PAST IS PAST (SEVEN)

Busy day and bouquets everywhere. Applause and laughter filled every corner of the University of Toronto's large courtyard. Harper's graduation day finally arrived, she was so happy to welcome this day that she barely slept last night. Thinking of the various surprises as well as the happiness that would greet her today, it was like she had many fireworks in her stomach.

Since last night her stomach had been churning with all kinds of happiness. Even without parents, she has Uncle Ben and Aunt Martha. She also has friends who always support her all this time. Tyler also came on her graduation day. He asked his commissioner for permission, specifically to come on Harper's special day. Amber also came today. She deliberately exchanged shifts with her friend who was supposed to be assigned to the maternity ward today. Everyone today has sacrificed their time for Harper who is happy on her graduation day.

"Congratulations dear, your aunt and I are proud of you."

Uncle Ben gave Harper a light kiss on the right cheek, followed by Aunt Martha who also kissed Harper on the left cheek. Each of them brought a bouquet and a special gift for her. As a graduation gift, Uncle Ben gave her a silver SUV. He said Harper was more suited to a masculine SUV than a sports car or mini-cooper, which were more suitable for being driven by spoiled luxury-loving girls.

"Geez... Uncle Ben!"

Harper couldn't hide her happiness when Uncle Ben gave her the key while showing a car parked across the street. Finally, she has the car and can drive it anytime.

"Oh, I'm so happy."

"We are also happy to have become your surrogate parents. Thank you for giving us happiness."

"Uncle Ben..." sighed Harper in tears. She then hugged her uncle once again and also hugged her aunt who was now in tears. It felt like she couldn't demand more of God for all the happiness she had gotten so far. Life without parents is not that bad. As long as you have people who love you, this is enough for Harper.

"Harphy!" Amber, who had been waiting for her turn to hug Harper, immediately stepped forward when Harper's uncle and aunt started to move away. The friendship that was created accidentally, succeeded in bringing them to a condition where they were more than just friends. They are like siblings who often share happiness.

"Thanks for coming, doc."

Amber giggled at Harper's teasing. "I'm not completely a doctor. My father wanted me to become a pediatrician. "

"Then you will continue your studies after this."

"Yeah..." Amber sighed without interest. “I'm a bit lazy. You know, being a doctor is disgusting. You will lose your precious dating time just to handle troublesome patients at the hospital."

Harper just laughed in response to Amber's funny chatter. She knew Amber wasn't all that serious. It has always been her dream to become a pediatrician. Although in plain view Amber looks like she has no interest in children. But believe me, she will be someone different when wearing a doctor's coat while wearing a stethoscope around her neck.

"I have a present for you."

"Geez! You gave me an expensive gift," shouted Harper in surprise.

Suddenly Amber wrapped a gold bracelet around her wrist and smiled proudly when she saw that it matched Harper's fair skin.

"I thought that bracelet was destined for you."

"Gosh, thanks a lot, Am!"

They then hugged each other and exchanged happiness with each other. Since earlier Amber had been impatient to give her gift to Harper. Unfortunately, she had to wait in line before she could hug Harper like this.

"Excuse me, may I give my present to Harper?"

Amber looked back annoyed at a man who she thought was rude because he had interrupted her happiness with Harper.

"Who is he?" asked Amber loudly. She completely ignored the man's sharp gaze at her. She was quite annoyed at the disturbance she had just received.

"This is my partner in high school, his name is Tyler. Tyler Lautner."

Neither of them seemed to be shaking each other's hands. Even though Harper had introduced Tyler to Amber and vice versa, they both stared at each other while showing a very thick aura of hostility.

"Move a bit."

Amber immediately made a protesting face when Tyler pushed her shoulder away. But before she could scream in Tyler's face, the man turned his back to give Harper a hug and congratulations.

"Congratulations, Harp, you have finally become the psychologist you dreamed of."

"Thanks, Ty. Aw, these are really pretty flowers."

"Sorry, I didn't prepare a special gift for you."

"No no, it's really beautiful," Harper replied with teary eyes. She never imagined that her friendship with Tyler would last this long.

“You have always encouraged me this far. Thank you very much."

“You're the smartest girl I've ever known. You've proven to everyone that you're a great woman."

Harper smiled emotionally at Tyler. But being in front of Tyler made her think of him at once. Her lover. The man who has been encouraging her for several months and being her reason to finish college. Jeez, she almost forgot about Alex.

"I want to introduce someone to you."

Everyone was now looking at her with interest. So far, she had never introduced Alex to them. Even to Amber, she was only limited to telling her love story, but she never once asked Amber to meet Alex in person.

"Is this the time you show your secret prince?" Amber teased annoying. Her uncle and aunt immediately put on faces full of the same interest and hidden temptations that only she could understand.

"Who are you going to introduce us to, honey?" Her aunt stroked the top of her head gently after she had just taken off her toga which was hot in this hot weather.

"Friend. We met six months ago. I know it hasn't been that long, but I like him," said Harper shyly. She had already imagined what it would be if Alex met her uncle and aunt. So far Alex is a good man. He is also friendly to the people he meets. And most importantly, Alex accepts whatever flaws she has. Including the condition of her family which is no longer intact.

"When will he come?"

“Erm… he should have come by now. I'll see him on the other side. We promised yesterday that we would meet in front of the Blossom cafe because he knew that it would be very busy today."

"Okay, we will wait here."

"Wow, well, I can't wait to meet your lover."

"Tsk, we are not," said Harper evasively and immediately left there before Amber teased her even more ignorantly.

After successfully separating herself from the crowd of people who packed the campus yard, Harper immediately jogged to the Blossom cafe. She thought Alex must have been waiting there too long. Remembering earlier he had shared happiness for too long with her uncle and aunt, and her two friends whom she loved so much.

"Aw."

"Oh!"

Harper screamed in surprise and helped the woman he had just hit. The cup of cappuccino whose contents spilled over his graduation robe just lay on the asphalt. Shit! Harper groaned in annoyance. She was thinking too much about Alex, so she didn't pay attention to her steps.

"Forgive me."

"Oh no, I have dirty your robe."

The woman frantically pulled a tissue from her bag and wiped the spilled cappuccino down the front of Harper's black robe. But it's in vain. A large cappuccino stain was still clearly printed on the surface of Harper's robe.

“It's okay, miss. I'm fine. I guess I was wrong too for not paying attention to my steps."

"I'm very sorry." The woman finally gave up on her efforts and let Harper stand with the cappuccino stain on her graduation robe.

“This can be washed later. Besides, the robe was dark. The stain is not very visible."

Harper was screaming in annoyance. She had wanted to take her best photo wearing the graduation robe with Alex. But now she had to console herself with the harsh reality she had just experienced. Her graduation robe was dirty with a cappuccino.

"Once again, I'm sorry. Have a nice day."

The woman left Harper with a guilty face in front of the Blossom cafe. Harper was relieved when the woman finally left. She was free to berate herself for her stupidity and misfortune today because her graduation robe was dirty.

“Daddy! That's Mommy."

The voice sounded not far from where Harper was standing. At first, Harper didn't want to care about the loud noises around her. Saturday has always been the busiest and most populous day in this city. Coupled with a graduation party at the University of Toronto, today the streets are packed with lots of people and vehicles.

"Mommy, what took you so long?"

The little girl voice again. Somehow it sounded very close to where Harper was standing. She then turned to the side, towards the direction of the voice. She thought she could distract herself by looking at the crowded pedestrians around her. But when she turned to the left, she was shocked by a sight that so hurt her heart. Alex! It was Alexander Enzo with a little girl he was carrying using his awesome arm muscles. And in front of him stood a woman who looked very familiar to Harper.

"God!" muttered Harper, choked up. That woman is the woman who hit her earlier. She embraced Alex's arm intimately and planted a light kiss on the lips of the man Harper loved. Geez... Tears began to well up in her eyelids and almost dripped down the surface of her cheeks. She was so sick watching Alex with a little girl and a woman who she thought was his wife. She thought that all this time that guy had really liked her and was really serious about their relationship.

"Alex!"

Harper wiped her tears roughly. When she looked back to where the man was standing with his little family, Harper saw that he was also staring at her. In his tension and shock, Alex seemed to convey deep regret toward her.

"Ah, damn it! That dream again." Harper jumped awake in annoyance. He grabbed the clock on the nightstand and cursed again, "Ah shit, I'm late!"

Harper jumped out of bed after throwing her watch roughly onto the nightstand. This was an unlucky day in her life because after many years had passed, she had to face that nightmare again and her old wounds opened wide again.

Krriiingg

"Ah shit, who called me?" Harper said in a panic as she brushed her teeth in front of the sink. The mouth full of foam remained as open as possible until the very chaotic activity of brushing her teeth was over. She immediately rushed to dry her face with a towel that she managed to grab from the hanger behind the bathroom door, and then she galloped to the wardrobe to choose clothes.

Meanwhile, the phone by her bed was still ringing. Her assistant probably called from the hospital to tell her that her first patient had arrived. But fuck that call. It would have taken her even longer if she forced herself to pick up the phone.

Finally, she only had time to pick up a piece of gray trousers, a white tank top, and also a gray blazer that matched her pants. She then brushed her hair carelessly and put very minimalist makeup on her face. She just hopes that her appearance today is as stunning as her appearance on a normal day when she doesn't wake up late.

"Car key? Oh my!"

Harper panicked again when she couldn't find her car key anywhere. Because she was too tired last night, she just threw the car key carelessly. Maybe if she wasn't in a hurry, she could easily find the car key. But now! When things go awry, she becomes frustrated and gives up looking for her car key. She finally decided to hail a taxi in front of her apartment to go to the hospital today.

Krriiiinggg

“Damn phone! Ah, fuck you!" shouted Harper irritatedly and immediately closed the door to her condo with one hard pull and stormed out of the condo.

-00-

Nothing is more effective at going undercover than sitting in a public chair by the side of the road with the local paper pretending to be read. At least they read the news line, even though there was only a bit of information they could get from the local newspaper that they had just bought from a blind newspaper seller on the side of the road.

While pretending to read the newspaper, the two men watched the passing pedestrians around them. Two hundred yards north they could see a woman in a gray blazer stumbling across the pavement to hail a taxi that happened to be passing. Don't know who ordered the taxi, but they saw the woman arguing with the taxi driver before finally getting into the passenger seat and closing the door with one hard pull.

Not far from where the woman in the gray blazer got into the taxi, they saw a group of old women walking while talking about their grandchildren and boasting about each other. Jim then snorted, "Old lady bad habit."

But it seemed like the conversation was so much fun that they kept talking about their grandchild when they passed in front of Jim and Bratt, who were still pretending to read the newspaper.

"Looks like the situation is safe and under control."

"I haven't seen the police so far."

Jim whispered while occasionally turning the pages of the newspaper he was reading. He needs to do it like a man reading a real newspaper by the side of the road. Even though there wasn't actually a single person on the street who noticed them there. The clothes and hats they stole from the convenience store yesterday were enough to effectively disguise their appearance. Especially after having their sideburns and hair cut a little, their appearance this time looked different from their photos that were circulated in newspapers or other news media.

"Look, we have our faces on page six,” exclaimed Bratt like an idiot. Seeing his face plastered there in a very messy manner gives Bratt pride. How long ago he wanted his face to be featured on newspaper pages or the covers of famous magazines?

"We're fugitives, idiot!"

"No difference. I'm still glad I got my face on here. What do you think? Do I look good?"

"You're disgusting, Bratt,” Jim replied irritably.

He deeply regretted his decision to make Bratt and Wingert his allies. They are stupid people who are easy to manipulate, but their stupidity is very annoying for an escape like this. He often threw curses in front of them and shouted various orders that were very difficult for them to digest. This is the source of the failure of their action in LA. If Bratt hadn't been careless, and Wingert hadn't lived up to his role, they would never have been wanted and labeled as troubling terrorist suspects.

"Jim, your lover's name is also posted here."

Bratt stabbed Jim lightly in the waist with his elbow. He then pointed to a news column on page eight that contained news of Alma Emerson's murder.

"Your lover is dead. The rich widow died, Jim."

"Gosh, I can read Bratt!" growled Jim irritated.

His frustration did not last long. This time he felt anxious and scared at the same time. The news of Alma's death that he had just read was enough to make his heart rumble wildly. Flashes of incident after incident at Alma's house made cold sweat start to trickle down the back of his neck. Truly he did not know if what he was doing could cause a woman to die. Is it true that Alma died from sleeping pills and a little violence he did? It feels a little impossible. But what if Alma did die after that night he pushed her hard until she fell and hit the surface of the bed?

"We need to investigate Alma's house." Jim broke up quickly.

Bratt who was next to him, turned his head in confusion while folding his newspaper. "What are we going there for? You want to loot her house after that woman dies?”

"There's something I have to confirm."

"What is that? Did you kill Alma?"

“Shut up! Don't accuse me carelessly." Jim shouted in front of Bratt's face, which was now starting to shrink in fear.

"I didn't kill her," hissed Jim in a low voice. While whispering, he watched the situation around him which might be a little unsafe for him. But after he confirmed it several times, he was finally sure that no one on the street recognized him as a fugitive by the police.

"Then what are we going to do there if we don't loot that woman's treasure?"

"I just wanted to confirm something."

"What is that?" Bratt insisted, curious.

Jim was already starting to get angry at Bratt's loud, curious insistence. "I want to confirm the child."

"Why?"

"Because Heidi must be scared in that house. So come on, don't ask any more questions!”