MIRANDA (complete ✔️)

14.

Zayn took another bottle of water. He could not risk letting Miranda see  him like that.
If he had any shot at all, he would not risk it for the mere fact that he was drunk.

He walked a little closer to the podium.

Miranda spoke with full confidence, judging from how everybody listened without movement or noise, people loved her.

He could not blame them.
He did too.

Not how they did, no.
He was swayed by how her lips moved as she uttered every word.
How she laughed, how her eyes wrinkled, how she took big gulps of water not really caring about her crimson red lipstick.

How she moved, he could almost smell her.

'Yes.'
He thought.
This was the Miranda he knew.
The girl who had held his heart for so many years he still found it hard to believe.

The girl he was still deeply, irrevocably in love with.

There was a huge applause and he joined in.

Miranda looked at him.
He could see that. He could see that she really wanted to talk to him.
By how, she stole glances at him.
By how she smiled.

But he still could not get to her.
So many people wanted to talk to her.
So many people wanted to see her.
And he seemed miles away from her.

He walked to the washrooms.
As he washed his face, he went over what he would say to her.
This had to work.
Otherwise he would loose her forever.

"you okay mate?"

Jerry said.

"I'm alright."

He said.

"would you mind giving me your number?"
Jerry said.

Zayn looked reluctantly at him.

"I mean if we are to go surfing?"
Jerry added.

"sure. Sorry my mind is a little occupied."

He took his phone and put his number.

When he went back, he could not spot Miranda any where.

"where are you going?"

Sheila asked.

"uuhh... Just around. "
He said.

"I'm just waiting for my boyfriend."
She said.

"I'm really happy for you."
He said.

"really?"
She asked.

"yes."

He said eager to leave.

"what you did to me was not cool."

She added.

Yes, if at all he was going to move on with Miranda he had to do so on a clean slate.

"I'm sorry about that."
He said.

"do you mean it?"
She asked.

He spotted Miranda.

"Yes I am. I really am."

"thank you for saying that."

He walked ahead.

"you are a busy woman."
He said.

" this is my life now apparently."

She said.

"this place is really crowded, can we talk outside."
She said.

"yeah sure. I thought you would never ask."
He said.

The night was quiet.

"how have you been really?"
She asked him.

There was a little bit silence.
A sweat rolled down Zayn's forehead.
He had to do it.

"I miss you. I miss you so much. I never thought that I would. What I did to you was awful.
I don't know why I did it.

Every day after that has been full of regret.

So much regret.
But when I met you again, I thought that I could make it right. But I couldn't.

I did not have the courage.

It kills me to see you with him,  because the truth is that

I still love you. "

He looked to see Miranda in tears.

He was shocked.

" I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry.... I.. "

" shh. "

She said.

She got close to him.
And placed her lips on his.

He felt relieved, he thought he had gotten through.

When she pulled back however, he saw tears in her eyes.

She looked sorrowful.

" I still love you Zayn. So much. "
She said.

" that's good. That is really good."
He said expectantly.

"but..."

His heart sank.

"but what?"
He said.

She raised her left hand.
His eyes searched through her polished fingers, and there it was, a diamond ring on her finger.

"I'm getting married Zayn."
She said.

"he makes me happy."
She added.

He could not move.
Even when she walked away.
He couldn't for some time.
All he felt were hot tears run down his face.

He had lost her.
He was too late. He was always too late.