"I love her and it hurts, when I would give her such hints but she would laugh as if all that was some kind of joke!"

It took me sometime to register the outburst confession made by him.
But he was right somewhere, I always knew, Charles had feelings for Gemma. That was very evident from the way he would initially act in front of her, talk to her or talk about her.

But love?
Wasn't it something too huge!?
Too sudden!?
Or maybe not that sudden, as far as I can rationalate, Charles liked Gemma even before she started dating Drake.

I had realised that but was so lost in my investigation that I forgot about Charles, who waited for me to respond.

"She laughs it off, maybe because she thinks you are not serious. Perhaps she ponders, that's the way you are with everyone."

"Yeah, whatever it's no use talking about this stuff now." He said and was about to leave when I called out.

"No, wait Charles. You love Gemma then tell her!"

"I wouldn't even bother saying, NO." He joked with a straight face.

Oh, okay, my bad!

"Why not? That's deceiving Gemma!"

"Wha- How is that deceiving Gemma?"

"You have feelings for her then she's got all right to be aware of it."

"Sorry? I got feelings for Gemma so it's on me if I want to tell her."

"But would you like to cause her more pain?"

"How is this question even being asked here?"

"Just, answer please."

"No, of course I would never want her to go through any kind of pain."

"I wouldn't even bother being obnoxious and saying, "aww". Anyways you know, it would hurt her, when she comes to know about this through someone else."

"You-!"

"No no, Oh Dio (oh God). Not me! I would never tell her, but I can surely tell that you won't be able to hide it from her, forever."

"How can you be so sure of it."

"Did you know, I will come to know?"

"Hey, I told you."

"Yes, you did but your behaviour did before you. And so will it do for Gemma, your composture will tell her something is fishy and then..."

"Yeah, as if she will ask and I will tell her."

"Why wouldn't you!?"

"Because Bella."
He started frustratedly , I surely was testing his patience. After taking a sharp, deep breath, he continued his reasoning,
"I don't want to intensify her pain and worries. She is still not over Drake and now she has his child inside her. You are well aware that she is not emotionally stable. Will she be able to take another shock?"

"Why would it shock her?" I asked him for which I got a heavy sigh in response.

"I wonder how Harry copes up with you."
He mumbled

"I would act as I didn't hear that." I replied with a perfect smile on.

"Charles listen, I was able to make out, you had feelings for Gemma from the day, I first witnessed you two together, just I was not very sure of it and honestly speaking not very much concerned. But that same way I was able to notice, that Gemma thinks of you as someone special just that she had Drake that time.
But she didn't realise his darkness blinded her and constricted her from discovering the light and warmth she found in you.
Therefore, believe me, I wouldn't argue, Gemma did love Drake, but he was not Drake Weasely, he was her expectation of her soulmate that she was misled by Drake into believing that he was that person for her.
And yes, she does have Drake's child attached to her that shares her flesh but that's nothing but Drake's fragment in her and moulding it into someone is on her and her mate.
And you being with her will not trouble her rather it will bring her to peace and provide her with stability that she very much requires."

"Bella I don't want to be her rebound and just a support system for her...I just don't want to provide her with the love she needs from anyone but I want to give her what she wishes for from me!
I want to love her endlessly and not to just fuel her with her "requirements" but rapture her with, abundant of happiness and that is only possible if she wants me in her life and not just anyone who can provide her support."
He reasoned.

"You know, she doesn't need no one's support. She is very strong and even if she requires she would never ask for that. And if she will accept you, it will only be if she truly values you, she will never want to burden you if she just needs someone to support her. She wants someone to cherish her Charles, and revoke her spirited soul after Drake left it darkened. Just talk to her please, you both are mature enough to realise what's best for you."
_________________________________________

The sun was deceeding behind the hazy clouds, it's feeble rays peeping through the twilight. Our vehicle moved in the speed of a flash on the silent lit streets.

I glanced over at Harry, beside me on the steering, my mind cooking up ideas to keep him engaged.
As I recalled the promise I had made to Charles that I would keep Harry busy so he gets all time to talk to Gemma.

"Mhmm" I cleared my throat grabbing his alertness.

"You know there is a basketball ground near by, in this route?" I asked him

"Yeah I do. In fact I've been there a few times."

"Really? To play?"

"Of course. To play."

"No I mean it could have been for some official purpose, like for a concert or something?"
I made a rationale.

"Hmm but no, just for some casual game."

"Hmm I see...." I trailed off, I wasn't very good in carrying out such conversations now was I?

"The owner and I are quite acquinted."
This statement by him made my brain come up with an evergreen idea.

"That's exciting! Why don't we pull up there?" I asked, excitedly

"There? At this time? The idea is thrilling but sadly the time isn't." He gave a sad smile.

"What's the problem? You can enter in right? You know the owner."

"Yep, I can but then..." He paused and looked straight at me and with a soft, euphonious voice added,
"it would be just the two of us."

That definitely did alter my breathing for a fraction of second but I was well versed that these were his feeble attempts to tease me.
Therefore, I complied with him,

"What's the problem then?"
I asked "innocently".

His face held expression, reflecting his shock for a split second, that didn't go unnoticed by me.

"K...then let's fuel it on......", he spoke simultaneously gearing up the four wheeler, contributing on me to jerk backwards.

We pulled off ere the large iron gate, guarding the entry of the basketball court. Getting off the car, I stood there waiting as Harry went to get the keys.

"Got 'em", he announced startling me.

The large gate opened and we were welcomed by gushing  wind embarcing us, getting us familiar with the chilly atmosphere.

"Let's get the game started.", he waited not for more than a second after gearing himself up stating past the statement when he held the orange leather ball in the air, providing it with a little hunch, he threw it high up. I nudged up to grab the ball for an effortless goal, that didn't go as planned when he outdid me in doing it, owning the first goal of this "utterly" friendly match of ours, he cheered, showcasing his achievement.

"Cheater, you didn't even alarm me!" ,I whined.

"LET'S . GET . THE . GAME . STARTED. I guess these five words were quite "alarming"?" he laughed off, finding vague humour in this sheer soubre situation.

"K then...", I swiftly touched the ball, my grip stimulated at the touch. I got the ball following my first basket scored. With the ball still dribbling under my guidance, the next basket was a free and quite easy one.

"Now this serves you well.", I said, as the first part of our game terminated with scores 1 : 2.

"Now let me serve you with some fantasticly impressive baskets for this object.", he said pointing at the ball in my hands, a sly smile adoring his countenance.

I know, what he was doing and why. It was sorta doing it's work well, he had successfully travelled enough distance in infuriating me with his vexatious behavior but who could get annoyed when the miscreant is this man, standing in a pink coloured simpson hoodie and white sweatpants, hair long till shoulders, lacing his chiseled face, luring me with the "competetive" glare additive to which is his ever so heavenly sweet smile that like any other time did not fail to shudder me to euphoria.

"Sure you do the talking and I..." I paused to get ahold of the ball that met the sky yet again for the second round, then ensuing a tranquil throw, getting the score to go 1:3, facing Harry I turned to complete my statement, "...the rocking", wearing a perfect grin.

Manifesting a professional basketball player composture he facilely succeded in snatching the ball from me and earning two consecutive baskets, causing my shoulders to fall in chagrin. Harry fueled my dispodency by giving a giddy smirk, celebrating his current victory, further surging the desire in me to win. It was a tie and I strived to make it 3:4.

I halted towards him to get the ball, which swiftly fell into my hands, proudly dribbling around Harry my only aim was to pass that through the dangling basket, atleast three metres from me.

 My stout equilibrium got altered by the inceeding steps of Harry in my direction, he kept coming closer to me, ceasing his steps the moment he got so close to hear my ragged up heartbeat. Allegedly, I was intoxicated by him that my reflexes got jam. My eyes worshiping him. His hand gently brushed my cheek, which were indubitably flushed red by the intimacy that moment hailed. I could feel the warmth of his palms when he placed them under my chin, lifting it up, intuitively my eyes fluttered open looking straight in his retinas, which dilated. His adorable smile, urged me to do the same. Eventually, his face came closer and my heart blossomed accompanying the light shower of snowflakes, that was hardly noticed by us. We shared a perfect moment of intimacy, his lips sending me tingles. That instance, we were not on the field rather somewhere far from this world, his lips on mine made me travel to heaven for a split second. Not even a pinch of lust could be dedected in the midst of that pure harmony, just sheer tenderness, bonding the two souls with the saintly bond of, love.

The unwanted seperation took place, leaving me standing with a smile on my face and eyes lowered, I was so engulfed in the magical fondness just discovered, that I could scarcely notice, when Harry, very cunningly fleed with the ball. It was the junxed sound it made on hitting the ground after passing through the basket, that made me aware of the situation.

"Why did you...!?" I cried in sheer disbelief.

"The game was still on." he shrugged, acting as if it was very normal.

"You!....NO! this is CHEATING." I whined again.

"What? How could you say that?"

"You engaged me in..."I stopped midway my rant, finding it quite inflexible to mention the "kiss". After a bit of thinking I resumed, "You distracted me!"

"uh...uhaan? So you get distracted by me?" He asked sheepishly.

"Whatever. You had to cheat in order to win against me that explains it all."

"Really? What cheating did I do, again?" He kept pestering, but na, you ain't getting what you want buddy. Hence I shushed him by answering, "Nevermind let's get home, mother must be worried."

He giggled silently, percieving my feeble attempts to avoid this conversation, however respecting my hesitency and my decision he didn't push me further.

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