“If I saw you anywhere near her.” Pausing, he took another step closer and left with a vehement whisper.
“You will regret it.” Azed was perplexed to no extent after seeing Zain’s behavior. He didn’t know what he did that Zain was getting riled up on him.
“But, what did I do?” He asked, titling his head in confusion but Zain replied coldly.
“You don’t need to know the reasoning.” Zain’s stoic expressions vexed him to wonder what could possibly be wrong.
“Do I make myself clear?” Zain asked strictly and swallowing hard, he nodded, agreeing with him. Certainly not preferring to enrage his professor.
“Yes, Sir.” He nodded as Zain left with a hum, leaving him alone and bewildered about what just happened.
“What was that?” He asked himself when Zain was out of sight, knitting his brows together in confusion, still unable to cope with Zain’s words.
Just because he is going to work with Hoorain?
“Why does it matter to him? Who is he to her anyways? He asked, muttering under his breath, going back to his position, disregarding his words and going back to work.
“What did I do?” Zain breathed out, putting his hand on his chest, trying to think what stunt he just pulled but he was not wrong again.
If she feels uncomfortable around him then it is his responsibility to refrain from it.
“There you go again… another responsibility.” He muttered, going back to his work with a scowling lingering over his face.
Zain was rigidly confused between responsibilities and feelings. He doesn’t know what he is doing anymore.
What initiated his actions? Genuine care or obligatory care?
Sighing, he shook his head and started working again. The next day, he was mentally prepared to greet Hoorain at work.
He didn’t talk to her throughout the day, only exchanging a few glances and feeble smiles but he doesn’t know what to say about it.
Hoorain, on the other hand, felt on cloud-nine who he was caring for her, doing things she never fathomed for her and it brought a shine she never experienced before.
“You sure are smiling.” Haziqa smirked, noticing her face.
“Because I am happy.” She whispered, looking up and saw Zain passing by and exchanging faint smiles, he walked away.
“Oh, I guess why~” She cooed, teasing her but it brought a bright blush on her face.
“Gosh, how close he was, Haziqa, how he asked me to feel scared in his presence. It was so beautiful.” She whispered, a grin not leaving her lips.
“Thinking about him gives me butterflies. It feels so surreal. All of it, I cannot believe he could be so near to me.” She grinned, the sight of their closeness driving her insane.
Nothing else began to matter before him.
“He sure changed with thundering speed, I didn’t expect this from him.” She muttered, holding her chin to ponder about it.
To see Zain accepting Hoorain after rejecting her constantly and now when they are engaged, he changed instantly.
“Me too. I wonder what happened to him.” She mumbled, shrugging her shoulders, leaning back not wanting anything to break the rhythm of her thoughts.
“Hoorain.” But, Haziqa called her after collecting her thoughts, vexed about her reaction.
“Hmm?”
“Please don’t be angry but remember you once told me that Sir doesn’t know how to love.” Haziqa asked hesitantly, gaining her attention.
“Yeah, what about it?” She asked, curling her lips downward but not in a frown. Hoorain didn’t know what she was complying with.
“He has been sincere to this bond, right?” She asked and she nodded slowly again, forming her lips in a thin line.
“Yeah.. I guess.” She trailed off, looking away and Haziqa asked what she didn’t want to think,
“Then do you think he would be the same if you weren’t engaged?” Her words got her attention, pricking a needle in her heart as she didn’t want to fathom about those circumstances where departure was assured.
“What?” She blinked, thinking she might have heard her wrong but she didn't. She asked what hurt her heart.
“I am asking, would he still devote himself to you if you're not fiancée?” She asked seriously.
Hoorain nibbled the inside of her cheek, she looked away, wrapping her arms around her lower body, hoping to find an appropriate answer but nothing came out.
“Tell me, Hoorain, that man never paid heed to you before and now. Did he truly develop feelings or just follow his duties?” She asked exasperatedly, growing weary of her lack of response.
Tightening her grip around her, she looked away knowing it’s futile to answer because deep down she knows- they wouldn’t be like this.
“I don’t want him to smear your heart in the end. Who knows he will be like ‘Oh, it was only a charade and let’s break it now’ can you bear it?” She asked, recalling what she intended to put behind but she must face those questions.
“What will you do if he is only like this for the sake of this bogus engagement and breaks things off later?” She asked what terrorizes her.
“I.. don’t know..” Hoorain whispered, dejection was clear in her voice, not daring to lift her head.
“I don’t like where your bond is leading, Hoorain. It is only a confusion of emotions.” She spoke the bitter truth, pushing her in the tunnel of turmoils, affecting her mind deeply.
“Haziqa, please.” She murmured, motioning her to stop as she cannot bear to hear more about it which will leave a negative impact on her mind.
“Please what, Hoorain? I am speaking the truth. That man doesn’t know what he wants and you are one who will become the victim of his behavior.” She hissed, curling her hands in a fist, cursing Zain for not being clear about the meaning of their bond.
“And I don’t want this. It won’t affect him but your heart will shatter in the end.” Closing her eyes, her lips began to tremble. Hoorain couldn’t hear further, it was piercing her heart.
The reality of today could be that only a delusion was hitting her, damaging her ability to think severely.
“What do you want me to do?” Hoorain asked weakly, she felt so powerless before her emotions, before his affection that nothing else mattered.
“Just confront him.” She replied sternly, knowing this was going to be harsh for Hoorain but this is better than constant stings of false hopes.
“About what?” Hoorain asked, acting oblivious to not knowing but Haziqa replied assertively, giving her a comprehensive idea of what she should do.
“Does he truly feel anything for you?”