Chapter 3

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Perhaps, I was just imagining things, right? So I dared look back, and the figure was gone. I chuckled nervously. See? Nobody.

I let out a relieved sigh, feeling a bit silly for even thinking it was Ryker in the first place. “Wow, Harper, you really need to forget about him,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head.

Standing up, I convinced myself it had just been a trick of the light or my overactive imagination playing tricks on me and left the place.

“Good morning, Joselito,” I greeted him with a smile as he opened the glass door for me. “Hope you’re doing well today.”

Joselito returned my smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he nodded. “Morning, Harper! Another day in paradise, you know.” He said as he handed me the sealed takeout coffees. He had been working as a guard in this building for three years now.

I chuckled. “Thank you. You never miss this.”

“Never in these two years.” He replied with a boyish grin.

As I walked towards Emily’s department, I couldn’t help but sometimes feel baffled. Joselito had always been generous to me, giving me coffee without hesitation whenever I asked him on that day that I would like coffee for Emily as well. He never forgot about the coffee, and when I inquired why, he simply responded that he felt blessed and wanted to share it with me. Although I found it strange that he singled me out as the only Harper in the building, I accepted his kind gesture with gratitude.

I found Emily so engrossed but I noticed the deep furrows on her forehead as she stared at her computer screen.

“Hey, Em,” I said softly, trying not to startle her. “Everything okay?”

She looked up, the worry in her eyes giving way to a faint smile as she looked at me.

“Did you check your I*******m? We’re having a reunion.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A reunion? Well, that’s interesting. I haven’t been on I*******m today, so fill me in.” I tried to sound unaffected.

“Charlotte messaged me and said she’s organizing a small get-together with some of our college friends. She’s in town for a few days.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun.” I faked interest. “When’s the reunion happening?”

She checked her phone for the details. “It’s this Saturday, at Charlotte’s place. She’s inviting a bunch of people, including...Ryker.”

My heart heaved at the mention of his name. “Of course, she will,” I said, bitterly.

Emily nodded, her eyes never leaving my face. “I guess he’s in town too.”

I felt a mix of emotions at the prospect of seeing Ryker again after all these years. It had been a while since I last saw him, and I couldn’t deny that a part of me was curious about how he had changed, if at all, but the biggest part of me didn’t want to see him anymore.

“Well, this should be interesting,” I said with a wry smile. “I wonder if he’s still the same old Ryker.”

“We don’t have to go, you know.”

“No, Emily. You can go. Charlotte is our friend still, although not that close, she was still good to us. I’ll be fine.”

“If you won’t go, then I won’t have to go.”

“Come on, Em. We’re not college girls anymore. Show them how much you’ve changed.”

“Then let’s show them how much we’ve changed, Harp.”

I let out a sigh. “You knew it’s a different story when it comes to Ryker. He’ll be there.”

“Isn’t it time to confront him? Find out if he’s changed or if you can face him without nerves.”

I chuckled. “Em, I’ve moved on. It was in the past. I can definitely face him without getting nervous. I just don’t feel like attending it.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You sure about it? Coz if you do, then, let’s just attend it. It’s just a casual get-together. If you don’t feel like attending at the moment, perhaps you’ll change your mind tomorrow. No need to stress about it. It’s just a reunion. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I thought about her words for a moment, and part of me wondered if she was right. Maybe it was time to face my past and see if Ryker had truly changed. After all, it had been years, and people could mature.

“Okay, Em, you’ve convinced me,” I said, giving her a smile that I knew didn’t reach my eyes.

Emily grinned triumphantly. “That’s the spirit, Harp! We’ll have a blast, and who knows, maybe you’ll find that confronting the past isn’t as intimidating as it seems.”

I gave her a nod, feeling the nerves building up inside me.

The day went by unnoticed, much like any other ordinary day. Emily and I continued with our work at InkQuill Press, but the anticipation of the upcoming reunion lingered in the back of my mind. I had so many reasons not to go, but not going would only make me look so affected by him.

This reunion might be a bit nerve-wracking for me, but it would be just one evening, after all. I had grown and changed since college, and so had the others. Two years might not be that long, but it would be enough to change one’s perspective on life.

“You sure you’re staying for a few more hours?” I asked Emily. It was clear she intended to work overtime to meet her deadlines.

She nodded, her eyes tired but focused on the screen of her computer. “Yeah, Harp, I need to finish up some of these design mock-ups. Don’t worry about me; I’ll catch up with you later. Call me when you get home safely.”

“Alright, Em, just don’t overwork yourself, okay? And make sure to save some energy for tomorrow.”

She chuckled. “I’ll be fine.” She glanced at me for a second and went back to her computer again. “You’re not ditching me tomorrow, are you? Coz, honestly Harp,” she let out a sigh. “I was worried it’s just me who wants to go, and you’re just coerced.”

I leaned in closer to her desk, giving her a reassuring smile. “No way, Em. I need to go, even if Ryker is there. It’s not about the pressure; it’s about reconnecting with old friends and, well, facing the past. I’ve made up my mind, and I will go.”

Her eyes softened, and she smiled back at me. “That’s what I wanted to hear, Harp. You will be fine. I’m sure of it.”

“Mason will be there, too.” I teased her.

She just rolled her eyes. “Who cares?”

Mason, who was Ryker’s friend and briefly dated her in our second year, abruptly broke up with her for unknown reasons. Mason was her first, and probably...well, I don’t know. The pain she had gone through during that time was intense. She was heartbroken. It had been a rough experience for her, and the mystery surrounding Mason’s abrupt decision had left her with unanswered questions.

“I know you act like it doesn’t bother you, Em,” I said softly, “but I can’t help but think that seeing Mason at the reunion might bring back some memories. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

She shrugged, her expression indifferent. “Honestly, Harp, I’ve moved on from that drama. Mason’s a part of the past. I don’t want to waste any more energy thinking about him. Besides, it’s been so long that I doubt it’ll even matter.”

“Well, if you ever want to...ditch it, we can do it together?” I grinned.

She burst into laughter. “You’re just looking for excuses to bail, Harper!”

I chuckle. “Guilty as charged, Em.”

“Now go, shu, shu!”

I just laughed at her, waving my hand.

Getting inside my car, I noticed the front lights of the car across from mine were on. I squinted, trying to see if anyone was inside. It was a bit odd for someone to have their lights on in an empty parking lot.

As I turned the key in the ignition, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. I glanced over at the car again, and that’s when I saw it—a shadowy figure seated in the driver’s seat. I suddenly felt alarmed.

I quickly locked my doors, my mind racing.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. I was just being paranoid, oversuspicious, and stressed.

Harper...breathe.

So, with steady breathing, I looked at the car again and saw the lights were off.

Yeah... I was just irrationally anxious.