05
After transferring between several buses, I finally made it to the city.
I called Zephyr over thirty times during the journey, but he never picked up. I sent him texts too, but there was no reply.
I spent the entire trip crying, longing for his comfort.
By the time I reached Zephyr’s building, It was already dark.
His apartment was brightly lit, and I caught a glimpse of his reflection alongside a woman in the window.
I gripped my suitcase tightly, my heart racing with unease. Maybe she was his cousin or another relative. He must have been busy with guests, which was why he hadn’t answered me.
With a mix of nerves and hope, I knocked on the door. A stunning girl answered, wearing a sexy outfit
As soon as she saw me, she called out, Zephyr, your ugly duckling is here!”
I felt a surge of determination. I was going to become beautiful one day. But I had given up on making glamour stools, and I was afraid I’d lost my
3:48 PM
chance.
Zephyr came out shirtless, his brow furrowed as he looked at me.
1 told you ΤΗ come find you. What are you doing here?” he said
Seeing him triggered all my pent–up emotions, and I threw myself at him, sobbing. “Zephyr you’re all I have now”
He pushed me away, wiping my tears off him with annoyance, then glanced at the girl nervously.
“Who is she?” I asked, desperate for an explanation.
Instead of answering, he shoved me and my suitcase outside.
1 have guests. You need to find somewhere else to stay”
I clung to his arm, refusing to let go. “Zephyr, I don’t have much money. I cut ties with my mom, and I don’t want to make glamour stools anymore. need you”
His expression changed immediately. “Lyra, are you out of your mind? Your only asset is your family’s money. Without it, how do you expect to support me?”
I was shocked. He hadn’t said anything like that when he was pursuing me.
“Zephyr, didn’t you say you liked my kindness and innocence? Didn’t you say that inner beauty mattered more than looks?”
He pulled me in front of a mirror “Look at yourself. What’s there to love? Don’t give me that nonsense. It’s useless.”
I cried, clutching his arm. 1 won’t leave. I’ll stay with you. If I treat you well, you’ll learn to love me again.”
The girl, losing patience with our argument, started getting dressed.
Zephyr panicked. “Elara, don’t go! I make her leave. I don’t love her at all?”
He rushed after her, leaving me waiting at his place for three days.
During that time, I thought a lot about what I loved about Zephyr beyond his looks, I realized he didn’t seem to have many other qualities that I admired.
I decided to free myself from this burden and stop loving him. I wanted to go home and find my mom. But a voice in my head insisted that I needed to love Zephyr. If I missed this opportunity, I might never find love again
Unable to resist, I stayed. I cleaned his apartment thoroughly and cooked his favorite meals at mealtime, determined to wait for him to return.
Zephyr still wouldn’t answer my calls. Sometimes he’d reply to my texts, asking if I had left, but once he found out I hadn’t, he would go silent.
On the fourth morning, I was still in bed when I heard a woman scream from Zephyr’s room.
I got up to make breakfast and even prepared a plate for that girl.
By noon, they finally emerged.
The girl wasn’t Elara, the one I had seen a few days ago
Zephyr pulled her down to sit and looked at me, saying. If you don’t want to leave, feel free to stick around. I’ll just think of you as my free housekeeper.
I bit my lip and shot back, Tm your girlfriend! I’m not agreeing to this breakup.”
The girl happily munching on the lunch I’d just cooked, sneered, Tve seen desperate before, but you really take the cake.”
Zephyr affectionately ruffled her hair and said, “She’s just a mess. You’re way smarter than her.”
After they finished eating, Zephyr said, “Go buy some condoms for me. Make sure it’s the biggest size”
In a daze, I came back with the smallest
He punched me and complained, “I wanted the biggest! What’s this?”
I wiped my tears and turned to buy the right size. Walking down the street, I cried. Why was I wasting my love on someone who didn’t care about me?
I didn’t want to like Zephyr anymore and just wanted to go home.
But a voice in my head kept insisting I had to love him. If I brought him home and turned him into my glamour stool, he’d always be with me.
I muttered to myself, “Yeah, turn him into a stool and keep him close!
Desperate, I called my mom, “Mom, I want to turn him into a glamour stool.”
I could hear her excitement. “Great! Bring Zephyr and his lover back with you!”
