章 15: Chapter 15. Meeting the Siblings

Sophia and Jonathan's jaws dropped the moment they laid eyes on the young woman walking beside their sister Rachel. She was taller than Jonathan, with a slender, graceful build and flawless, honeydew-toned skin. Her perfectly sculpted facial features and sharp jawline gave her an almost ethereal, goddess-like beauty. Long, wavy brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, completing the striking image. She gave out the aura of a full-fledged young Greek god, brimming with vitality.

Jonathan couldn't help but voice his awe-struck disbelief. "Wow," he uttered, stunned by the girl's height that surpassed even his own.

Sophia felt her cheeks flush as she watched the girl approach. She muttered to herself, "Wow indeed," in awe of the stunning beauty in front of her.

As the girl drew closer, a bright smile graced her face, and her voice, husky yet raspy, resonated with a sense of intrigue. "Hi, nice to meet you guys," she greeted, her words tinged with a mesmerizing charm. "I'm Harper. You must be Sophia and Jonathan."

Stunned into momentary silence, Sophia and Jonathan extended their hands, their eyes still locked on the enchanting newcomer. "Yes," they managed to utter in unison, their voices barely above a whisper.

Resolving to break the spell, Rachel gently nudged her older siblings, positioning herself between Harper and them. "Snap out of it!" She's sulky, scolding them with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.

She knows that Harper is an attractive girl, but people keep bothering her. Especially the two young men who've been pestering them for the last two days of their vacation. Until Harper finally agreed to get dinner with them, she sat with them awkwardly but was happy because Harper relied on her.

Rachel watched with a mix of amusement and concern as the two young men continued to pester Harper throughout their dinner. Despite Harper's captivating beauty, it was clear she had no interest in entertaining their advances.

"Can we have your number?" one of the boys asked hopefully.

"No," Harper replied curtly, never breaking her focus from the meal in front of her.

Undeterred, the other boy tried a different approach. "Maybe you have a Facebook? That way, we can get to know each other better."

Harper looked up, her expression gentle yet firm. "I do have a Facebook, but I don't see a reason why I should share that with you." Her sweetest smile only seemed to further confuse and frustrate the young men.

"I mean, how are we going to get closer if we don't know anything about you?" one of them asked, clearly exasperated.

Harper tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "Do I look like I want to get closer to either one of you?" She asked, her tone surprisingly soft and non-confrontational.

The boys were taken aback, their faces contorting in a mixture of shock and disbelief. "But you accepted our invitation for dinner!" one of them protested.

Harper let out a gentle sigh, her smile never wavering. "You kept pestering me, and you don't handle rejection well. I thought this would be the easiest way to get you to leave me alone." She paused, offering them another warm smile. "I can pay for my own meal, by the way."

The rest of the dinner was a delicate play between Harper and the boys, with the persistent suitors desperately trying to learn more about Harper, only to be met with a barrage of polite yet evasive responses. Harper's ability to maintain her composure and gracefully deflect their advances left the young men increasingly bewildered yet strangely charmed.

In the end, the boys walked away empty-handed, their previous confidence shattered. They couldn't help but feel a peculiar mix of frustration and admiration for the enigmatic young woman who had so effortlessly resisted their efforts. It was a humbling experience, one that made them reconsider their own approach and implanted a renewed respect for Harper's solid confidence.

Harper's soothing voice broke Rachel's trance. "Rachel, come on," she said, a hint of urgency in her tone.

"Where to?" Rachel asked, blinking as she returned to the present moment.

"Your sister and brother have asked for coffee. Let's go," Harper replied, a warm smile gracing her features.

Rachel paused, momentarily concerned about the timing. "Your flight?" she asked, remembering that Harper had a plane to catch.

Harper's expression remained calm and reassuring. "Not for another five hours. Don't worry, we have plenty of time," she assured Rachel, gesturing for her to follow.

Jonathan felt a sense of pride as he paid for everyone's coffee, his nice gesture showing his real admiration for Harper. As they took their seats in the famous coffee shop, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee engulfed them, adding to the already lively environment.

Harper flopped back in her chair, her eyes concentrated on the hot cup of Americano in front of her. She didn't simply want to appear savvy by drinking an Americano; she actually needed the caffeine to power her for the long drive ahead. Espresso, though strong, had a tendency to make her jittery, and she couldn't risk that on this particular day.

"I still have a long trip to Berlin after this," Harper explained after thanking Jonathan for the coffee.

"Berlin?" Jonathan asked, his brow furrowing in curiosity.

"Yes, I'm enrolled at Heidelberg University," Harper revealed, a hint of pride in her voice.

Sophia's tone, however, held a note of subtle condescension as she inquired, "What are you studying?"

Harper met Sophia's gaze with a playful smile. "Why, are you hoping to have me as an in-law in the future?" she teased, catching Sophia off guard.

Flustered by Harper's response, Sophia quickly backtracked. "Ah, I'm sorry; I guess I was being too nosy."

Harper waved off the apology with a wink. "Eh, no worries. Being a little nosy is good for a future lawyer, don't you think?" she said, her words causing Sophia to flutter slightly.

Sensing the growing flirting tension, Rachel interjected, "So, what did you two want to talk about? Why did you ask Harper and me to join you for coffee?"

Jonathan and Sophia exchanged a glance. "Well, we were hoping to get to know you better, Harper," Jonathan began, his voice warm and sincere. "You've clearly made a strong impression on our little sister, and we'd love to learn more about you."

Sophia nodded in agreement, her previous judgment melting away as she recognized the opportunity to bridge the gap that had grown between them. "Yes, we'd like to understand what drew you and Rachel together and how you've become such an important part of her life," she said, her tone now laced with genuine curiosity. "Well, especially about what happened in the L."An audition, since I know this girl will not tell much." Sophia pointed at Rachel, who's content with her glass of ice tea.

Harper's eyes sparkled with understanding as she considered their request. "Well, then, I suppose we have a lot of catching up to do," she said, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Where shall we start?"