| Chapter Five |

Broken chairs, broken glass, broken windows. Broken eyes. He was curled up in the corner, tears streaming down his eyes. But anger filled his body.

It would be shut-locked if he hadn't broken its hinges off I reckon.

His hair was greasy and messed up, his eyes coloured black showing he had not slept in a while, skin was pale. I felt my eyes fill up with tears seeing him.

He loved her. I could see it. He would kill for her. And yet he couldn't protect her from fate.

His eyes look up and chills run down my body.

"get out" his brittle hoarse voice couldn't find its strength.

His words came out weak and barely audible.

The reason  I could walk further was because I let myself. Because I felt bad for him. Because he looked weak and I didn't want Luna to see him like this.

Maybe if I helped him she would be thankful.

"It's okay. It's gonna be fine"

And he didn't move when I hugged him and patted his back. He just sat there. Still and frozen.

I tried my best to not be shaky but I trembled near him. Pulling away and looking at him.

I had never seen him so broken.

"You can cry when it's me. I am after all a nobody"

He let it out. He cried in my arms for as long as I could remember.  His cries got louder and I saw his mother walk in but she couldn't see him like that. She turned around and left us alone.

That night when I got to bed. My mom came in to hug me. I don't know how she could tell. But her ginger tea made me feel even sad. How many people were out there crying and nobody even knew why?

"You won't understand.  Mate bonds are different. They just bond. Easily. They know they are meant for each other. He was born to be the head of the family. He thought nothing could break him. He must feel so disappointed and hurt by his   condition."

I sat there as his sister talked. She looked down at her stomach and lightly ran her hands over it.

"It's worse when it's your mate. The strings in their heart keep breaking you see. He must be hurting every minute. "

I couldn't understand that.

I couldn't understand how they just found someone and suddenly their fates were tied together. I didn't understand but I didn't wanna either.

I tried my best to stay away from her family and his after that. But Luna's mother would come over to our house sometimes. She found peace in talking with my mother.

And then it was his mom.

"I...I don't know what you expect from me. A therapist would be better. He doesn't listen. Miss Lia, he never even took me as a friend..he hardly even knows me."

"Yea, but he stops! He stops crying when you talk to him. He stops hurting himself. Just please. I will do anything.  Just make him stop hurting himself!"

Her husband pressed his hand into her shoulder as she begged me. She was troubled by it.

Soon I became a sort of helper. He would stop hurting himself when I was there. He could cry and eventually fall asleep. I hardly talked but eventually, I convinced him to eat.

Then a few months later I stopped. He was waiting for me in front of our university gate.

I didn't know why but I didn't keep my distance as I planned on.

~*~

|Present |

I woke up with my phone blasting that stupid alarm in my ear. I tried to search for it but the sheets felt different.

I sat up confused and looked around to see my phone on Zen's table. I forgot I slept in his place.

Wanting to turn the damn thing off and pissed about the fact that it woke me up on a Saturday at 7 in the damn morning I tried to get up but the sheets weren't moving.

Zenon hadn't left.

My heart skipped a beat seeing him asleep next to me. I slowly move to get the phone and stop it before glancing back at him.

He never slept next to me. Never meant occasionally... Unless he was drunk. He always left to sleep in his guest room.

I didn't wanna go back to bed because I felt like that was what couples do. So I stood there naked with my phone in my hand wondering what to do because I didn't wanna get up so early. I didn't have a car to drive me back to my place.

So I took my clothes left his bedroom and plopped in the guest bed before texting back Noah I was over at Zenon's place.

We were supposed to meet for brunch by 12. I hoped Zenon would just drop me off at mine by 11 later.

As I lay in that bed, sheets over my naked body because I was too bored to wear my clothes, I thought about my father's idea. He said I could always go for a short study class outside. Or maybe apply for a job somewhere after study.

I wondered if I could try that. Especially with how Zenon was. I suppose he was fine now. Maybe I could leave.

My breath hitched hearing the knob turn, the door opened and I could feel his eyes on me. As the bed dipped behind me and the sheets opened, I felt the cold air over my back before the heat engulfed me.

His hand wrapped around my waist moving up to my chest and pulling me in.

I almost gasped feeling him tremble slightly before taking a slow breath and nuzzling his face in my neck.

I hated that feeling.

I felt safe, happy and comfortable. Yet, this wasn't a feeling I should feel with him.

Why was trying to make me feel like I was in a relationship with him?

Feeling the dread of emotional rejection settling in my stomach I pushed away and turned to look at him. His eyes shot open while his hand tightened around my waist.

"Are you okay?" I asked

He didn't reply. His eyes stayed on me. Almost asking for something.  He looked tired. Although he had slept the whole night.

If that wasn't enough. His hand pulled me back down to sleep.

"Zen. I can't. I have to go." I said softly.

"zen?"

"you will stay" A heavy order sat over his words.

He didn't let me leave. I hated being in his arms feeling unwanted.

I tired to move but he stopped me. His hand was like an iron grip over my waist.

"Zen stop. You're hurting me"

"Then stop moving"

I hate him. I hate myself more.