Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Unwanted Guest
~Zayn’s POV~
Just as I was about to put the phone down, the screen lit up again. This time, it wasn’t another message, it was a video call.
For a moment I paused, smiling to myself. He must have finally run out of patience. With a little laugh, I swiped to answer.
His face appeared instantly, filling the screen.
"Baby!" he said, his voice half-relieved, half-accusing. "Why didn’t you reply to me? Do you want to kill me with worry?"
I couldn’t help but chuckle at his dramatic tone. "I was only teasing you."
He narrowed his eyes at me, pretending to sulk, though the corners of his lips betrayed the smile he was holding back. "Teasing? Do you know how many messages I sent, and you just ignored me?"
I laughed softly. "You’re too easy to mess with. One little silence and you already think I’ve replaced you."
He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Because I can’t stand the thought of losing you. Don’t ever joke like that again, okay?"
The sincerity in his voice made my heart soften. "Alright," I murmured. "No more teasing like that. I just wanted to see how much you miss me."
"Are you sure this is about wanting to know if I miss you... Or are you really upset that I might not make it to your birthday?"
I shook my head lightly. "No, babe. I just want to know how much you miss me, how much you still want me."
His gaze locked on mine through the screen. "Then listen carefully, I miss you every second. And I love you more than you’ll ever know."
My smile grew tender. "I love you too."
This time, he didn’t hang up. He stayed on the line, just watching me, as if the sight of my face was enough to quiet every doubt.
We lingered there, doing nothing but staring at each other through the screen, until the call finally ended. And when it did, my thoughts came rushing back.
I told Evric I would be going out tonight. He said it was fine, even insisted that I enjoy myself, and added that his driver would be waiting outside for me. Initially, I had wanted to follow Nantam home, but knowing how Evric tends to overthink, I decided against it. If I went with Nantam instead of back to his place, it could spark unnecessary suspicion and turn into a bigger issue than it needed to be. So I resolved to go out and return straight to his house afterward.
Tonight, I would also be meeting Evans. I had tried to ignore him countless times, but he kept insisting he only wanted to be my friend. Eventually, I spoke to Dean about it, and he advised me to give Evans a chance, to at least allow him to show up. So tonight, we agreed to meet at the bar. Dean and Nantam would be with me, and the three of us would spend the evening together.
The day passed quickly, and by evening Dean sent me the location of the bar. I told him I’d be coming, though deep down I worried about one thing: Evans. I seriously didn’t want him approaching me in front of Evric’s driver. That man was loyal to Evric to the bone, whatever he saw, he repeated. If Evric ever heard Evans’ name from him, it would be a storm I wasn’t ready to face.
When we arrived at the bar, I turned to the driver and asked politely if he wanted to come in.
He shook his head with a faint smile. "I’ll wait outside, sir."
Dean was already inside by the time I walked in. A little later, nearly an hour after, Nantam joined us. We ordered drinks and settled into the lively atmosphere when Evans finally called, saying he had arrived. I told him which table we were sitting at. Thankfully, Dean had chosen a perfect spot, discreet, tucked away, the kind of place where even a celebrity like Evans could sit without drawing too much attention.
When Evans approached, he greeted both Dean and Nantam warmly, slipping into conversation with them more easily than with me. He laughed, he joked, he carried himself like someone who belonged there. Yet after a while, he leaned toward me and gestured. "Can we talk outside?"
I thought twice, then nodded. We left together, and he led me to his car.
We slipped into his car and sat inside. His questions started casually enough, but the longer we spoke, the clearer it became, he wasn’t just being friendly. Every glance, every word, carried a weight, like he was testing the waters to hit on me.
Before I could respond, my phone lit up with a video call. Evric.
I quickly excused myself, but before stepping out of the car, I tilted the phone slightly so Evans could see my screen, the picture of me and Evric together, his name flashing bold. And then his voice came through, warm and unmistakable.
"Hello, babe."
I stepped outside to take the call. Evric explained he had been trying to reach his driver but couldn’t get through, and asked me to tell the driver to call him directly. I did as he asked and then returned to Evans’ car.
Evans stared at me, his expression unreadable. "For real?" he muttered.
I frowned. "What?"
"Evric," he said slowly, "he’s the one you’re with?"
"Yes," I answered firmly.
His jaw constricted, and his tone sharpened. "Evric is young. What can he give you besides money?"
The way he said it carried something heavier than casual judgment. It was bitterness, almost personal, like there was a history, like Evans wasn’t just skeptical, but had a grudge against Evric himself.
Evans only returned the smile, evasive. "Never mind." Then, as if nothing had happened, he added, "Since your friends have invited me to your birthday, I’ll look forward to it. I think I should go now. It’s nice meeting you again."
I extended my hand, and we shook. "Nice to meet you too."
Before I stepped out, he leaned closer. "Tell your friends I’m happy to have met them. I’d like to get closer to them... because of you."
I gave a short chuckle. "What do you mean, because of me?"
He smirked, cryptic as ever. "Later, Zayn."
Just then, I stepped outside, but by the time I looked around, he was already gone.
I stood there, dumbfounded. What the fuck is wrong with him? The whole exchange left me unsettled, like he was trying to twist something I couldn’t quite place.
Back inside, I sank into my seat, forcing a small smile at Dean and Nantam, though my mind was far from calm. Thanks a lot, Nantam... you’ve just invited trouble into my life.
Still, a thin wave of relief washed over me. At least Evric said he couldn’t make it to my birthday. Because if he did show up, I’d have no choice but to introduce Evans as Nantam’s friend, just to keep everything straight.
Running my hand through my hair, I let out a sharp breath. What the fuck is going on? Who’s trying to mess with my head?