Forget Me Not (Zayn/Harry; Mpreg AU)

17 - Homesick

A couple of months later and it seems as though Zayn is still stuck in a bit of a funk. He is quite listless, always staring at a blank telly with the remote dangling in his hand. Sometimes, Harry catches him reading the local newspaper, an angry expression on his face, or furiously scribbling down words into his writing journal. Also, he hasn't been making any other attempts to try and pursue his career in music or even get a job in other marketing companies. Harry is greatly concerned by this sudden change in Zayn and continues to worry each day, wondering how he can be of any help to the older man.

On the other hand, Harry has been working harder than ever to support both himself and Zayn in surviving every single day. He has resigned in his voluntary work at Sweaterpaws to add an afternoon shift at a quaint diner as a bus boy and dishwasher. So, all in all, Harry's days are like this: opening shift at the bakery every 5 am, baking breads and pastries until 11, then by 12:30 pm he's busy collecting dishes from tables and washing them manually until 5 and, lastly, by 7pm, Harry is in the beer garden, training and supervising new workers. Harry's hectic days end around midnight, sometimes earlier, and his only reprieve is cuddling close to Zayn in his sleep, feeling him soft and warm and inhaling his scent, contentment coursing through the younger man's veins. Here in the circle of Zayn's arms, Harry's troubling thoughts are quiet, unable to strike.

Today, Harry is lucky to have the morning off because The Bread Corner is closed for the day. The very first thing in Harry's list is to eat breakfast with Zayn and in his excitement, he has woken up early eventhough he has only been asleep for a meager 4 hours. Despite the lack of sleep, Harry is energetic. The menu for breakfast today is very different and Harry hopes Zayn will like it - Filipino cuisine.

Pulling out a few vacuum sealed packs out of the cupboard, two dyed red eggs, tomatoes and some leftover white rice, Harry sets about preparing their meal. First, he minces some garlic cloves and throws them into the hot skillet that is drizzled with a bit of vegetable oil. He lets them fry a bit, but not to the point of burning them, and then adds the rice, sautéeing and seasoning it. Once the fried rice is done, Harry puts them into two plates. He moves on to frying the dried fish then, making sure not to let it cook for very long because it'll get overcooked and hard instead of flaky. In the meantime, he prepares the salted eggs, cutting them in half, scooping them out and laying them beside the sliced tomatoes. By the time Harry is putting the fish on the plate, Zayn is sleepily entering the kitchen.

"Hazza? You're still here?" The older man says, voice rough. He looks around the place with a confused pout. "What's that smell?"

Harry laughs. "Tuyo," he answers, grinning when he perfectly pronounces the word. He places the small plate with the dried fish on the table and proceeds to pour coffee into his and Zayn's mugs. He brings both mugs on the table, then handing the small containers with sugar and cream to his boyfriend.

"Gina, the Filipina cook at the diner told me that Filipinos eat rice for breakfast," Harry excitedly tells Zayn once he is seated, happy to be spending time with the older man. "How cool is that, right? She says they call it sinangag - hopefully, I got that right - and they pair it with salted duck eggs, dried fish or tuyo and tomatoes."

Zayn is listening attentively to his adorable boyfriend, a smile on his lips. He has yet to put sugar into his coffee and is instead staring fondly as Harry recounts his tale.

"Before I got into the beer garden last night, I went into this tiny Filipino cuisine grocery store and got dried fish and salted eggs. It literally cost me less than 10 quid and I got like half a dozen eggs!"

"Did Gina tell you how to cook the fish, though?" Zayn asks, stirring sugar and cream into his coffee.

Harry nods eagerly. "She did! Also, she told me to eat carefully and watch out for tiny fish bones but, ultimately, to enjoy the food. So, erm, yeah. I hope you like it."

Zayn sends his boyfriend a tender smile, reaching for his hand across the table. "Let's eat then, babe."

Despite the unfamiliar, weird scent of the dried fish and the salted eggs, Zayn and Harry has enjoyed their breakfast immensely. The food is good, different but delicious, nonetheless.

"Thanks for cooking breakfast, Harry," Zayn says as he puts food into Eclair's bowl.

Harry puts the clean dishes and utensils away. "You're welcome, Z."

With their tummies full and a few hours more to spare until Harry has to leave for work, the couple decide to cuddle on the couch, savoring the free time that they are given to be together. On the couch, Harry has his head tucked underneath Zayn's chin, his ear pressed on Zayn's chest, with the latter's arms snug around him. Harry thinks this is the best time to voice out his concern for Zayn's recently odd behavior.

"Zayn?"

"Hmm?"

Nervously, Harry pulls away from Zayn to look into his eyes. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Zayn answers quickly, eyebrows scrunched together in the middle of his forehead. Without Harry in his arms, he crosses them over his chest.

"I mean, uh, you're kind of...off? Recently?" Harry clarifies. He pinches his bottom lip with his thumb and index finger as he struggles to put his thoughts into words. "You don't go out. You're always, erm, staring at the telly or writing on your journal. It's just- that's not you and I want to help, okay? If you want to talk, I'm here to listen to you."

Zayn sighs softly, rubbing his face with his hands. "I...miss home," he whispers. "I miss my sisters and, for some crazy reason, my parents. I'm kind of wishing I don't because they've been nothing but awful to you and our relationship, but I don't know."

"Zayn," Harry coos, pulling Zayn against his chest. He rubs gentle circles on his older boyfriend's back and kisses the top of his head. "I understand that. You've been with them all your life, of course you will miss them. Maybe, you can try and visit them? It's been three months. I reckon they've cooled down by now. It wouldn't hurt to try and see them?"

"It's not that easy, Haz," Zayn replies, his own arms tight around Harry. "I know my parents and their decisions are final. There is no changing their minds once it is set."

"Even for their only son?"

"When I graduated in sixth form, I fully intended on going to Juilliard without my parents' consent because I just know they wouldn't approve of it," Zayn recounts, a faraway look in his eyes. His expression is bittersweet. "That is why I got the biggest shock of my life when I was shipped off to Wharton in the guise of a family vacation." Zayn laughs humorlessly, twirling a strand of Harry's hair.

Harry's chest tightens. "I'm sorry to hear that," he mumbles into Zayn's ear, hugging him a little tighter.

Zayn shakes his head and disentangles himself from Harry's hold. He pushes himself towards the farthest corner of their small couch and grabs Eclair to put him into his lap. He strokes the dog's fur and sighs heavily. "I used to think like I had the worst luck ever despite my family's wealth but then I got to know other people's misery through charity works and I got over myself. Instead of wallowing in self-pity for the dream that I never got to realize, I worked hard to help more of the less fortunate people."

Harry stares at Zayn with a small smile. "And that's why you're amazing, Zayn."

"Nah."

"You are," Harry insists. He pats Zayn's thigh and stands up to get ready for work. He stretches his arms as high as they can go and sighs in satisfaction when he feels his bones cracking. "Well, I have to go to work now, babe. Try to relax, yeah? Think about my suggestion."

Zayn nods and watches Harry go. He doesn't want to tell Harry this but he does not have to think about visiting his parents because he has long decided not to see them until they accept him and Harry wholeheartedly. Besides, he knows this homesickness is merely a phase like his self-pitying days; he'll definitely get over it and be the best boyfriend to the wonderful Harry. Zayn just needs more time.