[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice-Chapter 263: Love Tested, Decisions Made

~Zayn’s POV~

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to our joined hands before looking back at me, her expression hopeful and vulnerable. "Zayn, I’m still single. Now that we know the truth... will you consider us getting back together?"

I pulled my hand back gently. "Meera," I began, my voice firm but quiet. "My relationship isn’t exactly private. By now, everybody knows about my relationship with my boyfriend."

Meera burst out laughing, a sound that was too loud for the empty restaurant. "Zayn, stop! Just stop! Don’t tell me you want me to believe you are actually in love with... him. With Evric."

I looked at her, my expression completely serious. "Yes, Meera. I’m serious. I love him." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Meera’s laughter died instantly. Her face contorted into disbelief. "Cover your mouth, Zayn, and stop talking nonsense!"

"What do you mean?" I asked, completely taken aback by her reaction.

She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a cold, mocking whisper. "A grown man like you... And you expect me to believe you’re actually in love with another man?" She scoffed softly. "What happened to you, Zayn? The Zayn I knew couldn’t even stand the idea of gay people. What did that spoiled brat tell you to make you think there’s any kind of future between you two?"

She kept going, her words slicing through the air.

"You want a real family, Zayn—a son and a daughter. Tell me, how is Evric supposed to give you that? How are you supposed to give him that? You’re throwing away your best years just to lie in bed with another man. You called it disgusting. You swore you’d never touch a man. So what changed? What has gotten into you?"

Her voice rose with desperation. "Because he has nothing to offer you except his money and his dick! I love you, Zayn, and I know you still love me too. If Nantam hadn’t ruined everything, we would’ve gotten married, had our kids, and you never would’ve even met him. Don’t let him destroy you. You are not gay, Zayn!"

I tried to interject, feeling anger and frustration bubble up. "Meera, you need to understand that I do love Evric, and I’m not—"

She cut me off again. "Stop! You’re just having fun, I get it. You had a stressful year, and he’s rich and exciting. Stop now, Zayn, before this goes too far. Stop this act and focus on the life you actually want."

I finally put my hands on the table, forcing her to pause. I didn’t raise my voice, but the sudden stillness in my tone demanded attention.

"Meera, listen to me," I said, my voice steady and raw with truth. "I know what I wanted in the past. I wanted the house, the picket fence, the beautiful family, and I wanted it all with you. But people change, and sometimes, the universe shows you what you actually need, not what you thought you should want."

I took a deep breath, explaining the feeling that even a decade of relationship with Meera couldn’t access. "I discovered things about myself with Evric that I never knew existed. When I’m with him, I feel safe enough to be absolutely myself. He doesn’t just love me; he sees the person I am when I’m not trying to be the man I thought I should be."

"This isn’t an act, Meera, and it’s not a phase. It’s real. I love him. I am serious about building a life with him, and I am happier than I have ever been."

Meera shook her head, her eyes flashing with a desperate, pitying look. "That is just temporary excitement, Zayn! You’ll regret this. Look at our friends, do you remember Liam and Sarah from university? They just had their second child. Remember how badly you wanted that? You said you wanted to take your kids to the beach house every summer. Evric can’t give you that, Zayn! You will miss having children."

She took my hand again, her grip tight, her voice pleading. "This is the time for you to stop and turn back and let go of Evric. With him, you gain nothing but a temporary thrill. But with me," she leaned in, tears blurring her eyes, "I can give you everything you deserve: beautiful babies, the happy family you always dreamed of. Don’t allow him to destroy you. You are not gay, Zayn."

I carefully withdrew my hand from hers. The pity in her voice hurt more than the initial shock.

"Meera," I said, rising from the table. "You don’t get to decide who I am. I appreciate your concern, and I am truly sorry for the way Nantam hurt you, but this conversation is over. I am with Evric, and I love him. There is no turning back."

Meera stood up too, her face twisting into a sneer. "Aren’t you ashamed of saying you love your same gender? What is wrong with you, Zayn?"

"There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Meera," I retorted, shaking my head. "We both love each other, so I see no reason to be ashamed."

"You love him, or you’re just afraid you might not be able to perform with a woman again because you’ve already spent so much time with him?" she pressed, her voice dripping with malice.

"Stop that," I snapped. "I already chose Evric, and that’s what matters." I glanced at the door. "It’s getting late, Meera, you need to leave. My boyfriend will soon be here, and I don’t want him to hear any of this conversation."

She didn’t listen. "Who cares?" she scoffed, and before I could move, she quickly closed the distance between us. She grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, stretching up to meet me. Her lips were on mine.

My mind went blank with shock. I was already pulling back, pushing her shoulders away, when I heard it, a sound that froze the blood in my veins.

"Zayn?"

It was Evric’s voice, calm and quiet, but cutting through the silence of the restaurant like a shard of glass.

I quickly shoved Meera back, turning toward the sound of his voice. Evric was standing just inside the entrance. His expression was completely composed, but his eyes held a deep, profound hurt.

"I will wait for you in the car," he said simply, turning on his heel and walking out.

A cold wave of dread washed over me. I gathered my things in a hurry, dropped my keys on the counter, and snapped, "You need to leave. Now."

I didn’t wait for a response, I bolted out of the restaurant and ran after Evric.

I slid into the passenger seat beside him. Before I could even stutter out an explanation, Evric started the conversation, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"Meera is right," he stated, his voice low and defeated.

"Babe," I choked out, reaching for him.

He pulled away slightly. "I heard everything, Zayn, and I appreciate how you defended our love. But Meera was right about one thing: the life you want, the life you deserve, I can’t give it to you."

"Stop!" I grabbed his arm. "Are you giving up on us?"

He squeezed my hand where it rested on his arm. "Never," he vowed, his voice firm and intense. "But from now until the last day of the three months you asked for, you have to decide, choose between me and Meera. And I promise you, whatever your choice, I will respect it."

"Babe, don’t speak like that," I pleaded.

"I’m not angry," he insisted. "I just want you to see the truth in what Meera said and choose wisely. You’ve faced so much since being with me, Zayn. Now it’s time to decide what you truly want."

"I know what I want—it’s you, I—"

Evric gently pressed a finger to my lips, stopping me. "After tonight, I won’t come to you. I’ll text and check in, but we will only meet on the last day of the three months you asked for. On that day, I’ll send you the location and the time. That’s it."