Chapter 10 – When the World Went Quiet
346 Words
The rooftop was empty—except for Teo.
He stood by the railing, wind tousling his hair, his tie loose like he hadn’t bothered fixing it after class. He looked like a boy waiting for heartbreak. Like someone who expected Zayn not to show.
But Zayn did.
And when their eyes met, Teo’s guard broke for a moment.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said, voice low.
“I almost didn’t,” Zayn admitted, walking closer. “But you waited. And that meant something.”
Teo looked away. “What now, Zayn? Are you gonna tell me it was all a misunderstanding? That you were just being… friendly?”
Zayn shook his head. “No. I came to tell you the truth.”
He took a deep breath. “I’ve been lying. To Maia. To everyone. But mostly… to myself.”
Zayn stepped forward until they were inches apart.
“I didn’t let go of your hand last night because I didn’t want it. I let go because it felt too right. Too real. And that scared me.”
Teo’s eyes were glassy now.
“But I don’t want to run anymore,” Zayn whispered.
And just like that—without asking, without warning—Teo kissed him.
It wasn’t soft.
It wasn’t shy.
It was full of all the things they hadn’t said for months.
Teo’s hand gripped Zayn’s collar like he thought he might disappear. Zayn’s arms circled his waist like he was anchoring himself to the only truth he knew.
When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, eyes wide, lips red.
“Are you gonna keep pretending tomorrow?” Teo asked, voice trembling. “At school? Around your friends?”
Zayn didn’t answer right away. He looked at the sky, then back at Teo—the boy who had seen through all his walls.
“No,” he said. “Tomorrow, I’ll hold your hand in front of everyone.”
And for the first time in a long time…
Teo smiled.
And Zayn didn’t need to fake it either.
- Writer
