The Rejection

WHILE holding each other’s hands, they walked towards the park. One moment, Isla was surprised by Zero’s actions—well, he never failed to do it so.
Diverting her thoughts about Zero, she then fixed her gaze on the dancing fountain. They walked a little bit closer, and they stopped near the lamppost.
She tried to pull her hand out of his grip, but Zero grasped it tighter, and when he looked down to meet her eyes, he shook his head. “Let’s stay like this for a while,” he said.
She sighed and then nodded. For the last time, she thought. She set aside her feelings for Zero for a while and let herself be taken to the rhythm and perfect view of the fountain. She tried to delve her connection deeper towards the different lights that flashed into the water. And started to hum to the music.
Zero let out a smile while he’s staring at Isla. The woman never failed to amuse him. She’s been the sudden light of his darkest world, and tonight, he will remove that light once again.
Then suddenly, he wished that he would still have a chance when he got back.
Tomorrow is his flight to Spain, and he will be gone for months. It’s the dealing season of the month, and he needs to be there to guide his organization.
Their big bosses wanted their presence to deal with their business. His flight was supposed to be last week, but Isla dragged him again.
“Hmm… can we sit?” Isla asked, which got him back to his right senses.
He bit his lower lip and nodded.
They then walked towards the bench near the lamppost. Zero pressed Isla’s hand, which made her look at him.
“What if I say that I love you? Will you believe me?” he asked.
Isla frowned slightly. “Pardon?”
Zero let out a faint smile. “Don’t mind it,” he replied and let go of her hand.
Isla, at the moment, was confused at the same time, mad. She wants to punch Zero’s face at the moment.
She clearly heard it, but she just wanted him to repeat it. A little bit of hope lingers inside her heart, but it faded away with his last words.
She let out a soft chuckle making Zero look at her. “Look how funny things are…” she started, but her eyes were fixed on the fountain. “You try to say something, yet you can’t stand by it. If you have feelings for me, you can say it directly to my face—”
“I don’t love you. I’m just asking an impossible thing,” Zero interrupted, and his words drew a thousand knives that pierced into her heart.
“O-Okay. I didn’t mean to assume. It’s just me. You know, I love to put meaning into your actions. And why all of a sudden? That’s the BIG question. Well, don’t mind it. It’s no big deal,” she laughed again, but Zero knew that it was sarcastic, “don’t worry. Just like what you’ve said, I’m still young. Of course, I am, and you will see, I will forget you. And will never dare to look into you again,” Isla’s words were full of grief, “I will make sure that I will find the right man for me. The one that who can stand by me,” she added and looked at him, meeting his gaze.
“And I regretted that I fell in love with a jerk like you,” she uttered as her tears poured down to her cheeks, but she wiped them off immediately.
She flashed a smile at him. “I want to ask you one favor, but I think you’ve done too much this day. Remember this Zero, when we see each other again, you’ll just be a stranger to me,” she asserted and stood up.
Steven closes his eyes as the tears he’s holding pour down his cheeks. Damn it, he cursed inside his mind and wiped his tears. He stood up and followed Isla. He was about to open the door when Isla glared at him.
He then stood on the side and let Isla open the car door on the passenger side.
He sighed and went to the driver’s seat. He buckles his seatbelt. He glanced at her before he started the engine.
“I am sorry—’
“Stop saying I AM SORRY!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know what are you apologizing for, Zero Cohen! So, please, stop being so annoying by telling me those words!” she screamed in anger. Her body shivered because of it. “I have enough, Zero. So, please, stop piercing another knife inside my heart,” she mumbled.
“I’m so—O-Okay. I’ll take you home now,” he said and maneuvered his car away from the park. ‘Fuck!’ Zero cursed inside his head. You’re so stupid, Zero, his inner self shouted at him.
NO ONE dared to talk while they were traveling their way toward Isla’s unit. She tried her best not to throw a single glance in Zero’s direction.
It’s not she’s being guilty of throwing words at Zero earlier. She just speaks out about what’s inside her because if she still holds it back, it will make her insane.
If only she didn’t engage herself in the crazy little thing they called: love, she shouldn’t be in this situation.
Suddenly, Becca came across her mind. She badly needed a girl to talk to her best friend. She will cry hard again once she locks herself inside her room. And Becca will stay on her phone until she sleeps.
The silence inside Zero’s car can be deafening, and suddenly Zero’s phone rings.
“Hello,” Zero asserted, but Isla never bothered to look in his direction.
(Zero Cohen! Where is my sister?!) it was Apollo’s loud voice, making Zero grimace.
“I’m on our way,” he replied and dropped the call.
He sighed and glanced at Isla for a second. Guess this is goodbye, he thought when he fixed his gaze on the road.
After a few minutes, they reached the condo building. Zero unbuckled his seatbelt and rushed outside to open the door at the passenger seat when Isla had already opened it and walked straight to the elevator.
Zero shook his head and followed her.
When Isla sensed that Zero followed, she stopped and turned to him. “What are you doing?” she asked.
Zero scratches the back of his head. “Hmm… I’m going to send—”
“No need—”
“I insist,” Zero cut off the hum of her words, making Isla roll her eyes.
She arched her brow and uttered, “whatever,” before continuing walking again.
Zero bit his lower lip to restrain himself from smiling. She’s so alluring when she’s getting mad.
Isla didn’t bother to talk to Zero again until they got inside the elevator. She pressed the number on her floor and rushed outside when it opened.
However, her chest jerked up when she saw her brother leaning against the wall next to the door of her unit. Her eyes widened when Apollo met her gaze, and suddenly, Apollo’s eyes went past the person on her back.
Zero at that moment knew that this was a part of his plan.
“A-Apollo… it’s not what you think it is—”
“What?” Apollo asked as he approached her side.
“A-Apollo…” she mumbled and blocked his view towards Zero, but Zero is way too taller for her.
Apollo wanted to burst into laughter because of Isla’s reaction, but he holds it since this is a serious matter to Zero.
“Where did you go? I’m standing in front of your door for about an hour now. And now, I’m seeing you with Zero?” Apollo raises his voice, venting his fake anger.
‘Fuck it,’ he cursed inside his head. He will definitely visit the church after this. He doesn’t want to see his sister getting hurt, but this is also for her own good.
“Z-Zero has nothing to do—”
“What? And you!” Apollo points in Zero’s direction and pushes Isla to the side gently. However, her sister blocked him again, trying to defend Zero.
And at that moment, he knew that she was so in love with him.
“Get out of my way, Princess. You won’t like it if I lose my temper,” Apollo warned.
Isla shook her head. “N-No. It’s not what you think—”
“Stop defending him, Princess,” Apollo said as he remained his gaze towards Zero. Isla hugged him to stop him. “What did I tell you, Zero? I fucking warned you! You shouldn’t have done it with my—”
“There’s nothing happened between—” Isla didn’t finish her words when Apollo glared at her. “You can’t fool the hell out of me!” he exclaimed. “You…” he pointed to Zero, “—are you going to marry my sister—”
“Apollo!” Isla shouted at him, but Apollo seemed deaf.
“Marry my—”
“I’d rather stay away than get married!” Zero interrupted, which shattered Isla’s heart into pieces. “I don’t even love her. So, why should I marry her?” he added, and those words burned the pieces of her heart into ashes.
Apollo saw how tears poured out of Zero’s eyes before he turned away from them.
Apollo cursed inside, but there was nothing he could do; it was Zero’s choice. Even if Apollo didn’t find out about the thing that he had with his sister, Zero already made plans, and finding out about their thing is just a bonus.
Isla was frosted in there. Her world totally collided. Tears poured down her cheeks like a river flowing rapidly. Suddenly, her knees weakened, and her vision got hazy until she lost consciousness.