Lost

Chapter 66: Head-Strong

Ramadhan Mubarak everyone! 🥰

Enjoy!

Her head cleared the moment she heard his angry voice. Her confusion and alarm gave way to anger.

"Let go!" Salma struggled against his hold.

"We could have talked about it!" Zayn continued, "You could have talked to me about it!"

"I said let go!" Salma's raged, aggressively yanking her arms until she broke free.

He was still disrespectfully close, and Salma fury at his audacity to bully her had already overpowered the rational part of her brain.

"You will regret this!" He threatened, his nostrils flaring with anger, "You will regret playing me like this!"

"Let's see what you got!" she countered hotly, her tone hostile.

"Bee! I swear, don't make me -!"

"I will and I am!" She shoved her bag into his chest, pushing him away, "Make me regret it!"

Zayn was taken aback by her aggressive retaliation. He had never seen her beautiful brown eyes flash so angrily.

Taking advantage of his momentary shock Salma walked away and entered into the lab, not without throwing him a murderous glare first.

***

"Should I get you hot chocolate?" Jason offered timidly, concern showing in his soft brown eyes, "I can smuggle it in, the assistant would never know,"

Salma shook her head again.

"Are you sure? It really help-"

"I'm sure --" she forced a whispered, fighting to regain her composure.

Salma had had a meltdown the moment she entered the safety of the lab. Not wanting to draw attention to herself and let it all out in peace, she went all the way back to the cupboards and sat on the floor, hidden from sight.

She was worried the assistant would find her, but it was Jason who came looking for her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked again, trying to figure out a way to console her. "You can talk to me about it."

Salma shut her eyes for moment and took deep, calming breaths.

"I'm fine Jason," Salma replied in a hushed voice. "I just need a minute."

He nodded in understanding, sitting down next to her again.

Salma inhaled deeply, blinking rapidly to ease the pressure building up behind her eyes. She was not fine. Something went terribly wrong inside her the moment the adrenaline left her system. Zayn cornering and manhandling her like that seemed to have triggered it. Flashes of the night of the assault kept resurfacing in her mind, making her sick to the stomach. Twice, she almost sent Jason away so she could puke her insides out.

After another couple of minutes, Jason shifted and she heard a wrapper of some sorts getting pealed.

"Take a bar." Jason offered her a chocolate. "I know you said you don't want any of this but it helps."

She sniffed, heaving a heavy, ragged sigh. Did he not understand the meaning of 'I need a minute alone'?

"And you've been holed up here for the past hour, it does not look like it's stopping," Jason stated matter-of-factly.

Salma snorted. Who'd think he was the same cowering, stuttering junior who dare not say a word a few hours ago? Jason was not exactly annoying but he was very persistent.