His lips formed into a tight line as if he was forcing himself not to feel the sting of being rejected by a parent.
Harmon took another deep breath.“I wanted to talk to him that day, to ask him why.But I was a coward.Maybe because I was afraid he’d choose her again, even after knowing the damage he caused me and Mom.So I just walked away…I never cried that much in my entire life,” he disclosed, head bowed.“It was stupid.I thought maybe if I got the scholarship and showed him he didn’t need to support us financially, that he’d come back.I’d work up the courage to find him, show him all the scholarships that I was awarded, and ask him all the questions I’ve been meaning to ask.It took me a year, but by the time I was ready, he had already passed away—they said it was heart failure.”His hands shook as he clasped them together tightly.Sal imagined he was pushing himself to finish his story.
“I attended the funeral alone without my mom knowing.That’s also where I officially met Claire for the first time…” He inhaled sharply.“My sister didn’t know who I was...so she introduced herself to me.Back then, I hated her because I thought she was everything my father left me for.Claire shared with me that Dad had saved up enough money to afford college tuition for her in the US.Knowing that our dad was willing to shell out that much for her but not for me was the kind of hurt I wasn’t prepared for.It wasn’t about the money.Itneverwas.”Harmon gripped his hands until his knuckles turned white.
“In the end, I just bawled like a loser in front of her.She comforted me, even if she didn’t know who I was…” He let out a long exhale.“Somehow, her mom saw me, and she told me to leave and said if I ever showed my face again, she’d have me arrested.When I resisted, I was thrown out…out of my dad’s own funeral.All I wanted was just…” His voice hitched.“I just wanted to say goodbye.”
Sal’s chest tightened.She wanted to embrace him and tell him it wasn’t fair, that he didn’t deserve it.But all she said was, “Oh…Harmon.”
Harmon took a deep breath and fought back tears.“Mom got sick a few years after that.She needed to have multiple surgeries, and because she was so sick, I had to work and take night shifts in between my school hours.It became unbearable, and I got desperate.So I went to Mrs.Liang and begged for some of my dad’s money.But all she did was curse me and have me thrown out again.That winter, my mom died.And I was all alone with a mountain of debt.I remember being so angry at my life, at my father, at my mom for leaving me, and at Claire.I told myself I would get back everything that was rightfully mine and I’d make something of myself.They denied me everything, even though I had done nothing wrong.I was a good son, so why?Why did he choose her?I even outlived Claire; but all my dad’s money still went to her and then to you…and you’re a fucking stranger.I was his son,” he said through gritted teeth, his face twisted as if he was trying to control his emotions.His shoulders quivered.
His words were painful to hear, especially when he mentioned Claire’s passing.But Sal knew from the way his shoulders were slumped and how his voice sounded that the last thing on his mind was to sound polite; this was more of a release.
“Claire didn’t know she had a brother,” Sal muttered.“If she had, I’m sure she would’ve helped you,” Sal wept silently.Instead of comforting Harmon, she ended up crying.God, she was such a crybaby.Then she felt the cushion of the couch dip at his weight, and once again, a warm hand cupped her cheek and wiped away her tears.“Why are you crying?”
Without thinking, she said, “Because, finally, I see you.”
Harmon blinked, and a sudden hunger sparked between them.Steadily, he closed the gap, satisfying an unknown yearning when their lips finally met.Sal felt a strong static course through her system, and she couldn’t help herself.He left little space for either of them to breathe.His hands traveled to the small of her back, and she could feel herself giving in.She let out a soft whimper against his lips to protest, but he pulled her closer.It was overpowering—hewas overpowering.
Heat rose from her core, and the same electricity she felt when she first saw him ignited as she tasted him.She had never felt this way with Rafa.Yet she was engaged, and this shouldn’t be happening.At that thought, Sal pushed him back.“Harmon…” she said breathlessly.Harmon tried to kiss her again, but she turned away.“I can’t…” she sighed.
Harmon just rested his head gently on her temple so his mouth was against her ear.“I know…” he exhaled, his voice low and gruff, his breathing shallow.His grip had loosened on her waist, but he didn’t move his hands.
Then there was a loud knock on the door, followed by a doorbell that echoed through the unit.It was enough for Sal to stand and move away from Harmon.Harmon gathered himself and walked over to the door.“Who is it?”he asked coolly.
“Room service, Mr.Moon.”
What the fuck just happened?Sal asked herself.In her panic, she grabbed her belongings.“You can just eat the food instead,” she blurted as she hurried out.There was no way she would be alone in the same room with Harmon again; she couldn’t trust herself with him after what happened.
“Wait…Sal!”Harmon attempted to chase after her, but she had already bolted to the elevator.The last thing she saw was his confused face as the elevator door closed.She closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief.In the silence that followed, she touched her lips and realized they were still warm.
PING!
The elevator door stopped on the ground floor, and she had half a mind to find Willow and drag her back to the Airbnb.She walked out of the elevator and into the hotel lobby and then heard a familiar voice.
“Sal!”
Her heart leaped.“R-Rafa?”she gasped.
“Surprise!”he said, scooping her into a tight embrace.
“How did you find me?”Sal asked, confused but elated, and still in his firm embrace.
“Willow and I have been coordinating my arrival.She helped me keep it secret for days.I wanted to catch you at the party, but I got lost on the way here.”
Sal closed her eyes, she couldn’t believe he was there.It had been too long.His embrace, his scent, his salt-and-pepper hair.How he quelled her chaotic spirit.
Her eyes fluttered open at the chime of the elevator.Over Rafa’s shoulder, she saw Harmon as he rushed out of the elevator.He was back in his muscle shirt and board shorts, breathless.It took a few seconds, but their eyes finally met.His face hardened at the sight of Sal with Rafa.
“Have you had dinner yet?”Rafa asked, unaware.
“No,” Sal responded, watching Harmon’s eyes follow them as they walked away.He stood his ground, placed his hands in his pockets, and squared his shoulders.Harmon put his armor back on, and Sal could not turn away from the fragile, wounded, and captivating man that lay underneath.
Part Three
Farewell
Chapter Twenty-Seven
