CHAPTER 3: If Only

16th May.

This weekend is a day that really made a woman named Hannah take a day off from her job after 6 consecutive days of part-time work from one place to another. For people who know about it, maybe they will think why that woman doesn't seem to know the words tired or bored. While for this woman, she did not feel all of that. Hannah, she really is a tireless and carefree woman.

In a park that looks so beautiful, she's been spending time ever since her friend, Alex, picked her up and dragged her out of the house just to spend time together. Hannah doesn't really like sports activities that exhaust her — unlike when she works — so she asks Alex to just play here.

"The weather looks really sunny today." Hannah muttered, soaking in the breeze that made her loose hair fly until it covered part of her face.

"You're the one who never goes out in the beautiful weather. It feels the same every day." replied Alex.

Hannah grieved. "Tsk, you won't understand what I mean. You only work behind the table."

"Then?"

Hannah turned and gave Alex a bored look.

"Listen to me. I've been working 6 days in a row every week. So, if I have a day off like this, of course I can say it's a sunny day because it's the end of my week." Hannah explained with her hands moving like a teacher explaining lessons to her students, while Alex just nodded his head as if he understood what Hannah was saying.

"Whatever." Seeing Alex's response, Hannah was annoyed at alex's reaction and waved one hand before going ahead of alex.

Noticing Hannah looking annoyed, Alex laughed and ran after Hannah. Without asking permission, Alex put a hand on Hannah's shoulder and one hand pinched Hannah's nose in exasperation.

"Ah! It hurts!" Hannah struggled in pain and immediately withdrew.

"Now listen to me. Actually, you don't have to work 6 days either. You only need to work in 1-2 places. You also have me anyway." Alex said casually.

Again, Hannah looked at Alex embarrassed and rolled his eyes.

"A man like you wouldn't understand." Retorted Hannah.

"If you and aunty obliged me to stay with me, you wouldn't have to work so hard like this, Hannah."

Hannah stopped her footsteps, sighed. "Alex," Hannah called.

"Hm?"

"I'm tired of having to tell you this all the time. But, you know, you're my friend. My only friend. You should know why I'm doing all this."

Alex paused at Hannah with an unreadable gaze. However, a few seconds later, Alex smiled and patted the top of Hannah's head lightly a few times.

"A Brunch sounds great, right?" offered Alex later.

Hannah cleared her throat softly before agreeing to Alex's invitation. The two of them immediately returned to the place where Alex had parked his car.

*

Now, Hannah and Alex are in a cafe that is quite busy with visitors, both office visitors and visitors who do spend time there. A waitress walked over to their seats and handed Alex and Hannah the menu book. At first glance, Hannah could see that the female employee had stolen a glance at Alex and smiled shyly that made Hannah almost laugh at him. After the employee left, Hannah actually laughed and made Alex frown in confusion.

"Why? Is there something funny?" asked Alex. Hannah turned her head and stopped her laughter slowly.

"No, no. Actually, this isn't something funny, but you know, the waitress seemed to like you." Hannah replied after her laughter had stopped, even though she was actually still holding back her laughter.

"Ah, looks like you just found out about this, huh. This isn't the first time for me, even I'm used to it." replied Alex arrogantly. Hannah grieved.

"Tch. I'm sorry to tell you." Hannah closed the menu book in annoyance while Alex laughed with amusement.

"Um, you're jealous, right?" Alex played his brows at Hannah.

Quickly, Hannah rounded her eyes and demonstrated she was vomiting disgusting food in front of Alex's face.

"Disgusting. How could you accuse me like that? What? Like you? This is the result of your overconfidence."

Alex laughed. "You're exaggerating. Your overreaction will even be interpreted from the meaning of 'jealousy' which you say as 'accusation'." he chuckled.

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Since Hannah didn't want to continue this stupid conversation, she immediately called the previous employee, and ordered food. Meanwhile, Hannah saw Alex and the female employee exchanging glances right before her eyes. Oh, not only that. They even had time to exchange smiles and greet each other. Seeing that, Hannah was made to shake her head several times, how could Alex do something embarrassing like that right in front of her eyes.

Not wanting to spend a lot of time, Hannah literally devoured her food as soon as the employee put the food they ordered. Until it made Alex frown and stop chewing. Without putting down his cutlery, Alex made a sound.

"Why are you eating so fast?"

Hannah turned her head after putting down a cloth. "Me? Aren't I always like that? You're the one who is too slow. Hurry up, we have to go home and help my mother."

"Very well. All right." without another sentence of protest, Alex immediately finished his meal while Hannah waited for him while playing with her cell phone.

*

"Mother! I'm home!" Hannah shouted at the same time as she pushed the door and smiled as her eyes caught the figure of the mother who had just served her customers at the counter.

Hannah and Alex bent over and smiled softly as the customer passed them. Irene came out from behind the counter and approached the two of them.

"Why are you coming home at this time? I thought you were going home at night."

"Huh? Why do I have to spend my day with a flirt like Alex?" snapped Hannah.

Hearing Hannah's words, instead of getting angry, Alex laughed and hugged Irene's shoulder.

"Aunty, you know, I am a handsome and famous man. It's obvious that many women will be fascinated by me. But, Hannah is even annoyed like that. aunty knows what that means, right?" Alex winked one eye at Irene and Irene laughed.

Hannah looks at Alex who appears to be trying to turn her mother into his ally. Annoyed by this, Hannah hastily grabbed her mother's arm until Alex's arm slipped off her shoulder. In fact, Hannah actually kept her mother away from Alex and brought her back behind the counter. Meanwhile, Alex was still laughing where he stood, which annoyed Hannah even more.

"You can go home now if you don't want to help me work." snapped Hannah.

Alex laughed at Hannah's scolding. Without answering, Alex then walked over to pick up some flowers which he would bring and offer by the side of the road, as usual. Meanwhile, Irene, seeing the activities of the two children made her think that all this time was too troublesome.

If only their husbands were still living in this world, maybe they wouldn't need to live like this. If only her husband wasn't causing trouble then they Hannah wouldn't have to work too hard to provide for their daily life.