Serendipitous Love | ✔

Chapter 11: The Video Message (Part II)

The Video Message (Part II)

As Ethan sat in his study and worked on a case, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," he said, not looking up from the papers.

Harper popped her head in and rolled her eyes on seeing him engrossed in his work. "I'm going to Mrs. Harris's house. She said she needed my help. I'll be back in a while."

Ethan nodded his head. It was normal for Mrs. Harris to call Harper to help her. She lived two houses down from them and was a very nice lady. The old couple loved them like their own children and Harper enjoyed their company.

"Okay, darling. I'll get done with this soon and then we can spend some time together," Ethan finally lifted his gaze from the papers and looked at Harper. She looked ravishing in her white jumper and black jeans.

Harper hummed and blew him a kiss before closing the door.

Ethan sighed and leaned back in his seat. He was so happy for the past few days. Nothing seemed to bring his joyous mood down until he thought of the forbidden letter. He knew their days together were decreasing day by day. He wanted to do something special for her but nothing came to his mind.

He massaged his temples and thought deeply. All the ideas that came to his mind seemed either too cliché or mediocre. Just then a bulb went off in his head. He thought of making her a video message. He had seen that sort of a thing in a movie, whose name he didn't bother to remember.

He smirked and picked up his phone from the desk. He set his camera on video mode and placed it on his desk.

Obviously him being himself, the first thing he did was check his hair in the camera before winking at the lens. He was sure that Harper would chuckle at this.

Ethan cleared his throat and started, "Hi honey. So I'm sure you remember that movie we saw a couple of months back. I can't seem to recall it's name but I got this idea from that movie and so here I am, making a video message for you.

I really don't know what all I want to say to you, but all of a sudden I have this urge to pour my heart out to you," Ethan paused, not looking at the camera lens anymore. He held the paper weight in his hand, shuffling it from one hand to the other.

"The first time I saw you in school, you were grumbling about something. I don't think you saw me in the hallways because you were busy cursing the damned cooking class professor for failing you. I swear, I snickered at that. I was going to come and talk to you but you turned around and walked away before I could approach you.

After that day, I didn't see you in the hallways again and then I graduated. When I crashed into you at your father's law firm, I didn't recognise you. But when we went for that walk, I recalled everything and in that very moment, I wanted to get to know you more. I remember writing it in the note as well," Ethan chuckled at the memory. He never got over the old school romance ideas. He loved writing notes and letters to Harper.

"You once asked me what my favourite thing in the world was and I didn't answer. I finally have an answer to that question. My favourite morning is waking up to see your hazel eyes glistening with love and my favourite night is sleeping with your body hugging me tightly. I've never loved anybody as much as I love you.

I know I've always been a troublemaker and I'm thankful to you for bearing with me all the time. For every laughter that's escaped your mouth because of me- I feel proud. For every bit of pain I've caused to you- I cry. For everytime I've made you angry- I apologise. And for every ounce of love I've bestowed on you, I pray that if possible- I give you more and more each passing day. Your smiles, tears, pain, happiness are all mine. Only mine," Ethan breathed in a deep breath and smiled at the lens before continuing.

"You've taught me so much about life than life itself could ever teach me. Even in my darkest times, you've held me up and pushed me to do better. I was so ecstatic when you finally said yes to marrying me.

I remember the day clearly. It was one of the days where we'd gone to your Mom's place for a family get together. I asked for your father's permission to marry you and he warned me not to hurt you before hugging me and welcoming me to the family. I called you out in the backyard, planning to propose to you but when you came out there, you had a little surprise of your own. We both had a small box in our hand and after negotiating, we concluded on giving the box to each other. I unwrapped the box and there lay a small note with a silently ticking watch. The note read,

'If you say yes,
Forever begins now.'

That very moment, I fell in love with you all over again. I remember lifting my gaze to see you kneel down on the ground and you produced a ring from your jeans pocket. I was annoyed because you didn't even open my box, so I snatched it from you and pulled the ring out. The both of us kneeled on the ground as I slid the ring onto your finger and you slid it onto my finger.
I swear, you made me the happiest man alive that day." Ethan smiled and shook his head as the memory replayed in his head. Harper was a complete surprise package. The two of them planned to propose each other on the same day. How much of a coincidence could it be?

"We were two missing pieces of two very different puzzles, but despite our clashing edges and abstract combinations, we just clicked. We were simply two stray pieces, forming an indefinite bigger picture. I don't know how I got lucky enough to get you, but just so you know. I'm never letting you go. I love you more and more each passing day."

Ethan saved the recording and transferred it to a flash drive. He placed the drive in one of the drawers, intending on giving it to her soon. Once again, he leaned back in his leather chair and glanced at the papers scattered on the desk. He groaned before getting back to work.