Peace begins with a smile..! 💞

I opened the door and ran out. I was out of breath, trailing my lips over my now dry lips I gaze in the front to find William and Zayden. Making my way straight to Zayden, I held his hand “I want to go home. Please...”

“Harriet what happened inside? Did Aunt say something?” William questioned

“No I just want to go home” I pressed Zayden's hand.

“Call me if you need anything.” Zayden gave William a curt a nod.

I place my head on headrest and stare outside the window. Zayden didn’t ask me anything. He used to occasionally look at me.

After reaching home I headed towards washroom. Turning on the shower I stood under it letting my emotions free. I cried till my eyes were red, till I didn’t feel any pain, till my mind went numb. I cried thinking about Aunt, I and Zayden aren’t even close but still it hurts me to see him with Jannet. I can imagine what Aunt went through after losing her love.

After what felt like eternity I walked out wearing comfortable clothes. I snuggled into the quilt and stare at some distant with literally nothing in my mind. Zayden didn’t disturb me and for once I was thankful of his habit of not showing his emotions and care openly. I wanted to be left alone now.

A knock at the door broke my sleep, I rub my eyes sitting up.

Zayden walked in with coffee in his hand. “This will help…” He said forwarding the mug.

Giving him a nod, I took it and inhaled it’s strong scent.

After closer the balcony door and pulling the curtain Zayden walked out.

A few minutes later there was another knock at the door. I don’t know why he was knocking the door. It wasn’t like I was crying and needed some privacy.

As the door creaked open, Alex walked in instead of Zayden.

“Hi —” Alex strolled towards the bed with measured steps and plopped on bed next to me, “Can I sit?” he asked raising his brow.

“You already did Alex”

He stares at me for a second and huffs “Are you okay? Wanna speak about it?”

“Not really” I answer trailing my finger on the rim of coffee mug.

“Alright. How about we talk a walk outside.” He suggested.

“I might as well sleep.” I mutter shaking my head.

“Actually I wasn’t asking. Now get up, we are going on a walk…” He stood up dragging me out of bed along with him.

We ambled in the garden, cold breeze sending goosebumps all over my arm.

Alex kept blabbering about everything he did today. Occasionally he joked making me laugh and after some time I felt light.

“How did you know I was in bad mood? Zayden told you.” I asked staring at my shoes.

“Who else will tell me?” Alex shrugged, “He called me sounding worried and kept on clacking about how sad you looked and practically ordered me to be here in five minutes.”

Alex halted making me turn and look back at him. Slipping his hand inside pockets he asked, “So you feel good now?”

“Yes, Thank you”

“Ouch…” Alex placed his hand over his heart dramatically. “You are making me feel like I am some stranger to you cutie… It's me; your Alex. You don’t have to thank me.”

°°

Later that night I called Noah and spoke my heart out in front of him. He just listened to me patiently without complaining, even he didn’t knew anything about this. He asked me to visit him next week as I was going to visit my in-laws and he happens to stay in the same town as them.

I was twisting and turning on bed, sleep was nowhere near to me.

I turn to face Zayden, he had his eyes closed with his right hand tucked under his head. His face looked serene. I had this strong feeling that the person who texts me as unknown guy is Zayden. He also called me angel today.

I know it kind of slipped out of his tongue but sometimes truth comes out accidentally.

“Zayden?” I whispered

“Yes. Are you scared?” he asked with his eyes still closed. So he wasn’t sleeping all the while.

If I have know the truth then I should start a conversation so maybe if I lie and say I am scared he might speak with me for sometime.

“Yeah. The darkness and the wea—” before I could my sentence he slipped his hand around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

I stare at him baffled. What just happened?

My voice was clogged in my throat while my heart thumped against my ribcage. Numerous butterflies took flight in my stomach.

I would have lied to him everyday if I knew he was going to do this. I smile widely while staring at him. He had his eyes closed and he looked serene.

“Anything else?” he asked opening his eyes. He looked directly into my eyes as if he was looking at my soul.

Gulping the lump formed in my throat I question. “Are you the one who texted me with unknown number?”

He peered at me without answering anything. Inhaling deeply he slowly blinked his eyes and asked, “Why do you think it’s me?”

“Because — my heart says it’s you.”

“I don’t know Harriet” he replied closing his eyes.

“So it’s not you?” I question again and this time he kept silent without answering.

°°

After that day I went back to dorm. From tomorrow until next week we had study holiday.

I was reading when my phone chimed with an incoming message with another new number.

Not again!

— Who is this?

Unknown — It’s Alex. Zayden is not feeling so can you please go home and stay with him? I got a call from my dad asking me visit him immediately. I have a flight at 4.

Me – How long are you going to stay at your parents place?

Alex – One week.

I have to stay with Zayden for a week then.

Me – Okay

Alex – Get ready I’ll pick you in an hour.

I packed my books and dresses. Jannet asked me where I was going when I told her the reason she looked sad cause apparently Zayden and Alex didn’t tell her anything about Zayden being ill.

When I walked inside, the entire place was sweeped with hushed silence. I thursted the room door open to find Zayden sleeping. I didn’t disturb him instead I just placed my clothes in the closet and walked downstairs to the kitchen.

Around 8 I woke him up. Rubbing his eyes with his palm he sat straight, he raked finger through his hair and opened his eyes to look at me. He looked handsome even with messed hairs.

“Dinner” I said placing the bowl in front of him.

“Thank you” he whispered with his hoarse voice. He looked worn out, how was he going to prepare for exam in this condition?

After having dinner he kept staring at me longer than usual making me shift in my position.

“Do you want anything else?” I ask picking the bowl.

“How come you are here?” he questioned.

“Alex called me”

A glint of sadness crossed his eyes leaving me confused. “I am sleeping then” he laid on bed and closed his eyes.

Next day he got up like late had breakfast and again went back to sleep.

“Won’t you study anything? We have exams next week.” I reminded him in the evening.

“Shit. Can you give me your notes. I will just go through those.”

I handed him my notes and went back to sit on couch. He looked at my notes and then at me with furrowed brows.

“What now?”

“This is your notes? I can’t understand a single word in this…” He stated raising my notes and showing me.

“If you want to study, you will have to manage with my notes somehow.” I shrug whilst rolling my eyes.

“Come here”

Huh? I leisurely ambled towards bed and waited for him to speak next.

“Sit here Harriet.” He patted on bed next to him, “I will study along with you…”

“Seriously?” I question with one of brow raised.

“Do I look like I am joking?”

Pressing my lips straight I crawled on bed and sat next to him. We started off with lengthy chapters and in between Zayden use to initiate speaking about other things and it continued. We studied for few hours whilst speaking about our hobbies, bucket list and many more things.

To sum up Zayden isn’t actually that boring. I really enjoyed this whole group study thing with him.

°°°°

After Harriet left, this place didn’t feel like home anymore. She was here for just one month and now without her it feels gloomy to stay at home.

I am not sure if I love her or not but one thing that I am sure about is I am used to seeing her around me everyday.

She used to wake me up, prepare delicious foods for me, took care of my things and in return she never really asked me for anything.

The best part of the day was listening to her — she used to sit in front of aquarium and blabber about everything. What shocked me every time was the fact that her day starts and ends with my name.

I know it’s disagreeable to eavesdrop but I absolutely love listening to her. She used to speak her heart out in front of fish and I used to sit in the study room listening to her every word. Many times she had scolded me for being rude and cold towards her.

I kind of got to know some of her secrets. She watches me while I am asleep and before retiring to the room she peeks inside the study room just to take a look at me.

That day when I saw her crying I so badly wanted to comfort her but I couldn’t. I am very impassive when it comes to emotions. I know whatever the reason was; it was something big cause I have never seen Harriet being so afflicted like that before. The moment she stepped out of the hospital door she became dejected.

I called Alex home cause I knew he will be able to lift her mood.

I miss her presence in this house. I know it might sound absurd but I was used to seeing her around me. I texted Jannet saying I will take her out on dinner just because I wanted to see Harriet.

After that day I made one or the other reason to visit their dorm just to have a look at Harriet. Sometimes she used to speak with me and other times she had her head buried in her notebooks but I was okay with that too. At least I got to see her and that was all which mattered to me.

After coming back from LA I fell sick. Seeing her in front of me when I woke up was like a dream but when she said Alex called her to come and stay with me I was disappointed. She didn’t come on her own.

And today we studied together. Conversing and studying with her was easy.

On the day of exam »

“You revised all the modules?” She asked

“Yes, why?”

“God, I haven’t revised anything yet. Don’t you dare take my first place mister. Since I helped you in studying I want something in return from you.” She sounded serious.

“What do you want?”

“I want you to not answer one question in last module even if you know the solution.” She replied making me stare at her in bafflement.

“… and why do you think I will listen to you?” I question with one of my brow raised.

Furrowing her brows she gritted her teeth, “Zayden don’t forget I was the one who helped you in studying. I haven’t revised any modules yet so I might miss some key points here and there. If you won’t answer last question I will able to get the first place even if I did some mistakes.” She answered picking up the books from the table.

Leaning against the wall I peer at her petite form. “Don’t you want your husband to top?” I ask observing every little detail of her changing expressions.

“No” she deadpanned

“Why?”

Huffing she placed the books inside the bag and turned to face me. “I am not telling you anything now. All I know is, you are not attending the last question and it’s final. Now let’s leave we are already late.”

“So you are ordering me?” I ask taking the car keys from her hand.

“Yes I am.” She answered tucking her tongue on left side of her inside cheek.

And God she looked cute.

❤...