The Guardian of Room F

The following week, Lira found herself tangled in a mess of thoughts she couldn't quite untangle. Her days seemed to blur together—school, assignments, and the constant presence of Zayn in her life. It was like he had become a fixture, popping up at the most unexpected times. They were supposed to be working on their project together, but their interactions had become more than just about that.

Every time they practiced for the skit, something changed. Zayn's casual smirk, the way he leaned in just a little too close, the soft tone in his voice when he said her name… It was starting to unravel her. She'd never thought much of Zayn before, but now—now, he was everywhere.

It was like he knew exactly how to push her buttons, how to get under her skin in a way that left her breathless and confused. And yet, despite all the teasing and back-and-forth banter, he always seemed to be hiding something. Every time she tried to peel back a layer of his charm, she found herself faced with a wall.

Zayn was a mystery. And Lira hated mysteries.

It was lunchtime, and Lira was walking down the hallway to the cafeteria, deep in thought, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Jace, the ever-present troublemaker, standing behind her, a playful grin on his face.

"Hey, Lira," he said, nudging her lightly with his elbow. "Can I steal you for a sec?"

Lira raised an eyebrow. "Steal me? What for?"

"Nothing serious. Just want to talk."

Lira sighed, glancing over at Mara, who was sitting at their usual lunch table with a wide grin on her face, clearly ready for the latest gossip. "Okay, fine," Lira said, rolling her eyes. "What's up?"

Jace grinned mischievously. "Is it true you're working on a skit with Zayn?"

Lira stopped walking, her heart dropping into her stomach. "Is this some kind of joke?" she asked, trying to sound casual, though her voice came out more tense than she intended.

Jace's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Why would it be a joke? Everyone knows you two are always together lately. What's going on between you two, huh?"

Lira flushed, her heart pounding. "Nothing. We're just—" She paused, feeling the heat rise in her face. "We're just doing a project."

Jace crossed his arms. "Yeah, sure. A project. Look, I'm not gonna push, but you should be careful with that guy. He's… complicated."

Lira stared at him, unsure if she was more confused or irritated. "What do you mean by that?"

Jace gave her a serious look. "Zayn's not who you think he is. I know him better than anyone, and there's a lot you don't know about him. He's… not exactly the good boy you probably think he is."

Lira frowned, her confusion deepening. "What are you talking about? What's so bad about him?"

Jace sighed, shaking his head as if he was regretting the conversation. "I'm not saying he's a bad guy, but he's got his demons. His past… it's not exactly clean. He's carrying around a lot more baggage than you realize."

Lira's heart beat faster. She had heard rumors about Zayn before, but nothing concrete. She didn't know who to believe or trust anymore. The Zayn she knew was smart, witty, and yes, a bit mysterious—but not the kind of person who would have a "dark past." At least, she didn't think so.

Jace's eyes softened slightly. "I'm just saying, watch yourself. People like Zayn don't always show you the full picture. Be careful, Lira."

Before she could respond, Jace turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with more questions than answers.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Lira couldn't shake off Jace's words. Zayn's "past" had been mentioned before, but hearing it from someone who knew him, like Jace, made it feel real. She tried to focus on the skit, but every time Zayn spoke to her, all she could think about was the conversation she'd had with Jace.

Later that afternoon, Lira was sitting in the library, sorting through notes for the skit when Zayn walked in, his usual relaxed posture leaning against the doorway as he surveyed the room. His eyes immediately landed on her, and he made his way over, a casual smile on his face.

"Got the notes ready?" he asked, settling into the chair across from her. He didn't even bother with a greeting, just dove straight into business.

Lira hesitated, looking at him for a moment before shaking her head. "We need to talk."

Zayn raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that. "About what?"

"About you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Jace said some things that… confused me."

Zayn's expression shifted just slightly, his smile faltering for a split second. "What did he say?" His voice was low, almost cautious.

Lira swallowed hard, staring at him. "He said you have a lot of baggage. That your past is… complicated."

For a moment, Zayn was silent. His gaze turned serious, and Lira noticed a flicker of something she couldn't quite place in his eyes. Then, with a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "Jace can be dramatic," he said, his voice even, but his eyes told a different story. "I don't know why he'd say that to you. I've never talked to him about my past."

Lira leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Then why would he say something like that?"

Zayn's jaw clenched briefly, and he exhaled through his nose. "It's not something I talk about. Not even with people I trust." He looked at her, his gaze intense. "I'm not proud of everything that's happened, Lira. But that doesn't mean it defines me."

Lira stared at him, unsure of what to believe. Her heart was racing, her thoughts swirling with confusion and doubt. She didn't want to push him, but something about the way he was talking made it clear that there was more to Zayn than he was letting on.

Zayn's eyes softened just a little, and he leaned forward, meeting her gaze. "Look, I don't want to make this a bigger deal than it is. There's stuff in my past that I can't change, but I don't need it hanging over me. I don't need people judging me for things I can't control."

Lira felt her heart soften a little at the vulnerability she saw in his eyes, but she couldn't let go of the questions swirling in her mind. "I just want to understand. I don't want you to feel like you have to hide things from me, Zayn."

Zayn sat back, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a deep sigh, he ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe someday I'll tell you. But not today, okay? Just… not yet."

Lira nodded slowly, her chest tightening with an emotion she couldn't quite place. She felt torn between trusting him and needing more answers.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice quiet. "But just know that you don't have to carry it all alone."

Zayn's lips curved into a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know, Lira. I know."

Before Lira could say anything else, he stood up and gave her a quick nod. "I'll see you tomorrow, alright? Don't worry about the skit. We'll figure it out."

As Zayn walked away, Lira's mind raced. There was so much more to him than he was letting on. And despite everything, she couldn't help but feel drawn to the mystery. The secrets he was hiding only made her want to know him more.

But at what cost?

Lira didn't know yet. But she knew one thing for sure: the more she got involved with Zayn, the harder it would be to walk away.