Chapter 2
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A/N:
This chapter takes place one year before events of the game
Just squeezing in some bonding time before everything goes to complete shit :)
The (H/c)-haired woman stared up at the ceiling, humming along to the music playing from a speaker that sat on a nearby shelf. There were papers scattered across the desk she sat in front of, along with pencils, pens, and highlighters. Her laptop screen had gone dark a while ago due to inactivity, yet she didn't make any move to turn it back on, instead spinning idly in her desk chair.
How long had she been sitting here just listening to music? It felt like ages since she'd been studying for these upcoming exams, to the point where she was exhausted, physically and mentally. Not only was her brain fried, but a low rumble of her stomach indicated her body had been neglected since she started this session.
With a groan she stopped her chair with her foot before standing up to turn off her speaker, the motion a little too quick for her fatigued body. She had to pause in her movements, standing still to let a wave of dizziness and slight nausea slowly subside.
Yeah, that was enough studying for tonight.
Once the music was off she trudged out of her room, greeted by a gentle meow near her feet. A smile lit up on her face as she leaned down, scooping up the white, orange and black cat into her arms before continuing to walk towards the kitchen area of her small apartment.
"Is it dinner time, Patches?" She cooed towards the fluffy animal cradled in her arms, earning her another meow in response. "I know. I'm starving, too."
She set Patches back down on her feet so she could rummage through the cabinet for her food. With one of the cans in hand she went to get the can opener, all while her cat began to eagerly circle her feet, meows growing louder and more insistent.
"I know, I know! I'm working on it." She gave a breath of a laugh, trying to open the can as quickly as possible so she could feed the little beast. Eventually she cracked it open, managing to dump it into her cat's food bowl before she practically pounced on it and began munching away.
(Y/n) shook her head with a smile, entertained by Patches' behavior like she always was—there was never a moment where she acted like she wasn't starving. Now with that out of the way, it was time to solve her own hunger problem.
Opening the fridge nearby, she frowned at the lack of contents inside. There were only condiments, water bottles, sodas and a little bit of leftover takeout that she was certain had gone bad. She needed to buy groceries again, but money was a little tight at the moment, leaving her helpless in this situation.
She could always ask Margaret if she could pick up more shifts at the coffee shop to make some extra change. Her manager was a sweet and understanding woman, so she wasn't too worried about it. For now though, she needed to decide on what to do, seeing as the hollow ache in her stomach was eating away at her by the second.
She was about to go grab her phone from her bedroom to check for some nearby pizza places – not ideal, but it was cheap – when the ring of her doorbell echoed throughout her apartment. She halted in her tracks, staring at the front door with a puzzled look since she wasn't expecting any visitors at this hour.
One look through the peephole and her entire demeanor shifted, a grin lighting up on her face as she unlocked the door and threw it open at the speed of light. The dark-haired man on the opposite side looked startled for a split second, before returning her grin with the same enthusiasm.
"Harvey! My savior!" She cried dramatically, opening the door wider so he could step inside. "I've been dying of studying and boredom." She added on with a groan, her back pressing against the door to shut it after he entered.
Her antics got a chuckle out of him as he slipped off his shoes. "And I'm going to assume hunger as well?" He asked, drawing her attention to the two glass containers he held in hand. One was larger and slightly fogged from steam, while the other smaller with about four cookies inside. "I brought you some leftovers from the dinner I made, and some cookies from Eun-mi."
A grateful noise left her as she eagerly took the containers when he offered them to her, her tummy rumbling at the thought of delicious food. Since they'd become friends around a year ago, it's become a habit of his to bring her leftovers of whatever he cooked at home—hell, sometimes he was even sweet enough to cook just for her so she'd have some food for the week. He had taken quick notice of her poor eating habits and decided to help whenever he could, which she appreciated more than anything.
"Ugh, I love you. You two are seriously the best." She said with a happy sigh, already rushing towards her kitchen to find some silverware. "She decided not to come along?" She continued to talk while doing so, knowing he was already following her.
While she wasn't nearly as close with Eun-mi as she was with Harvey, she still considered her a dear friend. Eun-mi was a little more guarded and cold around the edges, a vast contrast to the trust and warmth her husband seemed to exude all the time. However, once (Y/n) had gotten to know her, she realized she wasn't that scary of a person, only someone that took time to grow comfortable around others.
Sometimes Eun-mi would tag along with Harvey to visit her apartment, though it was a rare occurrence given her busy life, being a mother and the main income of their household. (Y/n) never minded though, knowing their situation well by know.
Her question must've hit a sore spot, for she noticed Harvey wincing out of the corner of her eye while she grabbed a fork from her drawer. He was silent for a moment, those crystal blue eyes staring off while he leant against her counter, the two containers he previously held now resting on top of it.
She walked back over to where he was, her stare a mixture of curious and concerned, yet never prying as she focused on opening the lid of the larger container. A quiet meow caught her attention, causing her to roll her eyes when Patches rubbed up against her legs—greedy cat could smell the aroma of the food.
Harvey chuckled as he watched the cat impatiently circle her owner's legs, the scene putting a small smile on his face for a split second, before it vanished just as quickly. "We... got into an argument. It's why I decided to visit you, give her some space." He mumbled, sounding ashamed of the situation.
She paused with her fork hovering over the food, processing the information she was given. "I see... and what about Toby?" She softly asked him in return, worried about the small boy's involvement in this scenario.
"He wasn't there. He's visiting his grandparents right now." He reassured with a strained smile. "I don't ever want him to see that." He looked down at the ground, quietly sighing as he watched Patches' continuous effort to beg for food.
With a hum, she picked up her container of food in one hand and tugged on Harvey's sleeve with the other, already making her way towards her living room. "C'mon, it's therapy time." She stated while practically dragging him to sit down beside her on the couch, situating herself with one leg beneath her and the other balanced against the floor.
He held no objections to her antics, simply shrugging off his jacket to get more comfortable. "Are you qualified to be a therapist?" He asked while settling into his spot on the couch, his tone playful.
She rolled her eyes, using her fork to stab at the contents in the warm container she held—meat, potatoes, and carrots, a hearty meal that had her mouth watering. This man was truly a blessing in her life, she was positive she would've withered away from starving by now if it weren't for him.
"Not in the slightest. But neither of us can afford one, so this is the best you'll get." Her flat tone got an amused exhale from him, before she shoved a small potato in her mouth followed by a sliced carrot. "Now, tell (Y/n) what's been going on in that pretty head of yours."
The jacket he wore was discarded on the arm of the couch, his light blue eyes flickering back to her disapprovingly when he heard her muffled words. "You eat like a hamster that's never going to find food again." He remarked with a shake of his head, trying and failing to sound upset due to the smile on his face. "Just focus on eating, Bun. I don't want you to choke."
To that she gave a thumbs up, happily chewing on the delicious food that was in her mouth. There was silence for a moment, but she already knew that Harvey was contemplating on how to begin the conversation, so she didn't rush him. She continued to take eager bites of the meal he provided for her, each one somehow better than the last—he needed to teach her to cook like this one of these days.
Eventually a sigh broke the quietness that had settled, her (E/c) eyes peeking up to see Harvey with his head back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling in a conflicted haze. It was in that movement she realized how lost and exhausted he looked, causing her chewing to slow down as concern washed over her.
"Like I said before, we got into an argument." His voice was a low murmur, gaze remaining in place and glazed over, like he was recalling the incident before his eyes. "She... she was upset at me since I had another job interview today, and it didn't go well."
(Y/n) frowned around her fork when he said that. Being friends with Harvey for a year now, she was all too aware of his track record when it came to employment. She always tried to be supportive of him, yet there wasn't much she could do, since she was fairly clueless as to why he seemed to be the human embodiment of a repellent—no one would hire him, and if they did, they never deemed him a good enough fit.
It was appalling to her, how someone as charming, cordial and energetic as Harvey couldn't fit in anywhere. Every trait of his made him sound like the perfect, hardworking candidate for most job positions, so this predicament of his was unfathomable to her. Then again, she also wouldn't be surprised if employers hated him for that very reason—she's had a few run ins with that type, the ones who didn't want an employee that was overly excited and willing to put in more effort.
Whatever the reason, she felt awful for him, especially when she knew how anxiety inducing it could be to be unemployed and have no reliable income. Even if he had Eun-mi – who she assumed was making a decent amount of money from her job, given their living situation – it likely didn't feel good to not contribute anything to that income. Not to mention their son Toby as well, who he loved more than anything in the world and would do anything to support his future.
She stayed quiet, letting her thoughts bounce around in her head until he was finished with his rambling. She continued to eat her food, yet the various flavors coating her tongue didn't taste as savory anymore, a bitter hint to them as her stomach churned uneasily from the circumstances.
"She's been complaining about it more often lately, and I understand why, it's just..." He trailed off, hands mindlessly fiddling where they laid on top of his stomach. "I wish she understood that I'm trying to keep a job, instead of acting like I'm some good-for-nothing husband who can't help his wife and son." There was a sourness that layered over the disappointment in his words, like he couldn't decide whether to be ashamed at himself or indignant at his partner for viewing him that way.
A slow hum of acknowledgement left her as she let those words roll around in her head for a bit. One last piece of meat was shoved into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed before the now empty container was set on the coffee table beside her.
She leaned into the couch cushion beside Harvey, regarding him with a contemplative stare. "Well, I'm not exactly sure what Eun-mi does for a living, but you take care of Toby while she works, yes?" Her question was met with furrowed eyebrows, followed by a hesitant nod. "Do you clean the house? Do the laundry? Do the dishes? Make the most delicious food in existence?" The last part of her list may have been a little exaggerated, coaxing a quiet chuckle from the man.
"I guess so, considering you scarfed it down in less than five minutes." He replied teasingly, eyeing the container that looked like it had been licked clean.
She waved him off, continuing on with her point. "Then I'd say she's being unreasonable here. Not to barge into your marriage or anything, but just because you don't have a job, doesn't give her the right to say you don't do anything." She paused, her lips pursed together and eyes squinted as she tried to think of the correct term for it. "You're like a, uh, male housewife, and that's some hardwork right there! A... a househusband? Is that a word?"
To her delight that got a genuine laugh from him, her own giggles joining in the mix for a second. Once their laughter died down, Harvey let out a sigh, yet this time it sounded a little more content rather than dejected, much to her relief. She couldn't do much to fix his problems, but she could at least lend him a listening ear.
"Eun-mi seems to think the opposite. It's like she's getting more and more desperate for me to make money." His eyebrows creased together, his expression puzzled as if he were finally trying to figure out why she was acting that way. "Which I'm not entirely sure why. It couldn't hurt to have extra cash, but I'd say we're fairly well off right now."
(Y/n) gave a hum of agreement to that last statement. She'd been to their house, and in her eyes, they had quite the luxurious life. She'd kill to have a nice, big house and not some stuffy apartment that a total of four rooms—five if she counted that small, cramped space she shoved a washer and dryer into to make a laundry room.
"That does seem weird." She mumbled back thoughtfully, her right leg bouncing in place against the floor. "What is Eun-mi's job? I don't believe you or her ever told me."
Curiosity aside, it felt a little invasive to bring that up, now that she thought about it. If Eun-mi nor Harvey had told her, then it was probably for a reason, and she definitely didn't want to pry into their lives like that.
He must've seen the regret already forming on her face, for he quickly spoke up before she could. "She doesn't really like to talk about it, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind me telling you." He reassured, laughing under his breath when she visibly sagged with relief. "She works for this big tech company that her parents own. It's called MindCore Technologies, if I remember correctly."
At the familiar name, she perked up with interest. She had heard about that company a couple of times in the news, and she vaguely remembered that the company revolved around enhancing the mind and its capabilities. A few augmentation devices that they were working on was shown, and to her they were simultaneously fascinating and disturbing—the latter stemming from some of the procedures required to implant said devices.
She never would've guessed that Eun-mi was working at that company. It was definitely a big deal given her parents were the owners, though that didn't make any sense as to why she'd want to keep her employment there secret. Maybe she was embarrassed working for her parents, or she was afraid people would assume she didn't work for it? That was the most reasonable assumption, she supposed.
A low, impressed whistle left her mouth as she maneuvered her leg to join the other on the couch. "Damn, I've heard about that company in the news. Planning some big project for next year, or something..." She trailed off, unable to recall exactly what the reveal was, before shrugging it off. "But yeah, I don't see why money's an issue if that's the case. She must be loaded with a career like that."
There was silence for a minute, causing her (E/c) eyes to flicker towards him questioningly. Harvey was already staring at her, his brows furrowed and lips turned downwards in an uneasy frown. Any relief from earlier was gone, replaced by a tautness in his muscles that had her unknowingly sitting up straighter.
"I... I probably wasn't supposed to hear this, but she was on a call the other day arguing with her father." He began talking slowly, his tone low and uncertain. It was like he didn't know if he should tell her, yet also couldn't fight the urge to let someone else know—to let her know. "Their company is facing some debt right now that they're trying to get out of. I think that's why she's been so worried lately."
Her face fell at the revelation, an understanding passing over her features as she came to terms with the reason why Eun-mi was acting out on him. If something were to happen to her occupation and they had no active income, while Harvey couldn't hold a job for the life of him, then the stability they had definitely wouldn't last. Aside from that, they also had Toby to think about, to ensure he has the best childhood he could possibly have without getting entangled in this mess. There was definitely a lot at stake if her family's business shut down.
"That... that makes sense. If the business goes bankrupt, then it could potentially be shut down, and she'd be out of a job." She mumbled her thoughts, worriedly chewing on her bottom lip. Then she huffed, shaking her head as her eyes narrowed at her friend. "Still, I don't agree with the fact that she's taking this stress out on you. You're trying, and you do a lot at home, so she needs to be more forgiving."
Just because Eun-mi had the weight of the company on her shoulders didn't mean she got to push that onto Harvey. He was clearly dealing with his own issues, that of which revolved around trying to please her by finding a job he could hold onto for once. Not to mention he took care of Toby and the house, which to her was a full-time job in itself—parenting was no easy task and it was very time-consuming.
She wouldn't pry into the details of their life, that wasn't her place, but the least she could do was offer her viewpoint to her friend who looked hopeless on what to do. In her eyes, he shouldn't have to feel guilty for not having a job, not when he was putting in the effort for that and so much more. He deserved better than that.
A long, drawn out breath left Harvey as his head fell back once more to rest against the top of the couch. "Yeah, you're right, Bun. I'll have a talk with her about it tomorrow." He nodded, silently confirming to himself that he'd finally be honest and let her know how he was feeling.
Apparently he didn't want to dwell on the topic any longer, for he rolled his body to the side to face her. (Y/n) rose an eyebrow, her expression questioning when she saw the light, teasing grin on Harvey's face.
"So, what about you?" He asked, painfully vague on purpose so he could see the way her (S/c) face twisted with confusion, along with her nose scrunching up.
"Me? What about me?" Her tone was skeptical, eyes squinted in an accusatory stare like she already knew where this was heading—he brought it up often, so it wouldn't be a surprise at this point.
Harvey smirked, a mischievous gleam in those crystalline eyes of his. "I mean, are you planning on living alone with Patches for the rest of your life?" He replied light-heartedly, gesturing towards said cat who was laying in her bed in the corner of the room.
A groan left her, his words confirming her suspicions. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with dying alone as a crazy cat lady!" She said defensively while pointing at him, to which he raised his hands in mock surrender, grin never faltering. "Patches is the perfect companion, thank you very much."
After her faux outburst she let herself fall backwards on the couch, her back against the arm rest and legs curled up below her. Slowly the amusement wore off, her gaze softening when that familiar ache in her chest returned—a constant mix of disappointment and desperation then never faded.
She sighed, letting her eyes close for a minute in hopes to soothe the feeling away. "But on a more serious note, I'm probably going to give up on dating." Was her straightforward answer to his question, deciding it might help to release these bottled up emotions when she had the chance.
Harvey blinked at her from where he sat, slightly taken aback at first, until it shifted towards sympathetic. "That bad, huh?" He murmured, his tone gentle and words light, an unspoken understanding in them.
She huffed, frustration beginning to permeate her voice when she spoke again. "Kind of? I just... It's so difficult to find someone that I can see myself with, that I can see actually..." She paused, her throat uncomfortably tight as she hesitated on the last few words. "..actually loving me."
It was quiet, yet she didn't let it be for long, the silence making her all the more uncomfortable with her sudden wave of emotions. These feelings were nothing new, but as the months ticked on, it had began to intensify, gnawing away at her and leaving a dark hole in its wake—a hole that no person she met could seem to fill.
"It's stupid, how I always wanted to find that kind of love. Always had this little spark inside of me to keep me going." She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, lips pursed into a forced line as she focused on staying composed. "Now... now it feels like that light kind of just... died, and the acceptance that love might not be for me has set in, yet it's too much to bear."
Her hands subconsciously curled into her chest, centered over where her heart was picking up speed. For some reason telling him so far didn't offer that relief like it usually did when she confided in him, causing her to shift and fidget in her spot. If anything, she swore she was starting to feel more anxious than before—the opposite effect she was aiming for.
Then she realized why she didn't feel comforted by telling him.
She inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves. "I know you've talked about the rough patches you and Eun-mi have been through lately, but despite that, what you guys have is special." Those words were spoken meekly, holding nothing but a quiet longing that paired with heartache. "I wish I had something like that, a person that truly believed with their whole heart that I was their one and only, and wouldn't trade it for the world."
After she ended her rambling, regret sunk in at the prolonged silence that followed. The (H/c)-haired woman quickly sat up, avoiding looking anywhere near him as she rubbed her hands together. "I... Sorry, I didn't mean to get all emotional." She mumbled sheepishly, casting him a worried glance out of the corner of her eye.
Except he didn't look annoyed or uninterested like she thought he would, his countenance entirely warm and compassionate after hearing every small detail she spilled out in front of him. She wasn't sure why she was so afraid—Harvey had always been an extremely kindhearted man, to the point it could've been seen as a fault of his. His reaction alone made it evident he'd never judge her or make her feel silly for how she felt, and that helped her relax a little.
He scooted closer to her on the couch, only so he could place a gentle hand on top of her own that were situated on her lap. Wordlessly she lifted one of her own, letting him scoop it up in a light grip, his thumb soothing over her knuckles in a comforting motion.
"Hey, don't apologize, Bun. You're always here for me when I need someone to talk to about my problems, and I'll do the same for you. I want to be here for you." His voice was soft and delicate, reflecting his touch on her hand that seeped newfound warmth into her. "I think your person is out there somewhere, now just... isn't the right moment." He added that on slowly, trying to find the right words to address her emotions.
(Y/n) pouted a little, clearly not finding that answer very helpful. "Everybody says that, but how am I supposed to know when the right moment is?"
To that, he gave an unhelpful shrug, smiling when she shot him a faux glare in return to show her dissatisfaction. "You won't. Honestly, the moment it does happen, you'll probably think it's the worst and most inconvenient timing ever."
"Really? Was that how it was for you and Eun-mi?" She asked, not at all sounding convinced as her expression was one of disbelief.
It stayed that way, even when he gave a nod and grin of confirmation. "Absolutely, yes. I don't think I was at all prepared for a relationship when I first met her." He snorted, likely recalling that exact day. "And look at us now, 9 years of marriage."
She squinted at him for a second, searching for any hint of a lie, before she finally gave a loud groan in defeat. "Ugh, fine! I guess I'll wait for the most horrible moment of my life and see if my knight in shining armor comes along and sweeps me off my feet!" She complained, voice purposely whiny.
Harvey gave a huff of a laugh, pulling his hand away so he could poke her shoulder. "Hey, now! I didn't say it'd be a horrible moment, just the timing! And I'd certainly hope it's not a situation where you need saving, either."
She lightly swatted his hand away, sticking her head up in blatant refusal. "Nope, that's exactly what you said. Nothing else." She stated firmly, seeing him roll his eyes in the corner of her gaze. "Anyway! Now that I'm done sobbing over my lack of a love life, it's cookie time!"
Her random cheer brought an abrupt laugh from the dark-haired man, who watched as she shot up from her spot and rushed towards the kitchen. He saw Patches lift her head up to see the commotion her owner was causing, to which he shook his head in amusement.
"They're your favorite, (F/f)."
"Ah, Eun-mi you angel!"
