Chapter 7: Sweet Morning Message

As the conversation with George neared its end, there was a change in the tone of their voices. It was as if they didn't want this call to end at all. Of course, they needed to.

After a second of silence, even though no one spoke, both of them loved it. It was the silence between them that made them feel awkward or something at all. It was as if the silence were made only for the two of them to keep on listening to each other's breath from the other end of the call.

"Sherly," George began, his voice carrying a weight that wasn't present before. It was fain, but Sherly could feel the subtle change in his emotion in the tone of his voice. "There's something I need to tell you," he added as he stopped speaking for a while. Meanwhile, Sehrly did not speak and only wanted his lover to finish what he was saying. Lovers. Do they still need to confess to each other just by saying that they're in love with each other? No. They're not fans of that. Not long before that, George continued, "I have to go abroad for a personal matter. It's something I need to deal with as soon as possible."

Sherly's brows furrowed with concern, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected news. He needs to go abroad. So, in the mean time, they won't be able to see each other?

Even though Sherly doesn't want to say yes, what could she do? The person only has his plan polished; what else could she do? "George, is everything alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

But of course, worries are still there. She knows that Liam won't tell her the reason, so he did not pursue it and only continued eating.

George let out a sigh, his tone tinged with regret. "It's complicated, but I'll be fine. I just need to sort some things out," he reassured her, though there was a hint of unease in his voice.

With these worries, Sherly couldn't help but feel a little worried about him. After all, this is abroad. If it was only in their country, she could track him down, but no, he'll go to the other country, and not only that, she couldn't track him down if he was in the restricted parts of the place.

He proceeded to give her the address where he would be staying, promising to keep in touch and assuring her that he wouldn't let her worry. "And Sherly," he added, his voice soft but serious, "promise me you'll be careful. With everything that's been happening, I can't shake the feeling that danger is lurking closer than we think."

Sherly nodded, even though George couldn't see her. "I promise," she replied earnestly, determination lacing her words. "I'll watch my back and stay on guard. You take care of yourself, George. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."

With a final exchange of well wishes and assurances, they reluctantly bid each other farewell, the weight of George's impending departure lingering in the air long after the call had ended.

That night, Sherly's sleep improved, and she did not wake up in the middle of the night, panting and scared. Now, she woke up with a great sleep, as if all of the worries inside her had disappeared. Was it because she finally opened up? Or was it because she knew that she'd be moving forward? Either way, it is a good sign since she could finally sleep a little longer than before.

As the morning light gently filtered through the curtains, Sherly stirred from her slumber, frowning at the light that hit her eyes. Since it was already morning, she reached for her phone to check the time. This kind of thing in the morning is a normal routine for Sherly.

As she looked for the time, she saw that it was already nine in the morning. Not only that, there's a message from his boyfriend, Gorge, three hours ago. How did she miss the chance to call his boyfriend? What can she do? At this time, she knew that he was in the sky.

"Good morning, my dear Sherly," the message read, accompanied by a lot of affectionate emojis. Sherly couldn't help but smile. "I hope this message finds you well. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be getting on board soon. Thinking of you as always. Take care, love."

Since his lover had the guts to send him a message, a soft smile tugged at Sherly's lips as she read George's words, the warmth of his affection wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. This is the first time she felt this way. Well, yes, there are indeed a lot of people giving her this kind of message, but no one could catch her attention. Not only that, since she was a child, she has never believed in love. However, right now, she feels overflowing with it. It was from all of the people beside and behind her. Sherly took a deep breath, and despite the pang of sadness she felt at the thought of George leaving, she couldn't help but be uplifted by his thoughtful gesture.

"What a good way to start the day," she murmured to herself, her heart fluttering with affection for the man who never failed to brighten her mornings.

His message was different from his normal one, but it was as sweet as the others. George never fails to give her a message each day. Well, he could fail when he has something to do, and since Sherly is an infomant, she could tell when her lover's busy or not. She could also tell if the person harbors an ill-intent or not toward the people around her.

With renewed determination, Sherly resolved to make the most of the day ahead, cherishing the sweet moments she shared with George. Besides, she knew this wasn't the last time they talked.

Knowing that there's a lot of work, Sherly went to the bathroom to get ready, and not long after that, she went to her office.

As Sherly meticulously sorted through the files on her desk after reading them, Maria approached her with a curious expression, her eyes flickering with interest.

She sat on Sherly's desk. "So, Sherly, how's Hanna doing these days?" Maria inquired, her tone laced with genuine concern for their mutual friend. Even though Hanna had betrayed them, the fact that she had become friends with her couldn't help.

Well, Sherly isn't the only one who is disappointed with Hanna's betrayal. After all, she is one of the best among her aids. Well, too bad; she couldn't be helped anymore.

Sherly hesitated for a moment, weighing her words carefully. She knew that Maria was genuinely concerned about Hanna's well-being, but she also understood the need for discretion given the circumstances surrounding Hanna's sudden disappearance.

Well, Maria knew that Hanna had been punished for betraying everyone. However, she is quite a little worried since she did not see her.

"Well, you know Hanna," Sherly replied cautiously, choosing her words with care. "She's always been a bit of a mystery, but I haven't heard from her in a while. I hope she's doing okay."

Maria frowned slightly, sensing Sherly's voice, which had no intention of telling her more information about Hanna's whereabouts. "Do you think something happened to her?" she asked, her concern deepening.

Well, Sherly has no intention of telling this woman about Hanna's situation. After all, she is already buried six feet under the ground with only one small pear with her name.

Sherly offered Maria a reassuring smile, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. "I'm sure she's just caught up with something," she replied diplomatically. "Knowing Hanna, she'll turn up when she's ready."

Well, she won't since something happened to her.

Maria nodded understandingly, though a trace of worry lingered in her expression. "I hope you're right," she said softly, her thoughts drifting to their enigmatic friend.

"Did you get soft in her?" Sherly asked Maria.

Maria stiffened before she harly shook her head. "No," she answered before she looked up and added, "Well, I pitty her. All of her hard work is gone, and it is not because I have a soft spot for her." Nodding her head, she added, "Well, she is like that because she is thinking that she could surpass you."

Sherly listened intently as Maria shared her thoughts, her brow furrowing slightly as she processed the implications of Hanna's actions.

She knows that these people are close, but she couldn't believe what she just heard.

"So, you think Hanna's betrayal was driven by her desire to outshine me?" Sherly mused, her tone tinged with a vague feeling that it wasn't true, even if it is.

Maria nodded solemnly, her expression reflecting a mixture of sympathy and frustration. "It seems that way," she replied. "Hanna was always ambitious, but it was like she was trying too hard to prove herself to you. It consumed her, and she lost sight of what really mattered."

Sherly sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment at the revelation. She had always considered Hanna a friend, despite their occasional differences, and the idea that Hanna had betrayed her out of insecurity was disheartening.

"I guess some people will do anything to get ahead," Sherly remarked ruefully, shaking her head in disbelief.

Maria nodded in agreement, her gaze thoughtful. "It's a shame, really," she said softly. "But I suppose it's a reminder that not everyone is as trustworthy as they seem."

Sherly fell silent, her thoughts turning inward as she contemplated the complexities of human nature.