The Bright Side

‌Zayn Malik had once again become an emotional mess. The truth was that, with the departure of Harry, everything seemed meaningless.

He did not consider Harry a friend like Louis, but he was not a mere acquaintance either. Zayn could not understand the real value of Harry in his life.

The past week, Zayn hadn’t thought about Alison, Harry had taken up all his thoughts. The actor wanted to fix everything that had happened even though he knew that the mistake was not really his, it was just the irony of life.

Every night Zayn drowned himself in bottles of whiskey to make himself feel better. And, it was only when the alcohol started taking effect that Zayn would get the feeling of having lost an "almost love".

"Zayn, are you okay?" Louis asked seeing his friend watering the flowers in the greenhouse.

"I'm taking it, even with everyone abandoning me."

Zayn was not the type to be dramatic, he could be rude and antisocial, but under no circumstances would he show any weakness. Zayn looked awful, Louis could feel it.

"I'll never leave you, Z. You know it, man." Louis put a hand on his shoulders. "I've been really busy, so I couldn’t come here this week. Harry has started rehearsing with the other actors, and I have to supervise. You know I'm betting all my chips on him."

" And, how is he?" Zayn asked turning to Louis.

"He's fine." Louis replied, putting his hands in his pants pockets. "He misses you if that's what you want to know."

"That's not what I asked, Louis." Zayn turned away from his best friend's gaze, picking up the watering can again. "I just wanted to know if he's all right, and I'm glad to hear that he is."

"Zayn, I don’t…" Louis tried to find the right words to tell him. Louis knew Zayn better than anyone, he knew how edgy the actor could get; one wrong word and the whole talk would be wasted. "Zayn, you need to understand your feelings before it's too late, before you lose him forever."

"Are you talking about Harry? He's just a friend, Louis." Zayn said in a low voice.

"I know he's just a friend, Zayn. But you attach importance to him as if he's your best friend, and we both know, it's not like that."

"You're making me confused, Louis."

"Zayn, what I mean .." Louis grabbed a stool sitting in front of him. "What I want you to understand is that I'm your best friend, and my intention is not to confuse you. As your best friend, I can assure you that Harry is more than a friend to you. "

"Do not talk nonsense, Louis. I'm straight. Do you really think I have stopped loving my ex-wife?"

"Did you hear what you just said, Zayn?" Louis asked, standing up. Zayn nodded, not quite understanding Louis’ question. "The fact that Harry left was enough for you to refer to Alison as your ex-wife." Louis smiled amiably. "And that's what she is, Zayn; your ex-wife, the mother of your daughter, your first love...She’s not the Alison that still exists in your head, the one who’s gone to buy bread and hasn’t returned yet." Zayn did not say anything, just listened intently. "Harry made you see life again and I, as your best friend, am very grateful for it." Louis sighed hugging him. "You're the brother I never had. I love you so much…I'm sorry to get you confused. I've been through this when I started to realize that I was bi…If I don’t tell you all these things, who else will?" Louis released his arms from Zayn's shoulders.

"I'll call him." Zayn said, seeing that Louis was preparing to leave.

"You're finally living, Zayn, don’t die again. Only cats have nine lives." Louis winked at him, leaving the greenhouse.

                                                      *****

Niall's apartment was simple, but cozy. Harry felt good there, but it was not his house. Neither was Zayn's, but it felt like home.

Harry had thought about calling him several times to apologize for his abrupt departure without even telling how grateful he was to them for letting him stay. But at the thought of hearing Zayn's voice, Harry would change his mind.

 Had he not been busy with the rehearsals, Harry might have gone mad. Niall wasn’t home much. Louis had managed to get him a role in a famous American soap opera; the blond Irishman was completely happy now.

It was nine o’clock; Harry was watching Niall’s show. The character that Niall was playing hadn’t been introduced yet, but Harry was trying to keep updated with the show to understand the plot.

The song 'Happy' filled the room, it was his ringtone. Zayn's picture appeared on his phone screen, Harry's heartbeat quickened.

"Hello." Harry said in a voice hoarser than usual.

"Hi, Harry…" Zayn was speechless for a moment. So was Harry. "I thought you wouldn’t take my call. Are you alright?"

"I am, and you?" Zayn did not answer. He had never imagined he would be that happy to hear Harry's voice again. "What about Emma? I really miss her."

"So does she, she asks about you all the time." Harry smiled, but he felt like crying. He loved Emma, she was really important to him. "Harry, I miss you." Zayn told him, unable to contain his tears. "I'm sorry." Harry could hear the sobs on the other end. "I didn’t want to hurt you, Harry"

"Zayn, you did not do anything wrong. I was a…" Zayn's sobs started getting louder. Harry's heart tightened. "Zayn, I'm coming there, wait for me." Harry hung up without giving Zayn time to respond.

         

                                                                      ***

"Zayn" Harry ran towards Zayn as Zayn staggered down the stairs.

"Harry, you really came." Zayn hugged him tightly.

"Come on, I'll help you to go to your room." Harry put Zayn's arms around his shoulder. Zayn was totally drunk. He had never seen Zayn that drunk. "Sit down here." Harry put the pillow against the headboard of the bed for Zayn to sit down comfortably.

"Harry, I know I'm drunk, but I want you to know that I'm sorry. I do not blame you for falling in love with me, and I do not want you to blame me for not feeling the same for you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me in a very long time. Louis used to tell me that I was a living person more dead than the dead in the cemetery, now I know he was right." Zayn laughed, remembering the words of his best friend. “Obviously, you're confused. How you…How the most beautiful and gentlest person I know can fall in love with me? Me? Pfft" Zayn threw his hand in the air.

"Zayn." Harry sat down, next to Zayn’s legs. "You're the most amazing guy I've ever met. You have a big heart; you just don’t let people see that. But I do." Harry smiled gently. "The way you treat Emma is perfect. I wish my father was like you. My father left me and my mother when I was very small. Since then I felt like I belonged nowhere, to no one. Even though I'm suffering from all this, Zayn, even though you don’t like me in that way, I can still see a bright side to it."

"Can you really see the bright side?"

"I can, Zayn. You and Emma are my bright side. At Niall's place, it doesn’t feel like home. You make me feel like I finally belong somewhere. Even if it’s just friendship, I will still feel protected if it’s you who is by my side when I’m hit with the storms of life." Zayn pulled him into a hug

Harry's heart was finally calm. Zayn's arms were his happy place, his paradise. Deep down, Harry knew it was all the matter of time, and he knew with all his heart that Zayn was still his.

"Your place is here, you belong to this house. You belong to my family. And, Harry, if I can ever move on, you will always be my first choice." Zayn smiled knowing it was true. Even if everything was new to him, Harry was the only one Zayn would let in his heart, beyond Alison.

"Okay, sleep well. I'll be back tomorrow." Harry told him kissing him in the forehead. Zayn grabbed his hand.

"Stay here, don’t leave."

"I'll be back tomorrow morning with my things." Harry winked at Zayn who smiled showing his teeth.

Even though Zayn didn’t formally request Harry to return to the mansion, Harry decided to go back because that was his home. That was where he belonged. No permission required to return home.

"Sleep well, my princess. Tomorrow morning I'll be here and we’ll have breakfast together." Harry whispered smoothing Emma's hair. "Good night." Harry kissed her forehead, straightening her blanket.

As Harry walked out of the gate of the mansion, he realized that what he felt for Zayn was more than infatuation. Zayn was his balance point. As long as Zayn was fine, Harry would be too. And, maybe, maybe that was love.

 

AN: What do you think about This chapter? Have a Nice day🌻😘