Chapter 20: Exploration

The next morning Harper woke up before Oliver. Her eyes blinked open and for a moment she forgot where she was. She rolled around to see Oliver asleep next to her, his arm slumped over her waist possessively. He looked so peaceful and content. Harper studies his face, the way his rough shortly trimmed beard framed his cheekbones and how long his eye lashes were. She slowly and quietly got out of bed without disturbing him and went into the bathroom. Inside she found a sleek, modern bathroom. The walls and floor were covered in large, matte grey tiles. The overall color scheme of the space ranged from light grey to charcoal, giving the space a calm and sophisticated feel. On the left side, there is a floating vanity made of dark laminate with a matte finish. Below the vanity, there is an open shelf holding neatly rolled beige towels. A rectangular white vessel sink sits on top of the vanity, paired with a sleek, modern chrome faucet that extends horizontally over the basin. Above the sink is a large mirror cabin with a subtle built-in light strip underneath, casting a soft glo onto the sink area.

Behind the vanity, further into the room is a glass-enclosed shower with a frameless design. The shower area has darker grey tiles and a black rainfall-style showerhead mounted from the wall. Besides the shower is a freestanding oval bathtub that sits against the tiled wall. The tub is white with smooth, curved edges, contrasting softly with the angular lines of the room. Above the bathtub there is a recessed wall niche built into the tiles, holding a few neatly arranged bath products and decorative items. In the foreground on the right side, there is a modern, compact toilet with a round, smooth design. Beside it stands a black freestanding toilet paper holder with a simple geometric frame. A window on the far-right wall allows natural light to enter. The window has white blinds that are partially closed, diffusing the daylight. A planter box beneath the window holds soft, feathery green plants, adding warmth and life to the otherwise natural and structured space.

Harper looks around the room, astonished by how beautifully it was decorated and how neat it was. She quietly went to use the toilet and then washed her hands after. She looked in the mirror at her messy auburn hair, keenly aware of how naked she was. Not wanting to go to the living room and put on her clothes that she wore yesterday, she quietly went over to Olivers’ dark-painted build in wardrobe. The wardrobe has a classic panel design with recessed rectangular panels on each door, painted in a deep charcoal tone. She reached for the small round brass knob on the middle door and slowly opened it. Inside, the wardrobe was softly lit with warm built-in lighting along the top and sides. The interior wood was lighter. Two handing rails were visible, one on top and one below. The top rail held neatly arranged dress shirts and jackets in neutral tones– whites, blues, greys, and darker shades– organized evenly on matching hangers. The lower rail held more garments, including trousers and jackets, arranged with similar neatness and coordination. Harper sighed contently at the level of organization then she traced her fingers lightly over the garments hanging in the wardrobe. The clothes smelled like Oliver.

Harper reached out and touched the soft cotton material of a black buttoned up shirt. She took it out of the wardrobe along with the hanger it was on and removed it from the hanger. The put on the shirt, finding that it was way too big for her and covered her upper body well. She looked over at Oliver still asleep on his bed, and then she felt the vibration of her stomach growling. Quietly she snuck out of the bedroom and into the living room. Her gaze dropped to where their clothes from yesterday lie on the floor, and she feels her heart skip a beat at the memory. She lightly shook her head and went into the kitchen. The first appliance to draw her attention was the coffee maker. So, she turned it on and started brewing a pot of coffee. Then she went over to the silver fridge and opened the door. Inside the fridge was relatively empty, beside a tub of margarine and a single tomato. Her stomach growled in disappointment, and she started looking through the cupboards, finding little to eat.

Just when she was about to give up hope, she found a cupboard with cereal inside. Most of the boxes were empty except for a box of oatmeal. Harper took out the box and followed the instruction on the back, taking out a pot and boiling water then adding the oatmeal with a pinch of salt. As she waited for the oatmeal to cook, she went over to the clothes on the floor and neatly picked them up and folded them, placing them on the couch in neat piles. After stirring the oatmeal and pouring herself a cup of coffee, which she had to drink black, she went to study the bookcase again. Her eyes roamed over the book titles. While she waited for the oatmeal to cook, stirring it occasionally, she took out her phone and sent a text to her roommate, Glen.

Harper: “Morning. This is going to sound crazy, but can you bring me some clothes please. I will send you, my location.”

Glen: “Girllll, where have you been? Where are you? Why do you need clothes?”

Harper: “I told you I will send you a location. I kind off had a sleep over… just bring some clothes, I will owe you”

Harper blushes as she types the message. She has never been in this position before, where she had to ask Glen to bring her clothes or admit she was at someone’s place.

Glen: “Oooh, someone got lucky… atta girl. You gotta give me all the dets later. What am I bringing, professional, sexy…”

Harper: “One suit and something cozy. Mabe some sexy lingerie.”

Glen: “Oooh, girlll. You got it.”