Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Harry's POV:

12 hours before......

She is trying her best to seek my forgiveness. But no, I'm not let them happen that easily. If she thinks I'm behaving so rude towards her, that's not a matter to me but she has to learn her mistake. Whatever she said inside the classroom is still haunting me.

How easily she said those words while I was suffering here for her. "I don't need any of your permission and it's none of your business." It is still hunting me in my sleep. How could it be possible for her? Doesn't she feel anything towards me?

It's been a week since I have started to avoid her. Whenever she hooks with us I left them alone. One day Quinn confronted me for my behaviour and told me how sorry she was. But I was not convinced.

Her every word was like a sword that cut my nerve randomly. "I gave my phone to my brother for his project work and I don't have another mobile." She came with a lame excuse. I raked my finger through my hair frustratingly and parked my car in the parking slot.

I really missed her.

Once I parked my car, I grabbed my bag and ready to go but there she was waiting for me, still biting her nail. It's one of her habits when she gets nervous.

Once our eyes met, I looked away and started to walk towards the lobby. She followed me behind in a quiet manner like a child trying to seek forgiveness from her mom.

"Hi, Harry." A blonde waved me and started to half-run towards my direction.

"I'm Kaya." She stretched her hand for a handshake. I gave her a polite handshake. If it had happened any other day I would have ignored her but not today when she was standing beside me having a curiosity in her eyes like who is this blonde.

Well... I have no idea who is standing in front of me either. Most probably she would be from my class. I assumed to myself.

"We both are the same class. Don't you remember?" She asked exactly reading my mind.

I nodded my head. Even though I do not remember her, I wanted to play this game to make her jealous. Most of the girls are trying to find the reason to talk to me in these past days and I don't remember who is who.

"Today my birthday and I throw a party at my house. I will be very happy if you come." She smiled at me for expecting my answer as a yes.

"Yeah Sure! I will come, it's my pleasure." I ensured her while cursing her inside my mind.

She gave me a bunch of chocolates and a hug while I was standing there without functioning. I wanted to push her away but I didn't. "Thank you so much. I'm so glad." She shrieked like a child.

Ohhhh, God! Does she have any manners?

"Ohhhh! You must be Sheila, right?" She asked her making a fake smile. In the corner of my eyes, I saw her nodding her head.

"Take it. Today is my birthday." She gave her a chocolate.

What?

I want to throw all her chocolates in her caked face but again I didn't. She insulted my girl in front of me. How dare she. I fisted my hand but said nothing.

"Okay, see you at the party. Bye! Bye!" She waved before walking out of my sight.

Yeah sure! In your dream.

I began to walk again while unwrapping the chocolate cover and I took one bite. Actually, I'm not fond of chocolate and she knows this very well.

"Harry, can you please stop ignoring me. It's doesn't fit for you," She mumbled slightly irritated from my behaviour. I pretended like I heard nothing and resumed my walking. Suddenly, she grabbed my arms and forced me to look at her.

Dammit! This girl has the capacity to make my knees go jelly. I mentally cursed. I threw the chocolate into the dustbin and folded my arms across my chest.

"What do you want? Why are you following me like a bug? Haven't I made myself clear that I don't wanna talk to you anymore?" I blurted out.

And for my dislike, her eyes moisturized a bit and she walked away without glancing back. Darn!! I can't see her crying. I let out a frustrated sigh and continued my way to my classroom.

Have I gone too far?

---

"Harry, shall we go to a movie?" Quinn asked with excitement in her eyes.

"Yeah that great, I already booked a ticket for the movie name 'A Quiet Place' and checked the reviews, it says good. So what do you guys think?" Kevin asked showing four tickets in his hand.

"Why four tickets?" I asked and both of them furrowed their brows. "If you don't know whom this for, then you really don't need to know." Quinn snarled at me.

Sometimes I wonder why God gave her as my cousin. She is not helping though. I glared at her and shoved my hands into my pant pocket.

"Heyy!" They both hugged like it was their first meeting after a long time of vacation. Girls and their crazy things! I averted my eyes from them when I felt her glance towards me and pretended like looking somewhere.

"Shall we go?" Quinn asked her.

"Where?"

"To a movie. Kevin booked a ticket for 'A Quiet Place'. So let's go." She grabbed her hand but I stopped them saying, "I have a party to attend, so I can't able to come. You guys can go." I turned my heels to leave the place.

"I'm not well Quinn. Next time I will join you." I heard Sheila says. I furrowed my brows and twisted my lips. She is lying because in the morning she was absolutely fine.

Is this because of me? I shrugged my shoulder and increased the volume of the FM radio to divert my mind.

Once I reached the living room, a strong blow hit my head. "What the hell Quinn?" I yelled at her and picked the pillow from the floor.

"When are you going to stop this act, Harry?" She hissed and picked another pillow to throw at me but Kevin stopped her.

Oh, God! Sometimes she is insane. I shook my thoughts and went towards my room.

As I was relaxing myself on my bed a heavy knock on my door disturbed me. Yeah, I didn't go to her party. I have lots of work on my plates than going to a crazy party.

Why should I go?

Again I heard a knock on my door, this time too forcefully. "Quinn..." I mentally cursed her and opened the door ready to yell but stopped when I saw her tear-stained face.

She looked so pale ready to faint anytime soon and-- where is Kevin?

"What happened?" I asked sternly. But she stood there like a statue.

"Quinn, are you going to tell me or not?" I asked her again losing my patience. Still got no response.

"Ok fine. Then stand here--" But she cut me off from my mid-sentence revealing a piece of horror news.

"What do you mean?" I asked her again while silently praying to God that I heard her wrong. But no it was true; she confirmed it again.

"Was she there?" I whispered not finding my own voice. "Say no Quinn." I shook both her shoulders but tears are pooling down through her cheeks.

Have I mentioned anywhere before that I can't bear when my evil cousin was crying? God!!!

My heartbeats accelerated so fast in my rib cage ready to burst out. A bead of sweat was sweeping through my full body. Both my legs turned into jelly. I even clutched the doorknob for my support, still no use, I fell down on the floor.

Different types of ugly scenarios began to pop into my mind. "No! no, it can't be." I stormed inside my room and picked my phone ready to call her. But it didn't reach.

"Ahhhh!" I screamed out of my lungs pulling my hair out of frustration.

"Harry, they were not sure about her, she may be there or might not. They didn't confirm yet. They found only their burnt stuff. Since the CCTV has fully burnt, they couldn't able to track the evidence of whoever was inside in the building." She inhaled deeply.

"All the teams came to rescue and the police were investigating further. Kevin was also there." She blurted out in one breath. Without wasting another second, I grabbed my car key and rode the car to her hostel.

Once I reached her hostel, I saw everything was broken down. Injured students are carried by ambulance. Most of them are running here and there.

"Harry." Someone patted my shoulder from behind. I turned around and saw a broken Kevin. I know he is considering her as a sister. He is miserable but not much as I feel.

"Anything..." I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at him unable to ask further. He nodded his head as an understanding.

"Guys!! There is no news about her. They said they recovered everyone who was stuck inside the building. No one got heavily injured except the three of them who were cooking in the kitchen." Quinn stated.

"Well, they deserved this!" I practically yelled at her. How careless they were. They are the reason for all this damage. I whipped my eyes by the back of my hand. Tears are still rolling down my cheeks.

Few people may consider as crying is weakness, but for our loved ones it's not considered as a weakness, rather It is a way of showing our emotions. Today I learnt that.

All the rescue members came out of the building and I approached them as fast as I could. They ensured that no one was there. "What if she got hurt and admitted to the hospital. What if..."

"No, I already checked the list. She was nowhere to found." Kevin informed my questions.

"The only way to find her is to check the CCTV footage. The officers are still working through this." Quinn informed us.

Three hours passed.

It's almost three f*cking hours passed, yet they didn't discover anything. "Damitt!" I cursed and directly went to the control room while Kevin was following me behind.

We are currently checking the random CCTV footage and still found nothing. Once I found her I will never let her go from my sight. It's my entire fault.

If I hadn't ignored her she would be with us, but my ego took over and now I feel numb.

These three hours was really hell. Seeing all her burning things brought dread into my nerves. All her things were gone. Oh, God! What would happen if she was stuck in her room? How she is going to take this news.

If her phone was stable I would track her location, but again there is no way. Please Sheila, just one phone call that is enough for me, I silently pleaded. I know she was not aware of this. Somehow she was safe outdoor, my heart still didn't convince. I want to see her.

If I had missed noticing the figure coming out of the building, of course, I would have missed the evidence. I again replayed the video and saw Sheila was walking towards the park.

I didn't waste another second and went to the parks but got only disappointment. She was not there. Her moisturized eyes were currently playing in my mind. Was she crying? But why?

"It's all you." My subconscious mind scolded me.

Yeah, maybe I played too rude with her. I let out a long sigh and hopped into my car. If my assumption was right, I know where to find her.

As I reached the church, my eyes fell on the figure who I wanted to hold her in my arms, forever. She was rubbing her palms together most probably to warm up her body. It's 10 O' clock in the evening and the temperatures were too down.

I hopped out of the car and embraced her in my arms for a tight hug. All my emotions are playing together.

"Harry, what happened?" She whispered. I looked at her beautiful hazel eyes which were still puffy and red, looking directly into me with a worried expression.

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