"Hello," a familiar voice hoarsely spoke as soon as he brought the phone to his ear.
Haruki paused for a while as his brow furrowed deeply and his grip on the phone tightened. So, finally, that man thought it fit for him to contact him. After how many days?
He took in a deep breath as the man repeated himself, "Hello."
Haruki cleared his throat as he fought back the sudden urge to show he was angry by hanging up. "Hello," he finally responded.
"I am so sorry I didn't inform you before I left. My brother was ill and I needed a family member's presence," Hiroshi began blabbing on speaking faster than he usually does.
Haruki pressed his lips together. He didn't respond to the man's apology even after Hiroshi paused for a few seconds. He felt like an addict given a shot of the drug they were deprived of for too long.
His heart pounded in his chest, and he found himself taking in a deep breath and releasing a sigh of complete relief as his body relaxed significantly.
