Chapter 52

"Nah, it's okay," Edward responded nonchalantly, giving a casual shrug.

They walked side by side in silence, retracing their earlier steps along the familiar path.

After a leisurely stroll, they reached the main road, aware of the inconvenience of carrying their luggage on the Jeepney. Edward suggested they go for a more comfortable journey back to the apartment by taking a taxi.

Patricia readily agreed with a nod. They hailed a passing taxi and climbed in. The difference in experience was evident—the taxi provided a smooth and comfortable journey, a stark contrast to the bumpy and often crowded ride of a traditional Jeepney.

The taxi's air conditioning provided a welcome escape from the sweltering heat outside. The roomy seats allowed them to relax and enjoy the ride without the typical cramped feeling experienced on a Jeepney.

This made for a more leisurely and enjoyable trip to their apartment, making the 20-minute ride feel like a breeze.

Soon enough, they arrived at the apartment building. As they got out, Edward couldn't help but sigh, a mix of relief and contentment after the pleasant ride.

"We should have taken a taxi from the start. It's so much faster and more convenient," Edward thought.

Carrying a piece of luggage, they climbed the stairs to the third floor of the apartment building.

It was a bit challenging due to the weight, but the months he had spent working out paid off — he managed to lift it without pausing or needing to catch his breath.

As they reached the front of their unit, Edward exchanged a few more words with her before entering his own.

Edward headed straight to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to let the water flow from the showerhead as he prepared for a shower.

Stepping under the soothing stream, he felt the water gently gliding over his tired body, washing away all the fatigue that had accumulated throughout the day.

The comforting warmth of the water seemed to dissolve all the stresses and worries, leaving him with a profound sense of relaxation and peace.

After changing into comfortable clothes and enjoying the refreshing sensation from the shower, Edward made his way to the living room.

He then leaned his head against the plushness of the couch, lost in thought about the day's events.

The silence in the apartment, coupled with the gentle ticking of the clock on the wall, heightened his sense of relaxation as he patiently waited.

A knock soon came from the door. Edward got up, walked over to check, and upon opening, he found Patricia, who had just finished her shower.

Recognizing her, he allowed her entry, and together they moved to the music room.

Once inside the apartment, Edward started a discussion much like the one from the previous week. They went over important recording considerations, and Edward took the time to answer Patricia's questions.

As they delved deep into their lectures, discussing various aspects of the subject, time seemed to slip away.

Hunger overcame them, and as they glanced at the time, the realization of how late it had become settled in. It was in that moment they decided to take a break from their current activities and head to a nearby restaurant for a satisfying dinner.

Entering the restaurant, they were greeted by a cozy corner with cushioned seats and a view of the lively street outside.

The lively hum of conversations and the pleasant sounds of people enjoying their meals filled the atmosphere, creating an ideal setting for a leisurely and enjoyable dinner experience.

Raising their hands to call for service, Honey Lee, the part-time waitress and the owner's daughter, approached them with a warm smile.

"Hi, what can I get for you?" she asked.

Noticing the influx of customers, they chose to keep their interaction brief. They greeted Honey Lee politely and proceeded to place their order.

As heir order arrived, and the delicious aroma of their meal filled the air, making their mouths water and the two began to eat in content silence, thoroughly enjoying each bite as the flavors delighted their taste.

After they finished their meal, they sat back in their chairs, relishing the pleasant sense of fullness that a hearty dinner brings. The conversation lulled into a tranquil quietude, and they took the opportunity to let their bodies relax and begin the digestive process.

It was at this moment that Honey finally came towards their table to chat.

"Hello, Pat. It's been some time," Honey greeted Patricia with a warm smile.

"I'm doing alright, thank you." Pat's eyes replied simply with smile.

For a while, they engaged in chatter, sharing compliments and smiles. As their conversation flowed, Honey suddenly shifted her attention to Edward.

"Hey, Ed, what have you been up to lately?" Honey asked, curiosity in her tone.

"Same as before. How about you?"

"Same here. Oh, by the way, there's a newly opened carnival nearby. Want to come with me?" Honey invited, a meaningful glint in her eyes.

"When?" Edward inquired, genuinely intrigued.

"How about friday?" Honey suggested after a brief moment of contemplation.

"Sure," Edward eagerly agreed, his eyes reflecting his enthusiasm for the plans ahead.

The two then discussed a few details of their date, and afterwards, their conversation naturally progressed, moving effortlessly from one topic to the next.

In the midst of this engaging exchange, time seemed to slip away swiftly, catching them by surprise when they finally realized a significant amount of time had passed without their awareness.

Surprised at how quickly time had passed, Edward took a moment to process the situation.

Thinking that there were still things that needed to be done, he decided to end their chat and bid his farewell.

The other party also nodded in understanding, went to say goodbye, and then resumed her duty.

As they quietly made their way back to the apartment building, Edward sensed Patricia's silence and turned to her.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Y-yeah," Patricia stammered, her eyes reflecting a hint of unease.

"Oh," Edward acknowledged, picking up on her hesitation, though he didn't press further.

"B-by the way, you and Honey seem close?" Patricia inquired, trying to shift the focus.

Edward nodded thoughtfully. "Well, you could say that. I'm a regular at their place, and we meet often and talk a lot..."

"I see..." Patricia trailed off, processing this new information. Then, hesitating slightly, she asked, "So, the day after tomorrow, are you going on a date?"

Edward nodded again, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yes."

"I see," Patricia replied, her voice tinged with a mix of emotions

Upon arriving at the apartment building, they were welcomed by a sense of familiarity and comfort. Inside Edward's unit, they resumed their earlier discussion, effortlessly picking up where they had left off as another round of lectures and inquiries began.

"That's why trial and error is vital in recording. Most recording studios follow a similar process..."

"... but personally, I did it because I don't think my voice and guitar skills are good enough..."

"... and then comes with the editing, a crucial part of production where we piece all the films we shot together..."

"... It's also in this part that we can remove various background noises, adjust frequencies, and change the tones..."

"... This is also the reason why my latest song cover, the one I just released last Saturday, sounds so good... In a sense, I autotuned it. You get the idea?"

"B-but, isn't that cheating?"

"Yeah, it is. Am I a bad person? I am, so what?"

"T-that, is that really okay?"

"Obviously. It's not like I'm the only one who does it. Many people use autotune nowadays. Some even do it blatantly like those rappers and aren't those singers lip-syncing in concerts is also a kind of autotune? It's all the same... The only difference from me is that, they cheat blatantly without caring about the repercussions because they have enough resources to back them up, while I can only cheat secretly..."

As they immersed themselves in their engaging discussion, time seemed to slip away effortlessly. Before they knew it, the clock showed ten in the evening, marking the passage of yet another hour in their conversation.

Noticing it was late and the hour slipping away, they both understood it was time to conclude their discussion.

Edward walked Patricia to the door of his unit, and then they paused to exchange a few more words.

"Good Night?" Patricia ventured, her voice carrying a subtle note of uncertainty.

"Sure, see you tomorrow," Edward replied simply.P

Patricia nodded and was about to turned to leave, ready to make her way back to her place, when Edward halted her with a gentle touch on her wrist.

"Y-you, why?" Patricia asked, her brow furrowing in confusion, her eyes searching for an explanation. Before she could voice her inquiry, her lips were blocked by something—caughting her off guard and sent a wave of warmth through her body, momentarily leaving her breathless.

"You know what, why don't you just sleep in my room?"

"I, n-no, we-"