Zein's Point of View
I woke up in a pitch-black room, with only a single lamp nearby providing a bit of light. There were boxes scattered next to me, and the smell of dust hit my nose. Judging by my surroundings, I might be in some kind of warehouse. My hands were tied tightly behind the chair I was sitting on, and even my feet were bound. My mouth wasn't covered, though, as if they were certain that no one would ever hear me even if I screamed my lungs out.
I tried to struggle against the ropes, but they were just too tight. My body was starting to cramp up, probably from being stuck in this position for hours. "You're wasting your energy." I looked over and saw Nazzer sitting on a box, lighting up a cigarette.
"How do you feel?" he asked, blowing out a cloud of smoke. "Are you thirsty? Hungry?"
"What time is it?" I asked.
"Sunday. Five p.m.," he replied.
Shit. I'd been tied up here for almost an entire day.
"Supremo isn't really a fan of big celebrations," he remarked, taking another drag. "But every year, the admins organize a big event for his birthday. Drinks. Parties. Free Bloody Night. Everyone gets excited because events like this are rare in this place."
"And you're going to ruin this day for him." I gritted my teeth.
"Everyone would be invited. Everyone would be there," he continued before turning to me. "Except him." I froze. "I heard the news this morning. Supremo asked for the event to be even bigger this year. Supremo Ace Craige personally requested that his birthday this year be grander."
"Isn't that a good thing?" I asked with a frown. I didn't get why he sounded so frustrated. It just meant that maybe, for once, Supremo would actually attend. "L-let me go, please..."
He tilted his head. "Do you really love him?"
"I don't have to admit anything to you—"
"You do." He laughed. "I can't believe love could grow in this hell. What a waste. Worse, with the wrong person. At the wrong time. In the wrong place."
"Don't play dumb with me, Nazzer. I know you're familiar with how I feel. You know damn well how it feels to be in this situation—"
"I don't." He sighed. "I can't let you go. Not now."
"But someone is waiting for me," I whispered. He will wait for me. For sure.
"It's better if you don't show up." He crushed his cigarette into an ashtray.
"But why?"
Nazzer walked over and knelt in front of me. He reached out and wiped away a tear. "I'm really sorry, Zein. I don't want to be an obstacle."
I pulled my face away. "But you already are. All of you. You have been for a long time."
Nazzer ruffled his hair, clearly frustrated. "You want to know why you can't go to that party?" Even though I was confused, I just nodded. He took off his blazer and draped it over me. "It's cold. Matt will kill me if you get sick."
"Just tell me," I said firmly.
"You're right. Supremo will finally attend the event tonight. But for another reason. He is planning to reveal everything tonight. He's going to announce to everyone what's going on between you two. What you are to him. In front of the whole school."
My jaw dropped. "H-he wouldn't do that."
Damn, he absolutely would. I'd witnessed it myself: how he ignored warnings, how he told me not to follow anyone but him. He didn't care anymore.
"He will. Do you have any idea what'll happen to him once they all find out? They'll strip him of his power. They'll treat him like trash. No one who has been stripped of the SSG president title ever just returns to being a normal student. I saw how everyone demeaned the former Supremo."
A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I realized I'd probably made the wrong choice. If I had let go of these feelings, we wouldn't end up like this. "Are you going to let everything he worked for go to waste? Can you stand to see people looking at him with disgust?"
I broke down sobbing as I remembered everything he'd done for me. He didn't just save me—he saved my friends too. "He cannot protect you anymore if that happens. Supremo managed to hold back the administration from taking full control. He is our shield. Without him, we are nothing."
They were right. This was wrong. We couldn't be together. This madness had to stop. "I have so much respect for Ace Craige. I've seen how hard he works to protect his reputation. I don't want to see all of that thrown away."
"Let me go," I whispered lifelessly.
Nazzer undid the ropes. "This is the only time I'm going to trust you," he whispered. We walked out and found Nicky waiting outside. "Please do the honors," Nazzer told her.
"Follow me, Zein," Nicky said.
No matter what I did, I always screwed up. For once, I just wanted to do something right. I wasn't going to let him lose everything. Even if it meant carrying regret forever, I'd take it. Nicky brought me back to our dorm, where I found my friends all dressed up. No questions were asked. Mia and Vanessa started getting me ready.
"I heard you were busy all day helping with Supremo's birthday prep," Mia said with a giggle. Through the mirror, I saw Matt standing by our door. He gave a sad smile and then walked away. Maybe he made up that story to cover for my disappearance.
We reached the open area at Wide Space. It was a massive party, and no one was wearing masks. Suddenly, the lights went out. I squinted as the lights flickered back on, and only then did I notice that everyone was staring at me. A single spotlight was shining right on me. Supremo began walking toward me. He was smiling.
"Hey..."
Supremo held out his hand to me and guided me to the center. "Darling, you came..."
My eyes started to sting. I threw my arms around him. Just as my vision blurred, I saw the administrators watching our every move. Teacher Kath looked furious.
Supremo gently pushed me back so he could look at me. "You look beautiful," he said. "Thank you, Zein. I am so happy you are here, darling."
My heart felt like it was being squeezed. I would surely miss his voice calling me that. "Where have you been?" he asked. "I've been looking for you—"
"Happy birthday, Supremo."
His smile grew even wider. I lowered my head against his chest. I bit my lip. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"Supremo..." I gathered all my courage. "I love you."
"I don't want to be the only one who hears that."
He started toward the stage, but I grabbed his hand, pulling him back into a tight hug. You cannot do that. I will not let you do that.
"I have never loved anything this intensely before you," he whispered. "I'm so happy that I can finally admit it. I love you, Zein. More than anything."
My whole body was shaking. "Darling?" I called out, making him smile. That was the first time I'd ever called him that, and it fucking hurt that I only said it now.
"Your 'darling' makes me want to kiss you, but for some reason... it scares me."
"I love you, Ace. But I think we should—"
"Are you tired? You want to go eat first?"
He was trying to change the subject. I had to do this. "Ace... please. This is already hurting me too much."
"I am fucking hurting too. But darling... I can endure anything just for you."
"But I can't do it for you."
He froze. "I'll just pretend you didn't say that—"
"You want me to say it again? I can't take the pain you're causing me, Ace."
"Z-Zein... you're starting to scare me."
I wiped the tears from my eyes. A tear rolled down his cheek. Fuck. No. I will not back out. "We can't be together, Supremo. Maybe it's enough... that we loved each other."
"That's not enough for me," he said firmly. "I want to love you openly. In front of everyone." He tried to take my hand, but I pulled away.
"Darling, don't you love me? Why can't you trust me?"
"I love you, and I trust you with my life, Ace. But I cannot trust this feeling... I am giving up. I am giving up on this feeling. On you. I'm sorry, Supremo."
I turned around quickly. He suddenly hugged me from behind. "We haven't even started yet, and you're already ending it."
I touched his hands and gently stroked them. "Darling—"
"Stop calling me that."
"Z-Zein?"
"I'll give you another chance," he said, his voice trembling. "If you take ten steps away from me, it means you're cutting off everything between us. But if you look back before you hit ten steps, you're mine. I'll fight to the death. I'll even fight Death itself for you."
His grip loosened. The choice was in my hands.
One... My feet felt so heavy.
Two... I remembered every moment. "Be with me. Be mine. Be my everything."
Three... This felt wrong for us... but right for everyone else.
Four... He saved me, and now I was paying him back by breaking his heart.
Five... "I like you the way you are."
Six... He set the standard for love. I'd never find anyone like him.
Seven... "You don't have to fight. I'll fight for you."
Eight... I stopped, fists clenched. Just two more steps.
Nine... "Darling, I will always love you," I heard him say from behind me.
Ten.
"Zein. I want you to be happy. Do not be afraid to make a decision, even if I'm no longer part of it. I think this is really goodbye for us. I love you."
I love you. It will always be you. Thank you for everything, Supremo. At last, I made the right decision.