Chapter 10.
“No way. You have to drink It” Grandpa insisted, his voice firm.
Zara leaned against the counter, watching the familiar standoff between her grandfather and Julian with amusement. She reached over and pinched Julian’s cheek, a teasing smile.
on her lips.
“You’re a grown man now, and you’re still scared of medicine? You’re embarrassing me, you know that?”
Julian shot her a glare, clearly unamused. With a heavy sigh, he grabbed the bowl and threw the bitter liquid back in one go, grimacing as he swallowed.
“You really think so little of me,” he muttered, his voice dripping with mock indignation.
Grandpa chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s what you get for acting tough.”
Zara patted Julian’s shoulder as if to comfort him. “Alright, alright, I’ll let you off the hook this time. Let’s go home.”
That night, the house was still.
The air between them felt heavy, filled with words left unsaid. As they sat together in the dim light, Julian finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying an edge beneath it.
“Zara, don’t be mad at me. I told them you were back today.”
Zara blinked, caught off guard.
She hadn’t realized how much time had passed since they’d last spoken so openly.
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time,” he added, his gaze locked on hers, unwavering. Something in the way he said it made her chest tighten. It was a weight she hadn’t prepared for, an emotion she had tried to leave behind.
She exhaled slowly, forcing a small smile. “Julian, you know you’re like a brother to me.” The second the words left her mouth, they felt like a lie. The air between them tensed, an invisible string pulled too tight, ready to snap.
Julian scoffed, his laugh cold and sharp. “Zara, am I really that unworthy of you?”
His voice was quiet, but every word cut through her defenses like a knife,
“You left me without ever asking what I wanted,” he continued. “Or maybe… maybe your already knew that night.”
Her throat went dry. She knew exactly what he was talking about.
“That night,” he repeated, voice laced with something unreadable. “When you kissed me.” Zara’s heart pounded in her chest. She had told herself a hundred times that leaving was for the best that pushing him away was the right thing to do.
But now, standing in front of him, hearing the pain in his voice, she couldn’t pretend anymore.
22:05 Sat, 15 Mar
* 82%
“If you’re so sure that I’m just like a brother to you,” Julian murmured, “then why did you kiss me, Zara?”
The words hit her like a punch to the gut.
She swallowed hard, struggling to find an answer. But before she could speak, Julian sighed and ran a hand through his hair, his usual confidence slipping for just a second.
Then, his voice softened. “Anyway, it’s late. Go to sleep. I know you’re tired from the trip.
She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Julian moved. In one swift motion, he closed the distance between them and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
It was light, fleeting–nothing more than a whisper of a touch.
When he pulled away, his smile was back, lazy and unreadable. “Go to sleep,” he repeated as if nothing had happened.
Zara closed her eyes, her breath unsteady. She felt like a drifting cloud in the night sky, floating somewhere between uncertainty and inevitability.
Julian watched her for a moment longer before turning away. In the quiet of the room, she could almost hear him whisper, “Good night, Zara.”
The next morning, the city was blanketed in a thick mist, muffling the sounds of the world
outside.
When Zara woke up, she instinctively reached for the space beside her. Her fingers brushed against cool sheets.
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She hadn’t expected him to be there, but still, she had dreaded waking up to the weight of last night’s conversation.
From the kitchen, Julian’s voice called out. “Zara, go freshen up and come eat. I’ll grab Grandpa.”
She blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Julian? Cooking?”
When she walked into the kitchen, she was met with the sight of him standing by the stove, an apron tied around his waist as he stirred a pot. The image was so absurd she almost laughed.
The heir of the Hayes family–one of the most powerful names in the city–was making
breakfast?
Ridiculous.
A small smile tugged at her lips. “You actually know how to cook?”
Julian turned slightly, glancing at her over his shoulder. “I’m full of surprises.
She grabbed some clothes from the wardrobe and freshened up before sitting down at the table. The smell of home–cooked food wrapped around her like a warm embrace.
She took a bite and raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. “Not bad. You’ve improved.”
Julian froze for a second, then relaxed, trying to act indifferent. “Of course. I’m not a kid anymore.”
2005 Sat 15 Mai
82%
She finished the food quickly, the taste of nostalgia filling her chest. It wasn’t just about the meal it was about the feeling of being back, of belonging.
Across from them, Grandpa was eating with gusto, nodding in satisfaction. He wiped his mouth and looked at Zara. “Zara, it’s good you’re here. This kid’s health is terrible. Make sure he keeps taking his medicine.”
Zara turned to Julian, who looked ready to bolt.
She smirked. “You hear that, Julian? Grandpa says I have to babysit you now.”
Julian groaned, glaring at his grandfather. “Grandpa, I’m fine. I don’t need anyone looking
after me.”
Grandpa scoffed, not even looking up from his bowl. “That’s what you said last time, and you ended up collapsing.”
