Revenge - English Version

Chapter 16 - Lonely

ZAYN POV

I let out a heavy sigh. I don't have the right to protest. She's absolutely right, but that doesn't make her coldness hurt any less. We've never stayed in this kind of situation for so long; we always found a way to talk things through. So, I really don't know what to do or what to expect.

- Caroline... - My voice cracks slightly. - Please, listen to me.. .- I need to at least try to explain myself, even though deep down, I know there's no real explanation.

- I don't want to listen to you, Malik. - She emphasises my surname as if it were poison. - If you wanted to talk so badly, you missed a huge opportunity two days ago, in that room. - She points behind her, towards where it all happened. - Oh! I swear! - She growls in frustration. - How the hell did you have the audacity to bring that bitch into MY bloodyhouse? Of all people, you were the last one I thought would disrespect me like that. And then you stayed silent, like a gutless coward, when you could have defended me. But now? Now there's nothing I want to hear from you.

My eyes widen at both her tone and the number of curse words. She's different. Confident. Unfortunately, that confidence is now directed straight at me, so I can't feel happy about it.

She feels more distant than ever.

- Since when do you call me Malik? - I ask, almost whispering, trying to grasp the real extent of this change.

She gives a sarcastic smile and sets her mug down on the counter.

- Since I neither have nor want the trust to call you by your name anymore. - Her words are cruel, and I know she's choosing them carefully. What does she mean, she doesn't trust me?

- What do you mean, you don't trust me? I'm your best friend !- The words slip out quickly, and regret follows right behind. She laughs, but it's a harsh laugh, with not a trace of humour. A sound that hits me like a punch to the stomach.

She steps closer. Every step she takes towards me makes my heart race faster, as if the air around us has thickened. Her hand slides up my chest, sending shivers through my body, and she lifts her face to meet my gaze. We're now inches apart, and I can feel the warmth of her body. My eyes fix on her lips. The way she parts them to speak... They're full, a delicate pink, and everything inside me screams to close the distance and kiss her.

She's teasing me. I don't know with what intention or when she learned to do it, but all I know is that right now, I feel my heart lodged in my throat. Then she speaks, in a low voice, almost a whisper that makes me hold my breath.

- You're not, not anymore. - The proximity is overwhelming, but before I can even process what's happening, she pulls away suddenly. The warmth I felt disappears, and I'm left dizzy, as if I've just been ripped from a trance.

How did she manage to affect me so much, with such simple gestures?

- My friends are called Kate, Harry, Niall, and Liam. Only them. - Each name she says is like a punch to the stomach. - But if you're talking about Zayn... - She hesitates, just for a fraction of a second.- I'm sorry to inform you, but he died seven years ago. - Pain flickers in her eyes, just for a brief moment, before she regains that implacable coldness.

With that, she turns and leaves the kitchen without another word, without even looking back at me. The sound of the door closing echoes in my ears like the final clod of earth falling onto the grave where everything we shared is now buried.

As soon as the door shuts, my legs give out. I fall to my knees, powerless, with tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. The thing I feared the most has just happened. Did she hate me before? I didn't want to believe it, but now... now there's no doubt.