The ODD Couple

35. Choices

SASCHA

Days went on and on. Google became my new best friend. News about Harry Styles filled my search history.

Apparently, he had now broken up with Kendall Jenner. He must've left her the same way he did with me. Wasn't every girl just a game to him? He indeed was a player. Even the rich and famous agreed to that now. Rumours kept floating around and I think I read about him having one night stands regularly. I was a fool for not believing Niall.

Niall, I missed him.

All I knew was he was somewhere in Asia right now and was out of contact for a while. Liam was dating too. And I was happy for him. He might have finally got a girl he wished for. Cheryl was indeed a good woman. And Louis, he was the one who kept in touch the most. There were times I couldn't get through to him, but I didn't really want to complain seeing as his life was being splashed already in the media. I wish I could clear it all out for him, but that was not my responsibility to keep.

And Harry, he still looked the same, walked the same, smiled the same way like nothing ever touched him.

Why was it then that I seemed like a total wreck?

Life had changed since that day. All I could see every night was him kissing me and hugging me like he always did. Nights were the time I missed him the most. Just his presence was enough to calm my fears.

This wasn't healthy at all. Mom noticed too. She gave me the push I needed, and I started work two weeks prior to my scheduled joining date. Just a week into work and I got the biggest break ever. I was asked to attend the Brit Awards with my immediate superior, Giselle. All I hoped for now was that Harry did not attend the same. Thankfully he did not.

Exams had gone well and so had work.

I only ever wondered, if the long curly haired boy ever thought about me the way I did about him. I didn't know if I even liked him anymore. The wounds were numb and so were my feelings for him. Atleast I liked to believe so.

I missed Derek too. His warm arms that I fled to each time life hit me hard with its harsh realities. We hadn't been in contact ever since he left six months ago in November, and I don't think we would be anytime soon. From what I'd managed to squeeze out of mom, he had been doing fairly well. He was off drug and jail limits too.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon today when I read about Harry hanging out with Kendall again. Just then the doorbell passed a shrill sound throughout the silent house. It must be mom. She had these afternoon siestas with her friends around the corner. They adored their brunches. Many a times, she invited me along too, but I had more important issues to resolve than leaking pipes and broken roads.

Trudging down the hallway, I opened the door to reveal a good looking boy, his familiar smile showing his perfectly aligned teeth. His shoulders were broader now and his happiness, infectious.

"Derek? Is that really you?"

Some of the worst things that life throws at us can be turned into some of the most amazing opportunities. Derek was an example of just that. Six months down the line, and the boy had turned into a gentleman, well-built and et al.

"I missed you Sascha!" was the first thing he said before he hugged me like his life depended on it. His familiar warmth engulfed me entirely. I realised, maybe mine depended on it too.

"I missed you too Derek! God it's been so long. Come on in!"

And that's how it started, us talking, us sharing our experiences, us sharing our learnings. It felt like we were 17 again. All those times, we envisioned our future, and wished upon wishing stars. Mom prepared a sumptuous lunch to gorge on, too.