CHAPTER:15

"Say would you like to entertain the idea of another kiss? From your husband?" - Marshall whispers, his tone slightly seductive. Elara is speechless at his blunt flirting. She simply stares at him, wondering if he's joking right now. She doesn't say anything, anymore. And Marshall doesn't shy away to show off his grin. The ride back home is now quiet. The silence doesn't exactly feel awkward, but for Elara she wonders if she should've taken the leap of faith and said yes.

. . .

"What're you doing here?" - Tim's voice is gruff and low as he stares at Hana.

She turns to look at him. "I- hey, Tim?" Hana says awkwardly. As Elara and Marshall left, Hana had decided to hang around the cafe a little longer. She wasn't expecting Timothy to show up.

"What are you doing here so late?" -she asks, her eyes wandering up and down his body. She studies his face. His lean body.

"I forgot my phone." -Tim says as he walks past Hana, into the cafe and goes over to the counter, retrieving his phone. All the while, Hana continues to stare at him. Timothy suddenly feels conscious of her glances. Hana clears her throat; "I am closing up the cafe for Elara. Her husband came to pick her up and they left. I told her I would close up."

Tim nods, staring back at Hana. "Mind explaining to me what this is all about? She told me she's going to attend her cousin's wedding. She comes to the cafe next day, and I find out she's the one who got married?" -Tim asks, as he takes a seat on one of the chairs.

Hana sits across him, "You wouldn't believe me. It felt like something out of a drama series." She chuckles softly, but seeing Tim's serious and unimpressed face, she clears her throat and stops chuckling.

Hana then begins to tell Tim of everything that happened that day. Leaving out details that she felt Elara would feel uncomfortable sharing. All the while Tim listens intently. His eyes trained on Hana's. He listens to her voice, it sounds like melodic. But he doesn't show any emotions, letting Hana speak.

. . .

"Oh wow… that sounds… that actually sounds dramatic and sad. They forced Elara?" -Tim asks, pressing his elbows in the table as he leans closer.

"I wouldn't say forced. Elara agreed to it on her own." -Hana explains, taking a sip from the beer can in her hand. The cafe now closed, with the two sitting inside. Tim nods, not saying anything else. He seems to be thinking about something, but doesn't share it with Hana.

"So, how do you like, working for Elara." -Hana asks, trying to get him to open up to her.

Tim simply nods, staring at Hana. "It's going well. I like it. The schedules never too hectic, so I get to enjoy time to myself as well." He pauses for a moment, "And what do you do?"

"I'm studying. So, I'm not exactly working yet." -Hana's voice is gentle, as she stares out the glass window. The streets are quiet and empty, the lamp-posts dimly lighting the streets.

"What're you studying?" -Tim's voice sounding curious as he leans closer.

"Law. I'm a law student." -she replies. Hana's voice showed off her nonchalantness. But Tim's curiosity has now been piqued. "Law student you say? I was studying law too."

Was.. past tense, Hana thinks to herself. "Was? Why no more?" -she finally asks, her tone soft, trying to ensure him that she's trying not to pry and that he's not obligated to answer her.

Tim lets out a sigh, nodding. "Yea. Was." -his voice is low and gruff.

"My father… he was murdered.. when.." -he stops himself from speaking, its been so long since he spoke about this to anyone. "He was a police officer. And I was studying to become a lawyer. He wanted that.. but to think that I was busy studying, the night of his murder. I had my phone turned off. And I wasn't home either. I had a huge exam the next day." -he explains, trying his hardest to speak properly so that his voice doesn't crack. "I had 52 voicemails from him. 14 landline missed calls as well. To think.. I couldn't hear my.." Tim stops himself from speaking. He looks away from Hana. Not wanting to shed any tears.

Hana nods, not pushing him to speak any further. A sympathetic smile on her face. Her gaze softens as she continues to stare at him. Hana hands him some tissues.

"You don't have to speak bout it if you can't. It's okay. Some scars take time to heal. Give yourself that time." -Hana's voice is soothing as she smiles softly. She doesn't want him to feel too overwhelmed right now. And so, Tim does as she says. He nods and doesn't continue talking about it.

"How did you and Elara meet? Tell me more about you." -Tim's voice returns to his usual cold and deep tone. He damps the tissue on his eyes, wiping the few drops of tears that were threatening to fall.

Hana chuckles, trying to lighten the mood.

"Uhm.. lets see. Why don't you tell me about yourself too." -she murmurs.

"Timothy Abel Muscato." -his eyes fixed on her.

"Ooh. I see. Abel suits you better." Hana whispers. "I'm Hana Lee."

"Go on and call me Abel then." Tim says, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm from Australia."

"Japan." -Hana's voice is almost inaudible as she whispers. "I'm 23."

"I'm 26." -Tim replies. "I'm a bartender and I work here as well."

"I'm studying law. And I work part-time for my parents chicken delivery service."

Tim raises an eyebrow, his lips form into a smirk, as if he wants to laugh or say something. But he doesn't.

"What's so funny?" -she asks, leaning close now.

"Nothing. I just imagined you wearing a chicken costume."

Hana gasps dramatically. "How did you know?!"

"Wait really?" -Tim's eyes widen as he stares at Hana's shocked expression. He wasn't planning on getting it right. He was simply trying to tease her.

. . .

Back at Marshall's penthouse apartment, Elara takes off her shoes at the doorway, letting out a sigh. The day has been tiring. Going down to the police station and filing a complaint, just like her previous ones. Elara doesn't know what to make of all this. She's used to it by now, her stalker's daily antics have become a part of her daily life.

"What are you thinking about?"-Marshalls gruff voice breaking her out of her daze.

"Huh? No… nothing." -Elara replies absentmindedly, she walks past him. Her eyes fixed on him, as he sits leisurely on the couch. Marshall leans his head back on the couch, closing his eyes.

"You mind asking me things?" -Marshall says, not opening his eyes.

"What kind of things?"

"About your stalker."