HE WANTS ME STILL? PART 1.

ORION.

After the last unexpected visit Harro made by dropping by my office, an unsettling silence had fallen between us, and I hadn't seen him again. The memories of our encounter still lingered, like the whispers of a forgotten melody. We did exchange a few messages, and he confided in me about his struggles with sleep, revealing that he'd started therapy. My heart swelled with concern, but I carefully chose my words, not wanting to seem like I was prying. Instead, I offered gentle encouragement, urging him to persevere. The truth was, I'd missed him terribly.

Life at work had continued on autopilot, with my father and I still maintaining a strained distance. Though he wasn't actively making my life more difficult, the tension between us remained, a constant hum in the background. My free time was spent in familiar routines at home, added by occasional visits from Athena when she was in town. Azalea had stopped by once before returning to Germany, and I was grateful for their unwavering support.

Though our situation was far from ideal, we all shared a common goal: prioritizing Harro's health. I'd learned to adapt to our new arrangement, finding a fragile sense of acceptance. Yet, the ache of his absence still lingered, a reminder that some wounds would take time to heal.

"Huh?" I voiced out, my brow furrowed in curiosity, as the doorbell pierced the evening calm. I had just gotten off work a few hours ago, and the sun was dipping below the horizon, who could be visiting at this hour?

"I'm not expecting anyone." I muttered to myself, opening the front door with a hint of skepticism. But my words faltered on my lips as I took in the figure standing on my doorstep. "Harro?" I breathed, my eyes widening in surprise. He stood before me, a tentative smile on his face, and I sensed a nervous energy emanating from him.

"The one and only." he replied, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness. My mind reeled as I struggled to process his unexpected visit.

"How did you get here?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

His response sent a shiver down my spine. "This isn't the first time I've been here," he said, his eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of recognition. My heart skipped a beat as I wondered if he remembers. But his next words crashed my hopes, leaving me feeling bewildered. "But this is the first time I've had the courage to ring your doorbell. I've been following you home for a while now." He added the last part with a sheepish grin, leaving me stunned and wondering what to make of this revelation. Wait, hold on a minute!

"You've been following me home?" I asked, my voice laced with a mix of surprise and concern. Harro smiled sheepishly, his eyes cast downward, and I couldn't help but wonder how I had been oblivious to his presence. I was happy to see him, yet a pang of guilt struck me as I recalled the promise I made to his father.

"You shouldn't be here," I told him, the words feeling like a betrayal as they left my lips. My heart ached as I spoke, but I knew I had to uphold my promise. Chatting on the phone was one thing, but having him in the same space as me would be crossing a boundary his father has set.

Harro's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze pleading. "I don't know why I'm here too, or why my heart yearns for you so much, but I do know I need to be where you are to figure it out," he said, his voice weak but resolute. "So please, don't ask me to leave!" The desperation in his tone was palpable, and I felt my resolve crumbling.

The little courage I had mustered to send him back home dissipated, replaced by a sense of longing. I couldn't bring myself to turn him away. "Come on in," I said, holding the door wider for him. Harro's face lit up with a soft smile, and he stepped into my house, his presence filling the space with a familiar sense of warmth and belonging.

"You place is just like I imagined," he said, his eyes scanning my penthouse with a sense of wonder.

"You imagined what my place would look like?" I couldn't help but ask, my curiosity piqued.

He nodded, a sheepish grin spreading across his face, as if caught in the act. "I imagined a minimalist deco with plain couches," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I've been watching you for a while now, so I know you like things done in certain ways, and I knew your place would be this tidy and minimal."

It was amazing to hear him speak about my house with such clarity, knowing he'd used those exact words to describe it before. The familiarity of his tone, the way he seemed to understand me, sent a shiver down my spine.

A thought suddenly occurred to me, and my possessive flare simmered just below. What if I wasn't the one he was following home? What if he'd found someone else, and I didn't even cross his mind? I didn't like that feeling at all.

"It's creepy to watch people without their knowledge, it's called stalking," I said, my tone laced with a hint of warning, somehow hoping to squeeze in the knowledge that he was mine, even if he didn't remember.

"Do you follow everyone who catches your attention?" I asked, trying to keep my emotions in check. It's fine if he's doing it with me, but I couldn't take the thought of him doing it to others, just because he couldn't remember that he's in a relationship with me.

But instead of taking offense, Harro laughed, the sound sending a wave of nostalgia washing over me. It was a deep, rich sound that seemed to come from his very core, and it was achingly familiar.

Gosh, I miss hearing the sound of his laughter, I thought, a pang of longing hitting me. I missed him, even more so now that he was standing right in front of me, yet still felt so far away.

"I know we just met, but you should've already guessed that I'm a very busy man, Orion," he replied, still smiling, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "And people are usually drawn to me, not the other way around." He paused, his gaze locking onto mine, and for a moment, I felt like I was drowning in the depths of his eyes. "I just...I keep wanting to see you," he continued, his voice laced with a sense of wonder. "It's been that way since that day at the hospital." His expression turned puzzled, as if he was struggling to understand his own emotions. My heart broke for him, seeing the confusion and vulnerability etched on his face.

I wanted to tell him everything, to wrap my arms around him and whisper words of comfort. If possible, I wanted to turn back time, to erase his pain and confusion and mend the distance between us. But I remained still, unsure of how to do any of that.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to say that, I've been feeling a lot lately," he said, his eyes dropping, as if he feared he had overstepped. "Just forget I said anything." But I couldn't forget, not when his words had awakened all the memories we'd shared together.

"It's fine, I don't mind," I told him, my voice barely above a whisper. "You can come to me anytime you want." His face lit up with a radiant smile, and in that moment, I knew I had made up my mind. I was going to be with him, however I could.

We had tried Sebastian's way, and that hadn't worked. Now, I was going to take matters into my own hands and be there for Harro, no matter what. I would love him for the both of us, holding on to the love we shared, even if he didn't remember.

"Can I get you something to drink, tea?" I asked him, trying to make him feel more comfortable.

"Tea, thank you!" he replied, his voice warm with appreciation. I walked to my kitchen, but I heard his footsteps behind me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of Déjà vu.

I pulled out a chair for him, and he sat down with an appreciative smile as I started boiling water for tea. Before long, I placed a hot cup of tea in front of him.

"Camomile tea, my favorite," he said, his eyes lighting up, and I smiled. I wanted to tell him that I knew it was his favorite, that I remembered the countless nights we'd spent together, sipping tea and talking about nothing and everything. But I settled for a quick, "Helps me sleep," not wanting to overwhelm him.

He nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving mine, as he sniffed the tea with a smile. The simple action seemed intimate, and I found myself leaning closer, drawn to him like a magnet. But I resisted the urge to touch him, to reach out and touch his beautiful face. I didn't want to freak him out, I didn't want to scare him away. So I stayed still, my hands clenched into fists, as I savored his presence.

"Should I get you something to eat?" I asked, trying to break the spell. "I don't cook much, but I can make you something."

He shook his head, the smile still plastered on his face, and I couldn't help but be captivated by its warmth. "I've had dinner, but thanks for asking," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Maybe next time, that's if you don't mind me coming back?" he added, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability, his eyes sparkling with hope.

I chuckled, feeling a sense of warmth spread through my chest, "I really don't mind," I replied, trying to sound casual despite the excitement building inside me, threatening to spill over. "You can come over whenever you want."

He nodded with a smile, and my heart skipped a beat. Why did I agree to stay away from him when it's obvious we needed each other? The thought lingered in my mind like a gentle whisper, echoing the longing I'd been trying to suppress.

"Sit!" he said, gesturing to the seat at the other end of my kitchen island. I raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing on my lips.

"You're playing host in my house?" I asked, trying to stifle a laugh. The teasing glint in his eye was familiar, and for a moment, it felt like no time had passed at all.

Harro laughed at my words, throwing his head back with a glint in his eyes that warmed my heart. It's been a while since the sound of his laughter was heard in my home, and now it felt like he'd never left. The familiarity of the moment was almost overwhelming, and I felt myself getting lost in the feeling of not wanting it to end.