Chapter 3

For the next few months, all of them began to get accustomed to the gradual changes happening to Leonard. He still joined them for dinner around the coffee table when he is not coming from a meeting or a conference. He gradually went to work wearing more business-like clothes but he still wore his usual t-shirt and hoodie during the weekends. This change didn't go unnoticed at the university as well. Somehow his colleagues paid him more attention and respect than before. His ideas and opinions were now taken seriously as he was asked to join the team reviewing project proposals for the university grant committee. This was a big deal since he would review and approve research proposals applying for grants.

One night, the gang was eating take-out food around the coffee table when Leonard came in the apartment talking on his phone a little agitated.

"No I will not change my mind...your proposal is rejected…the decision came from the project proposal review team...yes...I am part of the team…..no I'm not changing my mind! Goodbye." He put his phone on his desk.

"Leonard, that sounds rough?" Howard said.

"I have to be...ever since I joined the research project proposal review team, everybody assumed that I'm just gonna give them what they want…" Leonard said as he put his bag on his desk.

"How about my request?...is it still in the running?" Howard asked.

"Yes Howard...your proposal to upgrade some of your equipment is still up there…" Leonard continued. "and Raj so is your proposal to upgrade the software of the Astronomy Lab…" he said

"Thanks dude….our software is so outdated that we might as well use old telescopes….you know like the ones used by pirates..." Raj added.

"Wow Leonard, it seems like you got a promotion huh?" Bernadette observed.

"Well I won't call it a promotion...but they did gave me raise though." he said to her casually.

Everybody was surprised with Leonard's revelation.

"Congratulations Leonard...it seems your hard work is finally paying off huh?" Amy said.

"Thank you Amy. I appreciate it." Leonard looked at her.

"How come you get a raise!?...that's not fair!" Sheldon protested.

"I never asked for it Sheldon. They called me in one day and said that my current salary level does not reflect my contributions to the university. If you feel strongly against it, you're more than welcome to discuss it with President Siebert." Leonard said as he sat down to take food from the coffee table.

Sheldon said nothing.

"Congratulations Leonard….we're happy for you." Howard said.

"Thank you Howard….you're a good friend." Leonard said back.

"Yeah dude…..you deserve it!" Raj added.

"Thanks Raj." he said.

"Congratulations Leonard!" Penny smiled at him.

He glanced at her. "Thanks!" Leonard said before turning his attention back to his food.

The next couple of days, Amy and Bernadette are in Penny's place for 'girls night'. They were having some wine and chips, talking about work and their personal lives.

"So Penny, are you seeing someone these days?" Bernadette asked.

"No…..I just broke up with Zack….again….so I'm single now." Penny said as she drank from her glass.

"Why did you break up with him?….He seems sweet...and those muscles!…..ugh!" Amy said.

"I don't know….I guess I got bored with him….he doesn't really shine when it comes to conversations…" Penny said.

"Yeah….I realized that too when you introduced him to me a few months ago….it was like talking to a wall….he's cute alright but man he's dumb…" Amy said smiling.

"Don't worry Penny...I'm sure you'll meet someone new…." Bernadette said.

"Penny can I ask you a question?" Amy said.

"Sure….what is it?" she said.

"Why did you break up with Leonard?" Amy asked her.

Penny froze but decided to answer Amy anyway. "Well, he got real serious really fast and I wasn't ready for it." she said.

"Sheldon told me that Leonard told you that he loves you….is that true?" Amy asked again.

Penny didn't answered and just looked at them.

"Oh my god Penny….he did, didn't he?" Bernadette said. Penny nodded.

"And you can't say it back to him?" Amy asked.

Penny just looked at them.

"But did you loved him?" Bernadette asked.

Penny didn't replied and just gave them a sad look.

Bernadette looked at her and realized the truth. "My god Penny!….you did love him." she said. Penny didn't speak.

"Boy that must be rough on Leonard...pouring his heart out only to be rejected like that." Amy said.

"Yeah...Howie said that after that, Leonard was like a sick bird who couldn't sing anymore." Bernadette said.

"I can only imagine….I've never experienced that before so I wouldn't know how it feels." Amy said.

"The interesting part was what happened at the comic book store after Penny broke up with him." Bernadette said to Amy.

Penny got curious. "Why? What happened at the comic book store?" she asked.

"Howie said that it was a couple of weeks after you dumped Leonard….they were at the comic book store when Wil Wheaton came in and tried to apologize to him…." Bernadette said when she was cut off by Amy.

"Wait….who is Wil Wheaton?" Amy asked.

"Howie said that Wil was somewhat responsible for breaking them up….apparently he said something to Penny for her to dump Leonard." she continued. "anyway, he tried to apologize to Leonard saying that he never expected that Penny would break up with him right there and then….Howie said that Leonard didn't say anything to him, then the next thing they saw was Wil knocked unconscious on the floor….Leonard knocked him out cold." Bernadette said.

They were all surprised at Bernadette's revelation.

"What!...Leonard did that!?" Penny was surprised.

"Yeah….Howie said that Wil was knocked out cold for like five minutes…..after that, all the guys at the comic book store and even at the university sort of kept their distance from Leonard and didn't make fun of him anymore." Bernadette continued. "Even Howie and Raj never asked him about that incident….Howie said that Leonard just exploded with anger when he saw Wil." she said as she drank her wine.

Amy turned to Penny. "Penny, what did Wil say to you?" she asked.

"Amy….I really don't want to get into that right now….Leonard is a great guy….I guess we were not in the same page in our relationship and I wasn't ready for it." Penny said.

"What happens when you're ready and he's not available anymore?" Amy asked.

Penny got uncomfortable. "Why are you asking me all these questions Amy?" she asked.

"Well….you said Leonard is a great guy…..what if another woman comes along and sees him as a 'great guy' and starts dating him" Amy said.

Penny was speechless. She didn't consider that other women might find Leonard attractive now that he's more confident and self-assured. She suddenly felt fear of the notion that she might see Leonard in a relationship with another woman. Before they became a couple, Leonard was so insecure that he always groveled for the slightest attention from her because she knew that Leonard always had a huge crush on her and was wiling to do anything just to gain her approval. This coupled with the fact that Leonard knew that Penny could have any man she wants. She now realized that what she did to Leonard before was bordering on cruelty. Asking favors from him knowing that he wouldn't refuse her, taking him for granted. It was a long list of mistakes that she was afraid to admit to herself.

Penny stood up visibly upset. "I don't want to talk about Leonard anymore okay?" she said then walked to her bedroom and slammed the door shut. Amy and Bernadette looked at each other and felt sad for their friend. Somehow they felt that Penny hasn't really moved on from Leonard.

Amy and Bernadette then decided to see if Penny was alright. They opened the door and saw her slumped on her bed with a pillow against her face. "Penny we're really sorry for badgering you….we never should have brought it up." Bernadette said.

"I'm sorry Penny...that was wrong of me to ask you all those questions." Amy added.

Penny turned over and wiped the tears from her face. "It's alright Amy, I guess I just needed to hear it." she said as she sat up. Bernadette sat beside her and rubbed her on the back to console her.

"What is wrong with me Bernie?" she asked as she leaned her head on Bernadette's shoulder. "All Leonard did was try to make me happy and I pushed him away."

Amy also sat beside Penny. "Nothing's wrong with you Penny….you just got scared and wasn't ready for a serious relationship is all…" Amy said.

"Now he's more confident, he may not want me anymore...me who's just a community college dropout slash waitress…" she said as she began to cry.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, you know Leonard's always been crazy about you….just give it time and maybe he'll ask you out again." Bernadette said.

"She's right...just relax and maybe he's just waiting for the right time to ask you out again." Amy added.

Penny looked at them. "and you know what the sad part was….I always wore his favorite perfume and tried to look my best for him when I hang out with them and he didn't even looked at me….it's as if I wasn't there…." she cried again.

"Oh Penny…" Bernadette consoled her.

Penny sat herself straight and wiped the tears from her face. "You guys can go now….I'll be alright." she said.

"Are you sure….we can stay here if you want?" Amy said.

"No it's alright….you guys have work tomorrow….thanks for listening….you guys are the best." Penny said.

Amy and Bernadette stood up and made their way out of Penny's apartment.

Penny laid on her back and stared blankly at the ceiling. She asked herself why can't she move on from Leonard. Somehow she knew the answer and was just afraid to admit it. Penny pulled the covers over her to get some sleep.

Author's note: Thanks for all the positive feedback. I'm reading all your comments and appreciate your reviews. :-)