Chapter 7 — The Distance Between Us
1608 Words
The next morning, Zein made a decision.
She would keep her distance from Kairo.
Not because she stopped caring.
That was the problem.
She cared too much.
If she stayed close to him, every smile would give her hope. Every message would make her forget that he was engaged. Every time he looked at her, she would wonder whether he was going to choose her.
And Zein couldn't build her future on maybe.
So when she entered the classroom, she deliberately chose a seat on the other side.
Kairo noticed immediately.
He walked in a few minutes later, looked toward their usual seats, and stopped when he saw her.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Then he walked toward her.
"Can we talk?"
Zein kept her eyes on her notebook.
"We're about to have class."
"It's not for another ten minutes."
"I have notes to review."
"You've already reviewed those notes."
She looked up.
"How do you know?"
"Because I've watched you read the same page three times."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Instead, she looked away.
"Kairo, please."
He became quiet.
"Okay."
He walked to his seat.
For the first time since they met, there was an entire row between them.
It felt much bigger than a row.
Professor Vale entered.
The class began.
Zein tried to concentrate.
But she could feel Kairo looking at her.
She refused to look back.
After class, she packed her things quickly.
She was almost out the door when she heard his voice.
"Zein."
She stopped.
She didn't turn around.
"What?"
"Are you really going to avoid me?"
She closed her eyes.
"I need space."
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
He was quiet.
She finally turned around.
"I like you, Kairo."
His expression changed.
She took a breath.
"I don't know when it happened, but it did."
He stared at her.
"And that's exactly why I need to step back."
"Zein..."
"You have someone."
"Elise isn't—"
"She's your fiancée."
The words silenced him.
Zein swallowed.
"Whatever your family did or didn't decide, she's still involved."
Kairo looked down.
"I know."
"I don't want to be the reason someone gets hurt."
"You aren't."
"Maybe not yet."
He looked at her.
"I won't let you become the other woman."
Zein's heart broke at the words.
"I don't want to be that person."
"You're not."
"Then let me go."
Kairo froze.
She immediately regretted saying it.
But she couldn't take it back.
After a long silence, he nodded.
"If that's what you want."
Zein forced herself to smile.
"For now."
He looked at her.
"For now?"
She looked away.
"I don't know."
Then she left.
Kairo remained in the hallway.
He wanted to follow her.
But he didn't.
Because for once, he understood that loving someone could mean respecting the space they asked for.
Even when it hurt.
The following days became strangely quiet.
No coffee.
No late-night messages.
No shared lunches.
No walks after class.
Their conversations were limited to their project.
"Did you finish the introduction?"
"Yes."
"Send it to me."
"Okay."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
That was it.
Zein hated how much she missed everything else.
She missed his stupid jokes.
She missed the way he said her name.
She missed receiving random messages during the day.
Most of all, she missed feeling like someone was waiting for her.
But she refused to go back.
One afternoon, while she was studying in the library, Nina sat beside her.
"You two aren't talking anymore."
Zein looked up.
"Who?"
Nina raised an eyebrow.
"You and Kairo."
"We're talking."
"About school."
"That's still talking."
Nina sighed.
"Zein."
"What?"
"You like him."
Zein looked down.
"Yes."
"And he likes you."
She didn't answer.
"But he's engaged."
Nina's voice softened.
"That's the problem."
Zein closed her book.
"I know."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
Nina reached across the table.
"You don't have to decide today."
Zein smiled sadly.
"Thanks."
That evening, Zein stayed late on campus.
She wanted to finish their presentation so she wouldn't have another reason to spend time with Kairo.
When she finally left the library, she noticed someone standing near the gate.
Kairo.
She stopped.
He was holding her umbrella.
Her umbrella.
The one she had accidentally left in the library two days earlier.
"You forgot this."
She walked toward him.
"Thanks."
She took it.
Neither moved.
Then Kairo said, "You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
She smiled faintly.
"So do you."
He smiled.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then Zein remembered.
The smile disappeared.
"I should go."
"Wait."
She stopped.
"I won't ask you to change your mind."
She looked at him.
"I just wanted to say something."
"What?"
"I'm trying to figure things out."
Her heart beat faster.
"About the engagement?"
He nodded.
"About everything."
Zein looked down.
"I don't want you to make decisions because of me."
"I'm not."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
He hesitated.
"But I also don't want you thinking I'm choosing Elise over you."
Zein's eyes lifted.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I haven't chosen anything yet."
Her heart fluttered.
She hated that it did.
"That's not fair."
"I know."
"You're giving me hope."
"I'm not trying to."
"But you are."
He looked at her.
"Then maybe I should stop talking."
She almost laughed.
"That would be a first."
He smiled.
There was something comforting about hearing his laugh again.
For a few seconds, they simply stood there.
Then Kairo reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small folded paper.
"What's that?"
"Something I wanted to give you."
She opened it.
Inside was a simple handwritten sentence.
You don't have to disappear just because you're afraid of being hurt.
Zein stared at it.
"Kairo..."
"I don't expect anything."
He stepped back.
"I just wanted you to know."
She folded the paper carefully.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
"Good night, Zein."
"Good night."
He walked away.
Zein watched him go.
She wanted to call him back.
She didn't.
That night, she placed the note inside her notebook.
She didn't throw it away.
She didn't tear it.
She kept it.
And that scared her more than anything.
Because maybe she wasn't ready to let him go.
Maybe she was only pretending.
Meanwhile, Kairo arrived home to find Elise waiting outside.
She smiled when she saw him.
"You're late."
"Sorry."
"I wanted to talk."
"About what?"
She looked at him carefully.
"Her."
Kairo froze.
"What?"
"Zein."
He said nothing.
Elise sighed.
"I saw you with her."
"When?"
"More than once."
Kairo looked away.
"I didn't lie to you."
"You didn't tell me either."
He didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
"Do you love her?"
Kairo closed his eyes.
The question was simple.
The answer wasn't.
"I don't know."
Elise gave a sad smile.
"That's already an answer."
He looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize yet."
She shook her head.
"I just want the truth."
Kairo looked down.
"I care about her."
"More than you care about me?"
He couldn't answer.
Elise nodded slowly.
"I understand."
"Elise—"
"I'm not angry."
She looked toward the house.
"Just hurt."
Then she walked away.
Kairo stood alone.
For the first time, he realized that there might be no way to get through this without hurting someone.
And he hated that.
The next morning, rumors began spreading around campus.
Zein heard whispers as she walked through the hallway.
"That's her."
"The professor's son."
"I heard they're together."
"No, he's engaged."
"Maybe she knew."
Zein stopped walking.
Her face became warm.
She kept going.
She didn't know who started the rumors.
She didn't know how much people knew.
But she knew one thing.
She couldn't let the gossip affect her scholarship.
She couldn't let her grades suffer.
She couldn't let anyone turn her into a story.
So she focused on her studies.
She answered questions.
She submitted assignments.
She practiced their presentation.
She worked harder than ever.
Kairo noticed.
He wanted to help.
But he stayed away.
He understood why she needed space.
On presentation day, Zein stood beside him at the front of the classroom.
Their project was about love and timing.
The irony wasn't lost on either of them.
Professor Vale watched from his desk.
Their presentation went smoothly.
Zein spoke confidently.
Kairo followed.
When they reached their conclusion, Zein said:
"Sometimes people can love each other and still be separated by circumstances they didn't choose."
Kairo looked at her.
She continued.
"But circumstances don't erase what people feel. They only force people to decide what they're willing to risk."
The classroom became silent.
Professor Vale watched them carefully.
Kairo gave the final line.
"Maybe the hardest part isn't knowing who you love."
He looked at Zein.
"Maybe it's knowing when the timing is finally right."
Their eyes met.
Neither looked away.
The class applauded.
But Professor Vale didn't.
He simply stared at his son.
After class, he called Kairo.
"Kairo."
"Yes, Dad?"
"We need to talk."
Kairo knew immediately.
"About Zein?"
His father didn't answer.
That was enough.
"Tonight."
Kairo nodded.
As he walked away, he looked toward Zein.
She was packing her things.
For one brief moment, their eyes met.
She smiled.
He smiled back.
Neither approached the other.
But both understood.
The distance hadn't erased what they felt.
It had only made them realize how deep it already was.
And later that night, Kairo would finally learn why their families had become enemies.
A secret from years ago.
A secret that would change everything he thought he knew about Zein's family.
And when the truth came out, loving her would no longer be the only difficult choice he'd have to make.
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