Enemies with Benefits (Harry Styles)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Harry's POV

I'm not quite exhausted from my work.

I'm trying to keep myself busy to forget those things. It's been more than two months, I know. I still think about her but my feelings are getting better and better.

I have spent most of the past two months working and studying. I don't talk to many people and spend time alone. I know it's difficult, but I face my past and see again how much I did to hurt her. And yet, I selfishly kept her around at that time. I was toxic.

But I miss her. I still love her, and I always will. Because she's my favorite person ever and who I'm most in love with. If I had the chance to see her again, I would apologize and hug her as best I could.

But what if she shows up here? What if the door opens and she suddenly walks into this room? I would probably freeze and feel a little sad. I would be sad because she comes to this room not to see me, but to pick up something she forgot, and she would leave in less than two minutes.

It doesn't make sense to think about that, though, because she won't be here anymore.

I push my thoughts away and head to the kitchen to find something to eat. What an easy day it is today, work finishes in the morning, so I want to eat something and watch TV.

I find a bag of chips on the bottom shelf, open the bag, and start eating, moving to the living room where the TV is. I sit on the couch and make myself relaxed.

That's the moment I hear another sound. At first, I think it was the sound of me chewing on a chip, but then I hear that sound even when I'm not eating. I quickly get up and head toward the sound.

It's the door. Someone is rattling the lock. Is it the landlord? But I'm sure I've already paid this month's rent, so he wouldn't be unlocking the door. Then who could it be?

Within a short while, the door opens. I look at who it is and cannot hide my surprise.

"Hi, Harry." She looks at me standing in the doorway and smiles. Unlike the last time I saw her, when I could see the sadness and upset on her face, this time, she looks good.

"Athena," I say. "How have you been?"

"Good," she answers cheerfully. "What were you doing?"

I look back at the living room. "I was just eating chips and watching TV."

I can barely believe I'm having a normal conversation with her. And I notice something different about myself. She's been here less than two minutes, but my heartbeat has already started racing. I realize once again that it is impossible for me to erase my feelings for this girl.

When she comes into the living room and sits on the couch, I'm sitting close to her now and I notice that her complexion is better than before.

"What brought you here?" I ask after we watched a few minutes of TV quietly, turning my face to her.

She takes out something from her bag and puts out her hand holding it to me. She spreads her hand and I see a key. "I forgot to give you back the key to this apartment."

I slowly take it. "That's it?"

She neither nods nor shakes her head. I don't know her answer because she doesn't say anything but sits back on the couch.

Athena, if you are not here for me, please get out of here as soon as you can while I'm still in a normal state of mind. Before I want you again. Before my feelings for you grow again. And after you leave, don't you come back anymore. Otherwise, I'll be hurt again when you leave.