CHAPTER 43

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ZAISHA

I picked up my phone and called Reyaan. The phone rang for about a minute but there was no answer. I didn't realize how much time had passed since I started reading the entries. It was 10 pm now. Maybe he is sleeping. Just as I was about to cut the call, he picked up.

"Zaisha?", he asked as soon as he picked up the call as if me calling him was completely out of the blue. I guess it was to some extent. But how could he give his journal and not expect me to want to talk?

"Hey!" my voice came out a little husky and shaky.

"Is everything alright?", concern creeped into his voice.

"Yeah. Can you come over?" I said without thinking. I just want to see him.

"I will be there in half an hour." No questions asked.

Twenty minutes later he was there, standing at the entrance. Looking so good with his messy hair. I nodded for him to get in. Reyaan stepped inside, his eyes searching mine for any sign of what I was feeling. The tension between us was palpable, thick with unspoken words.

"Hey," he said softly, closing the door behind him. His voice was tentative, unsure of what awaited him.

"Hey," I replied, my voice still shaky, but steadier than before. I gestured for him to sit, but instead of moving towards the couch, we both ended up standing, just a few feet apart.

Unable to control myself, unable to hold any longer, I stepped towards him and hugged him, tightly. My face buried in his neck, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent.

His hands lingered for a beat, unsure, but then he enveloped me in his embrace. He gripped me with the urgency of a man holding on to the edge of a cliff.

"I read it! I read the journal. I am so sorry you had to go through all of that.", I whispered.

His hold on me tightened and I could feel his warm breath in my hair and the rapid thudding of his heart against my own. When I pulled back, his face was filled with unreadable emotions.

"You could have told me, you know."

He looked down, avoiding my gaze, his hands still resting on my waist. "I didn't know how to tell you", he confessed, his voice barely audible. "I have never even thought of sharing it with anyone, it has remained in the darkest corners of my brain. So, I didn't know how to tell you." He considered the next words that came out of his mouth. "I was scared that if you knew, you'd see me differently, or worse, that you'd leave."

"Why would I leave?" I asked, my palm reaching for his jaw, forcing his gaze to meet mine. "Reyaan, this doesn't change how I feel about you. It just makes me want to be there for you even more. It gives me a chance to know you and understand you."

Reyaan looked at me, his eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt. After a moment, he sighed, his shoulders relaxing just a bit. "You're not afraid? Of everything I've told you?"

I shook my head. "I am not afraid, Reyaan. Why would I be? Because you think you killed your father?" He flinches at the mention of these words. "It was self-defense Reyaan. You were protecting yourself. You were a kid and didn't realize there were stairs behind you. It doesn't make you a bad person. What happened was not your fault."

Reyaan's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions—relief, fear, and something else I couldn't quite place. He took a shaky breath while his hands still held on to me.

"You really believe that?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

I nodded, my hand moving to cup his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble under my palm. "I do, Reyaan. What happened wasn't your fault. You were a child, scared and trying to protect yourself. No one should have to carry that burden alone."

He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch, and for a moment, it felt like the weight he had been carrying for so long was finally lifting. When he opened his eyes again, there was a vulnerability in them that I had never seen before.

"I don't know how to do this," he admitted, his voice raw.

"You don't have to figure it out all at once," I replied softly. "We'll take it one step at a time. Together."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and he pulled me into a tighter embrace, his forehead resting against mine. "I love you, Zaisha", he whispered. His voice filled with relief and warmth.

"I love you too, Rey-Rey." I whispered back using the nickname that always made me happy.

His smile grew and the tension between us melted away. Without another word, he leaned in, closing the small gap between us, and crashed his lips on mine.

As his lips met mine, the kiss wasn't rushed or forced. It was slow and languid. It was like savouring every lost moment and every touch reminding us of our connection. It was a soft, lingering connection.

His lips were gentle, pressing against mine with a tenderness. As he deepened the kiss, his hands moved to the back of my neck, tilting my head back slightly for easier access. I instinctively reached for his hair, pulling him closer. The sound that escaped him—a deep, throaty growl—sent a shiver cascading down my spine.

In one fluid, decisive motion, he lifted me, my legs wrapping around his torso. He guided us gently onto the couch, our bodies aligning comfortably. As we settled into the couch, the world outside seemed to fade away. The warmth of his body against mine was comforting.

His hands traced gentle patterns along my back, his fingertips lightly brushing against my skin, sending tingles through me. I could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.

Eventually, our lips parted. All it took was one moment for our gazes to meet to make us forget about everything else. It was just us. In that moment everything felt right. 

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THE END

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Thank you for reading Deceptive Affections!!

Epilogue will be published today at 5 pm. Stay tuned for the beautiful happy ending.


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