Chapter 15: What did you know about her?

The fear in Dyren's heart hasn't left him since the day he went to Zharia's condo. Fear for her. It had been almost a week, and he never got a call from her. He couldn't sleep every night, and when he woke up, he wanted to see her face and hold her in his arms.

Lyxander and Prince were also suspicious. When he asked about them, they were always changing the topic. His father was also upset with him; he had not spoken to him since the incident in the hotel.

"Are you okay, son?" his mother asked him.

Her mother was the only one who could understand him.

"I don't know where she went. I want to see her mom!

She hugged him. He said everything about Zharia to his mom. It makes her happy to hear that from his son. She knows that he had a difficult experience with Carina, and it changed him a lot. His mother was very encouraging to him, especially to the person who makes him happy, Zharia.

"Maybe she needs more time for herself."

"But it's too long. My heart hurts every time I remember her." He's now crying in his mother's arms. It's killing him every day. Waiting for her was a punishment.

He stayed like that for awhile. His pain was slightly gone when her mother was with him. Every time he had a problem with something or somebody, he always ran to his mother. His mother's advice and love make him forget his problem temporarily.

It was the weekend, and usually he used to be with his friends hanging out, but he had no energy to do it. So they want to cheer him up. They went to their house, trying to convince him to be with them. He changed his mind after several rants from him.

"Where are we going?" he asked tiredly.

"We're going on a party!" Archer replied.

He wasn't the only one who was depressed; Lyxander and Prince were as well. They appear depressed based on their appearance.Their puffy eyes were a clear indication of their sadness. They're not talkative and cheerful at all.

"Who's party?" Dyren asked.

"Can't you remember? It was Carina's birthday today, and they're inviting us." Archer was also sad to see them like that.

"No, and I'm not interested in attending her party. Bring me home!" Dyren simply said

"Why are you like that? All three of you! You're hurting yourself just because of a woman?" Archer said that makes his blood boil.

This is the first time he dislikes the way his cousin addresses them. He had never felt love before or since. He doesn't know if he's afraid or just dumb enough to fall in love. He will never understand their situation. It's true, but it's not wrong to fall in love.

"Yes! Just because of a woman!" He is pissed at his cousin. "You will never understand us, Archer Nile Roberts, because you will never know our feelings." "Someday you will find a woman, and you will take back what you just said!"

Archer zipped his mouth and even his friends. They know him. When he said your full name, he was mad at you. Really mad.

He also wants his feelings for Zharia to fade, but he can't help himself. Yes, just because of a woman, a woman he bullied and is now in love with. It's hard to forget her, especially that she's the only one treating him like that. It's also hard to admit it, but it's true.

They arrived at Carina's house. It seems there are many visitors. Lots of cars are parked outside, and the music was loud enough to disturb their neighbors. His friends got out of the car right away, unable to say anything due to his altercation with Archer. He wants to stay, but Jhaderylle convinced him to come. Jhaderylle can be hard to resist, and it annoys Dyren more.

Just as he expected, there are so many visitors at the party, but only from their school. Maybe Carina invited the whole school. The lights were making him dizzy, and the sound of music was crushing his eardrums. He doesn't like disco lights and sounds except when he's drunk, which he wasn't.

They got the attention of the people in the party. Every single girl and gay were staring at them. Maybe before he hooks up with any girl he can see there and tomorrowhe will break them apart. But now, he's not like that anymore. He changed a lot. He wasn't interested in any of them, even if their looks were literally undressing him.

"Dyren! I'm glad you're here!" Carina immediately hugged him.

He doesn't react or move from where he is standing. Carina attempted to kiss him, but he stopped her. She's sad for him to act like that in front of her. He removed her hand from his shoulder and went to find some place in the house where no one would bother him.

His friends apologized for his action, but knowing what is happening only annoys Carina more. Especially the person who's responsible for his action.

Dyren was currently in the kitchen. There's no one in there. He drank the entire bottle of water. He has never drunk any alcoholic beverages since his date with Zharia.

Short Flashback~

"If you keep drinking that wine, you will die sooner." While watching him drink some of the wine he had ordered for them, she said:

"And if I don't like it, should I stop drinking it?" He used to drink alcoholic beverages to help him forget about his problems.

"Then if you died, I would find someone to replace you!"

He immediately put down the glass he was holding and told the waiter to remove it from their table.

Her answer makes him mad. The idea that Zharia would find someone to replace him was making him mad. He was jealous.

Flashback ends ~

He's smiling unconsciously because he remembers that. Zharia changed everything about him. He's afraid that if she does not return to his life, he will ruin it again. He was the one who fixed it. He made his life more precious than he could remember.

"Hey!" Because of his imagination, he didn't notice Archer.

"Hey!" He's not mad at him anymore!

"I'm sorry for what I said."

"It's okay. Next time, be conscious of what you will say."

They fight sometimes, but the good thing about it is that they have learned a lot from it. They never let their anger at each other get worse. Dyren treats his cousin as his own brother since he doesn't have any siblings at all.

"She will return to you, ASAP!" he said while drinking his wine.

"How did you know it?"

"I just know it!"

Dyren laughed at him. His cousin was annoying sometimes, but he liked him for being so naughty.

"You know what?"

"What?" Archer wished that Dyren wouldn't crack a joke.

"I can't wait to see you fall for a woman. I will laugh at you if that happens."

Archer can't believe what he said. He never imagined himself dating a woman. He wants to stay single forever. He just hit Dyren on the shoulder before drinking all his wine.

"Can I talk to you even if it's just a second?" Carina intervened in their conversation.

Dyren just looked at his cousin, signaling him to leave, and he did. Carina sat on his side while experiencing the cold air between them.

"What is it?" he said. He wants to finish their conversation immediately.

"You need to stay away from Zharia!" she said. That makes him curious and mad.

Why does he have the feeling that they know Zharia? Even her parents. It makes him mad that she is saying that. She doesn't have the right to say that either. Maybe Carina sees Zharia as a threat to Dyren, so she's saying that to him.

"I don't know what you're saying," he said.

"You don't know her!" He looked at her directly in the eye.

"And you know her?" She never responds. "I will be the one to decide if I can trust her or not. Not you, and not even your father." It was his cue to leave that place.

He finds his friends and tells them to go home. Everything about that party was suffocating him. He wants to leave that place and lay on his bed. That would allow him to relax and forget about his problems.

Lyxander wasn't happy either, especially since Carina's friend Katelyn Lee and one of the girls who wanted him to be theirs were there. Ambliane Clarke, a friend of Carina's and one of the girls who likes him, was also present.

He bid goodbye to his friends and entered their house. Her mother greeted him and questioned him about the party he went to. He just said it was boring. His father was on a business trip, so he won't see him for a week.

He immediately found his phone that was left out after he cleaned himself. His heart jumped with excitement.

"See you tomorrow!"

Zharia messaged him at last. He tried to call his number, but it's still out of reach. He was very happy! Maybe he can sleep soundly that night, but it's still impossible because of his excitement to see her the next day.