BEST REGARDS (a Niall Horan Fanfiction)

Chapter 12

The first leg of the tour was finally done! They flew back to the United States in a happy manner. Nicky sat next to Niall on the plane ride home. At one point on the journey Nicky was so tired that she skipped the meal offered by the flight attendant. Unconsciously, she leaned her head on Niall's shoulder. He didn't expect this from her but he didn't mind it. 

When they arrived at the airport, everyone cleared immigration and took their baggage. Niall offered Nicky a ride home. She was too tired and sleepy to reject. She was so pumped and energetic during the tour that once it was over, all her energy had been drained.

When they arrived at her apartment, Niall said to her before she left the car, "hey Nicky, thank you so much for everything on this tour. The tour wouldn't be anything without you, really."

"You're welcome, Niall," she said, "I have to say thank you too for this experience. I had the full internship experience because of you. And sorry for everything that happened in Catalana."

Because Catalana is quite an isolated and not popular country, news from there don't spread abroad too much. Which is a good thing. Otherwise 'Niall's Intern is A Princess' headline will be everywhere! That would've been ugly.

Even though he just finished a tight tour schedule, weirdly enough, Niall wasn't tired at all. He didn't feel like going home so he went to Arthur Records to meet Greg.

The elevator stopped at the 10th floor. Greg was surprised to see him. "I'm surprised you came here," Greg exclaimed, "how was the tour?"

"Interesting. But overall good."

"I heard they squeezed in Catalana on the schedule. Did you meet the king?"

"Why would I meet the king?" Niall raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know," Greg said, "probably because Nicky's the king's daughter. I'm sure it's impossible for her to get in and out of that country undetected."

"Wow you knew?" Niall said, surprised. 

"Yeah, I'm one of the people who knows about her. Don't spill though."

"You just did."

"I thought that you might have had an adventure there."

Niall sat on the couch, pouring himself a glass of water. "Do you know she's subjected to an arranged marriage when she graduates?"

"Really?" Greg said. He was having flashbacks of the time he was deeply infatuated with her. "With whom?"

"A nobleman named Duke Pierre. I met the guy actually. I got 'invited' to the palace because the king wanted to 'warn' me that she's off limits."

Greg chuckled. "And Nicky likes this guy?"

"I'm sure Nicky looks up to this guy. He's a patriot. But she's not like in love with this guy," Niall sighed. "You know, I was planning on asking her to be my girlfriend after the tour. But all that happened."

"So?" Greg said.

"She's arranged with this guy, mate. Haven't you been keeping up? If she doesn't marry the duke, another person will inherit the throne. And I heard he's a bad guy."

"Mate, don't make the same mistakes as I did. Remember Nara?"

"The Japanese girl from high school?"

"Yeah.. I cared a lot about her, but I was too scared of her parents who were negative towards me. I think about it now and I thought, I should've just tried. If destiny breaks us, then I'll know that it's not meant to be. What I regretted the most is not asking her at all."

Niall absorbed what Greg said. He said goodbye after a few more hours and went home. 

He unpacked his suitcase, took a quick shower and tried to go to sleep with his mind full of her.

___________________

Nicky woke up the next morning to the sound of her doorbell. She was rubbing her eyes as she answered it. To her surprise, it was Niall with a bouquet of roses in his hand.

"Niall?" she exclaimed, "what are you doing?"

"Can I come in?" he asked. She allowed him in. Niall was looking very sharp. His hair was all neat and tidy. He was wearing a white shirt with a thin navy blue jacket on top and black trousers.

"I couldn't sleep yesterday," he said. Nicky was a bit scared of what he will say next. "I know this is wrong. I know you have a duty to your country. But Nicky," he grasped her right hand, "I am so in love with you."

"Niall," Nicky said, tears already building up in her eyes, "you know I want to. But I can't. It's useless. I'll say I love you and I'll break your heart."

"So break it," he said, "break my heart a thousand times. I don't know if you and I will have another life after this one. I don't wanna live this life knowing that I can't have the girl I love, even just once. If destiny brings us apart, so what? We had each other in our memories. And you'll always be in your heart. No matter who you end up with. So what do you say?"

Nicky was set to do her thesis defense in a month. Which means she will have her graduation ceremony in two months. There was no time to lose. And because of that, she said, "yes."

When Niall heard her answer, he hugged her. He hugged the girl he loved and kissed her passionately. "Honestly Niall," Nicky said, touching the flowers that Niall brought her, "I prefer jasmine rather than roses."

"That means, I know so little about you. And I have two whole months to get to know you."

"Aww.. you make it sound so sad."

"It's not. Because the album and the tour are huge success, then I'm pretty much free for these two months," he said and tucked a strand of Nicky's hair behind her ear, "what are you doing today?"

"I'm finishing up with my thesis," Nicky said, "it's due in a month."

"Need help?" he offered, "I might not have graduated from music engineering or anything but I know a thing or two about music."

Nicky smiled. And so that was how they spent their afternoon. Sometimes typing, sometimes giggling but overall, having the time of their lives with their loved one. 

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