After their eventful date, Harper decided to visit Niamh's house and invited Sarah to join them for a much needed catch-up session. Feeling overwhelmed by the awkward interaction earlier, Harper buried her face in a pillow, expressing her reluctance to return home.
Niamh reassured her, offering a solution. "Stay here tonight. I'll talk to my Mum and sort it out. No need to worry." Grateful for her friend's support, Harper smiled and thanked her. Fortunately, they were similar in size, allowing Harper to borrow some comfortable pyjamas without the hassle of going back home.
"But can you believe he had the audacity to call both of you stupid?" Sarah exclaimed, crossing her arms in frustration. "I thought he had grown up a bit since our school days, but apparently not." Harper reminisced about their holiday together when she had confronted him about his immaturity during a similar incident. She reflected on the events that followed—his aspiration to become a doctor, her offers from nursing school, and everything changing when Aaron fell ill. Clutching the pillow tightly, she attempted to make sense of her situation.
"You know, Harper, I genuinely think Kunal could be great for you," Niamh offered, her voice filled with sincerity. "He's kind, and he adores every aspect of you. You could do a lot worse." Sarah nodded in agreement, emphasising Kunal's unwavering devotion to Harper, a quality he had demonstrated for a long time.
Harper understood their perspective. She acknowledged Kunal's sweetness and caring nature. However, she couldn't help but see him solely as a friend. She started to worry that her attraction might be limited to Oliver, but she rationalised that it was unlikely. Harper realised she needed distance from Oliver to truly move on and discover someone she genuinely liked and who reciprocate those feelings.
"Maybe I'll give it a shot. What's the worst that can happen?" she said, mustering a forced smile. The girls continued their lighthearted conversation, gossiping about various topics before retiring to bed.
Oliver woke up the next morning and got ready for work before heading downstairs to the kitchen. "Oh Oliver," Eleanor called as he entered the kitchen. "Did you see Harper yesterday, she never came home?" she asked him. He mentioned that he saw her with Kunal on a date but he wasn't sure he heard her come in last night Horror that creeped onto Eleanor's face as she assumed what she thought to be the worst possible situation and it didn't take long for Oliver to clock on to what she was thinking. Did she really stay over at his house? There's no way, those two were just dating, it wasn't that serious was it? Eleanor quickly grabbed her phone and called Harper's number, pressing the receiver against her ear and praying that she would answer but it went straight to voicemail. "Of course, she wouldn't have a charger at his house, her phone's probably dead," Eleanor muttered as she put the phone down on the counter. "Oliver, go and wake Ian, she must have told him if she was going to be staying out for the night." As much as Oliver didn't want to take part in this, he had to know where Harper might have stayed last night so he did as he was told.
Ian stirred from his sleep when Oliver knocked on the door to his room and he told him to come in. "Sorry to disturb you, I know you worked late but do you know where Harper is," he asked him in a whisper.
He groaned a bit and rubbed his head sleepily, "she stayed at her friend's house," he replied before rolling over and going back to sleep. He wanted to probe further to see if he could be more specific than just "her friend" but Ian was clearly very tired from working late and he didn't want to be rude. He returned to the kitchen and told his Mum what Ian had said, she shook her head, it wasn't a lot of information but Eleanor felt that this pretty much confirmed that she stayed at Kunal's house and started crying about how she had given up so easily and moved on in a heartbeat. Oliver got really frustrated with the melodrama that was developing and told her that he was going to head out to work. "Oliver, wait," she called and he stopped in the foyer. "Are you really okay with this?" she asked him.
He paused for a moment before turning around and looking at her, "of course, I'm glad she's found someone." Eleanor sighed and said goodbye as he left for work, she never wanted to give up on them but at this point it seemed completely hopeless.
After finishing his work for the day, Oliver decided to head down to the college to catch up with a few friends from the tennis club. As he approached, he could hear Steven's boisterous voice resonating from afar, bellowing at the top of his lungs.
"I see you're still as loud as ever," Oliver remarked with a smile as he approached his friend.
"Oliver!" Steven called out, running over to greet him. "It's been a while. How's work treating you?"
"It's going okay," Oliver replied. "No sign of Harper today?" he asked, scanning the club members to catch a glimpse of her.
"Nah, she mentioned having plans for the evening. I heard she's dating that guy from the cafeteria," Steven informed him.
"Oh yeah, I heard about that," Oliver responded. "How have you been?"
"You know, same old, same old. Everyone here misses seeing you at practice, especially me," Steven chuckled, before abruptly rushing over to one of the newer players, eager to demonstrate proper racquet technique.
Jenny approached Oliver with a smile on her face. "Long time no see, Oliver," she greeted him.
"Hey, how have you been?" Oliver inquired.
"I'm doing fine, thank you. Although I did recently experience a cruel rejection," she teased, looking at him mischievously. He knew she was joking at this point. She gestured for them to take a short walk as they conversed. "How's your girlfriend?" she asked, and he simply nodded, assuring her that she was fine. He hadn't spoken to her since the incident the previous day, but he hoped she would be feeling better by now and planned to call her once he got home. "I hate her," Jenny laughed, playfully exaggerating. "If you were with Harper, at least I could think you could do better. But losing to someone who actually suits you? That's just silly." They realised they had wandered a bit away from the tennis court and halted their stroll. "Even if you become a married man, promise me you'll never change." He smiled at her and nodded. "I should head back now. See you around," she said, patting him on the shoulder before turning and jogging back toward the tennis courts.
"WAIT, OLIVER?!" a loud voice called out from behind him. He turned around to find Harper's friends standing there, pointing at him in horror. "What are you doing here?" Niamh asked as they approached.
"I came to see some friends. I'm still a student here, you know?" he explained, hastening his pace to create distance, but they decided to follow closely behind, ready to interrogate him.
"I heard rumours about you getting married," Sarah probed. Oliver acknowledged that it was more than likely the case and continued walking.
"Harper went to her dad's restaurant to hang out with Kunal today," Niamh interjected.
"Okay, I didn't ask," Oliver responded tersely. Niamh scowled at him but resumed the conversation as if she were speaking to Sarah.
"She seemed incredibly happy after their date yesterday, and he finally worked up the courage to ask her to be his girlfriend!" The two girls giggled like schoolgirls, openly discussing their best friends' love life. "She told us all about it last and now she's rushed from college to go and have a blissful evening with him at her Dad's restaurant." From their conversation, Oliver deduced that Harper had stayed at one of their houses the previous night, which provided him with some relief.
"I bet by now, Harper has given him her answer, and they're cosying up together," Niamh teased enthusiastically and they both made kissing noises.
Oliver suddenly felt his heart pounding in his head, a sense of dread washing over him as the girls painted an idyllic picture of Harper and Kunal snuggled up in one of the booths at her father's restaurant sharing an intimate moment together. Unable to bear the weight of their words, he vanished as if by magic. The two friends shrugged and giggled among themselves, but soon the rain began to pour heavily, prompting them to hurry and catch their buses home.
"Prepare yourself, Harper, for the most divine culinary experience!" Kunal exclaimed with enthusiasm, presenting a set of beautifully arranged plates from the kitchen, showcasing the salmon dish he had once cooked for her. "I believe I've truly mastered this recipe. Go ahead, take a bite!"
Harper indulged her senses, savouring the heavenly flavours that danced upon her palate. "This is incredible!" she cheered, unable to resist spooning more of the delectable dish into her mouth.
"Just say the word, and I'll happily serve you seconds," Kunal bashfully offered, his heart swelling with joy at her praise for his culinary skills.
"You're going to surpass my Dad one day," she playfully teased, polishing off her plate.
"Not possible," Kunal humbly replied, his face adorned with a mix of admiration and self-doubt. "Your Dad is a culinary genius. I can only dream of being half the chef he is! But thank you for your encouragement. It means the world to me," he said, gently rubbing his head and shifting on his feet. "So, have you made a decision about my question?" he inquired, a flicker of hope gleaming in his eyes.
Harper's expression froze momentarily as she gazed down at her bowl, unable to meet his gaze. Since he asked, she had pondered incessantly, discussing it with her friends, and all signs pointed to saying yes. Yet deep within her heart, she knew she wasn't quite ready. However, she struggled to find the right words to explain her hesitations to Kunal.
"Can I have a little more time?" she mustered, her hands trembling with unease.
"Is it because of him?" Kunal's voice grew tense as he clenched his fists, the mention of an unnamed figure leaving no doubt in Harper's mind who he was referring to. Oliver. Her response lacked conviction, betraying her uncertainty.
"Then what is it!?" Kunal's voice erupted, his frustration causing him to slam his fist onto the table. Startled, Harper jolted back in her seat, a mix of fear and confusion etching across her face. "I have loved you for years, Harper. I've never had eyes for anyone else. What makes him so exceptional that you can't even look at me?"
"Kunal, please..." Harper pleaded, her voice trembling as he drew closer, and she instinctively pressed herself against the wall.
"What's so special about that cold-hearted jerk?" Kunal's voice boomed, now standing directly in front of her, blocking her escape. She had no room left to retreat.
"Kunal, please, let me go..." Harper's voice cracked as tears streamed down her face, her vulnerability palpable. Suddenly, realisation dawned upon him, and he recoiled, creating a small opening. Sensing her chance, Harper grabbed her bag and fled from the restaurant, disappearing into the pouring rain.
On the bus ride back, Harper chastised herself for leading Kunal on over the past few weeks, going on dates and raising his hopes, only to shatter them all in one fell swoop. She retrieved a tissue from her bag and gently wiped away the tears streaming down her face. A profound sense of hopelessness enveloped her, leaving her unsure of where to go from here. It seemed as though she was destined to carry Oliver's image with her to the grave while. He was moving on with his life but her heart just wouldn't let her move on with hers. It seemed like a cruel irony.
Arriving at the bus stop near their house, Harper noticed that the rain hadn't relented. She had forgotten her umbrella that day, resigning herself to getting soaked. Stepping off the bus, to her surprise, she found Oliver standing there, seemingly waiting for her.
"Hey," he called out to her.
"Oliver, what are you doing here?" she asked, her heart aching at the sight of him. Being around him was painful, as he represented a constant reminder of the pain she felt.
"I was waiting for you," he replied, gesturing for her to join him under his umbrella.
Raising an eyebrow, Harper glanced aside for a moment. "For me?"
He nodded and covered her with the umbrella, and together they started making their way toward the house. Harper sensed that something was troubling Oliver. He avoided looking at her, his gaze fixed ahead.
"Were you with him?" Oliver suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Harper struggled to hear his words over the pouring rain.
"With Kunal?" he clarified. She nodded, her cheeks tinged with a blush as she kept her eyes focused ahead. "I heard he asked you to be his girlfriend," Oliver remarked. Harper wondered where he had obtained that information. Perhaps he had spoken to Niamh or Sarah, as they were the only ones she had confided in about Kunal's proposal.
"That's correct," she responded, trying to sound confident. "I'm not doing too bad myself!"
"What did you say to him?" Oliver inquired, avoiding eye contact with her. Irritation began to well up within her in response to his line of questioning.
"Why is that any of your business?" she shouted. "It has absolutely nothing to do with you!"
Acknowledging her point, Oliver nodded. She heard him sigh and noticed his gaze shift to the side. Harper looked down at her feet, taking a deep breath to allow her frustration to dissipate.
"We'll be moving out soon," she informed him, attempting to maintain a smile as she explained the situation. "We thought it would be best to give you guys some space since you'll be getting married soon, and both of you will live in the house. I'll be with Kunal, and you'll marry Lizzy. Everything will be as it should be."
Oliver felt frustration surge within him. How could she say that everything would be as it should be? "Do you even like him?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.
"Of course I do!" she responded, though uncertainty lingered in her own heart. "He's loved me for years, you know!"
"So, if someone likes you, you automatically like them back?"
She stopped in her tracks, turning to face him. It felt as though he wasn't referring to Kunal but rather speaking about her. "What? Is that a problem?" she yelled. "I'm done with this, Oliver. I'm done with this unrequited love that has plagued me for years. So, focus on your new girlfriend and leave me be!"
In a sudden motion, he seized her shoulders. The umbrella slipped from their grasp, plummeting to the ground and leaving them vulnerable to the downpour.
"You love me!" he shouted, searching her face for any sign of confirmation, but all he encountered was anger as she pushed him away.
"Why are you so sure?" she asked, attempting to decipher his motives for doing this now. Since their paths intersected at the school gate, Oliver had no doubts in his mind that Harper was in love with him. Yet, now, uncertainty plagued him, and he couldn't bear the thought of her being taken away by another man.
"Fine, let's say it's true," she clenched her fist, struggling to contain herself. "What do you want from me, Oliver? Do you want me to chase after you for the rest of my life? I can't do that. I won't do it!" Tears streamed down her face. "I've accepted it. I've accepted that you don't love me! You've never..." Her words were cut short as he leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was tender, brimming with emotions he couldn't articulate. His arms enveloped her as he drew her closer, unable to put the emotions he was feeling into words. Until recently, he barely even understood his own feelings himself. As they parted, she gazed into his eyes, witnessing the pain and vulnerability etched on his face.
"Please, never tell me you love another man," he pleaded, pulling her back into an embrace. "Never, ever again."
"You kissed me," she whispered, a hint of astonishment in her voice. "For the second time."
He chuckled softly near her ear. "It's the third time," he corrected, locking eyes with her. She looked puzzled, and he chuckled again. "You don't have to keep count anymore, Harper," he explained, peppering her cheek with kisses as he held her tightly. Harper wished for this moment to last forever, as if she were caught in a blissful dream. Oliver's arms enveloped her, the rain pouring down around them, and she desired nothing more than to stay in his embrace indefinitely.