Her Value. ( BWWM).

chapter 10.

Days crawled by, each one amplifying the ache of missing Ecrin. Her smile felt like a forgotten warmth. I wrestled with the urge to call Zoltan, just to ask about her. But his sharp words always held me back.

Still, Ecrin's sweet face overshadowed my fear. Nothing mattered more than knowing she was okay.

Then a sliver of pride surfaced. Should I wait? He would need me eventually, Ecrin would need me.

The memory of confessing my feelings to Zoltan's mother flashed in my mind, a wave of regret. Had she told him? Was that why he was silent?

A tight knot of frustration formed within me. I had to know about Ecrin. The silence was unbearable. I almost reached for my phone. My heart just ached to know she was alright.

My fingers trembled as I picked up my phone. The blank wallpaper stared back at me, a stark contrast to the days when Zoltan's face had filled the screen. I banished the sudden pang of longing and searched for his contact.

A silent battle raged within me – reason warring with a hopeful heart. Finally, with a shaky breath, I pressed the call button. The ringing tone echoed in my ear, each pulse amplifying my anxiety. Why am I so nervous? I chided myself. This was about Ecrin, not him.

Or was it? A small, honest voice whispered that I did want to know how he was too.

The ringing stretched on, unanswered. Disappointment pricked at me as I ended the call. Should I try again? The question hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty.
Against my better judgment, I tapped his name again. Still, silence.

Defeated, I tossed the phone onto the couch, a frustrated curse escaping my lips.

"They must be alright," I told the quiet room, the words a flimsy shield against the worry that gnawed at me. So many days had passed without a word, and a knot of anxiety tightened with each hour. I walked to the washroom, the simple act of washing my face a brief escape from the swirling thoughts. Maybe it was time to think about other things, I mused, like sending out job applications. A new path, a fresh start.

As I stepped back into the room, a flicker of light drew my attention. My phone screen had briefly illuminated and then gone dark. I picked it up, my breath catching in my throat. Three missed calls. Zoltan. My fingers trembled slightly as I stared at his name, a nervous flutter in my chest.

"Oh, for goodness sake!" I whispered, a wave of self-reproach washing over me. "Why did I have to go to the restroom? If I had just waited a few more moments..."

Just then, the phone pulsed again, the familiar ringtone slicing through the silence. Zoltan was calling. Without a second thought, I swiped to answer, my heart pounding in anticipation.

"H-Hello, Zoltan?" My voice trembled slightly, relief flooding through me at the sound of his breathing on the other end.

"You'll never learn from your mistakes, Theodora!" His familiar tone, laced with a hint of exasperation, washed over me. I knew he was referring to my use of his first name, but in that moment, it barely registered. A wave of relief overshadowed the usual sting of his reprimand.

"Oh, thank God," I rushed out, a torrent of worry spilling forth. "I was so worried about Ecrin. You haven't called in days. Is she alright? Is she with you? Can I speak to her?" The questions tumbled out, one after another, leaving a brief silence on the other end.

"Are you there? Hello?" I repeated, my anxiety creeping back in.

"Ecrin is fine," he finally replied, his voice as firm as ever. "She's been asking about you. I had some work, so I took her with me. I've been looking after her myself."