Chapter Text
Harry
February 6th, 2018.
Being soulmates with someone is something that cannot be described with words. Their love and bond are meant to be permanent and never broken.
Well, most of the time.
When Harry and Louis discovered they were soulmates, all was right with the world. They built a life together where they looked forward to their future; full of excitement, happiness, and most importantly, love.
However, sometimes life gets in the way and distracts said bond from growing. There’s nothing anyone can do but let it go and hope for the best. They could only hope they’d be able to live their life without their other half. Occasionally, they may be able to find themselves together again eventually.
Harry and Louis have been divorced now for two years. They haven’t seen each other since it was made official. There were many factors that pushed them towards divorce that were perhaps obvious. Harry still felt blindsided at the time; however as he looks back now he should have seen it coming.
So, when Zayn called Harry one morning to ask if he was willing to participate in a video for Buzzfeed, he said yes. When he found out that video entailed seeing Louis for the first time in two years, he didn’t know what to think.
Harry’s just returned from a six-month volunteer Healthcare program in Costa Rica and he had worked with local doctors to help the disabled and ill children. It had been a last-minute decision to join the program, it hadn’t even settled with him before he hopped on the plane and endured the almost six-hour flight to the Central American country.
Harry didn’t even have time to relax and adjust being back home in Los Angeles, before Zayn had asked to be up and in front of a camera. His childhood friend has been working for years at Buzzfeed right out of college and since the company started. Although older than most who work for the company, he still fits in with the young adults. Now, he’s mostly involved with their YouTube channel. He helps with the several videos uploaded to their almost eighteen million subscribers. It is absolutely insane to think about.
Before his six-month trip, Harry sometimes found himself in some of the videos, participating in the several challenges that they’ve come up with.
This time is different however because it’s going to involve Louis. And since Harry has no self-control, he quickly sends out a text to Zayn that’s he’s willing to do it. He doesn’t even think about the repercussions of his rash decision because this means he’s going to see Louis.
It’s been two dreadful years of feeling alone. When he gets up in the morning, he is alone. From the time he gets home from work till the time he leaves, he is alone. It’s been two years without someone to come home to, someone to banter with or make snide remarks at the trash reality shows they watched. It’s been two years of not seeing or holding Louis, his soulmate.
Harry isn’t allowed to complain though. There is no one to blame for this pain and heartbreak but himself.
So, when he walks into the Buzzfeedstudios this Saturday and finally gets to see the loveliness that is his ex-husband and soulmate, he can’t breakdown.
Yeah, it’s easier said than done.
**
Filming for the Buzzfeed video is a mere day away from happening and Harry is not panicking in the middle of a random bar.
He omitted from inviting anyone because he simply wants to be alone in preparation for the day ahead. Alcohol seems to be the perfect means. It appears the bartender notices Harry’s gloomy state when she heads over to his side and hands him another whiskey sour.
“I didn’t ask for another one,” he tells her with a confused expression. At least, he doesn’t think he asked for another drink. There’s no telling after a few glasses under an hour.
The woman with the short black hair and the sharp dark eyes just grins in return. “No, you didn’t, but it sure seems like you needed another one. Everything alright?”
Harry can only shrug, everything is not alright and after tomorrow he could only see it being worse. “No, not really.”
“I’m Dua.”
“Harry.” He shakes her hand, going in to take a large sip of the new drink. Might as well enjoy it.
He’s only been here for about forty-five minutes or so. Top mainstream songs blare loudly as the bar patrons dance and talk amongst themselves. He’s stuck in his own thoughts so much that he doesn’t notice Dua, the bartender, leaning forward a bit. She’s directing her attention to him with a smirk on her lips.
“Did you say something?” Harry asks.
“I did.”
Harry apologizes. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Clearly.” The smirk still prominent on her lips. “I asked what brought you here tonight all alone.”
With another big gulp, he winces due to the strong liquor. “God, that’s a long fucking story.”
“I’m all ears, cupcake.”
Redness surfaces on Harry’s cheeks from the term of endearment. He feels awkward in this situation, as he hasn’t flirted with anyone since Louis and that felt like it was ions ago. He doesn’t have the desire to, he only wants to flirt and be cheeky with Louis. However, at the same time, there’s a beautiful woman in front of him.
“Stop thinking so much.”
Harry only wishes he could turn off his brain, things would be so much easier for him. “So, cupcake?”
“Honey don’t think much of it. I’m a natural flirt but I’m afraid I bat for the other team.”
“Oh thank God,” Harry breathes out in utter relief. There is a much more relaxed feeling coursing through him because of this new piece of information.
Dua now hands him water, which he appreciates and thanks her. She tends another customer momentarily before returning to Harry. “Now, tell me what’s wrong because it’s clear as crystal.”
His family has voiced their thoughts on Harry perhaps going to see a therapist to help and guide him after the divorce. They suggested it would be a good idea to let out everything he’s feeling to start out fresh with the motivation to move on with his life.
However, there’s the saying that bartenders make good therapists though. Since they are used to drunks pouring out all of their problems. Harry gets where the drunks are coming from, the bartenders are just lending an ear. Dua is outside Harry’s circle, which is a different, separate perspective.
“I’m seeing my ex-husband tomorrow for the first time in a while,” he begins, letting the known fact sink it as if it hasn’t already for the past few days.
“How long have you two being separated?”
“Two years.”
“Soulmates?”
“Yeah.”
“Well fuck me. I now understand why you look like shit, cupcake.”
Harry barks out a laugh and proceeds to tell her the complete story of the events occurring the next day. He explains about Zayn asking Harry to participate in the video because he just wants to be a good friend. Harry also wants to see Louis, but if you’d ask him he’d deny it.
Harry expresses his concerns of seeing Louis for the first time. He is also anxious about the aftermath that is certainly going to go down.
“I still love him.”
“I’d assume so if this is how you’re reacting to it.” The room quiets down a bit with the next song not being as upbeat as the recent ones played. The bar is also emptying out, which makes Harry realizes it’s getting late and it’s time to go home.
He didn’t feel like leaving just yet though, he’s actually enjoying letting out his concerns to the stranger. He could never voice his concerns to his friends and family. They would just push their opinions on his situation and point out his mistakes. As if he didn’t already know.
“The divorce wasn’t supposed to happen,” Harry whispers, looking down into the glass of water. “We were supposed to have children by now and be so fucking happy. And I’m afraid that when I see him, I’ll have a meltdown in front of him. I’m just so terrified that…”
Dua takes his hand gently to comfort him. “Terrified of what?”
“That he’s happy. Happy without me, because I’m not happy without him.”