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𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇, zayn malik returns to his hometown in search of a producer for his new album, "nobody is listening." unexpectedly, his old best friend isobella, who is adored by the bradford community and known as the best producer in...
i went to bed that night, and to my surprise, it was the best sleep i'd had in ages. i woke up feeling strangely refreshed, almost as if i'd been recharged by some sort of emotional reset button.
it was a stark contrast to the usual restless nights filled with tossing and turning. i had no idea why i felt so good, but i wasn't about to complain.
the first thing i did was check on valentina. she was still fast asleep, curled up with her favorite blanket and her little teddy bear that selene had gotten her last year.
it was 9 a.m., and she'd probably sleep for another half hour or so. i tiptoed out of her room, careful not to make any noise that might wake her. with a sigh, i decided to make the most of the quiet moment and checked my phone.
there was a new message from an unknown number. curiosity piqued, i opened it up. the message read, "so i trusted you with my phone, and you decided to sneakily add your number. really, that's how it's gonna be?" i instantly recognized zayn's tone through the text. typical zayn, making jokes even when he wasn't physically present. i couldn't help but smile.
i typed back, "oh, come on. i was just trying to make sure you don't forget me. you know, adding a little spice to your contacts list." i hit send, feeling a bit mischievous. i knew he was just joking around and probably appreciated the contact as much as i did. it didn't take long for him to reply.
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zayn
iMessage april 15th
zayn so i trusted you with my phone, and you decided to sneakily add your number really, that's how it's gonna be?
belle oh come on i was just trying to make sure you don't forget me you know, adding a little spice to your contacts list
zayn well, it's nice to know you're still up for a little banter what else have you been up to?
belle oh just the usual trying to keep a four-year-old entertained and not let her turn the house into a disaster zone and you? besides trying to track down my number?
zayn fair enough, just trying to get some work done and figuring out how to make this album as good as it can be nothing too exciting
belle sounds riveting i bet you're living the pop star dream
zayn yep living the dream and what's your dream? besides trying to avoid having your house look like a tornado hit it?
belle honestly? my dream is probably just to get through the day without stepping on a stray toy or dealing with a tantrum the little things
zayn the little things sometimes those are the big things but if you ever need a break, you know where to find me or, well, you know how to text me
belle duly noted though i think i'm good for now it's pretty nice to just have a quiet morning for once
zayn enjoy it while it lasts, i imagine it's a rare commodity with a 4 year old running around
belle you have no idea it's like living with a whirlwind of energy and emotions but i wouldn't change it for the world
for the next thirty minutes, zayn and i continued texting back and forth. it was surprisingly easy to fall into a rhythm of playful banter and genuine conversation. it felt like we were picking up from where we left off, as if the past ten years hadn't happened. it was both comforting and confusing, but mostly just nice to reconnect.
just as i was starting to get into the groove of our conversation, i heard the familiar sound of valentina stirring in her room. reluctantly, i wrapped up our chat
belle gotta go the little one's up talk to you later?
zayn sounds like a date sure thing hope she doesn't give you too much trouble
belle thanks we'll see
i headed to valentina's room, and there she was, hugging her bear tightly as she sat up in bed. her sleepy eyes blinked at me, and she immediately asked, "where's zayn?"
i knelt beside her and gently explained, "baby, zayn isn't here right now. he had to go do some stuff."
her face fell, and before i could react, tears started streaming down her cheeks. my heart ached at the sight of her disappointment. i scooped her up and held her close, whispering soothing words in her ear. "shh, it's okay. zayn will come back another time, but for now, let's get some breakfast and start the day."
i carried her to the kitchen, where i set her down at the table and began preparing her favorite breakfast: pancakes. i pulled out the mixing bowl and gathered the ingredients—flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
as i mixed them together, valentina watched with wide eyes, her mood improving with each step of the process.
i melted butter in the pan, letting it sizzle before pouring in the batter. the pancakes began to bubble, and the smell of cooking batter filled the kitchen.
i flipped each pancake carefully, making sure they were golden brown on both sides. valentina clapped her hands in excitement as she saw the pancakes take shape.
"are you going to put syrup on them?" she asked, her eyes lighting up.
"of course," i said with a smile. "extra syrup, just the way you like it."
i stacked the pancakes on a plate and drizzled a generous amount of syrup over them. i also added a side of fresh strawberries and a few banana slices, knowing that valentina loved fruit. she took her plate with a happy squeal and started eating, the earlier tears forgotten.
as she ate, she babbled about how much she liked the pancakes and asked if we could have zayn over again soon. i chuckled and told her we'd have to wait and see. "maybe next time, we can make a special breakfast together, just like this."
valentina nodded enthusiastically, her mood clearly lifted by the delicious meal and the promise of future fun. as she ate, i couldn't help but think about how much had changed and how strange yet comforting it was to reconnect with zayn.
for now, though, the day was about enjoying the simple moments with valentina and savoring the peace that came with a well-made breakfast.
