40 ??I couldn't unlove her??

ZAYN

I hated when the principal shouted orders at me.

Zeeshan was responsible for overlooking the lighting for today's event. Anas was, as usual, somewhere outside flirting with girls. I had to not only get the students and parents seated but also receive the host and get him into the auditorium.

God forbid he found his way himself.

I was halfway down the steps when I noticed that the guy I had assigned the task of placing and setting the mics on the podium hadn't done his work. I shouted at him and he scurried off.

I was so done.

Where the hell was An—?

The walls I had surrounded myself with came crashing down as familiar eyes looked straight into mine. My legs moved out of their own accord. I had no idea where I was going just that Leia was zooming in more and more.

I needed to see her. I didn't realise how much I just wanted to look at her. To see if she was okay. She hurt me but it didn't stop the worry that clawed my heart day in and day out.

I came to a halt right in front of her. The world around seemed invisible as I saw the same relief in her eyes that I felt deep in my heart.

She was okay. She was glad I was okay.

Such a damned laughable situation.

But I wasn't the same anymore. Just two minutes ago I thought I wouldn't care whenever I saw Leia. But I did care. Oh, God, did I care.

My hands itched to touch her. To make sure she was real. What would it be like to hold those little hands in mine? Had her scars healed? More importantly, had she somehow gotten divorced?

I needed to know.

I had to know if—

No, Zayn.

Remember.

How she hurt you.

Every. Single. Time.

Don't fall for her again.

It was a futile effort. When you fell into a well, you could very well say goodbye to everything else outside. Especially when the well was sealed from all sides. When it was hammered with nails.

In other words, I could never unlove Leia.

Just like I couldn't unbreak my heart.

"Zayn," she whispered softly, her voice tugging at the strings of my tattered soul.

She did this each time. Whenever she came back after leaving with no word. She took my name and I fell deeper into the darkness of the well.

I had to get away.

My feet were suddenly taking me out into the cold air. The weather perfectly complemented my mood. From the right I grabbed Anas and dragged him with me.

"Oh hey, my boie," he sing-songed. "Where are you taking me?"

"To get the speaker." In the back of my mind, I knew the speaker's name but the only thought running on my mind was Leia.

She seemed different.

What was different about her?

Her eyes were more . . . mature, somehow. Like two dazzling stars. They shined brightly than before. They could easily bedazzle a man.

No, but there was something else too. I just couldn't get what. I stopped suddenly and so did Anas beside me.

"I have to see her again," I said to myself.

"See who again?" Anas speculated me with narrowed eyes. I was lost in my own thoughts to even care. "Oh, her. You're so whipped, bro. She ignored you for months. At least give her a cold shoulder for a day."

"You don't know anything," I clenched my fists as I looked back at the door of the auditorium. Students were rushing in now. I sighed. "Let's go get him."

"See? I knew you took my advice seriously."