His Despair

AFTER that pleasuring moment between Zero and Isla—the last moment that they shared, Zero went inside the bathroom to take a cold shower, and she was left on the bed waiting for him. He wanted her to take a shower first, but she declined and let him first.
She wants to stay still on the bed for a moment. She wants to savor the last moment of her on his bed. Suddenly, a thought filled her head. She’s wondering how many Zero brings into his parents’ house. Did they get them inside his room? Did they fuck each other on this comfy bed?
She heaved a deep sigh and let go of those thoughts. She won’t gain a good thing if she continues to think of that negativity. But the fact that they were breaking apart after tonight will surely kill her.
After a few moments of diving into overthinking, Zero caught her attention.
“You can take a shower now,” Zero said as he wiped his wet hair with a white towel.
She nodded and held herself not scanning Zero’s body again. She will just hurt herself if she does it.
She took off the comforter that covered her nakedness and didn’t bother if she was flaunting her naked body in front of Zero. There’s no purpose in hiding it. They already fuck each other a couple of times.
She didn’t throw another glance at Zero when she walked past by him as she stepped inside the bathroom. And after the moment she closed it, she walked towards the mirror and started to roam her eyes into her nakedness.
She raised her hand, and it went up to the hickey on the top of her left breast. Then suddenly, a tear fell from her eyes. She let out a smile, but her tears traitor her, and they continue to pour down her cheeks. She held onto the counter as her chest started to feel heavy. Her heart beats faster as her tears continue flowing down.
She sighed and wiped her tears. “Stay strong, Isla,” she whispered to herself. She sighed and started to cleanse herself. She felt relief when the cold water dripped into her body.
And before she stepped out of the bathroom, she calmed herself by taking a deep breath and sighed.
When she got out, she saw Zero, who was already wearing a new set of his clothes. When their gaze met, she looked in the other direction immediately and walked towards the dress that she had used earlier and then wore it again.
Zero walked closer to her and handed over the comb. “T-Thanks,” she muttered and reached it. She stood in front of the mirror and started to comb her hair. As she was doing it, she saw Zero’s reflection in the mirror—her forehead creased because he was staring at her.
She stopped combing her hair and turned to him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Zero pressed his lips and sighed as he walked closer to her, and suddenly, he reached for her right hand—the one that holds the comb and gets it.
“Let me try,” he mumbled, which made her frown but nodded after a few seconds.
She returned her gaze to the mirror, and Zero stood behind her and started to comb her hair gently—it seems like he was afraid that he might hurt her scalp.
Zero smiled, which made her eyes grow wider. “W-What’s with the smile?” she asked.
Zero shook his head. “Nothing,” he replied, which made her shoot a glare at him. “It… it’s just that it’s y first time combing a woman’s hair.”
Isla then nodded.
Even if Isla wanted to flash a smile on her face, she just couldn’t because Zero was still looking at their reflection.
“You will be okay, right?” Zero started, which made her frown slightly. “I mean, after this.”
She formed a sly smirk on her lips. “Do you think it was that easy?” she asked.
Zero stopped combing her and nodded.
She scoffed and grabbed the comb, and moved away from Zero. She arched her brow. “Haven’t you fallen in love, Zero?” she asked.
Her question put Zero in the moment of silence.
“See, you can’t answer it, right? Because I knew that you tried to fall too. And let me ask you… does moving on so easy to achieve?”
Zero. “…”
“No, Zero. It will not be as easy as counting numbers because you’re dealing with the heart, as your mind. So, if you’re throwing that question to me, my answer is NO—I will not be okay, Zero. Yes, I can do it, but it takes a process. This is unrequited love—I love you, but YOU don’t love me! So, please, avoid telling me that thing until I get back home!” she exclaimed and put down the comb on the table, and she left the room.
SADNESS lingers in Zero’s eyes the moment Isla leaves the room. He took a deep breath and sighed to calm himself. “Damn it!” he cursed, exited his room, and rushed towards Isla. She was about to step on the staircase when Zero grabbed her by the arm and let her face him.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered as he locked his gaze on her.
Isla sighed and nodded. “It’s OK, don’t mind me,” she replied and let go of Zero’s grip and continued to walk her way downstairs.
Zero pressed his lips. “Isla…” he called her name, but Isla continued taking her steps. Zero then equaled her pace. “Do you want to have some dinner outside before I send you home?” he asked.
Isla stopped and looked at him. “Do you still need to do—”
“Please,” he asserted.
Isla frowned when she saw how Zero’s chest moved up and down rapidly. And when she looked into her eyes, she saw sadness in there.
She heaved a deep sigh and nodded.
Zero flashed a smile at her, making her brow arch, and before she could lose control, she continued to walk again.
“Sweetie…” Isla stopped when Mrs. Cohen approached her. “You’re going home already?” she asked.
Isla smiled and nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Cohen,” she replied, which made the old lady frown, and suddenly, she glanced past her she knew that it was Zero—Isla could feel Zero’s presence behind her.
“You can just call me ‘mom’ since you’re my son’s girl—” Mrs. Cohen’s words were cut off when Isla let out a soft chuckle.
“Mrs. Cohen, Zero and I aren’t in a relationship—we just have some game earlier, and I am truly sorry for lying—” she didn’t finish her words when Mrs. Cohen hugged her tight.
She was surprised by it, but she just returned her embrace. “Stay strong, Princess,” Mrs. Cohen whispered, which made her stunned, and her eyes widened as confusion lit them.
Mrs. Cohen tapped her back gently before she let go of the embrace. The old lady smiled at her and cupped her face. “I know you’re strong—”
“Mom…” Zero meddled and grabbed Isla’s hand. “—we need to go,” he added and pulled Isla towards their main door.
Isla looked back, and she saw how Mrs. Cohen smiled at her and waved her hand.
Despite the confusion that lingers inside her, she manages to smile back.
As Zero guided her toward his car, she couldn’t help but think deeply about Mrs. Cohen’s sudden reactions. Did she know something? Does she have an idea about what’s going on between her and Zero?
The way how Mrs. Cohen hugged her, it seems like she was comforting her. Or it’s just her who overthinks?
She sighed as she fastened the seatbelt. She blew into the vast space and glanced at Zero, who was just seated on the driver’s side.
“Did mom scare you?” Zero asked as he started the engine and turned the steering wheel to the left as he stepped on the gas.
She sighed again and nodded. “A little bit. Hmm… she’s acting weird—no offense but—”
“I know. My mother is always like that. Just don’t mind her or what she has said. My mother loves dramas,” he said and let out a soft chuckle as he drove their way to the restaurant.
Isla pressed her lips and nodded as she looked into the window. It’s already six in the evening. Night people are walking down the streets again. Some were going home after their head-aching-work, and some were those students who had night classes. Some were couples and families that would go on a dinner date, and when they passed by the park near the Cohen subdivision, Isla unconsciously smiled. The different shade of lights is blinking as the water fountain dance along with the music.
“Can you please pull over?” she asked, but her gaze was fixed on the center of the park. “I just want to watch the fountain, please,” she uttered like a kid with her first-time seeing things.
Watching Isla’s tremendous reaction, a smile was drawn to his face as he pulled over to the side of the road.
“Just don’t open the window,” he said, and Isla nodded; still, her eyes are fixed on it.
Zero scanned the place and glanced at the side mirror on the left, and saw the familiar car of his bodyguards. He sighed. Usually, he doesn’t bring or let his bodyguards tail him. However, ever since he attached himself to Isla, he always made sure that his bodyguards scanned the perimeter and followed them every time they moved from one place to another.
His enemies knew that he was attaching himself to a woman—and there’s no doubt that they will assume that he’s in love with her—well, it’s true, but he just denies it. So, before they could use Isla as his weakness, he needs to cut the tie that binds them, even if it will cause pain.
“Do you want to take a closer look?” he asked as he unbuckled his seatbelt.
Isla’s forehead slightly creased and glanced at him. Their gazes locked. No one dared to speak for a few seconds before Isla smiled. “Can I?”
Zero let out a dashing smile that made Isla’s heart beat fast. “R-Really?”
Zero nodded as he leaned toward her making Isla move backward. Zero smirked and reached for her seatbelt and took it off. “Let’s go,” he asserted and went out to the driver’s seat.
Isla was still stunned with wide eyes and just got back to her senses when she felt a warmth that touched her hand. And when she looked up, she saw Zero smiling at her. But there was something in his smile—it doesn’t show happiness… but Isla could clearly see his despair.