# 20
Harper rubbed her eyes and tried finding her phone from her bed. Once she found it, she looked at the time.
*12:52 pm*
‘Oh god, it's late.’ She thought. She rubbed her eyes once again before getting up. She went down the dining room to eat lunch.
While eating, she was texting Dylan.
———
Dylan**:** have u eaten?
Harper:hhkkk i just wokeup :o
Dylan: u haven't eaten yet?!
Harper: smksjsk i'm currentlyeating, don't worry !!
Dylan: don't skip meals please :(
———
Harper smiled. She hurriedly finished her food and made her way back to her room. She took a shower and fixed herself.
Once she's all good, she went back down and made her way to the living room where Hunter is, as well as their mother.
"Whatchu playing?" She looked at the screen.
"Fortnite."
Harper nodded. Soon, Mrs. Gray’s phone rang.
"It's your dad."
Harper then moved closer to her mom as the call was answered. "Dad!"
[*Harper, my girl.]* The father's smile can be seen from the screen.
"Sup, dad!" Hunter greeted, his eyes are fixed at the screen.
*"I miss you all!"*
Mrs. Gray laughed. "We miss you too."
"That's right, dad. When will you go home? Seriously." Harper pouted.
*"That's the reason why I called."* He smiled. *"I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon!"*
His wife and the siblings celebrated. "Are we able to go and fetch you at the airport?" Hunter asked.
*"I think so, you can go there after your class."*
"Ah-huh! Mom, you're excited, aren't you?" Harper teased.
"Of course, I am!"
"Woa, I can't wait." Hunter smiled.
———
An hour after, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Harper walked towards the door and opened it.
"Oh my god, that's a lot of you."
"Hi, Harp!" The boys greeted.
"Hey.. hi. Come in." The boys came in the house one by one.
Harper smiled as she saw the last one. "You! You didn't tell me you'll come?"
Dylan laughed. "I got invited by Hunter too. But I'll be going home early." He closed the door for Harper. They made their way to the living room.
"I'll bring you snacks." Harper smiled. She made her way to the kitchen.
"Mommy~." She saw her mom already preparing some cookies on a plate. She walked closer to help her mother.
"Is Dylan there?" Mrs. Gray started preparing drinks and glasses as well. "My girl isn't a baby anymore."
Harper chuckled. "Stop that, mom." She stopped. "Don't you think, dad will get mad?"
Her mom looked at her. She bit her lip. "I don't think so, I hope not." She shrugged. "I got your back."
"I'm glad I have a mom like you." The daughter laughed. "You're just happy for me about whatever."
"Of course." Mrs. Lee smiled at her daughter. "Now help me give these to the boys." She handed Harper the plates of cookies.  She was the one who carried the tray of drinks.
"Snacks, people." She placed the cookies down the table while her mother did the same with the drinks.
"Thank you, okay!" Allen yelled as he reached for a cookie and put is in his mouth.
Harper sat beside Dylan.
The boys are playing games while she talks with her boyfriend. She lets him play too and just scroll through her feed. It was pretty loud, yeah.
Harper looked at the right. She saw Haruto and Hunter’s mutual friends sitting there quietly. She couldn't help but laugh. "
How cool that Haruto's friends are friends with Dylan’s friends too. She suddenly wondered why she never saw them both of them interact not even once. And why he’s not there.
———
"Harper, let's go outside before I go back home." Dylan said.
"You'll go back home, this early?" Allen looked up at them.
He nodded. "Yup."
"Take care of my sister, huh?" Hunter reminded him, his eyes on the screen.
"Yup, yup."
Both Harper and Dylan made their way to the door and wore their shoes. They walked out.
Harper stretched herself a bit. "It was noisy in there, wasn't it?"
Dylan laughed. "I know."
"Why did you want to go out?"
He held her hand. "I haven't spent much time with you as my girlfriend."
"Whew. Your cheesy acts, again."
"Again?" Dylan was clueless of what Harper was saying.
"Nevermind." She smiled. "Ah, Dy."
"What?"
Both of them were just walking on the street. "Dad's going home, tomorrow."
He stopped. "Really?" Harper nodded. "I suddenly became nervous."
She laughed. "You don't have to be. Hunter’s a lot more strict than him, you know that."
"Besides, he knows you for so long already. He trusts you and I know that." Harper continued.
"Okay." Dylan smiled. He grabbed his phone and checked on the time.
*4:02pm*
"I should go now." He put his phone back to his pocket.
Harper smiled. "Take care."
"I will." Dylan touched Harper’s chin and lifted it up. He leaned down to kiss her forehead.
She closed her eyes.
It felt different. It was sweet, she admits. But it just... she felt different. Not the way she felt when *he* did it the day he confessed.
Dylan started walking away from her, waving his hand. Harper looked at him until he can't be seen.
She suddenly didn't want to go back inside the house. She decided to go to the park where she jogs in the morning.
As she walked around, she saw pets with their owners, lovers, families and friends. Some are alone too, listening to music or just chilling at the bench.
She saw a burger store just at the corner. *Nice, I'm hungry.*
She walked in and picked out her order. She also got herself a drink. She walked out and saw someone familiar, biking around.
"Haruto!" She yelled. She waved her hand as she smiled at him.
He stopped in front of her. "Why are you here?" He asked.
"I don't want to stay at home right now, the boys are loud." She took a bite on her burger. "Why weren't you with them, by the way?"
He just shrugged. He looked at Harper's burger.
She giggled. "Want some-."
Haruto took a bite on the burger. "Seriously." She raised an eye brow.
———
She looked at him. He's just sitting there, using his phone. He was not saying anything since they sat at the bench.
"I guess, you can tell me now?" Harper looked at the front as Haruto looked at her.
"Tell you what?"
"What was going through your head the past days? You're back to being inactive in class, you didn't seem as cheerful as you are. You seem to not tell me anything, not even through chat. You didn't even talk to me properly at the pet shop when we met there." She pointed out.
She didn't realize that she's missing Haruto's presence. Them fighting and laughing at the same time.
"I kinda miss your teasings." She looked back at him. "You know, this?" She shuffled Haruto's hair.
"Yo, stop!"
"Yeah, that!" She pouted.
Haruto chuckled. "Fine, okay. I'll tell you."
Harper smiled. "I was just not in the mood, that's all."
"You're lying."
"That's all, I promise you."
Harper smiled as Haruto laughed. He pressed her's cheeks using both of his hands before messing up her hair. Harper didn't yell at him. She laughed and giggled at what he did.