Array
(
[text] =>

---

The sunlight slipped through half-closed blinds, casting pale gold lines across the tangle of sheets on Zayn’s bed.

The room smelled like sweat, cologne, and something unspoken.

Zayn stirred first bare chest exposed, the sheets resting just below his hipbones, one arm flung over the edge of the bed.

His lips were still a little swollen. His neck showed faint bruises. His body ached in ways he hadn’t felt in a while.

But for once… it didn’t feel empty.

Elior was lying on his back, one arm behind his head, his chest rising and falling calmly. He was staring at the ceiling like he was lost in thought or calculating something.

“You’re still here,” Zayn said, his voice rough and quiet.

Elior turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “Yeah.”

Zayn gave a lazy smirk. “Most guys are gone by now. Sometimes with my wallet.”

Elior didn’t laugh. “I’m not most guys.”

Zayn leaned in slightly, resting his chin on Elior’s chest. “Mmm, yeah. You proved that last night.”

For a moment, it was calm.

Zayn’s fingers idly traced circles over Elior’s stomach. “That was... intense.”

Elior looked down at him. “Was it?”

Zayn blinked, a little surprised by the tone. “Well… yeah.”

A beat of silence.

Then Elior spoke, voice low, casual but laced with something colder underneath.

“You sleep with a lot of people, right?”

Zayn froze. Just a little. But enough.

He raised his head slowly, forcing a smirk. “Yeah. What about it?”

Elior looked him dead in the eye. “So was last night just one of those… casual forgettable things?”

Zayn tried to laugh. “If you’re looking for romance, you’re knocking on the wrong heart.”

Elior smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I figured,” he said. “It’s just… you talk like you don’t care. But I wonder.”

Zayn sat up, turning his back slightly. “Wonder what?”

Elior leaned forward now, whispering near his ear, “If maybe… you pretend to be heartless because you’re scared shitless someone might actually stay.”

Zayn went quiet.

His smirk slipped, just for a second.

Elior saw it and filed it away like a weapon.

Zayn stood up suddenly, brushing it off. “I’m gonna shower.”

“Sure,” Elior said, watching him walk away, every inch of exposed skin, every drop of armor that had fallen last night.

He lay back against the pillows, whispering to himself, almost like a promise:

“You break hearts, Zayn. But I’m here to break you.”

---

Zayn stepped out of the bathroom, towel hanging loosely around his neck, his hair damp and messy, skin still glistening from the shower.

“Figures,” he muttered, noticing the empty space beside the bed. “Of course, he’s gone.”

But then, he paused.

He heard a clatter plates?

Frowning, Zayn padded out toward the kitchen and stopped short.

Elior was behind the open kitchen counter, sleeves rolled up, plating food like he owned the place.

Zayn blinked. “You’re… still here?”

Elior didn’t look up. “I thought you wouldn’t be able to walk. So I figured I’d help you refuel.”

Zayn laughed, tossing his towel aside. “You're funny.”

Elior smirked and brought two plates over to the table.

Zayn sat down and leaned forward, inhaling. “Damn, that smells good.”

“My mom taught me,” Elior said simply.

“Impressive. Hot and knows how to cook? That’s rare,” Zayn teased.

They both started eating, the conversation flowing easier than expected.

“You live alone?” Elior asked between bites.

“Yeah, sometimes. My parents have another house. I crash there when I’m bored of this place.”

Elior gave a sly smile. “So you basically keep this place as a… hookup zone?”

Zayn pretended to be offended. “Excuse me? It’s not just for me to f*ck people…”

He leaned in with a wink. “Sometimes it’s for them to f*ck me.”

Elior chuckled. “You’re really something else.”

Zayn shrugged like it was a compliment.

“Do you have siblings?” Elior asked.

“One older brother,” zayn said, biting into his toast.

“Ohh, the classic ‘mature big brother’ type?”

“not so .”

“Figures,” Elior muttered, smiling.

After they finished, Elior stood and grabbed his coat.

“So… are we going to see each other again?” he asked, voice casual.

Zayn leaned against the kitchen counter. “Well, we’re in the same class. Not exactly hard to spot.”

“No, I meant you,” Elior said, now standing at the doorway.

“Talk fast, or I’m leaving.”Zayn grinned and walked toward the door, standing just inside while Elior stood outside.

“You’re tall, you know,” Zayn said, stepping closer. “Actually, I think you’re really taller then me.”

“Yeah,” Elior said with a smirk, “I’ve noticed.”

Zayn’s expression shifted, eyes gleaming with mischief. “But no, we’re not sleeping together again. I never sleep with the same guy twice.”

“Ouch, that's hurt” Elior stepped forward, their faces inches apart. “Then that’s a shame. Because you’re really tasty…”

He leaned down, voice husky. “And I’d love to taste you every day.”

“Tch tch tch,” Zayn whispered, tilting his chin up. “Then it’s too bad, Mr. Elior Blackwood.”

Elior raised an eyebrow. “So you do remember my last name.”

“I remember a lot of things,” Zayn said smoothly. “Especially the ones that feel good.”

Elior smiled.but something about it was darker now. Calculating.

He turned to leave. “Bye, then.”

Zayn was just about to shut the door When Elior grabbed his wrist, spun him around, and pushed him gently but firmly against the wall.

Before Zayn could react, Elior crushed their lips together again hard, deep, claiming.

Zayn gasped into the kiss, stunned, but didn’t pull away.

When Elior finally stepped back, Zayn blinked, breathless. “This is cheating.”

Elior’s smile returned. “Not so.”

And just like that, he walked away.

Zayn stood there for a second, heartbeat racing, lips tingling.

Then he shut the door slowly, locked it, and leaned his back against it.

“What the hell was that…”

He let out a low laugh.

But in his chest, something unfamiliar stirred.

And far away, Elior walked toward his car, a dangerous look in his eyes.

One word whispered in his mind.

"Control."

---

[text_hash] => f9f21ccf
)