Me And The Mysterious Man's
Chapter 48 - The Grief House

Becca takes her face off for a moment from Jack. How can the man ask his condition, if it is clear that he is not okay. Becca doesn't even know what to answer. To be honest, he was tired. Especially to explain how it is now.

"Becca, I'm sorry. Last night I couldn't-"

"I know Jack, it's okay..." Becca quickly disembarks, and accidentally cuts off Jack's speech. He finally looked back at Jack, and tried to force himself to smile.

"You don't want to go into the funeral home?" ask Jack. Still faithfully waiting for Becca.

"You go first," Becca replied, trying not to care.

"You wanna come along"

"Beca!" the voice of Ben's call makes Jack's sentence pause again. He and Becca immediately turn their attention towards Ben. The man walking closer. Requires Jack to slightly rewind his steps to make room. Jack knows, looks like Ben wants to talk to Becca.

"Becca, I've been looking for you since. David says you're still in the car, so I'm here" Ben said, then turned his gaze toward Jack.

There was a bit of a tense atmosphere going on. Things only Jack and Ben can feel. Actually, only Ben was too carried away, he treated Jack like an enemy.

Jack was aware of Ben's attitude. He could see it from the man's eyes. That look seemed to say to him 'Stay away from Becca.'

Jack tries to understand Ben's behavior. It was natural for Ben to act like that. With her being next to Becca, of course she felt very rivaled.

Becca let out a breath, then immediately opened the car door. He felt bad letting the two people continue waiting for him.

"Come on!" said Becca, step first towards Tara's house. Not for Ben and Jack. The two are still in their place and facing each other.

"Do you love her?" asked Ben, slowly raising his head that had been subdued. He looked at Jack with a serious aura.

"You mean... Becca?" Jack ensure. Ben answered with a nod of his head.

"You don't have to worry, I..." Jack thought for a moment, but logic made his determination unanimous. "I don't love him." he said, which of course was just a lie.

Ben nodded his head. Then turned around and rushed after Becca. Jack tried to move his legs because he intended to come along too, but a hand suddenly intercepted his departure. It was Mike, who seemed to blend in with his all-black outfit.

"Mike's? what are you doing here?" Jack nodded in wonder. He was caught off guard by his own partner.

Mike put on his lazy gaze. He's been suspicious of Jack and Becca's relationship ever since Aaron's business party.

"I know now you're liking-"

"It's not what you think."

"Jack, don't interrupt me, please try-"

"Listen, I know what you mean. And I will tell you that I will not forget myself. Whatever happens, my job is the main one!" Jack insists. There was an impromptu debate between him and Mike.

"Okay. up to you, I'll believe you." Mike relented. He knows how stubborn a Jack is. Even in the matter of falling in love.

...༻❀༺...

Becca's already in the funeral home. He helped Tara's relatives to give drinks to the mourners who arrived. His head was constantly bent down. There was clearly sadness on his face. Becca even stopped her steps for the sake of just glancing upstairs. She wanted to see Tara's room for a moment.

"Go away." said the voice of a woman, who was none other than Ellie. He rubbed Becca's arm slowly. His gaze was shady yet filled with twists of fragility.

"Let me take her to the kitchen" Ellie said again, seizing a tray of dirty glasses in Becca's hand.

"Thank you" Becca replied, then walked up the stairs. He immediately entered Tara's private room.

Becca sets out her gaze to observe every corner of Tara's room. Until an arrangement of figurines on top of a small closet Tara pull the attention. Becca galloped over and looked at the photos one by one.

Most of the figurines contain photos of Tara and her family. Becca can understand how sorry Tara is to her family. Especially to Ellie. He was even willing not to go to college, for the sake of being able to continue spending time with family.

A photo on the far right, stole Becca's attention. Because of the photo, Becca again whines. Tears were shed again. Especially in the photo Becca and Tara look to have fun. Those happy memories again flashed in Becca's shadow. It made Becca's heart even sadder.

Photo illustration that caught the attention of Becca :

As usual, Tara was very happy to doodle her personal belongings. This is a habit that cannot be eliminated from the past.

The sentence written in the photo, a little smile on Becca's face. Although the clear liquid did not stop dripping in the corner of his eyes. He took the picture and looked at her while sitting on the bed.

The sound of footsteps came closer. The sound stopped right in front of the door. The figure of a man who was none other than Ben immediately approached, and sat down beside Becca.

"I know you're here" Ben said, looking up at the photo Becca was holding.

"I remember this picture. I'm the one who created this incredible work" Ben said confidently. It looks like he's trying to cheer up Becca. Ben doesn't want to see Becca crying anymore.

"Yes, as usual. You've always shied away from the camera, we know that." Becca replied while looking at Ben. Sure enough, his cries slowly began to subside.

"Maybe it's a journalist's instinct. No wonder I now work as a news seeker." Ben stretched out both his hands and smiled faintly. That smile was also transmitted to Becca.

"Didn't you not like your job?" ask Becca. He knows very well Ben always complains about the job he has. Becca also remembered that Ben's goal since childhood was not to be a journalist, but to be a police officer or detective. Ben had even registered himself three times to become a police officer, but three times he also had to fail.

"I'm trying to like it" replied Ben. Without returning Becca's gaze. He was clearly giving up, trying to convince his best friend. However, Becca who has known him since childhood certainly knows the lie that Ben shows.

"You lied. I know, you still wish you could be like David, or more than that." Becca said. His hand suddenly held Ben's fingers. Caused Ben's heart to beat fast. He felt tenderness and warmth all at once in his palm.

"Be yourself Ben, I don't want you to be like me, who don't have goals and ideals in life..." Becca says she's clean.

"Liar, I know you've always dreamed of being a programmer in a secret agent's office, or at a science company in New York City. That's one of the reasons you chose to go to college there?" Ben nodded while raising his eyebrows. He did a probing look.

"Forget it, I don't even want to think about it anymore." Becca brushed aside. He even told Ben not to talk about it anymore.