BEHIND HIS SMILE MY NAME

Chapter 4 – The Closet is Too Small for Three

Zayn didn’t go to class after gym. His steps led him to the empty music room at the back of the building—the one with broken chairs and a dusty old piano that no one touched anymore. He locked the door behind him, dropped his bag, and slid to the floor with his back pressed to the wall.

He wasn’t sure what he was running from.

Maia’s words wouldn’t stop echoing.

> “I saw the way you were looking at him.”

> “Just because I’m with you doesn’t mean I don’t see what’s going on.”

Zayn dug his nails into his palm. He hadn’t meant to drag her into this. She had offered to be his cover because they both needed one. Two kids in the closet pretending to be something else—it was supposed to be easy.

But she had started to care.

And Zayn had started to fall… for someone else.

A knock rattled the door.

Zayn didn’t answer.

Another knock. Louder.

“…Zayn, open the door. It’s me.”

Maia.

He stood slowly and opened it halfway.

Maia stood there, her arms crossed over her chest, lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re a coward,” she said plainly.

Zayn flinched.

She stepped in without waiting for permission and shut the door behind her.

“You’re not mad,” Zayn said. “You’re hurt.”

She turned to him. “Of course I’m hurt. I let you hold my hand in the hallway. I let people call me your girlfriend. I heard the rumors about Teo and still defended you. But Zayn… you don’t even look at me when you kiss me.”

His throat burned. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I never—”

“Don’t lie to me.” Her voice cracked. “You never wanted me. You wanted him.”

He looked away. “Maia…”

She let out a trembling breath. “You can’t keep hiding forever. Not behind me. Not behind your fake smile. Not from yourself.”

The silence between them was heavy, loaded with truth neither of them wanted to say out loud.

“I like Teo,” Zayn whispered. “I don’t know what to do about it, but I do.”

Maia looked down, then smiled bitterly. “I knew. I always knew.”

Zayn stared at her, guilt crawling over every inch of his body.

She walked to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. “I’m not your closet anymore, Zayn. You have to be brave enough to walk out on your own.”

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes.

Before she left, she kissed his cheek. “He likes you too. But he’s not going to wait forever.”

The door closed softly behind her.

And Zayn, alone with the sound of his own heartbeat, realized: The closet really was too small for three broken hearts.