Stay With Me Afomia

Chapter 6

Afomia's pulse quickened as Zein's arms tightened around her, lifting her effortlessly from the floor. For a brief moment, her mind was clouded by the alcohol, but something inside her snapped. It wasn't the physical weight of his hold that sent her over the edge, but the feeling that he was trying to control everything once again. She wasn't some fragile doll to be carried around, to be bent to his will at every turn. No.

She slapped his chest with both hands, the force behind it surprising even herself. "Stop," she commanded, her voice sharp and filled with fury. She wasn't sure why she was so angry, but the emotions rushed through her in a tidal wave.

Zein's usual calm demeanor faltered. His blue eyes widened slightly as he processed her sudden resistance. He froze in place, his hands still hovering around her waist, but the unspoken tension between them became palpable. A flash of confusion crossed his face, but it was gone almost instantly, replaced by a quiet uncertainty.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" His voice was low, controlled, but there was something different in the way he said it—a subtle c***k in his usual confidence. The concern was there, but it didn't make her feel better. It only heightened the sense of frustration burning inside her.

Afomia didn't know what had gotten into her. Maybe it was the alcohol clouding her judgment, or maybe it was the constant battle to assert control in her life that made her feel suffocated by his presence. But whatever it was, she couldn't stop herself now.

"Don't touch me," she hissed, stepping back and pushing against him with every ounce of defiance she had left. Her hands pressed hard into his chest, and she could feel the heat of his body through the fabric of his clothes. She could feel his muscles tense beneath her touch, but he didn't push her away. He just stood there, his dark blue gaze locked on hers, his body still as stone.

His lips parted as if to say something, but Afomia wasn't having it. Her voice came out sharp and bitter, almost like a slap. "You always do this, don't you? You think you know what's best for me, but you don't. I'm not some... thing to be managed. I'm not your toy, Zein."

Her words hung in the air like a challenge, raw and unfiltered. She wanted to break free from whatever hold he had on her, even if it was just for a moment. She wanted to feel like she was in control again.

Zein's blue eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as if he were holding back something—perhaps his own frustration, or maybe something else. His usual composure was cracking, and for the first time, Afomia saw something more than just the calculating, omnipotent figure he often presented. There was a vulnerability there, but it was hidden beneath layers of pride and control.

"I never wanted to control you," he said softly, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of emotion. "I just... I just want to protect you." His eyes softened, but only for a fleeting moment. "But if you need space, I'll give it to you. You're free to make your own choices. I'm not here to stop you."

Afomia's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected vulnerability in his voice. For a moment, she thought she saw something—an understanding in him, something she hadn't expected. It should have comforted her, but instead, it only made her feel even more lost. She wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. She wasn't sure if she could trust him or herself.

Her chest tightened as she looked down, suddenly feeling too exposed. She crossed her arms over her body, as though shielding herself from the wave of emotions crashing through her. She had never been good at vulnerability, and yet it seemed to be creeping up on her, seeping into the cracks of her carefully constructed walls.

"Why?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling for a brief second. She wasn't sure what she was asking. She didn't know if she was asking about him or herself. The questions, the confusion, were overwhelming.

Zein didn't answer immediately. Instead, he watched her carefully, his gaze never wavering. His blue eyes seemed to pierce through her, searching for something she couldn't quite name. There was something in them—something she wasn't prepared to face. His posture remained still, but his eyes told a different story.

He took a deep breath before finally speaking, his voice soft yet filled with determination. "Afomia," he began, stepping closer to her. "I will never force you into anything. But don't push me away too far. You don't know what you're doing, and I don't want to see you lost in this world without me by your side."

The words hit her harder than she expected. She wasn't sure whether to run or stay, to fight or surrender. She had never felt so vulnerable, so unsure of herself.

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words were stuck, trapped by the weight of everything between them. Instead, she stepped back, trying to regain some distance, some semblance of control. But even as she did, she couldn't shake the feeling that Zein was right. She had never been good at letting people in, but now, with him, she wasn't sure if that was even an option.

Zein's voice softened once more, the cool calmness returning. "I'll give you time, Afomia. But don't close me out completely. When you're ready... I'll be here."

He turned and walked toward the door, his blue eyes lingering on her for one last moment before he left. Afomia remained in the center of the room, her chest rising and falling with each shaky breath. The silence around her was suffocating. She had wanted distance, space from him, but now that it was here, it felt like a void.

Her mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. Was this what she wanted? To push him away, to reject everything he offered? Or was it just fear—fear of letting someone in, someone who saw her as more than a weapon or a means to an end? The questions circled in her mind, leaving her more confused than before.

And as the door clicked shut behind him, Afomia was left standing in the quiet, her heart heavy with the weight of her own choices.