Previous The night was unusually quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of the clock. zayne sat on the edge of the couch, fingers loosely gripping a half empty glass of wine. his usual sharp controlled presence had softened under the weight of alcohol. his tie hung undone, his pristine white shirt slightly wrinkled, betraying the rare moment where he allowed himself to let loose.

The scent of alcohol clung to him, mingling with the remnants of his cologne. his head tilted back against the couch, eyes half lidded as he exhaled slowly. the world felt lighter, hazier, yet the moment of stillness brought a weight to his chest. he wasnt a man who allowed weakness, yet here he was, unguarded.

He mumbled something incoherent before attempting to straighten up, only to sway slightly. a frustrated sigh left his lips. He never drank to excess, yet tonight, he had. perhaps because, for once, he wanted to feel something outside of his carefully maintained composure.

but even in his intoxicated state, his pride remained. He wouldnt admit that he was vulnerable. not even now, not even to you. Instead, he chuckled softly, running a hand through his slightly disheveled hair. "Ridiculous," he muttered to himself.

Present
The tension in the room was suffocating. Zayne stood tall, his gaze sharp, unwavering, his jaw clenched in defiance. The idea of letting you go was absurd, unacceptable.

"Your asking me to just accept this?" His voice was low, controlled, but beneath the surface, a storm brewed. he was a man of reason, but when it came to you, reason ceased to matter.

His fingers curled into fists at his sides, frustration evident in the way his shoulders tensed. He was never one to plead, never one to beg. But this wasn’t just anyone. this was you.

"You think I’d let you walk away so easily?" His eyes darkened, filled with an intensity that left no room for persistence. "I refuse."