Unknown
500 Words
Khan looked at Liam, expecting his usual smirk, his usual teasing remark to undercut whatever rare compliment he had just given her.
But there was nothing playful in his expression. No amusement. Just quiet honesty.
And that threw her off more than anything.
She swallowed, unsure how to respond. “Uh… thanks?”
Liam let out a breath, running a hand through his hair before leaning back on the couch. He looked… tired. More than tired—drained.
For a moment, Khan considered ignoring it. Letting the silence settle.
But something about the way he sat there, shoulders tense, eyes distant, made her pause.
She hesitated, then softly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Liam exhaled but didn’t look at her. “It’s nothing.”
Khan narrowed her eyes. “That’s a lie.”
He didn’t argue. Didn’t give his usual sarcastic retort.
Instead, he sighed, pressing his fingers to his temple. “It’s just… Khloe.”
Khan stiffened. Of course.
She leaned back, crossing her arms. “What about her?”
Liam shook his head. “She got in my head tonight. Like she always does.”
Khan watched him carefully. “And what did she say?”
Liam let out a bitter laugh. “That I don’t love you. That I never will.”
A strange tightness settled in Khan’s chest at that.
She shouldn’t care. This was fake. They weren’t real.
But something about the way Liam had said it—like he was trapped in the weight of his past—made her feel something she really shouldn’t.
She inhaled deeply, choosing her next words carefully. “And do you believe her?”
Liam finally looked at her, something unreadable in his gaze. “I don’t know.”
The quiet honesty of it made her heart stutter.
Neither of them spoke for a moment, the weight of his words settling between them.
Then, almost absentmindedly, Liam reached for his cufflinks, fumbling as he tried to remove them. His fingers were shaking.
Khan frowned. She had never seen him like this before—so unsteady.
Without thinking, she shifted forward and gently covered his hands with hers.
Liam stilled.
Khan hesitated, then carefully undid the cufflink on his left wrist before moving to the other. “You’re exhausted.”
Liam didn’t move, didn’t say a word. He just let her do it.
And when she was done, she didn’t pull away.
Neither did he.
The air felt thicker. Different.
Then, softly, Liam said, “I don’t like losing people, Khan.”
She looked up at him, surprised by the quiet confession.
He wasn’t smirking. He wasn’t putting up walls.
He was just Liam.
Raw. Unfiltered.
And for some reason, she understood.
She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Neither do I.”
Liam studied her for a long moment, his blue eyes searching.
And then, before she could overthink it, Khan did something unexpected.
She reached out and gently squeezed his hand.
Liam didn’t let go.
- Writer
