Once in a Lifetime (Zayn Malik)

Chapter 12. Secret.

Chapter 12

Zayn's POV

I was walking up to my room after what the old man told me to do. I needed time to sort this through.

I could not believe that Simon. Pretending to be in a relationship with Mia! That's bullshit.

How could I possibly be with someone who doesn't know anything about me?

Telling the paparazzi that Perrie and I were fake, I didn't think I can do it.

As I walked to my room, I phoned Perrie, in hopes that she'd finally pick up one of my calls. I called her countless times, texted her that I could explain all this. I didn't blame her though.

If I saw her with another man, I'd be furious. I only hope that the love we shared was strong enough so that she'd give me the chance to explain.

The third ring queued...then the fourth. I was about to hang up til I heard Perrie's dull voice answer.

"Perrie! I'm so glad to hear your voice," Relief washed over me. Upon entering my room, I went to sit on my bed.

"Just say what you have to say, Zayn."

"I love you. And I'm .. I'm sorry."

"That's all?" Her voice was abnormally lifeless.

"Mia. Sh-she wanted to tour London. And I agreed since she's one of your friends. We ended up doing that because she ... Kissed me. I swear I didn't kiss her. It was all just a stupid--"

"Wait... Mia kissed .. you?"

There was silence until she started again, her voice now furious.

"That ungrateful .. ! She knew about us yet she still had the guts to kiss you, my fiancé! Who does she think she is!"

"She even told me ... that she hated you..."

Why did I feel bad for telling Perrie such things?

Mia never told me to keep it a secret so why couldn't I tell her. But she never said she hated Perrie.

God this was getting way out of hand and my lie was only making it worse.

I felt like such a terrible person. I was completely lying to Perrie. We said we'd be honest to each other but .. at this moment, I couldn't lose Perrie.

I loved her. The only girl who made my world turn.

Lately she's been aloof with me, like she's hiding something but I didn't want to accuse her. It might only push her further away from me.

Harry came through the door, his eyes widened. I guess he was listening the whole time.

After taking in the information, Perrie was sputtering off senseless words. I wasn't even listening anymore. Something about Mia always being jealous of her and how she was better than Mia. It seemed so unlike Perrie to be saying things like this.

She kept going, "Ever since we liked the same guy, she's always been jealous of me. It's not my fault if he chose me to be his girlfriend. And now she's even trying to steal you away---"

Who was she talking about?

Then it hit me. It was the familiar story that Mia was telling everybody on the tour. About how she loved her childhood friend but she chose friendship for the sake of another friendship.

I told Perrie about Simon's plan. She was angry at first, but then her voice regained composure. I was becoming suspicious of her silence.

"Perrie? You still there babe?"

"I agree with Simon."

"What?! Are you crazy?" I yelled through the phone.

"No I'm not. It's the perfect plan, you see. We were fake so there's nothing much to explain about our relationship. Now that you're with .. Mia .. I want you to do something for me," The way she said Mia was filled with disgust, surprisingly flustered me.

"What's that?"

"Break. Her. Heart," she said each word sadistically causing me to pace around the room.

"I can't do that! Who are you and what have you done to my Perrie?!"

"I am still me. Just a little frazzled and angry. Tell them that it's over between us, tell them you agree with Simon's plan. When you're finished what I told you to do, you can come back to me. If you don't, we're over."

This was absurd. My whole life, I've never felt so manipulated in my life. But this was different, she was my fiancé. And I honestly don't know what I would do without her.

Eventually I agreed. I wasn't confident if I could do it, but what I did know is that I could not lose Perrie.

Saying our goodbyes, I didn't know if I felt better or worse than before. I felt like the weight of the world is upon my shoulders, and I hated this kind of feeling. There was a pat on my back. I'd completely forgotten that Harry was in the room with me.

"I guess it's over between me and Perrie," I lied. To one of my best mates. This was very unlike me.

"Let's go tell them, shall we?" Harry sympathetically said.

I'm guessing he was paying no attention to our conversation. He would have called me out on Perrie's plan.

But then again, we had a plan of our own. Something that Mia could never find out about.

But this, this situation where Perrie and I would separate was never part of the plan.

Walking out of my room, there was an eerie feeling inside me. Something I've never felt before. Like I was going to throw up and pass out right now as I go down the stairs.

Thankfully I made it to the lounge perfectly okay, still in one piece.

Before me, I saw Simon sitting in the same place when I left...and the girl, whose heart I was going to break intentionally.

What are they hiding from Mia?

* something new I added. (:

Emma ❤