Hate That I Love You

Chapter 3

Harry walked quickly to the restaurant table where his fiancé was waiting for him. He adjusted the scarf a little better around his neck and, taking a deep breath, he walked over to him.

"Hi love," he smiled, sitting down next to him and leaving him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Hey," Xander replied. "You're late, huh?"

"Forgive me, unexpected events at work," he apologized.

"Why the scarf?" He asked. "I mean - I think it's the only day of the year when there is a little sunshine here in London and you, just today, decide to wear a scarf?"

Harry shrugged. "I have a bit of a sore throat," he justified himself. "Shall we order?"

"Liam and Zayn went to the bathroom," he informed him. "They said they were joining us, is that okay?"

"Of course! Are they or aren't they my best friends?"

Xander laughed. "They will be perfect wedding witnesses!" he exclaimed.

At those words, Harry frowned. "Wait, what?" he asked, puzzled.

"Haven't you and your father talked about it yet?" Xander asked, surprised. "Talked about what?"

"I went to ask him for your hand two days ago," he explained. "And he was very supportive, not that he didn't expect it, considering my father had already told him about it."

"Xay," Harry began, troubled. "You should ask me, not him," he said, thrilled.

"Yes, but first we must have the consent of our families. I am a count, Harry, I have my traditions," he asserted seriously. "But anyway, I'll give you a blatant proposal at the next gala, honey. They're organizing it down to the smallest detail."

"Organizing?" he blinked.

"Yes, why?"

"Ehm." Harry began to stammer slightly. "I don't know, I thought it was something more, that's all, spontaneous."

"Spontaneity is imprecise. Organization is perfect," he explained softly, taking his hand and smiling at him. "You will soon be a count, Harry. You will be part of the royal family, aren't you happy with that?"

"O-obviously," he nodded. "You're right, perfection has to be planned," he smiled finally.

"It will be great, I promise you" he smiled bringing his lips close to Harry's and kissing him lightly.

"Oh my God, you two are making a scene!" Zayn exclaimed, sitting down next to Harry and wrinkling his nose. "I thought kissing in a public place was considered vulgar," he teased them. Liam shook his head in annoyance, nudging him lightly.

"This time we might make an exception," Xander chuckled. "We're officially engaged, guys."

"You have been for four years," the dark-haired man told him.

"No" Harry bit his lip. "Well, in another sense, Zayn."

Zayn frowned. "Another sense?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes, Harry and I will get married soon!" Xander exclaimed.

"What?!" snapped the dark.

"Zayn!" Liam stopped him. "Be happy for them, okay?" he smiled, through clenched teeth, glaring at him.

"Liam, dear," Zayn began softly. "Can you please take Xander for a drink?"

"I wasn't going to get a drink," the boy asserted.

"Xay" Harry smiled. "Can you get me a drink, honey?"

Xander sighed. "Sure," he nodded, standing up. Liam glared at the dark-haired man, then got up too and walked over to Harry's fiancé.

"What the hell is this?!" Zayn was immediately angry, as soon as the two were far enough away.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"Are you getting married? Are you kidding?" he said aloud.

"First of all, keep your voice down," He said. "There might be some paparazzi around, who will write the article in advance. Besides, I just found out too. He will propose to me at the next gala. I don't understand what's wrong."

"What's wrong with that?" the dark-haired man, with a quick snap, pulled off his scarf, uncovering his neck "this is not from him!" he exclaimed, pointing to the love bite.

Harry immediately covers it with the palm of his hand. "Our relationship is like this," he growled, grabbing his scarf back. "We both have fun together and have fun on our own," he asserted angrily, wrapping the scarf around his neck. "I don't understand why you all want to make me feel guilty when he's having fun too."

"I don't want to make you feel guilty!" he exclaimed. "I want you to understand that you two are together not out of love, but because, unconsciously, your fathers are forcing you!"

"What are you talking about?" he asked, stunned. "My father doesn't force me to do anything!"

"Oh no?" he raised an eyebrow. "So, in theory, you could very well turn down the proposal?"

"I could!" he asserted. "If I wanted to! But who says I don't want to?"

"What you have is not love!" he protested. "Why would you want to marry someone you don't love?"

"But how do you know what love is?" he blurted out. "You have known Liam for a year and yet you still don't want anything serious with him. You and I behave the same way."

"I don't fuck my family's sworn enemy just to hurt my father," he growled through gritted teeth. "Just to convince myself that I can do what I want, without his damn orders."

"Stop judging me, Zayn!" he snorted, crossing his arms. "All your life you kept telling me to let go a little, to relax, to enjoy the moments! And for once I'm trying to take things lightly, are you lecturing me? You who did not consider the fact of having been rejected the last year of school, seriously?"

"You're taking something lightly that can affect you for the rest of your life, holy shit!" He exclaimed. "Do you want to end up like your mother?" Zayn immediately regretted using those words, barely closing his eyes and biting his lip until it bled. Harry felt a lot of pain, but he didn't answer. He just stared furiously at him for a moment or two and turned his head slightly. "Harry, sorry, I ..."

"Forget it," the boy stopped him but did not look him in the eye. "Okay," he whispered.

"H" Zayn tried to reach out to grab his arm but just then, Xander and Liam returned with four drinks in hand, smiling.

"Hey," Xander smiled, noticing Zayn's closeness to his boyfriend. "Do you want to steal my future husband?" he teased him.

Zayn immediately walked away from him, barely laughing. "No", he shook his head. "I don't think I'm good enough."
"Best for me," he shrugged. "Is everything fine, honey?" Xander asked, noticing Harry's blank stare.

Harry smiled quickly. "Sure," he nodded. "I'm just very tired."

"You're weird today," he frowned again. "Besides, where did you get that sweater?" he chuckled. "From some flea market?"

Harry stared absently at the garment. "I got my work shirt dirty," he explained. "And an employee lent it to me."

"And how old was that employee? Five?" Xander laughed again. "More or less," Harry smiled.

"I like it," Liam interjected, smiling affably at him. "It fits you perfectly."

"Well..." Harry began with a shrug. "He smells good."

"At least the guy who loaned it to you is a clean person, honey," Xander chuckled, taking his hand.

Zayn sighed, shaking his head. "Yes, good thing..." he whispered in defeat.