Chapter 12: The Lie

Eliana's eyes blazed with anger as she pushed open the door to Zayne's dorm. Her heart pounded in her chest, fueled by the revelation that had shaken her world. Zayne, the guy she thought she knew, was seeing someone else? The thought made her stomach twist with hurt and betrayal.

As she entered the room, her gaze landed on Zayne standing by the window, talking to a girl with long, dark hair. Eliana's instincts had been right Zayne was hiding something. Now, she was about to confront him about it.

"Zayne," Eliana said, her voice firm, her eyes locked onto his.

Zayne turned, a mixture of surprise and guilt flashing across his face. "Eliana, what's going on?"

Eliana's anger boiled over. "Don't play dumb, Zayne. I know what's going on. You've been seeing someone else behind my back."

The girl by the window looked uncomfortable, but Eliana didn't care. She was past caring about being polite or considerate. She wanted answers, and she wanted them now.

Zayne's expression turned guarded, and he took a step forward. "Eliana, let me explain"

"Explain?" Eliana's laughter was bitter. "You've been lying to me, Zayne. You've been playing me like a fool."

The girl by the window looked like she wanted to intervene, but Eliana's anger was directed solely at Zayne. "Who is she?" Eliana demanded, her eyes flicking to the girl and back to Zayne.

Zayne hesitated, and for a moment, Eliana thought she saw a glimmer of regret in his eyes. But it was too late for regrets now. "Her name is Aria," Zayne said finally, his voice low.

Eliana's eyes narrowed. "Aria, huh? And what's your relationship with her?"

Zayne's jaw clenched, and he seemed to be choosing his words carefully. "It's complicated, Eliana."

Eliana's anger surged. "Complicated? You're cheating on me, and it's complicated?"

"Complicated?" Eliana's voice rose, her anger boiling over. "You're lying to me, Zayne. You're playing both of us like pawns in some twisted game."

Aria took a step forward, her eyes flashing with concern. "Eliana, please"

But Eliana wasn't interested in hearing it. "No, I don't want to hear it," she said, her voice cutting. "I want to know why. Why would you do this to me? To us?"

Zayne's expression was tense, his jaw clenched. "It's not what you think, Eliana. There's more to it than you know."

Eliana's laughter was cold and hard. "Oh, I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason for your infidelity. Do tell, Zayne. I'm dying to know."

The air was thick with tension as Eliana waited for Zayne's response. Would he try to justify his actions, or would he finally tell the truth?

Zayne's eyes locked onto Eliana's, his expression intense. "I never meant to hurt you, Eliana. But...circumstances are more complicated than you realize."

Eliana's anger turned to skepticism. "Circumstances? You mean like your relationship with Aria?"

Aria shifted uncomfortably, but Zayne's gaze remained fixed on Eliana. "Yes, and other things. Things I couldn't tell you about before."

Eliana's patience was wearing thin. "What things? Secrets? Lies? What exactly have you been hiding from me, Zayne?"

The silence between them was oppressive, heavy with unspoken truths. Eliana's heart felt like it was going to break, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear Zayne's explanation or walk away forever.

Zayne's eyes seemed to bore into Eliana's soul, as if searching for a glimmer of understanding. "I've been trying to protect you, Eliana. From things that could put you in danger."

Eliana's laughter was incredulous. "Protect me? By lying to me? By cheating on me?"

Zayne's expression turned frustrated. "You don't understand. There are forces at play here that you can't even imagine. I've been trying to keep you safe."

Eliana's anger turned to confusion. "What forces? What are you talking about, Zayne?"

Aria stepped forward, her voice soft. "Zayne's right, Eliana. There's more going on here than you know. Maybe it's time we told you the truth."

Zayne's eyes flashed with warning, but Eliana's curiosity was piqued. "What truth?" she demanded, her eyes locked onto Zayne's.

Zayne's eyes seemed to bore into Eliana's soul, as if searching for a glimmer of understanding. "I've been trying to protect you, Eliana. From things that could put you in danger."

Eliana's laughter was incredulous. "Protect me? By lying to me? By cheating on me?"

Zayne's expression turned frustrated. "You don't understand. There are forces at play here that you can't even imagine. I've been trying to keep you safe."

Eliana's anger turned to confusion. "What forces? What are you talking about, Zayne?"

Aria stepped forward, her voice soft. "Zayne's right, Eliana. There's more going on here than you know. Maybe it's time we told you the truth."

Zayne's eyes flashed with warning, but Eliana's curiosity was piqued. "What truth?" she demanded, her eyes locked onto Zayne's.

Zayne hesitated, then seemed to come to a decision. "Fine. I'll tell you. But you have to promise me you'll listen, and you'll trust me."

Eliana's skepticism was evident. "Trust you? After what I've just seen? I don't know if I can ever trust you again, Zayne."

Zayne's expression was grim. "I know I've hurt you, Eliana. But please, just listen. Your life depends on it."

Aria nodded in agreement. "It's true, Eliana. There's danger lurking in the shadows, and Zayne's been trying to shield you from it."

Eliana's mind was racing. What could Zayne be talking about? What kind of danger? She wasn't sure if she was ready to hear the truth, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Okay, I'll listen," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zayne's eyes locked onto hers, filled with a mix of relief and trepidation. "Okay, let's start from the beginning," he said, taking a deep breath.

As Zayne began to speak, Eliana felt like she was stepping into a whole new world, one where nothing was as it seemed. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the truth, but she was about to find out.

Zayne's eyes locked onto Eliana's. "I've been trying to protect you from a world I was born into. A world of secrets and lies." Aria nodded in agreement. Eliana's mind reeled as Zayne's words hung in the air, filled with unspoken truths and hidden dangers.