Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Sheila's POV:

Right now we are in the living room, chatting and talking about our childhood memories. Quinn shared her sweet memories with us. Look like she had been so funny in her childhood.

She narrated that one day she and Harry went fishing with her Grandpa. She didn't catch any fish for about an hour, so her grandpa advised her to put a big bait to feed the fish.

She thought for a bit and pushed harry into the river. She thought Harry was big enough to feed the bunch of fishes so she may catch lots of fish. But finally, they both ended up getting grounded for a month.

We all burst into laughter while Harry sat in silence. A small glint of sadness crossed over Quinn's face but she plastered with a small smile. "Well, our childhood was so funny. We were always fighting to gain our Grandpa's attention," She explained further. I nodded my head as a comprehension.

"Sheila? Did you have any boyfriend?" Quinn asked which literally turned my mood heavy. For a moment I looked at her with a blank expression.

"Why?" I raised my eyebrows.

"We know you are single now. So I'm just asking if you had anyone in your past life." She casually shrugged her shoulder.

"No." I shook my head to left and right. "My parents are so strict. They strictly told me not to talk to any boys whether they are from my class or not. I'm not allowed to have a boyfriend in my life. Because they do not believe in love." Yeah! For them love is a four-word poison.

"They think the meaning of love is just another four-word of lust which attracts each other. Once they come out of that spell, their life would be ruin. So it's better to have a arrange marriage." But they don't know not all arranged marriages were ended in the grave together.

"That's how I was raised by my parents. That's what my great grandparents said to their children and the theology is still passing to our generation." And they believe this generation would follow all their tradition which was written a pretty century ago.

"No one did love marriage before. They all had a arrange marriage and live their life happily and they are expecting the same from me, that I too marry a man who they are going to arrange for me." I sighed.

"It sucks." Quinn opened her mouth like a fish and closed it. "Sheila we are living in the 20th century. We are not 80's kids anymore." She wailed.

"Well all people have a different mindset, for them they are right. So we can't change them." I shrugged my shoulder.

"So you are going to marry a man who your parent is going to pick for you? Even you don't like him, huh?" Harry asked, a hint of anger revealed in his voice

"I'm not saying that, Harry. They are afraid of love. That's all." He twisted his lips most probably he wouldn't have liked what I said.

A sheepish smile crept on my face when I remembered the old memories. "I did not find any fun in this," He said and leaned towards his armchair.

"No. It's not like that, Harry. Actually, when I was fifteen, a boy named Tony proposed to me but being a nerd, I directly went to my house and informed the matter to my parents." Eww! I was really a naive girl.

"From that day I didn't see him. Somehow, I feel pity for him. He was the one who proposed to me in my entire life. He was my first and the last." I smiled at the memory of him.

For a while, a long silence occupied the living room. So I spoke again to break the silence. "But if I find my true love in the future, of course, I will change my mind. After all, it's my life and I hope my parents will support me." I think so.

A long, satisfied sigh escaped from Harry's mouth and my cheeks turned into a shade of pink. I know he has a feeling for me and here I'm waiting for when God will put some sense into his mind.

He is caring so much for me. He handed my mobile phone the next day morning and it is working very well. To my dismay, without my conscience, my eyes even shed some tears but that time a happy one.

He, on the other hand, couldn't even bore to see me with the moisturized eyes. He wiped my tears with his thump and I kissed his cheek for a millisecond. He didn't give any reaction, instead, he glued on the spot. Maybe he wouldn't have expected this from me.

I don't know from where I get the courage to kiss him, but I feel good. At least he deserved it. And like a real gentleman, till today, he didn't mention that kiss and I'm glad for that.

I listened to Quinn and Kevin's love story as to how they fell each other. The time went fast than I could imagine. Their love story was so cute. It was started with jealousy and ended with affection.

"Can I ask you one question?" I asked nervously fidgeting my finger.

"Go ahead." Quinn smiled at me.

"Where are you guys from?" I asked but regretted later once I saw their blank expression.

Harry veered around in his seat where there was a shock on Quinn's eyes and she looked at Harry like he committed some kind of criminal activities.

"Argghh... I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable. No need to answer my question. I just asked out of curiosity."

"No, it's not a big deal, Sheila. You have the right to know. We are from New York and I don't know you were not aware of that." Said Quinn and I nodded my head as a comprehension.

"Shall we eat," Quinn asked while glancing at her wristwatch.

"Okay, I will buy some food." With that Kevin left the living room.

Harry's POV:

When she asked that question, I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. I feel guilty for not telling her the truth. She has to know about everything.

Quinn eyed me accusingly like I had committed a murder. Since it was lunchtime Kevin went to buy some food and Sheila went to her room dismissing the topic right away.

If I stay here for more than a second she would have my head. So it's better to leave and when I was about to leave, Quinn grabbed my arm and I let out a frustrated sigh.

I know it will happen.

"What now, Quinn?" I asked her but she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Can I have a talk with you?" She asked raising her one eyebrow.

"Not here," I muttered and walked towards my room. Once she entered my room she slammed my door and began to yell at me. "What the hell are you doing Harry? You didn't say anything to her, do you?" She folded both her arms and glared at me.

"Quinn! I wanted to tell her everything but it's not the right time. When the time comes I will tell her." I reasoned out.

Her eyes soften a bit and she came near me. "Harry, I know it's hard for you but why can't you get rid of your past. Don't you see in her eyes that how much she has a feeling for you? You both have feelings for each other." She caressed my shoulder.

"Just tell her the truth. She will understand. Your past had nothing to do with your present life, Harry. Please don't start a relationship with a lie. It will affect your life, you will get hurt at the end."

"I know, Quinn. I am not going to start a relationship with a lie. But I need some time. She is so innocent to take everything in one day. She needs her space and I need my time." My face darkened when the memory of my past life flashed across my mind.

"As you know, a lot of girls were running behind me only for my status. They all need my money, they need a reputation in society so that they can afford a wealthy life and they used my name saying I was theirs. But the only fact is I am not theirs. I'm For Her. For her only." I shut my eyes for a while.

"She made me alive when I thought I was dead for the world. She brought a new life inside me. Did you know what I did when I was told I lost my memory?" Truth to be told it was not pleasant to reminisce at all.

"I screamed all the nights saying I need my memory back. I randomly threw all the stuff in my room and hurt myself. One day I even tried to cut my wrist." She gasped and her eyes widen in shock.

"What are you saying?" She almost whispered. I gave her a small smile and nodded my head. "Yeah, if that night my mom hadn't shown up, I would have died now. No one knew about this, even my dad. But now everything changed." And I'm glad I'm still alive for my girl.

"You know what I'm scared of getting my memory back. I don't want it. I wanted to live my life just a Harry, not a Harry John Brooks, the name provides me the status and powers." All I need is to hold my girl into my arm, forever.

"But I promise you, Quinn. I will take care of everything. So just trust me." I took both her hands and held with mine.

"I trust you." She nodded her head and wiped her tears.

Sheila's POV:

I'm walking back and forth in my room while biting my nails nervously. I shouldn't have asked that question. What if they thought I'm intruding on their privacy and taking advantage?

But the thing is whenever Quinn talking about their life, his eyes showed no emotion like he has forgotten everything. Why? Doesn't he like sharing his moments with us?

We had lunch in the living room but he didn't talk much. Whenever I asked some random questions just to grab his attention, he just nodded his head, didn't bother to encourage the conversation further. He replied only in his monotonic voice.

And again in dinner, he didn't show up. Quinn said he already ate and went to his room. But why do I have a feeling that something was bothering him? From this afternoon he is behaving strangely. I texted him a good night and waited for his reply but only got the emptiness in both my phone and heart.

---

"Hi, Lilly. Nice to meet you. Finally, he bought you here for introducing you." I told her looking at Tammy.

"Hey!" A shy smile appeared on Tammy's face.

"Tammy, are you blushing?" I teased.

"What? No way! It's girly things, boys never do." He protested.

I and Lilly exchanged the knowing look and burst into laughter. "What? It’s not funny." He scolded but we continued our laughing.

"I'm sorry, Tammy. It's really not suited for you," I told him between the laughter.

Once again his face turned into a shade of tomato. "See who is blushing now." I asked him and took a mirror from my purse to show it in front of his face.

"Sheila, we are in public. Be--have---" He warned and shoved the mirror away.

"Lilly, how did you both meet? Could you please tell me? I'm eager to hear your love story." I flashed a sheepish smile.

"Why? Didn't he tell you anything?" She asked in disbelief furrowing her eyebrows.

"Nope." I bluntly announced.

"Whenever we start the conversation about you, he began to fly in the sky like he achieved something," I said truthfully.

"You too behave like this once you fell in love." He muttered. Lilly playfully slapped his arm and started to tell the love story of them.

Meanwhile, my mind voluntarily wandered around him, picturing our faces where she had just portrayed theirs. Maybe Tammy was right. I inhaled sharply to let go of my thoughts. Even my mind is not cooperating with me.

"Where is Karl? I didn't see him these days." Out of the blue, I asked Tammy but I have no idea why did I even ask.

He raised his eyebrows amusingly. "Do you care?" And teased with his melancholic voice.

"Tammy, I just asked out of curiosity. If you want you can tell otherwise no need." He dramatically sighed before he spoke: "He went on a business trip with his dad. He will return anytime soon." Please don't come back.

"Mam, your order." A waiter came and set the foods on the table. I felt bad for not spending time with Tammy and today he complained that I'm forgetting him already and proceeded to start a drama. So after the class, we planned to hang here with Lilly.

Speaking of Lilly, she is so humble just like her name and a funny girl too. I already liked this girl. No wonder why does he adore her. She is worth it.

While we were eating our food my phone started to vibrate in my purse. I took the phone and smiled when I saw who is calling. Ohh! I already missed him. I pressed the answer button and talked with him. After I hung the phone, Tammy looked at me with a blank expression.

When I raised my eyebrows, he came out of his spell. "Is anything between you--?" He trailed off.

"Ahh...Ummm--" I shuttered for a while hoping to catch a good excuse.

As understanding Lilly gave me a soft smile. "It's okay. Your facial expressions clearly gave us the answer. At first me too like this. Soon you will learn." She winked at me.

A tyre crashing sound gained all our attention. Once I looked outside the window, I saw Harry was climbing out of the car and entering the restaurant. Once he saw me, he walked towards us and stood beside me.

"Did you finish? Shall we go?" He asked bluntly not bothering to make a friendly gesture towards my two favourite people.

"Yes." I replied briefly. I was upset. He made me upset.

After saying goodbye to Tammy and Lilly, I hopped into his car. When he was about to start the car I pinched his shoulder far enough to pierce him.

"Ouch! What now." He yelped in pain.

"What's your problem, Harry? He was with his girlfriend. At least you had to greet them." I narrowed my eyes at him, but he rubbed his shoulder and started the car like I didn't ask him anything.

"There is no need to greet them. Children usually do these greeting things like how their parents trained them but I'm not a child, Sheila." He said looking at the road.

"You are impossible, Harry." I shook my head.

"Yes, I'm!" He gave me a polite smile and drove the car to our home.

*