So Close

Clad in a skin fit off shoulder top and ankle length jeans, she was combing her light brown hair. 

"Perfect," she dropped the comb and took a glance at her in the mirror in front of her. Her pale face wore no layer of makeup but just a rosy lip tint which enhanced her plumpy lips even more. Her open hair had a natural bounce and a wavy look.

She took a look in her wrist watch and her eyes widened. It was already 8. She was getting late for dinner with Dylan and his family. Grabbing her car keys and crop jacket from the bed, she ran out of her room.

It took her almost half an hour to reach Dylan's home. She parked her car in front of his villa and immediately a guard came and opened the door for her. 

"Good evening, Miss Alcazar," he greeted her with a gentle bow. She smiled and greeted him back and then stepped inside the house.

"Look who is finally here. Our Alcazar princess,"

Zia giggled hearing Dylan's father, Reid Karlson, who always used to treat her like his own child from her childhood. He was an amazing and kind hearted man. 

"How are you, uncle?" Zia asked him after pulling back from their hug. Reid patted on her head before answering.

"I am absolutely fine, dear and so happy to see you here," he smiled, making her beam too and then she hugged Dylan's mother, Larisa Karlson who too was a very loving and caring lady.

"Where's Dylan?" She asked them because before being lovers, they both were each other's best friends and his parents knew about this too.

Larisa opened her mouth to answer but Dylan's voice halted her.

"Baking your favourite ice cream cake, Miss Alcazar,"

Zia turned her head and her smile widened by watching the owner of that voice. Dylan came closer to her while removing his apron. He pecked her forehead.

"Yes, Dylan has made a cake for you, Zia," Larisa said, smilingly. Zia gave Dylan an impressed look.

"Wow….Mr CEO turned into a chef," she teased him. Everyone chuckled at her words.

"Okay now come and settle down for the dinner, Zia," 

Zia nodded at Larisa after hearing her. She looked at Reid and said

"Let's go, uncle," 

Reid beamed at her before replying.

"You go and sit, dear. I am waiting for…." The sound of a car's honk stopped Reid from further speaking.

"Looks like he is here," 

Zia turned confused when Reid said those words. She was about to ask him about whom he was talking about but suddenly those heavy foot strides made something inside her to shrug.

"Come, Damien," 

And Reid's words made her entire being freeze. He was here but why? Who invited him and why nobody told about it to her but then she remembered…he was the damn brother of Dylan and why would his parents not invite him for a family dinner. Coming here tonight was her life's most remorseful decision but now the damage was already done and nothing could change it.

Zia didn't turn around to face him but could feel him coming closer to her because of his footsteps. Reid approached his son with a smile and hugged him.

"We all were waiting for you, son," Reid uttered to his son who in return made no attempt to hug him back nor replying to him because he was not there to do a fucking reunion with his family. He was just there for that one specific person who still didn't even turn around to look at him.

Zia glanced at Dylan and by watching that displeased look on his face, she understood he didn't like his elder brother's presence there too but she sighed and decided not to create a scene here. Zia turned around and like always she found those empty green eyes on her but she didn't know why she got that strange feeling inside her heart. Was it waiting to see him? Oh…no…she jerked her insane thoughts away and focused on reality. She despised him because he was a creepy psychotic demonic creature who likes to stare at her a lot.

Zia saw Larisa caging Damien but the thing that shocked her was he didn't hug her back and there was no glint of softness in his cold eyes even after feeling his mother's warmth. What an evil ungrateful bitch.. she mentally cursed him.

"Come," Larisa said to him but Damien didn't even trail his eyes at her and continued to gaze at Zia who gulped because Dylan wasn't looking in the mood to greet him so now it was her turn and she was far away from that accepting that idea of greeting that creep but she knew she had to when his parents were around.

Zia sighed and forced a tiny smile at him which only he understood how fake it was.

"Hi…so good to see you here," even her words sounded more fake than her smile which filled those green eyes finally with an emotion of amusement.

"Likewise, Miss Alcazar," his raspily deep voice gave her goosebumps but she knew he was taunting her. She could sense it in his tone and eyes but she also faked him an innocent smile in front of everyone and then grabbed Dylan's arms.

"Let's go now. My tummy is tingling because of hunger," 

Dylan chuckled at her and then caressed her cheek which made those green eyes again fill that empty darkness.

"Let's go," Dylan uttered to her and everyone went to the dining table. Damien was the last person to follow them.

The dinner went a little awkward and she could clearly guess it because of that person's presence who didn't utter a single word to anyone during the entire dinner, except nodding his head in answer whenever his parents would ask something to him and at some point, even they gave up on their attempts of initiating a conversation with their psycho son and for Dylan and her, they didn't even try to talk to him and she did her best to keep her focus on Dylan only.

"The cake is really very tasty, Dylan. You did an amazing job," she complimented, eating the cake after getting done with the dinner. Dylan flashed her a smile.

"Don't worry, Zia. Dylan is an amazing cook so make sure to keep him always busy in the kitchen after your marriage," Larisa teased them, making Zia and Dylan smile. 

"Of course," Zia turned her head to look at Dylan who was sitting beside her.

"I will make sure to keep my handsome future hubby busy in our household works," she squeezed Dylan's cheek while giggling which made his parents smile but that loud sound of glass shattering grabbed everyone's attention. 

Zia turned her eyes and saw that person sitting in front of her. 

"Damien, are you alright?" Reid asked, worried by watching those broken glass pieces scattering beside Damien's feet. Damien just nodded and stood up on his feet but Zia's gaze was fast enough to notice that small cut on his palm. Did he break that glass with a squeeze because she still remembered him gripping that wine's glass last night like he wanted to choke it? It stunned her. She got up and was about to ask him about his hand which was slightly bleeding but before she could do that or anyone else could see it, he shoved his hand in his pocket and twirled around to leave.

"Are you leaving so early?" Reid asked whereas Zia noticed that hope filled emotion in his eyes. She witnessed Damien turning around and answering in his nonchalant tone.

"Yes," 

"You could stay here the ni….." 

"The purpose of coming here has ended now so I have no reason to stay here furthermore. Thanks for the invitation," 

Zia was aghast at his tone and choice of words. Did he just talk to his own father like that? Like they both were strangers? Zia looked at Reid and her chest tightened by watching that hurt in Reid's face which was completely understandable. What parents wouldn't feel hurt enduring this kind of behaviour from their children? It was not only disrespectful but aching too.

She snapped her head at that ungrateful son to give him a good lesson of respect but stopped herself because she knew that it wasn't her place to get into their personal family matters now, especially those matters which were related to him. She had no say in it.

She was staring at Damien when suddenly she saw him taking his gaze at her and after getting a last glance at her, he turned around and left.

His departure turned everything gloomy so she attempted to lighten up everyone's mood.

"Can I eat a little more cake because my tummy is still not satisfied yet?" 

Everyone chuckled at her adorably cute reaction and then she stayed there for like 10 minutes more.

"Okay…I think I should leave now. It's already 10," Zia uttered, gazing at her wrist watch.

"Stay here for the night, Zia," Larisa said because Zia had lived countless nights with the Karlson's family.

"I can't, aunty. I have important early lectures tomorrow and I need to study for it for almost half of the night tonight, so I have to go," she told them, getting up from the sofa.

"I will drop you then because it's quite late," Dylan uttered, standing up on his feet.

"I drove here myself, Dylan and besides, don't worry. It's not the first time I am going home at this time," 

"But, Zia…."

"Don't worry, guys. I will reach home safe after all, I am Zale and Celia Alcazar's daughter," she cutely praised herself, earning a chortle from everyone. She hugged all of them.

"Call me when you will reach home, okay?" Dylan said, planting a kiss on her lips. They both were standing beside her car.

Zia flashed him a grin before pecking his lips.

"I will," she said and got inside her car.

"Bye bye and don't forget to dream about me, Mr CEO," 

Dylan chuckled before nodding at her and telling her to drive safely and then she drove away.

The roads were looking completely silent as the night had turned chilling and darker. The street lights were on which were the only source of light in that inkiness. Zia was driving her car and was heading back to her home but she had not even crossed half of her way when suddenly her eyes caught something. 

A car was bumped against one of the street lights and a man was standing beside it. It was clear that it was his car and because of the darkness, she couldn't see that man's face. Did that man get hurt in that accident? She knew it would not be a good decision for her to go out and check on him but sometimes the traits of her Celia Alcazar turned out to be more dominating than Zale Alcazar's inside her. Her mind could be the same as her father's but her heart was just like her mother's.

Zia stopped her car in front of that man and didn't get out of it and instead opened her car's window and peeked through it.

"Excuse me. Are you alright, si…." Her words got stuck inside her throat when that man turned around and his face became visible to her. Zia's eyes widened.

"You…." She uttered, bewildered by watching those piercing emerald eyes' owner. With no second thoughts, Zia pushed open her car's door and stormed towards him.

"Are you alright? Did you get hurt so…" she stopped when she noticed that blood trickling down from his forehead and was wetting his cheek. Her eyes widened more. Extreme amount of worry washed over her by watching his forehead's wound. 

With no restraints, she eliminated all the distance between their bodies while taking out her handkerchief from her pocket, she stood on her tiptoes to reach his face and then pressed that handkerchief on his wound delicately. She blew it a couple of times while looking terrifyingly concerned.

"How did this happen and did you get any more inju…." Her words faded inside her own mouth when unintentionally her eyes met with his and that was where she noticed how close she had gotten to him, so close…..that everything else started getting far away from her…