Chapter 12

‘Hi, good afternoon’. Harry plainly replied.

How on earth??? He was drunk last night. I’m pretty sure he should still be sleeping by now. Why is he here? How did he? Oh, yeah… Liv. And it’s obvious that he didn’t really put that much effort coming here… he was just wearing a plain white shirt, with sleeves folded, his black ripped skinny jeans, brown boots, and a bonnet over his head.

I was so surprised that I couldn’t move.

Harry then went closer to the counter where me and Damian are standing… and… oh! Damian was still holding my hand!

I looked at Damian and it was like he didn’t seem to care if someone’s around he just continued tapping the cold towel against my hand. I pulled my hand from him because I felt awkward but he didn’t let go and I said…

‘Damian, there’s a customer’

Damian looked at Harry and said ‘Just a minute, sir’. He looked back at my hand and said; ‘Let me finish this’.

‘Take your time’. Harry said with a plain look at me. He then rested both his hands against the counter and looked at the my left hand which Damian is holding with his eyebrows furrowed.

‘You know what… here… Please, let me take your order… Damian, the first aid kit is at the bottom drawer, I’ll be the one taking Mr. Styles’ order. Move!’

‘Alright’. Damian told Alex.

So Alex went inside the counter while me and Damian moved to the nearest customer’s table with the first aid kit.

I looked at Harry which is now looking at the menu on the screen, then he suddenly turned his head to look at me, surprised, I looked away and with his deep voice he said;

‘I’ll take a Vanilla Latte to go’.

‘Right, Vanilla Latte… anything else?’

‘And her’…

‘’What her?’

‘Nikki’.

UGH! What does he want now!? Damian looked at me, confused. And I looked at him too with my I-DON’T-KNOW-FACE.

‘What does that One Direction dude want from you? You know him? Personally?’

‘I have no idea… And, yeah… I kind of know him’

‘How? Nevermind… You’re coming?’

‘We have work to do here so I won’t’ I told him after he finished putting bandage around my hand.

‘I’m the Manager here, and I say, you come’.

Alex interrupted. We didn’t noticed that she was already standing beside us; looking all cheery.

‘Come on! Harry Styles wants you to come with him! Do you have any idea how many women would throw themselves at him? When Harry Styles wants you to come with him, just come! Come on Nikki! He’s waiting at his car… right there. Go!’

‘But we have-‘

‘She doesn’t want to… Alex’. Damian interjected.

‘Oh don’t be such an ass Damian!’

Alex pulled me out of my seat, removed my apron and said…

‘What is up with you and Harry huh? He was staring at you the whole time! Give me the deets later okay? Grab your bag and go!’

‘Okay… I’ll be back soon’. I told her and grabbed my bag.

‘You take care’ Damian told me and went back to the counter. I smiled at him and said ‘Yeah, thanks’.

I went out of The Nest and walked towards Harry’s black Range Rover.

Goodness… I think I’m not even dressed well enough to be with this man even when he’s wearing his most casual clothes. I was just wearing my chucks, blue jeans and black long sleeves with my leather body bag wrapped around me.

He was already inside his car and the passenger side opened, so I just hopped in.

I felt every single nerve of my body tense, my heartbeat faster, butterflies; I can’t feel my knees… This is the feeling I get whenever he flirts on me and gets cheeky on chat but multiply it by ten or more than that.

As soon as I closed the passenger door and sat beside him, he drove off. Wait, where is his Vanilla Latte? He didn’t drink his Vanilla Latte, he wasn’t looking for coffee. But why did he went at the café?

AWKWARD SILENCE.

‘Uhm… what do you want Harry?’

‘You, obviously’. He replied while his eyes were on the road.

What? I thought? Ugh.

‘We have unfinished business don’t you think?’ He continued.

Unfinished business. Like, he wants me to pay for all the ticket, hotel expenses whatsoever or unfinished business like he wants to clear things up between us? I’m going crazy!

‘We could have just talked at the café, I’m working’

‘With that guy around? No thank you’. he immediately replied.

What’s wrong with Damian? He’s the sweetest guy I know so far, Is it possible that he’s jealous? Or maybe he’s still drunk? And what is up with him? He asked me to come with him and now he’s not even talking.

He then turned the music on and the Kings of Leon’s Back Down South blasted followed by Shania Twain’s You’re Still The One and Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud.

How nice. Can I just diappear? I knew it; this is a bad idea. I’m used to awkward situations because I’m a socially awkward person but this… This is way too awkward for me.

Suddenly, he went to Mcdonald’s to order via Drive Thru, I was surprised when I saw that big M of Mcdonald’s; my face literally lit up. He knew how I loved Mcdonald’s we talked about that a lot on chat. We even had debates as to which is the best fast food chain to ever exist because he told me he’s from the other side of the fence. He loves Burger King. I like Burger King as well but nothing can compare the love I have for Mcdonald’s.

I mean, who doesn’t love Mcdonald’s? Who doesn’t love their big macs and oh, their mcflurry?

Anyways, enough with my love for Mcdonald’s. I can’t focus right now, I don’t know what to think. Try sitting next to this guy or shall I say, try sitting next to Harry Styles and see if you could still breathe. Because me? I’m barely breathing!

‘2 apple pies, ehmmm… 2 big macs, a dozen of chicken nuggets, large diet cokes, 2 large fries and ehmmm… mcflurry, make that two as well’…

My favorites. Wow. He remembers.

‘Is that all sir?’ Harry then looked at me

‘You want anything?’ He asked.

‘Uhh, I think that’s enough’

‘That’s all thank you’. He told the service crew through the speakers.

‘I was hungry and I was craving for Mcdonalds so I thought why not eat lunch with someone who clearly loves Mcdonalds’

‘Right, so you went at the café and picked me up to eat Mcdonalds nice’.

‘Yes… and to talk’.

Talk about what? He then drove to the next counter to take our orders.

‘Here’ I was giving him half of the payment for his orders.

I need to pay him my share on the bill; after he told me I’m a con artist, I NEED to pay my bill. I was handing my money out to him but he just looked at me and said,

‘No need, Nikki’

‘Come on please, I can pay my lunch’

‘So am I, and yours as well. Just keep that’.

He wouldn’t accept my money so I just placed my share at his car’s drawer’.

‘There. If you don’t want to take it, I just placed it here’ I firmly told him.

‘Wha- fine’.

When he opened his window to take the orders, the female crew was obviously shocked at the sight of Harry. She looked at me then looked back at Harry but then she said her spill.

‘Enjoy your Mcdonalds, Have a great day, thank you please come again’ With her eye wide opened.

‘Thank you’ Harry told her and close his window, I grabbed the orders so he could drive. And so he sped off and I had no idea where we’re going.

              ******************************************************************

Harry suddenly pulled over to a park where the London Eye is visible. The park was huge and packed with incredible trees and green grass it’s striking. But the thing is, there are people around walking their dogs, jogging; doing their thing. This place is a public place. Has he forgotten that he is a celebrity?

‘So here we are’. He told me.

‘Let’s go, it’s lunch time’ He continued.

‘What? Why here? This is a public place Harry, for your information… You are a celebrity. You don’t wanna start rumors’

‘Come on I’m hungry!’ Then he went out of his car, grabbing our Mcdonalds and went to put the food at the hood of his range rover. What is he up to? He’s out in broad daylight? Aah, whatever; people won’t suspect anyway. They’ll even think that I’m just his staff cause I don’t look like someone he would date. So I went out as well and joined him. When he saw me walking towards him, he smiled and said;

‘Finally. You’re always so stubborn, let’s eat?’

‘What is up with you? Why are you doing this?’ I asked.

Without looking at me, he took a bite from his burger; smirked, and then looked at the London Eye while chewing as he rested his weight at the hood of his car.

‘I’ll tell you why, I’m just figuring out how to’.

I was caught off guard with what he said and so I wasn’t able to say anything back. I grabbed my fries and started to eat it, then suddenly he asked,

‘Where were you last night? I woke up and you’re not there anymore’.

How even? He knew?

‘Uhmm I was… uh, Liv brought me back to The Nest’.

‘You’re staying there?’

‘Yes, I stay there for free. I just have to work at the café and everything else is free’.

‘You don’t have to do that you know’.

I have to Harry, it’s the only way I can survive here after you flipped out at the first sight of me, remember?

‘Harry, I’m lost here; last time I checked you labeled me as a con artist. Please don’t pretend that nothing happened. I thought I was a big mistake? You don’t wanna go hanging around with your big mistake right?’

There. I said it. Everything. And now that I said it, I think there’s no reason for me to stay here anymore. I’m trying to move on. I placed the food back to the hood of his car and walked back to the passenger seat beside the driver’s seat to get my bag, when all of a sudden his arms were enveloping me. I couldn’t breathe out of shock. All I felt was my heart bursting. He then rested his head against the back of my head and said;

‘Look at what you’ve done to me, I hate that I think about you, sober or not…

…I’m sorry I said those things, I didn’t mean it. I told you I don’t care anymore, right? I love you. Can’t you see?...

I LOVE YOU.

Harry Styles told me he loves me. For the first time.

…When we were chatting, I saw that you were the perfect girl so I loved you, Then I saw that you were not perfect; but that’s when I realized I’ve loved you even more’.

He then turned me around and continued,

‘Let’s give us another chance… No more Edward Rileys no more fake dps… no more little white lies… Just us’.

‘Harry it’s not that easy’. I told him.

I LOVE HIM. I LOVE HARRY. I think I love him even more than he might ever think but let’s be realistic. A lot has happened already so it’s not that easy.

‘I know, but for you I’ll try. Won’t you? I was really angry when I found out; but I understood why you had to do it. Now I’m furious at myself for making you feel that way. You are enough Nikki. You’re all I want now and I hope you still feel the same way. Just tell me you want this too. That you love me and let’s forget what happened. Start over, be my girl officially’.

He held my hands and said ‘Please?’ flashing his green eyes at me. My weakness.

I’d like to try. I badly want to. But first…

‘Hmm… before I say it, I have one condition, I mean two conditions though’…

He grinned at me and said, ‘Alright, tell me’.

‘First, you’d still let me work and stay at The Nest and second, you won’t buy me expensive stuff again’.

‘I was thinking how I’d get you out there… but, well, okay if that’s what you want’.

‘I love you, Harry Styles’.

Then he smiled, hugged me and whispered,

‘I love you more’.

Everything was a blur when he kissed me. Maybe we were too in the moment to notice the people around, I just hope they won’t recognize him. The happiness I felt the first time he told me he likes me on chat is incomparable to this. The fact that the guy I knew I’ve ever loved loves me for me; is willing to try and risk again and is out here at the park eating take out Mcdonalds and kissing me not really caring what might other people say if they recognized him as the Harry Styles from One Direction is nuts, absolutely reckless and… sweet.

This is the Harry that I knew. The Harry who always tells me WHEN YOU LIKE SOMEONE, YOU LIKE SOMEONE. Far from the Harry that I met from the concert. I hope this goes on and on and on and on.

When he pulled out of the kiss, he looked at me while I stared up at him and he said;

‘Guess the heart wants what it wants’. And he smiled and kissed me on my forehead.

‘Come on, let’s finish the food. No one makes Mcdonalds wait’. I cheerily told him.

‘Yeah right. Next time I’ll take you to Burger King. I was supposed to take you there but I figured I’ll buy you Mcdonalds first so I could win you back’.

‘You made the right choice’. I answered.

And he smirked, flashing his dimples at me. how can you be so cute and perfect at the same time Styles?

While we were finishing our food, I noticed some girls walking towards us,a nd I know exactly what they want; Harry.

He noticed that as well and he looked at me so I told him,

‘I’ll be at the car’.

Good thing his car was heavily tinted, I could hide there while he does his celebrity duties all day long.

I grabbed my mcflurry and went inside his range rover. He then started cleaning up and threw all that’s left at the nearest trash can. When he returned, about 7 to 10 teenage girls some with their mothers were approaching Harry and asking for autographs and selfie. I watched from his car how he managed to entertain every single one of them 10, 20, 25 the fans are beginning to pile up and I was amazed on how patient he is with his fans, I can tell that he really loves his fans and loves what he does.

I was surprised when suddenly some teenage girls were at my window side, sticking their faces at the window trying to view what’s inside Harry’s tinted car. I locked the door and turned my back so they won’t really see me… I can hearthem talking to each other sating, SHE’S HERE… YEAH WE SAW HER I SWEAR! THERE SHE IS, HERE TAKE A LOOK!

And I saw Harry noticed them and he started to back off a little, I heard him say, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH NICE TO MEET YOU, I HAVE TO GO… and walked to the driver’s seat. He took one or two selfies and last hugs; I unlocked the door and then he quickly opened the door and slid inside.

‘Sorry about that, are you alright?’ He asked.

‘I’m fine don’t worry’

‘Sure?’

‘Of course’. I smiled.

He then held my hand and and lightly placed it against his lips and said ‘That’s good’ while driving.

I think I’m gonna pass out from how sweet and romantic he is.

‘Oh!’ I pulled my hand from him and looked at my watch and said ‘I need to go back to The Nest’

‘What? Why?’. He asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

‘I’ve been out for long, they need someone to help them there, I told Alex I won’t be long’…

‘You really don’t have to wo—‘

‘We have an agreement right Mr. Styles? It’s the only way I can repay them for being so nice to me’.

‘Ehmm.. that guy, does he like you?’

‘Who?’

‘Don’t ask questions you know the answer to’

‘Damian. What about him?’

‘He likes you, I can tell’.

‘Nooo he’s just a nice guy, he’s a good friend, wait, are you? oohh… you’re jealous!’

‘I am. I don’t like it. He clearly doesn’t treat you as a friend’.

Whoa. Possesive. Styles.

‘Well I treat him only as a friend. That’s it, you don’t have to worry. There’s nothing to be jealous about okay?’

‘Alright’. Then he smiled at me showing his dimples again. Goodness, is this guy real? What have I done to deserve this guy? This is more than a fairytale; it’s too perfect to be real!

‘Before I forget, I’ve been wanting you to hear this’…

Then he played a song that I’m not familiar with, it’s new to me but I’m pretty sure that it’s him who’s singing…

NOW YOU ARE STANDING THERE RIGHT INFRONT OF ME

I HOLD ON IT'S GETTING AND HARDER TO BREATHE

ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING ME

I NEVER NOTICED HOW BRIGHT THEY WOULD BE…

I’LL KEEP MY EYES WIDE OPENED…

I’LL KEEP MY ARMS WIDE OPENED…

DON’T LET ME GO, CAUSE I’M TIRED OF FEELING ALONE…

I looked at him, wide eyed; not even sure if I had my mouth dropped open but…

‘I wrote that with a friend, last week, right after what happened. It’s your song’.

WHAAAA…TTT. HE JUST WROTE AND SANG AN ACTUAL SONG FOR ME. YES NIKKI. HE. JUST. DID. OH MY. I think I’m gonna cry.

‘What do you think?’

‘How can I let you go Harry? This is lovely’.

‘I’ll play that song to you over and over so you won’t think about breaking up with me’. he joked.

‘You really don’t have to do that’. And we laughed.

 I think, I can get used to this. Actually laughing with him, and talking about things in the flesh. This is way more fun than what I have imagined it to be. I thought I would never have this moment with him but here we are laughing, talking about anything, asking and answering questions. This is us version 2.0.

                    ***********************************************************

It was late afternoon when Harry dropped me off at The Nest, he wanted to come down but I told him not to because there are currently a lot of customers so he told me he’ll pick me up tomorrow before lunch which I agreed because it’s a weekend tomorrow and we don’t open the café at weekends. Alex told me she doesn’t like opening her café at weekends because she wants a break plus, she can work on her stuff for school masters at weekends.

While we’re closing the café, Damian reminded me of our day out together for tomorrow. Oh shoot! I told him I’m free this weekend, he was supposed to take me around town… but I have a date with Harry… of course I’ll choose Harry, he’s my boyfriend.

‘Uh, I can’t… sorry Damian… I already got plans for tomorrow’.

‘What? I thought you’re free this weekend?’

‘Yeah, but… thing is, I got plans with my boyfriend this weekend so’…

Damian seemed surprised when I told him I got a boyfriend, so was Alex who was in front of us in a flash and asked;

‘You got a boyfriend? Let me guess, is it the tattooed guy from One Direction? It’s Harry Styles? Right? Right?’

I saw Damian’s confused face and I finally said,

‘Yeah’. I think they need to know, they should know and be aware now because I live with Alex and I work with them both. Besides, I need to set boundaries with Damian because Harry is a little jealous with him.

‘Knew it!’ Alex said. ‘I knew something was up! Deets later, okay?’

Then Damian said; ‘We still got next week, yes? You promised… come on, it’s just a friendly day out with a workmate, I’m sure Harry would understand’.

Ahhh. Yes, he’s right. I promised him that I’d let him tour me around.

‘Okay, next week it is’. I told him. I agreed because I want to keep my word. You should think more, like a thousand times before you give promises next time, Nikki.

‘Great! See you next week. Enjoy the weekend’. Damian said and went ahead to go home.

‘Damian fancies you’. Alex told me when Damian was gone.

‘Really? He’s just a sweet guy, I think’.

‘He’s never sweet unless with someone he likes…

 Alex winked at me and continued,

… seems like Harry’s got a little competition, aye?’

‘Naaah, Damian’s just a friend. I love Harry’.

‘Whoa! Really? You guys serious? Wait, I’ll lock up this place and we’ll go inside my flat. Tell me everything! Oh my god I am so excited, I never thought Harry is your boyfriend!’

                             ************************************************

When I told Alex everything about me and Harry, her reaction was so funny. She totally reminded me of my friend Lisa back in the Philippines. Friends like them are for keeps. You just feel like they are trustworthy. You just know. That is why I was comfortable to tell her everything. Alex told me that Damian won’t stop talking about me and asking when I’ll be back the whole day and told me that he clearly likes me which I tried to brush off and not take seriously because I only got my eyes for Harry.

Before I went to sleep that night, I went to my facebook, instagram and twitter because I haven’t been on for quite a while and I miss my family and friends in the Philippines. But to my surprise, I saw tons and tons of friend requests on facebook, follow requests on twitter and instagram and mentions. And is this real? #LeaveHarry, #UglyNikki is trending on twitter.

Oh my goodness.

This doesn’t happen to me.

 I’m not used to this.

 I’m used to having my peaceful accounts.

How did people find me?

I shouldn't have told him my username when he asked.

Stupid Nikki. Stupid. Stupid.

Well, I was just thinking that I used to tell him that I don't have social media accounts because that's not my cup of tea before because I don't want him to find out my real identity. But now that he knows the real me and accepted me as a whole after everything, I think it's just right to let him somehow enter into my world. My small world. 

I viewed my mentions and there I saw loads of tweets about me and Harry. Pictures of me and Harry in the park this afternoon were posted on the net and me getting on 1d’s private plane back in the Philippines were all over twitter.

@stylesbabex

OMG. HARRY JUST TWEETED THAT BITCH! @NikkiGarcia @Harry_Styles

What? Harry tweeted me?

I viewed Harry’s twitter and… oh god. He really tweeted me and sent me a follow request. What? Even on instagram? This is crazy. Is he crazy? He’s gone mad. Although I'm surprised of what he did, I'm actually kind of freaking out deep inside that he tweeted me and sent me follow requests because I remember when I used to tweet him but he never answered because I'm sure he didn't see it, out of the thousands who tweet him. You know, I'm a fan too. And now, Harry Styles tweeted me, wants to follow me on instagram and twitter. This is huge for me! The only thing is that, I am now currently receiving a lot of hate.

@Harry_Styles

@NikkiGarcia accept me, accept me. :)

Then I read other tweets about me… well I know where they’re coming from but aren’t they too mean? And how did they know that fast? Oh, yes. How could I forget? Directioners will be directioners. They will know. I swear I ‘m a directioner but I don’t get mean like this. Well I get a bit mean, okay. But this is hardcore mean.

@mrsstyles

 I SWEAR I’M GONNA SMASH HER FACE! LEAVE HARRY ALONE! @NikkiGarcia @Harry_Styles

@angelstyles

Guys guys calm the fck down. Maybe she’s just @Harry_Styles maid, or dog? Or pet? Harry won’t date that ugly bitch @NikkiGarcia

@harryismine

SO APPARENTLY THAT GIRL @NikkiGarcia IS @Harry_Styles GIRLFRIEND. I’M DONE. I’M SO DONE WITH THIS FANDOM. I THINK I DIED. RIP TO ME. DEAD.

@mahbae

PUBLICITY STUNT? ANOTHER BEARD FOR @Harry_Styles? THIS BEARD SUCK! MODEST COULD DO A LOT BETTER. @NikkiGarcia

@narry4thewin

What a downgrade @Harry_Styles! Who is that bitch! Why do you keep on cheating with me! I’M CRYING BLOOD. @NikkiGarcia

@harryismybae

IF THESE GIRLFRIEND RUMORS ABOUT HARRY ARE TRUE, I SWEAR I’M GONNA LAUGH UNTIL I PUKE. @NikkiGarcia @Harry_Styles

@zarryyyy

GUYS GUYS GUYS, @Harry_Styles FLEW THAT BITCH HERE. SHE WAS THE GIRL IN THE GREEN SCARF FROM THE PHILIPPINES! GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY BITCH! @NikkiGarcia

@thankyouharryyyy

STAY FAR AWAY @Harry_Styles SHE’S JUST ANOTHER GOLD DIGGING SLUT! RUN HARRY RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!  @NikkiGarcia

@harryfollowedme

I’m sure @Harry_Styles is not dating her @NikkiGarcia she’s too ugly for him.

I decided not to read anymore.

Brush it off Nikki, brush it off. Just listen to positive music or something.

I played Taylor Swift’s Shake it off and accepted Harry’s follow requests on twitter and instagram. I didn’t accept the other requests because I like my privacy. Besides, I am not a celebrity, and once I accepted them, I’ll be more vulnerable with the hate.

The moment I accepted Harry’s follow requests, he dmed me on twitter which said;

@Harry_Styles

Don’t mind them, I love you. Goodnight. xx.H