“Zayn, wait!” Raisa called out, her voice cutting through the noise of the bustling café. She stood at the entrance, her heart racing, desperately trying to catch up with him. Thud! Thud! Thud! went her heart against her chest, matching the hurried footsteps of Zayn as he pushed through the glass door.

Zayn paused, his hand resting against the doorframe, his back to her. The moment felt suspended in time as the chatter of the café faded into the background. He turned slowly, a mix of emotions flickering across his face—confusion, frustration, and something else that resembled longing.

“Raisa, I—” He started but faltered, searching for the right words.

“Please,” she said, stepping closer, her voice softer now. “Can we talk?”

With a resigned sigh, Zayn nodded, leading her to a quieter corner of the café, away from prying eyes and ears. The air was thick with unspoken words as they settled into a small table draped in a vibrant, floral tablecloth. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped them, but neither had an appetite for it now.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Zayn asked, his voice low, almost drowned out by the sound of the coffee grinder. “About your relationship with Luca?”

Raisa flinched at the mention of Luca’s name. Oh no, she thought, the weight of secrets threatening to crush her. “I was going to, but…” She paused, the weight of her emotions building. “It’s complicated, Zayn.”

“Complicated?” Zayn echoed, leaning forward, his eyes intense. “Is that what you call it? You’re with him, and you think that’s okay?”

“It's not like that,” she replied, her voice rising slightly in defense. “Luca and I have our own history. I thought it was over, but… then things happened. It’s confusing.”

“Confusing,” he repeated, bitterness seeping into his tone. “So, you choose to stay with someone who you know doesn’t really see you? Who doesn’t understand you?”

“Zayn, don’t make this harder than it is,” she said, frustration leaking into her voice. “I’m trying to figure things out myself. I thought… I thought I could have both—”

“Both?” Zayn interrupted, his brow furrowing. “You can’t have both, Raisa! You can’t keep pretending to be happy while you’re hurting others!”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Ring! Her phone buzzed on the table, cutting through the tension like a knife. Raisa glanced down, her heart sinking as she saw Luca’s name flashing across the screen.

“Just… give me a moment,” she muttered, silencing the phone. She couldn’t let him interrupt this fragile moment with Zayn. Drip, drip—the sound of rain began to patter against the café windows, mirroring her tumultuous emotions.

“Raisa, I don’t want to fight with you,” Zayn said, his tone softening, but the hurt in his eyes remained. “I just want to understand. I want you to be happy, but I can’t stand by and watch you throw away your chance for real love.”

“Real love?” she asked, the words echoing in her mind. “What does that even mean anymore?”

“It means being honest with yourself and others,” Zayn replied, his voice steady. “It means choosing someone who brings out the best in you—not someone who makes you doubt yourself.”

“Zayn…” she began, but the words felt trapped in her throat. The truth was raw, painful, and she didn’t know if she could articulate it without breaking down.

“Look, I don’t want you to feel pressured,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “But you have to realize that you’re worth more than a fleeting connection. You deserve someone who will fight for you, who will show you what love really is.”

“Maybe I don’t know what love is,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Not anymore.”

Zayn reached across the table, his hand covering hers, warm and reassuring. “Then let me help you figure it out. Don’t you want to explore what it could be like—an open life where you’re free to be yourself?”

Thud! went her heart again, but this time it was different—hope mixed with fear. Could she really open up? Could she allow herself to embrace a life without the constraints she had built around herself?

“I… I need time,” she said, pulling her hand away gently. “I need to think.”

“Take all the time you need,” Zayn replied, his expression softening. “Just know that I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

As Raisa stood to leave, the rain intensified, tapping against the windows like the urging of her heart. She stepped outside, the cool air enveloping her like a balm. She looked back at Zayn through the café’s glass window, a silhouette against the warm glow of the lights inside.

What am I doing? she thought, her heart caught between two worlds.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. It was Kendra, emerging from the rain, her camera slung around her neck, soaked but spirited.

“Raisa!” Kendra shouted, “Come on, let’s get out of here!”

Raisa hesitated, glancing back at Zayn one last time. He met her gaze, a silent understanding passing between them—a promise of hope, a reminder of what could be.

As she turned to follow Kendra, the weight of her decisions pressed heavily on her. The rain continued to fall, washing away the remnants of her past, leaving her to wonder what the future held under the same sky.