Make Me Your Villain | ✓

Chapter Thirty Seven

Third Person's POV

He had always found comfort in the dark; the silence of the night brought him peace.

But tonight, that familiar darkness felt heavy. He sat on the charpai in the veranda of the old building, his empty gaze fixed on the lonely moon. It was a mirror to his own desolate heart.

Falling for someone was the worst mistake he'd made—especially when there was no chance of it ever working out.

But who could control their heart? It chose its own path, heedless of logic or the eventual wreckage.

A deep sigh escaped his lips. The heart was a merciless thing.

"Shazain?"

Jalal's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Shazain straightened up but kept his back to his friend. Jalal closed the front door behind him, curiosity etched on his face.

"What are you doing here so late?" Jalal asked, his tone puzzled. "But actually, it's good you're here. I've got news on that brothel the university kids are frequenting. We might hit the jackpot because the family behind it is rumored to be—"

"Forget it," Shazain interrupted, his voice rough. Jalal halted, both in speech and movement, sensing something was wrong.

"Hey..." Jalal approached cautiously, taking in Shazain's tense posture. "You okay?"

He moved closer, catching sight of Shazain's tightly shut eyes, struggling to hold back his emotions.

"Damn. This hurts so bad," Shazain muttered, lowering his head. Jalal stood there, stumped at the sight of his usually composed friend looking so vulnerable.

"Have you been crying?" Jalal asked, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut when Shazain pried his eyes open; bloodshot eyes devoid of life.

This wasn't the Shazain he knew—the one who kept his emotions tightly controlled.

Shazain abruptly stood up, swallowing hard before facing Jalal. "I'm quitting."

"Quitting?" Jalal repeated, scrutinizing his friend. "What are you talking about?"

"This lifestyle," Shazain said, waving a hand around. "I'm done with it all."

"What?!" Jalal's voice rose, disbelief coloring his features. "After everything we've built, all the sacrifices? You're just walking away?!"

Shazain nodded, meeting his friend's incredulous gaze. "You were right. I've gone too soft for this. I'm not cut out for it anymore."

Jalal's expression darkened. "This is about that girl, isn't it?"

"I'm leaving her too," Shazain replied, catching Jalal off guard once more.

"She called me," Shazain continued, turning away to stare at the sky. "Crying and begging me not to ruin her wedding. It made me feel... weird. After everything she learned about him, maybe there's something in Zohaib that no one else has."

Jalal clenched his fists. "Didn't you say you'd become the villain in her life just to make her yours? So why care about any of that?"

"Oh, I am the villain," Shazain said bitterly, looking back at Jalal. "But I'm rethinking whose life I should ruin. Hers or mine?"

"Snap out of it, man!" Jalal exclaimed, grabbing Shazain by the shoulders.

Shazain breathed in before gently removing his friend's hands from himself. "I came to say goodbye, Jalal."

"No, you can't just say goodbye and walk away after everything we've been through to build what we have today! What about all the people who rely on us? When the law fails, we step in. That's the only way some people can survive. That's how my family and I survived!" Jalal reminded him, his words frantic.