "Why do you ask that?"

"Oh well I saw you both talking at the rooftop and then you were eating lunch with him, do you know him?"

Adrian didn't know what to say, suddenly he felt someone touch his shoulder, and he saw that it was Harlan.

Harlan smiled and said, "We went to the same school and then college, so yes, we know each other."

Adrian tried to stand up but Harlan applied pressure on his shoulder and prevented him from standing up, the colleagues smiled, "I see, so were you too close?"

"Oh yes we were." Harlan said, "We used to be best friends in school. However, we stopped talking once I left for abroad."

"I see. By the way Mr. Kennedy, are you dating anyone?"

Harlan smiled and said, "Right now there is no one. But I would like to ask the same question from Mr. Smith, tell us are you dating someone?"

Harlan looked at and Adrian looked back at Harlan, unable to understand that just what the hell was Harlan doing, and finally he said, "I am not dating anyone right now."

"Oh." Harlan said, "That's shocking."

"Indeed."

"Mr. Smith is one of the hottest guys in the office."

"Yeah right."

Harlan suddenly removed his arms from Adrian's shoulder and slowly walked away. Adrian saw him leave and kept on staring at his back, till the latter was gone from his sight.

~~

Adrian suddenly felt so nostalgic when he saw Harlan standing on the rooftop all alone staring at nothing, the cold breeze hit his face as his hair gently swayed.

Adrian was suddenly reminded of the day when he had talked to Harlan first time, that day Harlan was sitting all alone in a corner looking at nothing, he looked so lonely.

And just like that day, Adrian gathered the courage to go ahead and ask, "Are you alright?"

Harlan looked back and saw him, he gave him a smile that was anything but genuine, "Of course I am, there can be nothing wrong with me."

"I am asking seriously are you alright?"

"Why are you asking that? Do I look sad?"

"Kind of."

Harlan smiled, "I am okay. Besides even if I told you what can you do?"

Adrian thought about it for a while and smiled at the funny situation, yeah right what can he do? Nothing. Harlan will not share his burden with him, Harlan will not trust him enough to be vulnerable in front of him.

Adrian glanced at Harlan and his heart ached when he saw him like that, smiling yet his eyes were empty, he was surrounded by so many people yet he looked so lonely.

"I hope everything is okay with you."

After taking some fresh air Harlan walked back to his office, there were many things that were bothering him, the pressure to perform well and take the full control of his grandpa, watching out for his so-called family since he was sure that they must be planning something against him. And now deals with this new problem, named Zesitfy Dyanmics who are apparently creating some trouble for him, by stealing clients from the company.

Harlan sighed as he got back to work, he couldn't slack off, he has to work hard to prove himself to his grandfather.

~~

The next day it was Sunday and Harlan decided to go and pay a visit to someone.

He had come here only once, eight years ago.

And after eight years this is his first time coming here, his bother's grave.

He stared at the name of his brother as he stood before the grave and stared at it.

When Zane was alive Harlan and him never really had an interaction and Harlan hated him because of his parents and after Zane died, Harlan felt relieved but he also thought that somewhere he was responsible, he donated his blood for years to save Zane's life and just one night and a few harsh words from his mouth were enough to end Zane's life.

It was later on that he slowly learned more about Zane and found his journal, in it Zane had only written good things about him.

Zane never hated Harlan and the last thing he wrote was that he wished that he could have had a good relationship with Harlan.

Zane wished that things could be different, he wished he was born healthy, he wished he wasn't the reason for Harlan's suffering and he was sorry.

It was after he read Zane's journal that Harlan finally felt guilt, and he stopped fighting against all the people who called him selfish and inconsiderate because his inner self had given up.

Harlan stared at Zane's grave and sighed, "Hope you are well wherever you are now, brother. I am sorry for being selfish."

Harlan wiped a lone tear that slipped his eyes, he was about to leave but before he could leave he saw someone else at the cemetery, someone familiar.

He walked towards the person and called out, "Adrian?"

Adrian looked at Harlan and was shocked to see him there, Harlan saw the gravestone in front of which Adrian stood and saw Yuki's name engraved on it, he was shocked for a moment. "your sister-" he stopped speaking when he saw someone else with Adrian.

"Uncle Adrian, who is he?" a child of around four years holding Adrian's hand as he stared at Harlan.