Chapter28
1403 Words
As the servant handed Zelene the Advil and left, Zelene turned her attention back to Rowan, who was still sitting on the big sofa, looking completely worn out.
"Rowan," she said gently, holding out the Advil and a glass of water she had poured earlier, "take this. It will help with the headache."
Rowan opened his eyes slowly, looking at the Advil and then at Zelene. "Thanks," he murmured, taking the pill and the water from her. He swallowed the pill and then leaned back, closing his eyes again.
Zelene sat down next to him, a mix of concern and frustration in her eyes. "Rowan, we need to get you upstairs. You can't sleep down here."
Rowan shook his head slightly. "I don't want to move. I'm fine here."
"You're not fine," Zelene insisted. "You need to rest properly. Come on, let's go."
Rowan sighed heavily but didn't move. "Why are you even here, Zelene? You should be home, resting. I’m not your responsibility."
Zelene took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "I'm here because I care about you, Rowan. And because Samuel called me, worried sick about you. Now, please, let's go to your room."
Rowan looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and gratitude. "I don't deserve you."
Zelene shook her head, standing up and holding out her hand to him. "We can talk about that later. Right now, you need to get up."
Reluctantly, Rowan took her hand and stood up. He swayed slightly, and Zelene put an arm around his waist to steady him. Together, they made their way upstairs to his room. When they reached his bed, Rowan sat down heavily.
"You should shower," Zelene suggested softly. "It will help you feel better."
Rowan nodded, looking exhausted. "Yeah, okay."
He went into the bathroom, and Zelene waited outside, sitting on the bench in his room. She could hear the water running and felt a pang of sadness for the situation they were in. When Rowan finally emerged from the bathroom, looking slightly more refreshed but still exhausted, he gave her a tired smile.
Rowan sat on his bed and looked at Zelene with a tired but sincere expression. "Thank you for taking care of me," he said softly.
Zelene nodded, offering a small smile. "It's okay, Rowan. You need to rest now. I'll book an Uber to take me home."
Rowan's eyes widened slightly. "No, you shouldn't go home on your own in the middle of the night. I can drive you."
Zelene shook her head firmly. "You're still drunk. You need to rest. I'll be fine."
Rowan looked at her with concern. "I don't want you to go home alone. Please, stay here tonight. You can sleep on my bed, and I'll take the bench."
Zelene hesitated, glancing at the bed and then back at Rowan. She could see the genuine worry in his eyes. After a moment, she nodded. "Alright, I'll stay."
Rowan smiled, a relieved look crossing his face. "Thank you. You can lay down now, get some rest."
Zelene walked over to the bed, feeling the exhaustion settling into her bones. She climbed under the covers, feeling the comfort of the soft sheets. Rowan settled himself on the bench, pulling a blanket over him.
For a moment, the room was filled with a peaceful silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
Zelene lay in the large, comfortable bed, her eyes wide open and her mind racing. The lampshades on either side of the bed cast a warm, soft light, but it did little to ease her restlessness. She turned her head slightly and called out gently, "Rowan, are you still awake?"
Rowan, who she thought had fallen asleep, responded quietly, "Why?"
Zelene hesitated before admitting, "I can't sleep. I'm not used to sleeping in such a large bed. It feels empty being alone here."
Rowan chuckled softly and rose from the bench. He walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her. Zelene sat up as well, and they looked at each other in the dim light. Rowan was topless, wearing loose black pants, his hair a messy tangle. Zelene couldn't help but gulp at the sight of him.
"Can I ask you some questions?" Zelene asked tentatively.
"Of course," Rowan said, his voice gentle. "I'll answer honestly."
Zelene took a deep breath. "Nisha showed me a picture... You were in bed, topless, and she was there too, covered with a blanket. You were asleep. Can you tell me what happened?"
Rowan sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "I didn't know she took that photo. That night, I stayed at her house because she was having trouble breathing, and I didn't want to leave her alone. I slept in one of their guest rooms. I chose that room specifically because it has a CCTV camera. I woke up when I heard the click of a camera. I was furious and left immediately. Nothing happened, Zelene. You can even check the CCTV footage."
Zelene looked at him, searching his eyes for any hint of deceit. "Why would she do that, Rowan? Why would she try to make it look like something happened between you two?"
Rowan shook his head, his expression one of frustration. "I think Nisha has always wanted more from our relationship than I was willing to give. She's been pushing boundaries, trying to come between us. But I swear, Zelene, you're the only one I care about. I would never betray you like that."
Zelene took a deep breath and asked, "How about at the gym? Why didn't you stop Nisha when she was wiping your sweat and giving you bottled water?"
Rowan looked down, clearly remorseful. "I'm tired of always nagging Nisha. I let her do those things because it means nothing to me. I treat her like a sister. It never crossed my mind that it would hurt you this much, and for that, I'm really sorry. I'm a jerk for letting it happen. If I could have another chance, I would prove myself worthy of you."
Zelene bowed her head, feeling the weight of his words. Rowan continued, his voice breaking, "When you told me we needed to break up, my world shattered. This is the first time I've ever felt this kind of pain."
She heard him sniffle and looked up, shocked to see tears streaming down his face. Her heart ached at the sight of him crying. Rowan moved closer and took her hand, his grip gentle but firm.
"I really love you, Zelene," he said, his voice trembling. "I don't want to give you up. Even if you push me away every day, I will always find a way to be a part of your life. I won't give up on us."
Zelene's eyes filled with tears as she saw the sincerity and pain in Rowan's eyes.
Zelene wiped Rowan's tears with a gentle touch. "I miss you so much too, Rowan. The breakup has been so painful for me. I was just afraid that you weren't serious about us, and that I'd end up being left behind because Nisha seemed better."
Rowan shook his head vehemently. "No one is better than you, Zelene. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." He took a deep breath and continued, "I already talked to Nisha and told her to stay away from us. I also spoke to her parents about everything. They apologized and assured me they'd handle Nisha. They even wanted to send their apologies to you."
Zelene's eyes widened in surprise. "You did all that? Why did you talk to her parents?"
Rowan sighed. "I wanted to end the mess Nisha created and take responsibility for the stupid things I let happen. I needed to show you that I'm serious about us. I'm asking for another chance, Zelene. I promise to make it up to you and be a better man. I really love you."
Zelene stared at him for a moment, her heart pounding. Then, she smiled and nodded. "Why should I keep my heart aching when there are so many things between us that can make us both happy? At least now things are clear."
Rowan's face lit up with relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Zelene. I promise you won't regret this."
Zelene moved closer and hugged him tightly.
- Writer
