LOVE WITHOUT DESTINY

part 11

It was a quiet morning.
Noah sat on her bed, staring at her phone.

Her fingers hovered over Zain’s chat.
She missed him terribly.

It had been months since they last spoke,
and the longing to see him was growing unbearable.

Finally, after much hesitation, she sent him a message:

Noah: "Zain, can I call you? I really want to see you."

In his room, Zain was standing in front of the mirror,
buttoning up his crisp white shirt.

The sunlight filtered through the curtains,
highlighting his sharp jawline and well-built frame.

His hair was slightly messy,
but in that effortlessly stylish way,
making him look even more striking.

When his phone buzzed on the table,
he glanced at it—Noah’s name.

His expression tightened.
He sighed, picking up the phone and reading the message.

Noah again.
She never seemed to tire of reaching out.

Reluctantly, he replied:

Zain: "I’m busy, Noah. Make it quick."

As soon as he sent the message,
the phone buzzed again—a video call request from her.

Zain stared at the screen.
Part of him wanted to decline,
but with a sigh, he accepted the call.

The screen connected,
and Noah’s face lit up the moment she saw him.

For a few seconds, she didn’t speak—just stared at him.

Zain stood in front of the mirror, fixing his collar.
The shirt fit him perfectly, emphasizing his toned physique.

He glanced at the camera, raising an eyebrow.

"Noah," he said, his voice calm but slightly impatient.
"Are you going to say something,
or are you just going to keep staring?"

Noah blinked, snapping out of her daze.

"Sorry," she said with a nervous laugh.
"I just... you look really good, Zain. Like always."

Zain smirked,
his lips curling into a faint, confident smile.

"Yeah, I know."

He turned back to the mirror, adjusting his sleeves.

"Anyway, what’s up? I don’t have much time."

Noah’s smile faltered for a moment,
but she tried to brush it off.

"I just missed you. I wanted to see you. That’s all."

Zain glanced at her through the screen,
his expression softening slightly,
but he didn’t say anything.

Instead, he reached for his watch on the table and strapped it on.

"So," Noah continued, trying to sound casual,
"when are you coming back? Everyone misses you. Your friends, I mean."

Zain sighed,
running a hand through his perfectly tousled hair.

"I’ll come back when I’m done here.
Once I achieve what I came for."

Noah’s heart sank.
She knew exactly what he meant.

It wasn’t his career or some professional goal keeping him away.
It was her—the woman Zain had been chasing for years.
The one he couldn’t seem to let go of.

"Right," she said, forcing a smile.
"Your contract’s going to keep you there for a while, though, isn’t it?
A few years, maybe?"

Zain turned to face the camera,
his sharp features softening into a faint smirk.