Zenon's Game Chapter 215

His expression was soft as he gazed at me. There was a raw hurt in his eyes mixed with sadness for hurting me. He looked like he just wanted this argument to end.

He stepped forwards and wrapped his strong arms around my body. I felt my hands run over the familiar feel of his upper body and melted into his hug. How I missed this. His strength, his warmth, his comfort.

"I'm sorry too," I squeezed my eyes shut, pushing the tears back. And I held onto him.

I held him and quietly admitted, "I was scared we were about to break up."

"Over an argument like this?" Zenon asked softly, tilting his head so he could see mine, "We're too strong for that."

I felt my heart soar at that response. Zenon had confidence I lacked. He was strong, but I was more attracted to the strength of his will power. He didn't want to let us go.

There were many people who doubted his commitment, but moments like these gave me confidence in our future together. Real devotion is not just the willingness to work on our relationship, but the willingness to work on ourselves as individuals.

I pretended like what he just said didn't mean much. It meant everything.

"You may want to answer your phone," I mumbled into his shirt, changing the subject, "It's been buzzing during our whole conversation."

He kept one arm wrapped around me as his other hand slid into his pocket and checked who'd been texting him.

We both looked at his phone and read the Axel texts:

Axel 9.15pm: Just apologize

Axel 9.22pm: Seriously. You're in the wrong and I don't even need to know what it is

Axel 9.31pm: Have you still not apologized?

Axel 9.36pm: It's been twenty minutes. APOLOGIZE so we can EAT

Axel 9.39pm: I know I said I liked oysters but not this much

Axel 9.40pm: Actually I hate them

Axel 9.40pm: That's it. I'm coming down

"When was that last text?" I asked and he checked the time stamp.

30 seconds ago.

And just like that, we heard Axel's loud voice, "Love birds! I hate to intrude but we have hungry people upstairs!"

Dinner was being served in five courses tonight. In some cultures, the number five is a symbol of balance. Earth, water, air, fire and aether.

Speaking of the number five, I don't know why there were golden plastic hands as décor on the table. Their fingers clasped onto some shiny gold objects. The dinner table was covered in flowers, primarily reds, oranges and purples. We sat on red chairs and the room was lined with thin, human-sized candles.

Why Bryce has a room like this in his house, I will never know. Sir Chadwick Senior was sitting at the head of the table with his friend beside him. The friend had a liking for rings and wore three on his right hand.

The first course had been served and it was tiny. My starving stomach protested. I hate to sound ungrateful, but you'd think they could give us more than a tiny spoon of some frothy jello.

Cynthia kept staring between Zenon and me, trying to get some response out of me. I didn't know how to respond since I'm an awkward communicator, but I gave her a thumbs up.

I was pretty quiet after the emotional rollercoaster I had gone through today. Our heavy conversation had come after a long, emotionally draining and physically exhausting day which had started with me hungover.

I felt close to tears. I couldn't help myself.

The second course was an option between soup or salad. I chose both, naturally. Axel concurred.

"How was scuba diving?" Cynthia asked the boys.

I didn't hear their response. I excused myself from the dining room to find the bathroom.

The tears flowed out of me the moment I closed the bathroom door. I gripped the edges of the sink and stared at my crying self in the mirror.

I know I'm insecure. I try to channel it through humor or productive avenues like math. But now it's affecting my relationship.

I'm trying to fit inside Zenon's world. I won't change who I am for it, but I am trying.

I accept that part of the problem is me, but I'm not the reason why Bianca is cruel. I didn't do anything to her except develop a relationship with Zenon.

Why do people ration out their kindness like it's a finite resource? Kindness can be in endless supply if we want it to be.

There was a gentle knock on the door.

"Cynthia?" I asked.

"No," came a male's response, "It's me."

Oof. I opened the door and Zenon stepped inside.

He must have left dinner to come after me. I tried not to think about what the others were thinking. They must assume we're having problems.

Zenon didn't ask me what's wrong, because he already knew. This bathroom felt so much smaller with the two of us.

I covered my eyes and turned away from him so he wouldn't see me cry. I was so embarrassed. He had just told me to be stronger and here I was a crying wreck.

How was he so fine with everything while I was in a meltdown?

"I know I can be harsh. I'm sorry," he apologized.

I'm trying, but he's so much better at moving on. I know I've criticized Zenon's character in the past and he just took that criticism on the chin.

He's worked on himself. There are clear lapses... but I suppose that's the way development works. It's not linear. We're not perfect.

I kept my head down, not wanting him to see me ugly cry. At this point, who cares? The man's seen me puke and he's still here.