The Love Triangle - Part 3
"Hooray! Piper conquered Chinese exams!" Piper pumped her fist into the air.
"Watch it, girl. I don't want to be seen as a paedophile," Jacob snarled at her and she stuck her tongue back in return.
The same group of 8 that met up for the steamboat dinner was going cycling at the park that afternoon in celebration of the end of CLAO examinations.
"I don't know what's the fuss," Stephan yawned, winking flirtatiously at Piper who smiled back. "I mean, the paper was no kick."
"Sure you say that," Jimmy punched him playfully on the arm. "You didn't take the paper in the first place!"
Stephan was a student of the Language Electives Program and he had no paper due that day.
"What's taking Harold so long?" John glanced at his watch.
The minute John finished his sentence, Harold was seen dragging his feet out of the train station.
Piper saw his bloodshot eyes met hers. However, instead of his usual boyish grin, he looked away.
She turned to look at Jacob, who could only shrug back.
***
"Are you sure you don't want to cycle?" Colin asked Piper and Stephan. "Weather's lovely for cycling today and the guys are totally psyched." He pointed to the rest of the gang, who was getting their own bikes at the rental shop.
"No can do," Piper groaned, rubbing her stomach. "I must have ate something wrong for lunch!"
Colin nodded to show his acknowledgement, and turned to look at Stephan for an explanation.
"I'm afraid she'll get lonely," Stephan grinned, showing his dimples.
"Okay lover boy, don't harm her when we're away," Colin teased as he rode off.
Piper turned to look at Harold, but his back had already turned on them as the group cycled away.
***
"Dinner! Glorious, glorious food," Colin cheered as the group met again at the food court.
"Great, I'm famished," Harold said, flashing a smile in Piper's direction.
She had to admit, her spirits rose a little.
"Shall we sit here then?" Stephan suggested, signalling the group a table.
Piper moved in to sit next to him, but she felt a tug on her arm. Surprised, she turned around to see Harold grabbing onto her wrist.
"As your boss," he said calmly and slowly, but without looking at her in the eye. "You are to sit with me."
Everyone was frozen to the spot and the awkward silence came.
"Now, nobody disobeys the Man!" Jacob chuckled uncomfortably in a bid to break the silence, pushing her out of the way and sliding in on the seat beside Stephan.
The guys shrugged, but nodded in agreement nevertheless.
***
"I'm full," Stephan announced half an hour later.
"Me too!" Piper exclaimed proudly.
"Shall we go for a walk then?" he asked her, unknowingly blushing in the process.
Jacob gave an audible hacking cough.
"Sure," she found herself obliging to his request.
However when she stood up, she felt another tug on her arm again. Sure enough, she turned to see Harold clutching onto her wrist once more.
"Don't go," this time he looked at her straight at the eye, his eyes rounder and brimming with sincerity. "Please."
The rest of the gang, except Stephan, chose to ignore the situation this time and continued their own conversation.
Piper found herself rooted to the spot. Before she could answer, Harold unexpectedly released her hand.
"Come back soon."
***
-Tingz
