Enna Sona [Ziam]

Forty One

The presentation went well. More than well, actually, if the claps and praises were anything to go by.

Zayn had to keep telling Liam to breathe all morning until the meeting because he was freaking out. It was funny because this was Zayn's first presentation and Liam had sat through and done few presentations and seminars before.

"We did it! They approved it!"

Liam squealed before throwing himself at Zayn who caught him in his arms, smiling so wide, his cheeks hurt. Liam did not want the hug to end, Zayn did not want to let go off Liam, but they couldn't stay there like that, in the middle of the office hall.

They weren't even embarrassed after the hug, and Zayn has never felt this happy. Gosh, how was he going to admit it to Zileh that, yes, he's in love with Liam? She's so going to tease him all year!

But when is he going to say this to Liam!? Maybe he should wait and see if Liam actually likes him back? What if he dropped the L bomb and scared him away? No way! Zayn wants Liam for the rest of his life. He should ask Louis how to go about it. As useless as he is, Louis is a romantic and what he has with Harry.. Zayn would be lucky to have that with Liam.

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Charlie clenched his fist tight. He needs to calm down. Liam is not his. Not yet. So there's no point in getting mad at watching Liam hug Zayn, who happens to be his husband, a guy who never deserved Liam! If it was anyone else Charlie would've let it go, but Zayn? Come on, Liam can do better than that.

Who's he kidding!? Charlie wants Liam. And he can feel Liam wants him too. He just needs a little push. His upbringing is holding him back. Liam thinks he should never cheat on his husband, but if the husband is not making him happy? Charlie can make Liam happy! Happier than Zayn ever can! There should be something on Zayn that Charlie can use, that will make Liam see he's not right for him!

Charlie huffed before taking his cigarette pack out. He should find a place to smoke. He is not sure if he can smoke inside.

"You smoke?"

Charlie turned to see Yasser Malik looking at him with a disappointed look.

"Oh.. I just.. I'm trying to quit."

Charlie lied. He wasn't trying to quit. But he should. He developed the habit in the past year and he knows it's not healthy.

"You better. Maybe you would, if you got a good slap from me, like my son did!"

Yasser chuckled at the memory.

If Charlie was trying to escape the conversation, he's suddenly interested.

"What? Zayn smokes?"

Charlie has never seen him smoking, even in their college days, even though the guy looked the type.

"Oh, he tried alright. When he was a kid. Got a real smack from me, across the cheek! I shouldn't have. Still regret it. But it made him never want to try it again."

Yasser smiled, sighing. He still regrets raising his hand on Zayn. The boy was only 13 for heaven sake! But Yasser was having a bad week at work, and he gets home to find a pack of cigarette in his younger son's room. He lost it. He still hasn't apologized to Zayn for that. Not when he's awake at least. He didn't want anyone to know he had cried apologizing to his sleeping son in the middle of the night. He had to maintain the tough image. He doesn't know why, but he had to.

While Yasser relived the bittersweet memory, Charlie smirked to himself finding this new piece of information on Zayn. Maybe if he can tempt Zayn into smoking again.. He's got a plan.