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Zayn sat on the couch, his knees pulled close to his chest, head resting on the cushion behind him. Rhys sat beside him, scrolling mindlessly through his phone when suddenly.

"Rhys... I think I like him," Zayn said quietly, almost like he was saying it more to himself than to Rhys.

Rhys froze.

"Wait... what?" he blinked, turning to face him properly.

Zayn sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, clearly nervous.

"I mean... it's been a month since .....since that heat thing happened... and after that, he stayed." Zayn looked down at his hands. "He took care of me, Rhys. He made food, stayed up with me, stayed when he didn’t have to. And he told me he liked me and wanted to be with me. I didn’t say anything then, because I was... confused, but..."

He looked up, eyes soft and uncertain.

"Now I think I like him too."

Rhys stared at him in silence for a beat, then practically tackled him with a hug.

"OH MY GOD, ZAYN! Finally! I’m so happy for you!"

Zayn chuckled as Rhys clung to him like an overexcited puppy.

"Yeah yeah, calm down, it’s just a maybe..."

"No! That’s not a maybe, that’s a full-on yes. So when are you going to tell him?!"

"Soon... I think," Zayn smiled, cheeks already turning red at the thought.

Just then, Zayn's phone buzzed in his lap. Elior calling.

He picked it up, heart suddenly beating a little faster.

"Hey baby," Elior’s voice came through, warm and cheerful. "What are you doing?"

Zayn bit back a grin. "Nothing... just sitting."

"Did you eat anything?"

"Yeah, just now. You?"

"I’m coming back tomorrow. And this time you can't ignore me like before." Elior teased.

Zayn laughed softly. "Oh really?"

"Yes, Zayn. I’m serious. No more running from me."

There was a pause. Zayn stared at the wall in front of him, lips pressed together.

"Elior..." he said slowly.

"Hmm?"

"I have something to tell you."

"Tell me."

Zayn’s voice dropped a little. "Do you... like me?"

"Zayn..." Elior’s tone softened instantly. "Of course I like you.your moods, your chaos... I still like you. A lot."

Zayn bit his lip again, eyes suddenly stinging. "Even after knowing about everything? I mean... I’m not exactly the easiest person."

"Baby," Elior said, "it’s your past. Not your present. Not who you are now. I like you. All of you. And I also know you like me too."

Zayn huffed a tiny laugh, cheeks pink. "Yeah... I think so."

"‘Think so’? Oh no no no baby, I’ve been pursuing you for four damn months, don’t ‘think so’ me right now," Elior protested.

"Why are you like this?" Zayn giggled.

"Because I’m dramatic and hopelessly in love with you."

"You’re impossible."

"And you’re mine," Elior replied smoothly.

"No I’m not," Zayn teased, smirking.

"Okay then. Let’s do this properly," Elior said, getting serious.

There was a pause, and then.

"Zayn Alaric," Elior said with mock ceremony, "I really, really like you. Will you be my boyfriend?"

Zayn burst into laughter. "You’re crazy!"

"Crazy for you, my love," Elior said, not missing a beat.

Zayn smiled so wide it hurt. "Fine. Yes. I’ll be your boyfriend."

"HA! I KNEW IT!"

“ but, I’ve been following you around like a puppy for the past 8 months… so no, I’m not going to give in that easily,” Elior said, his tone playful but edged with sincerity.

They were teasing each other, talking about courage who had more of it.

“Oh really? Then what?” Zayn challenged, smirking.

“If you really have that much courage,” Elior continued, “then prove it. Propose to me in front of the entire college. Only then I’ll believe you.”

Zayn was quiet for a beat, then asked with a mischievous tone, “Are you challenging me?”

“You can say that,” Elior replied casually.

There was a pause on the line… and then zayn’s voice dropped into a confident promise.

“Then I’ll show you, mister… just how much courage I really have.”

Elior raised a brow, half amused, half anxious. “Let’s see then.”

And with that, he ended the call, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

---

"What happened?" Rhys asked, noticing the confused look on Zayn's face as he slumped on the couch, phone still in hand.

Zayn let out a breath and leaned back, his eyes slightly wide. "Elior challenged me."

Rhys raised an eyebrow. "Challenged you? For what?"

Zayn looked at him, clearly flustered. "He said... if I really like him, I should propose to him. In front of the whole college."

Rhys blinked. "Wait what?"

Zayn nodded slowly, almost like he couldn’t believe it himself. "Yeah. He was like, ‘You’ve been running away from feelings your whole life. If you really like me, then prove it. Show me, show everyone.’"

Rhys was stunned for a second before letting out a small laugh. "That’s... very Elior of him."

Zayn groaned. "I mean, come on! I just accepted I like him and he throws a public proposal challenge at me? What am I supposed to do?"

"Do you want to do it?" Rhys asked, more seriously this time.

Zayn looked at him for a moment. "I don’t know. Part of me wants to punch him, and the other part is... kind of scared he won’t take me seriously if I don’t."

Rhys gave a thoughtful hum. "I think you already know what you want to do."

"That’s the problem," Zayn mumbled. "I do."

Rhys smirked. "So, when’s the big day?"

"Shut up," Zayn said, throwing a cushion at him.

Rhys dodged it, laughing. "Just don’t faint while proposing in front of 300 students."

"If I do, it’s on him. He’ll have to carry me bridal style."

They both laughed, and the tension melted for a bit.

"I’m hungry," Rhys declared. "Let’s order something before you pass out from stress."

"Pizza?" Zayn suggested.

"Always."

As they waited for their food, the thought still lingered in Zayn’s mind: Can I really do this? In front of everyone?

But then he remembered Elior’s voice, confident and teasing:

"If you like me, show me. I dare you."

Zayn stared at his phone, the corner of his lips lifting.

"Fine, Elior Blackwood," he whispered. "You asked for it."

---

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