Breathe
by;michimichiro
Chapter 20
It had been weeks since Zia and I last spoke. At that time, I had been avoiding her calls, trying to navigate my feelings in solitude. As I sat in Zyke's office, waiting for her arrival, the door suddenly swung open, and Oli entered. She made her way towards me, taking a seat across from me.
"Hasn't Zyke arrived yet?" Oli asked, her eyes searching the room.
I shook my head in response.
"How have you been, Eli? It feels like ages since we last saw each other," Oli remarked, trying to break the ice.
"I'm fine," I replied, keeping my answer simple.
Oli studied my expression before speaking once more.
"Is it true what I've been hearing about you and Zia?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.
I offered a smile, masking the pain that lingered beneath the surface.
"Whatever you've heard about us is true," I admitted, my voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and sadness.
"But why? As far as I know, she loves you, right?" Oli probed further, seeking understanding.
"It's easy to say you love someone; the hard part is proving your love for that person," I explained, my tone reflecting a sense of weariness.
Oli's face grew serious, and her eyes filled with concern.
"But have you considered that there might be a deeper reason behind Zia's actions?" she questioned, urging me to reflect.
"I know Zia wouldn't make this decision without a profound reason. But it also becomes exhausting to wait, Oli," I said, my voice carrying a tinge of fatigue.
"Life is too short to hold on to someone who isn't sure they want to stay," I added, knowing that sometimes letting go is the best choice.
A somber expression crossed Oli's face as she absorbed my words.
"Eli, you shouldn't give up on someone you love, especially when you know they love you back," Oli argued, her voice filled with conviction.
I smiled sadly and met her gaze.
"It's easy for you to say that because there are certain circumstances you possess that I don't. I don't want to be selfish, Oli. I don't want Zia to suffer because I insist on fighting for our love," I explained, my voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and sacrifice.
"For me, Eli, if I truly love someone, I would fight for them regardless of the obstacles. Living with regrets and wondering 'what if' is not a life I want," Oli remarked, emphasizing the importance of fighting for love.
"Zia has made her decision. She had chosen to continue her life without me. So, the only thing I can do now is respect Zia's decision," I stated, coming to terms with the reality before me.
"But what if Zia changes her decision? Will you still refuse to fight for your love?" Oli pressed, hoping to sway my perspective.
"I still won't fight what we had, Oli. And do you know why? Because our battle never truly began, but Zia gave up on us. We just started building our relationship, but she ended it too soon. Maybe my role in her life was only ever meant to be as a friend," I said, a touch of sadness in my voice.
Oli let out a sigh, her gaze filled with a mix of understanding and compassion.
"I understand why you feel this way now, Eli. But I just ask you to consider giving Zia one more chance. Let her prove to you how deeply she loves you," Oli implored, hoping to open my heart to the possibility of reconciliation.
"I'm sorry, Oli, but I can't make any promises right now. I'm still hurting immensely from what has transpired between us," I responded honestly, acknowledging the deep wounds I carried.
She nodded, showing her understanding.
"Take all the time you need. I know the pain you're experiencing is profound. But I just ask that you don't close your heart completely to the possibility of giving Zia another chance. There's a reason you two found each other, and maybe this time, your relationship will work," Oli said, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil.
I took her words to heart, knowing I had much to consider and heal from before I could even fathom the notion of reconciliation.
Silence hung heavy in the room as Zyke made her entrance, accompanied by someone unexpected. Without a moment's hesitation, Oli rose from her seat, a wide grin spreading across Oli's face as she greeted Zyke affectionately.
"Hey, babe, I've missed you," Oli joyfully exclaimed, leaning in for a kiss.
Zyke, however, intercepted the gesture, her eyes narrowing in warning. "Don't do it!" she sharply declared, causing Oli to burst into laughter at her partner's reaction.
"You do have a knack for teasing," Oli playfully remarked, pinching Zyke's nose with amusement.
While this playful exchange unfolded, Zyke turned her attention towards me. "Eli, I want you to mentor Maureen and provide her with all the necessary guidance and training," Zyke instructed, her gaze fixed firmly upon me.
With Zyke's directive in mind, I observed Maureen making her way towards us, her eyes fixated on me. She extended a greeting, albeit with a strange smile playing on her lips.
"Hi, I'm Maureen. And you are?" she inquired, her tone carrying a curious edge.
Before I could respond, Oli interjected, stepping in between us with an air of confidence. "I'm Oli," she exclaimed, inserting herself into our exchange.
Turning her attention to Maureen, Oli adopted a playful tone. "Miss, you shouldn't look at your mentor like that if you want to keep your job," she remarked, a mischievous smile dancing across her face as she scrutinized Maureen from head to toe.
A quizzical expression settled on Zyke's face as she exchanged a bewildered glance with Oli. "What are you talking about?" Zyke questioned, her gaze shifting between Oli, Maureen, and myself.
Oli simply shrugged her shoulders, retrieving her cell phone and dialing a number. "Hey, Zia! You need to come down to Zyke's office right now. Someone is getting a little too close to your girlfriend," Oli cheekily informed Zia before abruptly ending the call.
We all turned our attention towards Oli, collectively sharing a bemused expression. I couldn't help but voice the burning question on all our minds. "Did you just call Zia?" I asked, my voice filled with bewilderment.
Oli burst into laughter, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Yep, that was Zia on the line. Did you hear that?" she remarked, her amusement seeping through her words.
The door suddenly swung open, revealing Zia's furious visage. The unexpected appearance of Zia left all of us momentarily stunned. Zia locked eyes with Zyke, their tone seething with anger.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Zia demanded, her voice laced with an unmistakable edge.
Zyke crossed her arms, her expression unwavering as she held Zia's piercing gaze. "What are you doing here? Were you planning to announce your engagement?" Zyke retorted with a directness that matched Zia's intensity.
Zia's face contorted with fury in response to Zyke's remark. "Just because you saw me with someone doesn't mean I'm rushing into marriage!" Zia shot back, her voice laced with defiance.
Observing the tense exchange, I glanced at Oli, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the unfolding drama. Her smile persisted as if she were relishing every moment, as though she were watching a captivating movie.
A desire to intervene sparked within me, but before I could act, Oli gestured for me to stay put. "Why are you all looking at me like that?" Oli inquired, her attention shifting between each of us.
"Tell me you didn't call Zia on purpose," Zyke said, her tone a mixture of inquiry and suspicion.
Oli's laughter continued to ring through the room as she happily replied, "Oh, yes, that was indeed my purpose. You heard it; I repeat, that's my purpose."
After a few moments, the room's atmosphere shifted as Zia fixed Zyke with an intense glare, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "Zyke, we need to talk. I'll message you later with the time and place," Zia stated firmly, her gaze returning to me once more.
"Remember, Eli, you belong to me and only me," Zia declared, tightly gripping my hand as she guided me out of Zyke's office.
I was caught off guard and followed Zia in silence, like a puppet controlled by her firm hand. Fear mingled with curiosity, suppressing my ability to voice any objections or hesitation.
