TOO MUCH FOR YOU. ENOUGH FOR HIM

Zendaya’s POV

The sharp sound of my alarm shattered the quiet of my room. For a few seconds, I lay there staring at the ceiling, my brain refusing to cooperate with the idea that morning had arrived. The soft grey light leaking through my curtains told me everything I needed to know—it was definitely morning, and unfortunately, it was definitely time to get up. I groaned and rolled onto my side, grabbing my phone from the nightstand. 7:05 AM. “Ugh,” I muttered, dragging the word out as I buried my face in my pillow. Fridays were supposed to feel easier. The end of the week. The promise of freedom. But right now, all I felt was the heavy pull of sleep clinging stubbornly to my body. Another alarm buzzed. “Okay, okay… I’m up,” I mumbled to no one. Slowly, I pushed the blankets off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The cold floor against my feet made me shiver. Dragging my feet like someone being forced to attend a punishment, I made my way toward the bathroom. The mirror greeted me with the sight of messy hair and sleepy eyes. “Wow, Zendaya. Stunning,” I said sarcastically to my reflection. I grabbed my toothbrush and squeezed toothpaste onto it before brushing lazily, my eyes half closed as I leaned against the sink. Mint filled my mouth, slowly waking up my senses. After rinsing, I stepped into the shower and let the warm water pour over me. That was the moment my body finally started cooperating. The heat relaxed my muscles, washing away the last bits of sleep. I stood there longer than necessary, letting the water run through my hair and down my back. Today was Friday. And today, I had a plan. A small smile crept onto my lips. After my morning class, I was going to visit my parents. They had no idea. A surprise visit. I hadn’t seen them in weeks, and honestly, I missed them more than I liked to admit. Mom would probably scream when she saw me. Dad would pretend not to be emotional but end up hugging me longer than usual. And my little brother… well, he would definitely try to steal my snacks. The thought made me laugh softly. After finishing my shower, I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel and walked into my dressing room. Clothes hung neatly around the walls, shoes lined up perfectly on the shelves. I scanned through them, tapping my finger against my chin thoughtfully. “What do I feel like today?” I murmured. My hand brushed past a few dresses before I shook my head. Too much. Then I stopped at something simple. A pair of fitted light blue jeans, a soft white crop top, and an oversized beige cardigan. Casual. Comfortable. Effortlessly cute. Perfect. “It’s Friday,” I said to myself. “We’re keeping it simple.” I dressed quickly, slipping on white sneakers and grabbing a small gold necklace from the dresser. A little lip gloss. A touch of mascara. Done. I glanced at myself in the mirror, turning slightly. Casual but still cute. “Good enough,” I nodded. My stomach suddenly reminded me it existed with a loud growl. “Oh right. Food.” I headed to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I quickly decided on something easy but filling. I grabbed eggs, bread, and an avocado. Within minutes, I was preparing breakfast. I toasted two slices of bread while frying scrambled eggs with a little butter. The smell alone made my stomach happy. Next, I mashed the avocado with a sprinkle of salt and black pepper before spreading it generously over the toast. I placed the eggs on top and added sliced cherry tomatoes on the side. Avocado toast with scrambled eggs. Simple. Perfect. I poured myself a glass of orange juice and sat at the counter. The first bite made me sigh happily. “Okay… maybe mornings aren’t that bad,” I admitted between bites. I scrolled through my phone while eating, checking a few notifications and messages. Nothing important. By the time I finished my breakfast, I glanced at the time again. 8:10 AM. My eyes widened. “Oh my God.” My class started at 8:30. I jumped up instantly. “Zendaya, you are so late!” I quickly rinsed my plate and dropped it in the dishwasher before rushing back to grab my bag. My car keys dangled from the hook by the door and I snatched them quickly. Within seconds I was out the door. The morning air was fresh as I hurried toward my car. My sleek black car waited in the driveway like it had been patiently expecting my chaotic entrance. I jumped inside, started the engine, and backed out. Just as I pulled onto the road, my phone rang. Beatrice. I sighed dramatically before answering through the car speaker. “Good morning, drama queen,” I said. “Zendaya!” she groaned. “That bad, huh?” “I am stranded,” she said dramatically. I laughed. “Again? What happened this time?” “My ride cancelled last minute! I’m literally standing by the roadside looking like a lost puppy.” I shook my head. “You’re impossible.” “Please come get me.” I pretended to think about it. “Hmmm… I don’t know.” “Zendaya Wilson!” I laughed. “Relax. I’m already on the way.” “You’re the best friend in the world.” “I know.” A few minutes later, I spotted her standing near the road waving both arms like someone trying to stop traffic. I pulled over and she quickly jumped into the passenger seat. “Oh my God, I thought I was going to die out there,” she sighed dramatically. “Beatrice, you were standing there for five minutes,” I said. “Five traumatic minutes.” I laughed as I pulled back onto the road. “So what’s the plan for today?” she asked. “Morning class,” I said. “Then I’m visiting my parents.” Her eyes widened. “Really?” “Yeah. Surprise visit.” “They’re going to freak out.” “I know,” I smiled. We chatted the rest of the drive, laughing about random things and gossiping about school drama. By the time we arrived at campus, the parking lot was already buzzing with students. I parked the car and we stepped out. As we walked toward the main building, something—or rather someone—caught my attention. Darian. He stood a few meters away, leaning casually against a car while talking to another guy I didn’t recognize. He looked relaxed, one hand in his pocket, the other gesturing as he spoke. Even from a distance, he had this calm confidence about him. Before I could say anything, Beatrice suddenly grabbed my arm. “Whoa.” “What?” I asked. She leaned closer and whispered excitedly. “The guy Darian is talking to… wow.” I blinked. “What about him?” Beatrice stared at him openly. “That guy is hot.” I followed her gaze toward the other boy Darian was speaking with. He was tall, well-built, and dressed casually but confidently. I shrugged lightly. “Yeah… he’s not bad.” Beatrice nudged me playfully. “Not bad? Zendaya, that man is fine.” I laughed. “Well, you should go introduce yourself then.” She grinned mischievously. “Don’t tempt me.” Just then, Darian looked up. For a brief second, his eyes met mine. I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on my bag. “Come on,” Beatrice said, grabbing my arm. “We’re going to be late.” And with that, we headed toward our class—unaware that the day was only just beginning.