He’d retaliate. He’d punish me. He was already plotting to torment me,again.
But this time, I wouldn’t let him. I wouldn’t let him take anything more from me.
You’re the most perfect person I’ve ever known, Zioh. I’m incredibly proud of you!Purple. 26.
With Zaeem or not. With Grandpa’s help or not. I’d bring him down this time before he could steal the only reason I still survive.
41
Tshabina
Zioh dropped me off at home, his car stopping further down the road from my house after I asked him to. He looked rather startled at first, but he complied without protest. Somehow, I managed to sneak in unnoticed by Tsabinu.
At the office, I slumped straight into my chair and glued myself to the screen, tapping my fingers over and over against the desk. The videos and pics I took at the press conference could’ve been way better. There weren’t many, and now I had to produce content about Zioh’s speech before the meeting. But that was the problem.
In none of the shots was Zioh actually looking into the camera. His gaze was aligned with it, but never direct, because he only looked at me throughout the conference.
But that wasn’t the only thing spinning in my head.
I ran my hand over my face, letting out a long sigh. “Never quiet, unbearable…” I murmured, recalling Zioh’s confession.
For the first time in so long, he began totalk, andhearing all his words took every ounce of my strength not to break down.
He… was disturbed.
Something gnawed at him so deeply that he needed ways to calm himself:“Complementary therapy.”He admitted it, and he often sought it.
He trembled in front of me last night, his expression and eyes quivering, panic and fear leaking through despite how hard he tried to hide it.
I knew last night he’d poured out all his strength to tell me, to let me glimpse what he was carrying.
Only for me.
That was why I was so grateful. All through the night, while he’d slept, I pulled him into my arms, silently weeping.
Never once closing my eyes, I had stayed awake until finally slipping out of his room. Hours were then spent searching and reading everything I could find about complementary therapy. The more I read, the clearer it became—this wasn’t just therapy. It was a treatment.
Medical treatment.
It helps patients feel better physically or mentally, eases stress, and boosts energy.The words I’d read settled deep in my mind.
But why did he need it…
They spun round and round in my head, trying to fit pieces together. His struggles with emotions, his sudden mood swings, his shades of gray—sometimes dominantly white, sometimes black.
Yet I still had no answer to the real problem.
A harsh breath left me. I reached for my hair tie and twisted my hair up in one swift motion. I kept scrolling through yesterday’s pics, staring at Zioh’s handsome face. It wasn’t radiant anymore; the dark circles under his eyes were worsening day after day, and his wide smile was something I hardly ever saw anymore.
My chest tightened at the sight.
“Ahem.” The sound behind me made me jolt. I turned to see Andi holding two cups of coffee, eyeing me with his infuriating grin.
Ah… at last, this weirdo waved a white flag.
When I stared at him, he cleared his throat again and placed one of the cups on my desk. “Want me to help with the editing?” he sang, shrugging casually at my screen. “I’m free.”
I gave him a faint smile and returned to my work. “No need, I don’t want to bother someone who’s already got a lot on their mind.” My words cut both ways. Was I being cynical toward him or toward myself?
