Near Miss

Five minutes earlier, outside Richard's office, Lisa was walking down the corridor with a food tray in her hands. On the tray, she carried a steaming hot bowl of ginataang bilo-bilo, a dish both she and her brother loved. It was usually an afternoon treat, but today, she decided to bring it to him for breakfast.

She knew Richard had already eaten, but she hoped the gesture of bringing him their favorite food would help bridge the distance that had grown between them since the incident. Lisa was determined to heal their relationship and return things to how they used to be. 

As she was about to turn the corner leading to Richard's office, Lisa paused and leaned back against the wall. She slowly peeked around the corner and saw her brother entering his office. His strides were purposeful, his expression focused, yet there was a hint of excitement in his eyes that only someone who knew him well could discern.