BEHIND HIS SMILE MY NAME

Chapter 5 – Not His Girl, Not Mine Either

Teo Lunare knew heartbreak well.

He’d seen it in his mother’s eyes when his father walked out. He’d heard it in the silence between fights, in the slammed doors, in all the things left unsaid.

But this? This was different.

This was Zayn.

This was falling for someone who smiled like he didn’t mean it, who kissed a girl like he was trying to convince himself, who flirted like it was a joke and stared like it wasn’t.

Teo saw it all. And he waited.

He waited through every fake moment with Maia. Every hallway kiss. Every lie Zayn told with his eyes when they locked across the classroom.

Because Teo knew.

He knew the truth Zayn was terrified to say out loud.

But waiting wasn’t easy.

Especially not today—when he’d overheard the argument. Maia’s voice behind the gym. The anger, the heartbreak. And Zayn’s silence.

He should’ve walked away.

But he didn’t.

Now he stood outside Zayn’s locker, watching the boy pretend to rearrange books that didn’t matter.

Teo took a step closer. “Zayn.”

Zayn froze. Slowly, he turned around. “Hey.”

“Can we talk?” Teo’s voice was soft. Dangerous. Hopeful.

Zayn glanced around. “Here?”

“No. Somewhere no one’s pretending.”

That hit something deep. Zayn swallowed and followed without another word.

They ended up behind the theater stage. Curtains drawn. No audience. Just echoes and dust and two boys trying not to fall apart.

Teo leaned against the wall. “You don’t have to lie to me.”

“I wasn’t lying.”

“You weren’t telling the truth either.”

Zayn looked down. “I didn’t want to lose everything.”

“You already are,” Teo said quietly. “You’re losing yourself.”

The silence stretched.

Zayn looked up, eyes glassy. “What if I don’t know how to be... this? What if I screw it up?”

Teo stepped forward, so close their shoulders nearly touched. “Then screw it up with me.”

Zayn’s breath caught.

“I don’t want perfect,” Teo whispered. “I just want real.”

Zayn blinked. Then he did something he hadn’t done since they met.

He reached for Teo.

One hand on his chest.

One step closer.

Their foreheads touched.

“I’m scared,” Zayn breathed.

“So am I,” Teo replied. “But I’m still here.”

And for the first time, Zayn let himself believe that maybe... someone could stay.

Even after the walls came down.

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