HEARTBEAT OVERNIGHT

Three

Hanna

The next morning, I groaned, waking up to see Nick's smiling face. He moved over to me and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

"Good morning," he said, and I responded with a kiss on the lips. We laughed, and I thought about how much we'd grown comfortable with each other in just a day.

"Would you go home to change?" I asked Nick, pointing at his wet stained pants. His gaze on me was so intense; it shook me to the core.

"Hanna, I... I," he stopped, his tone deep and distant. I was scared for a moment, hoping he wasn't planning on breaking up with me already. I watched his expression change; it was as though he was scared of something, scared of being caught.

"Get dressed and go; let's meet at the rooftop," I said, making my way to the door. Right at that moment, I heard footsteps approaching. I panicked. What would happen if Henry and mother found out I had s*x, and with a stranger?

"You have to go now; my mom and brother are coming," I said, slightly pushing him towards the door.

"They are going to see me anyway, and I'm not a stranger, Hanna," he said. I eyed him with a mix of admiration and suspicion. He put on his clothes, and it dawned on me; they were already too close. I watched in shock as my mom and brother entered my room.

"Oh, you're with Hanna," Henry exclaimed, staring at mom, who moved closer to us. "I looked for you in the visitor room, but you weren't there," mother added. They must've known him somewhere, or maybe he was Mr. Wilson's grandson, who was in Africa for business, I thought. But when I looked closer, he bore no resemblance to the old man at all.

"Yes, Henry, I came here to wish baby girl a happy graduation," Nick said, and my jaw dropped. How could he say that? I hadn't expected him to tell them we had something together, but I thought he could do better than that.

"I understand you must've waited to congratulate her, but the food I served you was untouched; you starved yourself," I felt genuine concern in mom's tone. Nick smiled.

"I wouldn't have skipped such delicious food for nothing, mother. I was just too busy attending to somethings yesterday. Sorry."

Mother? Did I hear that correctly? I looked from my mom to Henry and then to my lover, who, for the first time, looked like a total stranger to me. Even in the night when I had no idea what his name was, I felt like I knew him, and I gave myself to him, thinking he was my knight in shining armor. But here he was, a total stranger, on talking terms with my family.

"Are you okay, Hanna?" Henry asked, and I nodded, hiding my anxiety quite well.

"And you, Nicholas, come out right now to eat," my mom urged him, and he responded, telling her he would be out in a minute.

"And remember that girl, Trunk?" Henry asked him, and I saw uneasiness in Nick's eyes. "Yeah," he answered.

"She asked about you and promised to visit this afternoon. Be quick, and let's go have fun," Henry said, and Nick nodded, his eyes fixed on me. Henry exited my room with mother, who smiled broadly at me, but I was too lost to return it.

I gasped as realization dawned on me. Why hadn't I noticed? His foreign accent, the way he called my name, and that painted portrait in Henry's room. Why was I drawn to him when I should have probably remembered or seen the resemblance to the other brother I have? We always spoke on the phone, and he would send me gifts. How on earth could I have paid such a costly price for his mistake?

"Did you know I am Henry's kid sister?" I asked, tears streaming down my eyes. The girl Henry was talking about, they would probably be together and live happily forever, but I would be miserable for life.

"Hanna, I fell in love with you, and what happened between us, I wish I am worthy enough to be with you forever," that sounded like romantic lyrics to me. He lied and deceived me. All the promises we made to each other yesterday started to have meaning to me. He even said I was going to quit, so he planned it all along.

"Leave my room," I sobbed, hating how things switched from sweet to sour, or is it bitter? He moved closer, but I moved back, meaning to keep myself away.

"You know you are my brother's friend and someone mom took like her son, and yet you can't even stop me,or tell me the truth and wait to see if I would continue that s**t with you, moron," I screamed softly, muffling my anger not to bring mother and Henry's attention.

"I thought you knew me, Hanna, but when I realized you don't, it was too late. We were both drawn to each other. I never deceived you, Hanna; you gave me the permission to touch and have you," he said. His tone was a bit shaky. Was he afraid of losing whatever it was we had? I must be mistaken.

"You get out and never come back. I hate that you did this. You should have given me a choice, to choose you. Get out," his finger brushed my tears away, and I pushed him slightly, making my way to the door. "Out now," I said, meaning it.

"Hanna, I am sorry I hurt your feelings," he said, but I walked right up to his back and pushed him out of the door. His eyes were teary as he looked into my eyes and muttered, "Please don't hate me."

My feelings bewildered me. I wanted to hate him; there were a lot of excuses to hate him. But I didn't want to. However, this relationship couldn't possibly happen. My mom would show him her other side,and he definitely would be tired and also my overprotective brother would hate him. I didn't want him to lose so much for me. As much as it hurt, I still wanted him to be that great son to my mom and the best friend Henry had since kindergarten, years before my birth. I mustn't ruin this.

Although I was repulsive to emotions, I wanted to affirm him I have no hate for him,just admiration and affections.afterall je was the first heartbeat, my overnight heartbeat.

"Hanna come let's eat" mum called on me and I battled with my legs, dragging it out through the door,hoping Nick would've disappeared before I get out.