Stay [h.s.] | short story

Chapter 6

Zayn pulls up in front of Jasmin and Harry's apartment complex. She decided to be accompanied by Zayn until midnight struck.
Tonight, she just wanted to go home knowing that he had left instead of being home and hearing him leave.

"Thank you, Zayn. I'm sorry I bothered you with all of this."

"Don't be sorry. You're my friend and I'm on your side on all of this."

Jasmin only nods in response. She then notices Harry's car in the parking lot. "He's home," she says to herself but Zayn hears her.

"I'll go up with you," Zayn offered. Zayn is too involved now. He didn't want Jasmin to go up there alone with the man that wasn't being so unfaithful to his wife.

"I appreciate you, really, but I can go alone."

She gets out of Zayn's car and he stays in the driveway until she made it to the stairs of the apartment.

He knew he wasn't going to leave this alone and that if Jasmin continues to be silent about this, he'd confront Harry himself.

Jasmin's feet feels heavy as she ascended the stairs, clutching onto her purse a little too tight.
Harry's home, she kept thinking.

She takes out her keys, but before she got the chance to insert the key, the door swung open.
Harry towers her, worry plastered all over his face, his brows furrowed.

"Where have you been?" He asks. "I've been calling your phone, why haven't you answered?"

"I must have put it on silent," she tells him and Harry guides her inside.

"I was worried about you. You haven't answered my question."

"You shouldn't worry about me," Jasmin laughs half-heartedly, walking around him and throwing her purse on the leather couch.
It's ironic to see Harry questioning where's she's been, really ironic.

"What is going on with you?"

Jasmin doesn't respond, plopping on the couch and crossing her arms.
Harry stood there by the door and only looked at his wife flustered, running his fingers through his curls.

"What?"  She spat, glaring at him.

"What's going on with you?" He repeats, more forceful this time.

Jasmin scoffs and stands up again. "What's going on with me? I should be asking what's going on with you!" She points a finger at him and she realized it was time.

She didn't want to sit around and mope about her cheating husband. She feels all her built-up anger being released.
The anger she was too scared to surface.
Her heart is beating fast beneath her chest and she feels her cheeks getting hot.

"3 fucking months Harry!" Jasmin's so furious she starts crying. She takes the picture frame on the shelf — her and Harry's wedding day — and throws it towards him but he quickly moves a side and it slams against the wall. "Why did you do it? Who's the woman? Who's the woman that makes you leave every night?"

Harry's face pales and tries to reach for Jasmin, only for her to back away and shatter a plant vase, the water in it spills all over the carpet.

"Don't touch me! You don't get to touch me anymore. I'm tired, Harry. I'm really tired I—"

"Jasmin, I love you. She's not you..."

"Fuck you!" She sobs as she shatters more things from the counter.

He admitted it.
She's not you.
She's not you.
His words become an echo.

The door swings open to Zayn who only came up to check if everything was alright.
He sees the mess on the floor and Harry looks at his friend confused.

"You broke me," Jasmin says and Harry turns his head to her again. His green eyes are being clouded with tears.

For a second, she wanted to hold him.
Jasmin always had a soft spot for Harry,
a spot that would always care for him.
Not this time.

Jasmin grabs her purse and brushed passed Zayn, demanding him to take her out of there.
Anywhere far, far, far away from this place.

"Jasmin, where are you going?!" Harry yelled and tries to go after her, but Zayn shoves his chest, making him stumble back into the apartment.

Zayn looked at him in utter disbelief. "She knew from the beginning... Why?"

Harry couldn't respond and Zayn just shakes his head, walking down the hall to catch up with Jasmin whose cries can be heard through the echoey halls.

Harry knew he messed up.
He loves Jasmin,
so much,
but he didn't give her the love she deserved.