"I've brought this," he raised another bag.
"Sleeping bag?" Harmony couldn't help but chuckle.
"Seriously, you…" then she felt exasperated.
"I know, I know," Shawn said first.
"I am too kind. I can't leave you alone. I even hurt you before. I really want to sincerely apologize for that. I did not try to know who I should prioritize. All I could think about was how I could be of help to more people."
This was the long-overdue apology he could not give her.
Even though she started talking to him again, he could not bring it up. Because it seemed that she wouldn't accept it anyway.
After all, she only started speaking to him again because of the others. It was not because she genuinely wished to interact with him.
"I know you did not want to listen to my apology. But I really wished to change, someone pointed it out before Gabriel made me think more about it."
Harmony sighed, "Why are you so adamant about befriending me? There could be others. Justin even said that both you and Gabriel observed how I seemed like I was acting in a play as Harmony Thomas."
Shawn thought for a bit, "That is indeed what we observed, but we have no right to make you show us who you truly are. And it is not because of Harmony Thomas that I am keen on befriending you. But the one inside you."
Harmony furrowed her brows.
"The genuine actions and words you said are the reasons why I wish to befriend you. Because I am sure that that is the person inside you."
Harmony inwardly admitted that he was right.
There were moments when she brought out who she was behind all of these facades. The words she uttered during those moments were what she wanted to convey to others.
Things she did not expect she'd do because she was adamant about not interacting with anyone.
"You are someone worthy of befriending."
"I am lying about so many things," she iterated.
"I know."
"Why?" she couldn't help but ask again.
Shawn smiled while glancing at her bookshelf before looking back at her.
"Because you are worthy."
"I may be keeping some big secret that could cause turmoil in you once you find out."
She found herself speaking more as if wanting to make sure about the bond he was offering even though she had resolved herself that not until she finally finished her plan, she'd ever do.
"I will decide once I find out what that secret is," he answered truthfully.
Harmony stared at his eyes for a good while only to flinch when thunder once again roared.
Shawn stood up and took the headphones.
"You should rest. I'll clean up, borrow your bathroom, and sleep after you."
After that, he placed the headphones on her head before pulling her towards the bed.
Harmony felt even more exhausted after that talk.
'Why must I try and know? I have less than two months left. I shouldn't complicate things more than I already did.'
She glanced at her phone and found that there was a message.
'Are you alright? I was busy and only found out now that there was a typhoon in there.'
It was from the same person she contacted regarding Clara.
'I am fine.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes. And…'
'And?'
'I might deviate from the original plan.'
She was already lying down and couldn't help but glance at Shawn who was washing the dishes.
She waited for the reply for a good few minutes.
'I knew something was changing.'
'I am a human after all.'
'I know. As long as you will be fine then just know I support you with anything.'
'Thank you.'
'There's no need for such between us.'
She closed her eyes and once again drifted to sleep.
Shawn finished everything and prepared his sleeping bag when he noticed her furrowing her brows and whimpering just as the thunderstorm once again intensified.
He pushed the sleeping bag closer to her bed before he sat on it.
He then started patting her as if he was trying to coax a baby that had awoken from their sleep.
This was the weakest he had seen her.
No matter what happened to her in school, she made sure that she did not show any kind of weakness.
Even when she was being bullied.
'But it is still a fact that she is of the same age as us. We may already be 20 years turning 21 this year but we are all still considered young adults. And seeing this, this is a fear she had received as a child. How can someone outgrow such trauma?' he thought deeply.
When Harmony opened her eyes the next day, music was still playing by her ears. But what caught her off guard was his face close to her and the gentle pat that lulled her to a more peaceful sleep.
No, Shawn was not lying down beside her.
He was sitting on the air bag and while his head was lying on his arm that was on the bed. While his other hand was still patting her, despite him sleeping.
'Your kindness is truly…' she sighed.
She was having a nightmare, as she always has during these kinds of times when she went to sleep last night. But at some point, she felt like someone was patting her telling her not to worry about anything.
Which allowed her to sleep peacefully.
Who would have thought that this person has actually gone out of his way to help her like this?
She had pushed him away in the harshest way she could but alas, his kindness is truly…