Zayn's POV
Something was wrong with me.
I knew it.
I just didn't understand what.
That morning started like every other morning. I was getting ready to leave for work, heading toward the front door with my briefcase in hand when I heard footsteps behind me.
"Zayn."
I turned.
And there she was.
Samirah.
She stood there smiling softly, sunlight catching against her face, looking almost too beautiful for something so simple.
"I just wanted to wish you a good day," she said warmly. "And pray that today goes well for you."
Before I could respond, she lifted her hand lightly.
"May your day be productive, peaceful, and successful," she said with a smile.
My chest tightened strangely.
Why did something so small affect me that much?
I smiled without meaning to.
"Thank you."
She nodded.
And then before I could stop myself—
I stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.
The second I touched her—
Everything inside me stilled.
Like my body recognized something my mind did not.
She froze in my arms for half a second before slowly hugging me back.
And God—
Why did that feel so right?
I pulled away too quickly, suddenly aware of how strange I was acting.
Her cheeks were flushed.
Mine probably were too.
"Have a good day," she whispered.
I nodded quickly and left before I did something stupid.
The entire drive to work, I could still feel her in my arms.
Still smell her perfume.
Still remember how perfectly she fit against me.
And that was the problem.
Because none of this made sense.
None of it.
I sat in my office later that day trying to focus, but I couldn't.
Every time I closed my eyes—
I saw her smile.
Heard her laugh.
Felt her skin against mine.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Why did she affect me like this?
Why did being near her feel natural?
Why did being away from her feel…
Empty?
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.
One minute, everything with her felt easy.
Comfortable.
Like I had known her forever.
Like I could breathe around her.
But then—
Lina would come near me.
And everything would become confusing again.
Because Lina was supposed to be the woman I loved.
The woman everyone said I chose.
The woman I supposedly proposed to.
So why didn't it feel right?
Why did every kiss on my cheek from her feel forced?
Why did every touch from her make me uncomfortable?
Why did I constantly have to remind myself not to pull away?
And why—
Why was it Samirah's touch that lingered in my mind instead?
I groaned softly, dropping my head into my hands.
"This is insane."
Maybe I was losing my mind.
Because no matter how much I tried to ignore it—
No matter how much I tried to convince myself I was imagining things—
Whenever Samirah was near me…
It felt like home.
And I didn't know why.
Later that evening when I returned home, Lina rushed toward me instantly.
"Baby!" she chirped, wrapping her arms around me.
I stiffened.
Again.
That same discomfort hit immediately.
And then over her shoulder—
I saw Samirah standing nearby.
Watching.
Our eyes met.
And instantly—
That feeling came back.
That unbearable need to walk away from Lina and toward her instead.
God.
What was happening to me?
I gently removed Lina's hands from around me.
"I need some air," I muttered.
Then I walked off before anyone could stop me.
Because if I stayed any longer—
I might finally do what I had been fighting not to do for weeks.
And that was choose the woman my heart kept running to…
Over the woman everyone said I was supposed to love.
I found Samirah in the library that evening.
She was dusting the shelves quietly, completely focused, unaware of me standing there watching her.
Or maybe she was pretending not to notice.
I had spent the entire day trying to ignore the storm in my head, but I couldn't anymore.
I needed answers.
"Samirah."
She turned immediately.
"Yes?"
I stepped inside, shutting the door behind me.
Something about that made her nervous. I saw it instantly in the way her shoulders stiffened.
"We need to talk."
Her throat moved as she swallowed. "About what?"
I stared at her for a long moment before asking the question that had been tormenting me for days.
"What exactly was our relationship before all this?"
Her face went pale.
My chest tightened.
"You keep looking at me like I matter to you," I said softly. "Like I was important to you before my accident. You act jealous when Lina is around. You get upset when people talk about us together. And every time I'm near you…" I exhaled shakily. "I feel something I can't explain."
Her eyes filled instantly.
"Zayn…"
"No," I said, stepping closer. "Tell me the truth."
She looked away quickly.
"Did we know each other before?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"How?"
Her lips trembled.
And for one terrible second, I thought she would tell me everything.
But then something in her expression changed.
Fear.
Sadness.
Resolve.
"You cared about me," she said quietly.
My heart pounded.
"How much?"
She hesitated.
Then whispered the words that shattered something inside me—
"Not the way you think."
My brows furrowed.
"What does that mean?"
She forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"It means we were close. Friends. You were kind to me."
That didn't sound right.
It didn't feel right.
"Just friends?"
She nodded quickly.
"Yes."
I stared at her.
Then asked the question that mattered most.
"And Lina?"
Her face fell instantly.
My stomach twisted.
"Explain Lina to me," I said. "Explain us. Because I don't understand it."
Her eyes watered.
And when she spoke, her voice sounded like it was breaking apart.
"You loved her," she whispered.
My chest tightened.
"She's everything to you, Zayn."
I frowned immediately.
Why did hearing that feel wrong?
"She is?"
Samirah nodded, tears threatening to spill.
"Yes."
I stepped closer. "Then why do you look like saying that hurts you?"
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
I could see it.
The pain in her face.
The sadness she was trying desperately to hide.
But then she looked away and whispered—
"Because seeing you confused hurts me."
That answer didn't satisfy me.
Not even close.
Still, she continued.
"You loved Lina deeply," she said softly. "You wanted to marry her. You wanted a future with her. She makes you happy."
Each word sounded rehearsed.
Forced.
Like she was trying to convince herself more than me.
"And you?" I asked quietly.
Her breath caught.
"What about me?"
"What were you to me?"
Her eyes met mine again.
So much emotion in them it nearly knocked the air from my lungs.
Then she whispered—
"Nothing important."
Lie.
I knew it was a lie.
I didn't know how.
Didn't know why.
But every instinct in my body screamed that she was lying.
Because no one looked at someone the way she looked at me if they were nothing.
No one cried like that over nothing.
No one hurt like that over nothing.
But before I could press further—
She stepped back.
"You should go to Lina," she whispered. "She's waiting for you."
And then she walked past me.
Leaving me standing there.
More confused than ever.
Because if Lina was truly the woman I loved…
Then why did hearing Samirah say it feel like losing something I didn't even know I had?