aven

walking on oxford street. harry watched students and strangers bustle past, boxes of chocolates, bouquets, teddy bears everywhere. the university had gone all out this year too. heart shaped balloons by the library steps, “valentine’s photo booth” signs near the student center and a suspiciously large chocolate fountain near the cafeteria.

harry spotted a cute little shop that looked perfect for valentine’s gifts, so he decided to step inside. he wandered around, scanning the shelves and walking through different aisles, but he had no idea what to buy. it was his first time celebrating valentine’s day after all. eventually, he pulled out his phone and called a few of his friends, hoping they might have some tips.

a few minutes later, all of his friends had given him their tips what to buy but every single one of them said something different. flowers, chocolates, jewelry, gift cards, purses, shoes, makeup, it was a lot to take in. how was he honestly supposed to choose? especially when you deserved everything.

in the end, harry decided to buy everything his friends had suggested. choosing just one thing felt impossible, so he figured he might as well get it all. once he finished shopping, he headed to another store that specialized in wrapping gifts, picking out neat boxes and ribbons tied into pretty bows.

after that, harry left the store and headed back to the university to surprise you. when he finally reached your dorm, he stood outside your door and knocked three times. you opened it moments later, only to be met with his gorgeous, slightly awkward smile in the doorway. his hands were full of pink, heart patterned gift bags and neatly wrapped boxes tied with bows.

“i wasn’t really sure what to get you… so i ended up getting a little bit of everything.”

you smiled as you glanced down at the gifts in his hands. “aww harry, you didn’t have to surprise me with all of this but thank you.” you leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek before carefully taking some of the bags from his hands so they wouldn’t fall. “c’mon, let’s get inside,” you said, inviting him into your dorm.

you walked in first, carefully placing the gifts on your bed while harry stood in the doorway, watching you with a slight blush on his face. after a moment, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him, “i’m sorry if it’s too much,” he admitted. “i asked my friends what i should get you, but they all gave me different answers… and it was really hard to choose just one.”

you laugh softly, turning to face him. “it’s not too much i promise. honestly? i love that you put your effort into this,” you smile at him.

you take a sit on the bed while grabbed one of the gifts, eyes full of love. harry shift, trying not to be too obvious as he admire your appearance.

god, you look good.

you always look good, of course, but he can’t help but notice that you look extra nice today. your hair is falling over your shoulders in soft waves, your curves hugged by the sundress that he recognize from a previous date, and just a little bit of makeup on your face.

you look absolutely perfect, and he suddenly remember why he retired his playboy side.

harry smiled widely as he walked over to the bed. “well, i’m glad you love it baby,” he said sitting down beside the pile of gifts. when he noticed the blush creeping onto your cheeks at the nickname, he grinned and gently pinched your cheek in a playful tease.

you swatted his hand away from your cheek playfully. “no need to pinch my cheek,” you said with a teasing roll of your eyes. “anyway, let’s open the gifts!” you added, clapping your hands excitedly and picked the big gift first.

harry laughed as you reached for the biggest gift first. “of course you go for the big one first.”

you scoffed playfully. “of course, duh!” you tore open the wrapper eagerly while harry stared at you nervously, overthinking every possibility that you might not like the gift.

you finished opening the wrapper and pulled the tape off the box before lifting the lid. inside was a bouquet filled with your favorite flowers, lilies, tulips, and sunflowers. “no way, harry! how did you know these were my favorite flowers?”

harry shrugged nonchalantly, a hint of victory in his expression. “you told me a few months ago,” he said simply. “you probably forgot about it.”

your heart softened when you realized you were the one who had forgotten, not him. somehow, harry always seemed to pay attention to the smallest things about you, even if he never openly admitted it. it was his first real relationship, after all.

“thank you, seriously.” you gently sniffed the flowers, smiling. “i’m going to take care of them like they’re my baby,” you said with a small laugh.

a few minutes later, all the gifts were unwrapped, and you couldn’t help but feel this was by far the most incredible gift you’d ever received.

“thank you, baby!” you jumped on harry and hugged him, making him let out a surprised “oof” before laughing. “you’re seriously the best boyfriend even though it’s your first time,” you said, giggling at your own joke.

harry rolled his eyes playfully, then smiled. “thank you, baby.” he wrapped his arms around your back and pulled you in for a kiss, a quick loud peck. “do you want to go to that burger place to celebrate our valentine’s day? i saw it on my way to get your gifts,” he asked.

“hell yeah! i’m also starving right now.” you pressed a quick, random kiss to his cheek before standing up to grab your coat. once you had it on, you picked up your dorm keys. “let’s go,” you said, smiling.

“let’s go then.” harry took your hand in his, swung the door open, and led you outside, closing it gently behind the two of you.

a year ago, harry would’ve been the one making fun of any friend who had valentine’s day plans. now, he was completely whipped, clearing out half the local shopping center just to surprise you.

Dating harry was easy. Loving him was even easier.

It was everything else that felt impossible.

In public, you’re just someone in the background. Someone who happens to be around. Someone the cameras don’t linger on. Backstage at sold out one direction shows, you stand behind curtains and equipment cases, listening to thousands of fans scream his name like it belongs to them. Like he belongs to them.

And you let them have that version of him. The bright, charming, untouchable one.

Your version exists in the quiet. In dressing rooms with the door locked and his rings pressing cool against your waist when he pulls you close. In shared glances across crowded rooms that last half a second too long. In late night hotel corridors where he steals a kiss before disappearing into his own room so no one talks.

Sometimes you see the comments. The edits. The strangers who have decided you’re not good enough for him, not pretty enough, not famous enough, not right. They don’t know you. They don’t know how he calls you after every show just to hear your voice steady his breathing. How he reaches for your hand under the table like it’s instinct. How he smiles differently when it’s just you.

The hardest part isn’t the secrecy. It’s standing in the shadows while the world claims him out loud.

But then he finds you after a show, flushed and glowing from stage lights, and wraps his arms around you like he’s been holding his breath all night. His forehead rests against yours.

“They don’t know anything,” he murmurs softly. “About you. About us.”

And when he kisses you, slow, and certain, like there’s no audience to impress, you remember that love doesn’t need to be loud to be real.