Tainted Redemption

Chapter twenty-seven

Olivia's POV

Zayn and I have been sleeping next to each other for the rest of the night. Now I'm gazing how he sleeps and couldn't be more grateful that he's going to be okay.

I watch how his chest has difficulty to expand and how he's wheezing lightly. It brings tears to my eyes that I swallow down.

Yesterday was so awful and nerve wrecking that I'm not sure how I survived that myself.

Tim was right. I don't know where I find time to think about my best friend but I do.

I even sent him a text telling he had right and that he shouldn't dare tell me 'I told you so'. I doubt he's going to reply.

Now this issue of hiding things brought another. I should tell Zayn about his dad and that I saw him, but first I had to mull on the fact that Zayn is distrustful as well, about when I asked if there's more behind the reason of why he looked so angry and flabbergasted when I told him that he wanted the deal, even more...

Was my dad lying? Then why would Zayn cover for him?

I was honestly so lost. But I knew I had to find the end of this, I had to dig deeper through the mud of confusion.

I'd call Louis later.

For now, I keep staring at Zayn's relaxed features. He looks so pretty while sleeping, despite his ugly bruises that were still swollen but had begun healing. I was lucky to have him. He could've dodged the punches and even fight back but he didn't. I think part of that was because of me. As cute as this was it was stupid too. He could've been very damaged from this. But I wouldn't love him so much if he wouldn't be so head strong.

Deciding I should prepare his medications and something to eat, I slip out of the cover, giving him a kiss on the forehead.

....

The look he had when I came around with a tray of food was heart warming. He had woken up alone and looked pouty about that until I explained where I had been.

He scarfs the food down slowly because his chest contracted every time he moved, I wanted to feed him but he snapped when I tried. He's like always very irritated and grumpy in the mornings that a cup of coffee would fix immediately.

"I've been thinking," he begins when he was done eating and drinking his coffee, "about us and how worried you were yesterday." he says lowly, then entwined our hands, looking up at me gently with glinting eyes. I listen closely since I didn't know where he was going with this, "For one, I don't want you sad anymore." he states, I smiled softly, "I like to think you're not sad when you're with me, well I hope so...And since your dad kinda busted us, I want you near me all the time."

Tucking a hair strand behind my ear, "Okay...?" I say unsure.

"Would you want to live with me?" he questioned, my face gets bewildered, my hands slump down. He looked so shy, his head leaning to the side, "Live together, as in, a house, like I don't have one yet but I've got some lands that would be great to, like, build a house where you could pick up the decoration, what do you say? We could have a big backyard, and if you like you'll choose the land, but if you don't that's cool too...could you just fuckıng say something I feel like an idiot-" His voice was light towards the end, he's even grinning at me since I was flabbergasted.

I had clashed our mouths together to stop him from rambling, pecking him again and again.

I'd never thought I would live to see the day where Zayn is so nervous and shy that he kept stumbling over his words but still kept eye contact.

"Is that a yes?" he mumbled on my lips, smiling.

I pull away, "Do you even have to ask?" I retort, I know I'm too young to live with someone but he is the person I see myself growing old together. I love him and that will never change. So what would be the difference if we wait a few years or just get it done with now? Soon I frown, gnawing my lip, "But what about my dad?" I wasn't going to ask for permission because I'm an adult but I didn't want to leave if my dad is going to be mad and then harm Zayn for revenge. I'd have to tell mum when she's back home from work. She had been so kind to take care of us two, let's hope she'll be just as understanding with this decision.