Zion stood in the shadows, watching as you took orders from behind the counter of the small fast-food restaurant. You hadn’t seen him yet, but the sight of you still stirred something deep within him—a mixture of anger, regret, and a longing he refused to acknowledge.

Six years. That’s how long it had been since he’d left you, broken and confused. He had made you fall in love with him, made you trust him, and all to destroy your father, Mr. Agustin, the man who had killed his parents. Zion had thought the plan perfect: get close to you, gain your father’s trust, and then take everything from him. And he did.

You had been so grateful to him. When you lost your voice as a child, it was Zion who coaxed it back, who sat with you for hours until you finally spoke again. He had hated every moment of it, pretending to care, pretending to be the boyfriend you needed. But the look on your face, the way your eyes lit up when you saw him—it had all been part of his plan. He had won your heart and, in doing so, had won your father’s trust.

Three years he had spent on his plan. Three long years pretending. And then, after he’d taken everything from your father, Zion had ended it. He had broken up with you in the cruelest way possible, revealing his true intentions with a cold smile. "You were just a pawn," he had said. "I used you to destroy your father. And now that he's lost everything, there's no reason for me to stay."

He had left you standing there, tears streaming down your face, and had fled the country.

Now, seeing you again, working at this restaurant, Zion felt a pang of something he didn’t want to name. He knew Mr. Agustin had passed away. You were alone, working hard, and looking... different. Weary.

Zion took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face the consequences of the past. "Excuse me," he said softly.

You looked up, and your eyes widened in shock. "Zion?"

Zion nodded, his heart heavy with everything he’d never said. "It's me," he whispered. "I'm back."