Kairo entered the room quietly.He was still carrying that heaviness in his chest, the kind that words couldn't ease. No matter how much he tried, the old wounds kept replaying in his head like a cruel reminder of everything he once wanted to forget.
Sara was sitting on the edge of the bed, softly patting Zayn, who had already fallen asleep in his tiny crib beside her. The room was dim, only the warm bedside lamp glowing faintly over her shoulder.
Kairo shut the door behind him and walked towards her. She looked up and smiled faintly, but before she could say anything, he climbed onto the bed and hugged her tightly from behind, arms locking around her waist, head resting against her shoulder.
Sara froze for a second."What happened? You look awfully quiet tonight," she asked softly.
He said nothing. Just buried his face into her neck, breathing in her scent, grounding himself in it.
Sara frowned slightly, sensing the weight in his silence."You okay?" she asked, her hand gently caressing his arm that was still wrapped around her.
"I don't know," he murmured after a pause, voice low and honest. "I'm feeling low."
Sara's heart softened. She lifted a hand and ran her fingers through his hair, slow and steady."Kairo…" she whispered.
He looked up at her finally, eyes drained, hair messy, his usual spark dimmed."Did something happen?" she asked, her voice careful.
He sighed, pressing his nose gently against her cheek. "You know… my dad came today, right?"
She hummed, "Yeah, I remember. Did he tell you something?"
Kairo looked at her for a moment before saying quietly, "He came with a marriage proposal."
Her heart skipped. "For you?"
He nodded.
Sara blinked, confusion flickering through her eyes. "What did you say?"
"I told him I'm already married," he said simply, "with a kid."
She turned to him in disbelief. "You said that?"
He nodded again, eyes steady on her. "Because that's the truth, isn't it? I'm married to you. We have our baby boy, Zayn."
For a second, she didn't know what to say. He smiled faintly, kissing her cheeks."What happened, soda glass? Did I say something wrong?"
She shook her head slightly. "What did your dad say then?"
"He said he wants to meet you guys," Kairo replied, voice flat. "But I refused. I told him there's no need."
Sara frowned. "Why?"
He leaned closer, brushing his lips over her shoulder. "Because I don't want to. You're my wife, Zayn is my son. Why does he suddenly want to meet my family now?"
She glared lightly. "He's your dad, idiot. Of course, he deserves to meet us."
His jaw tightened. "No, he's not. He just… gave me life, money, and a last name. That's it."
Sara went quiet. She remembered everything he'd confessed years ago, about the neglect, the loneliness, the anger.
She turned around in his arms and cupped his face gently."I understand, Kairo. I really do. But still, he's your father."
He looked into her eyes, pain flickering there."I can't forget what I went through, Sara. I can't just feel something suddenly. He ignored me for years… as if I never existed. He hated me because I looked like my mom. And today, he didn't come to check on me. He came to fix another business deal. By marrying me off again."
Sara's chest ached from hearing him. She could feel his pain; she'd known loneliness too, that cold, invisible ache.
She caressed his cheek softly. "Don't worry," she whispered. "Everything will be fine."
He didn't respond, just pulled her into his chest, hugging her tight, like she was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.
"Everything feels fine," he murmured. "When I have you and Zayn with me… I feel peace. I feel loved. Cared."
She stroked his back gently, whispering, "You'll be okay."
He looked at her again, eyes glassy, vulnerable. "You'll never leave me again, right?"
Sara blinked at him, so done. "When did I leave you, idiot? It was you who ditched me," she said lightly.
He gave her that guilty, almost pouty look. "That's why I'm asking… what if you're still mad and decide to leave me again?"
She glared at him, but he avoided her gaze, snuggling in closer. She tried to push him away, but he whined softly, "Don't push me… I'm sad right now. I need comfort. You're so rude."
Sara sighed, half-annoyed, half-melting. He buried his face in her neck like a lost boy looking for home. His breath was uneven, warm against her skin.
Her hand went to his hair, threading through it slowly. "You're such a mess sometimes," she murmured.
He hummed lazily against her shoulder. "You're still here though… comforting me."
"I must be stupid," she teased softly.
A tiny smile tugged at his lips. "You're my kind of stupid."
She chuckled. "You say that like it's romantic."
"It is," he murmured, his lips grazing her neck. "You stayed… even when I didn't deserve it. That's love, right?"
Her heart softened again. She turned slightly to look at him.
He lifted his head, eyes soft, voice quieter now. "You and Zayn are my world. Nothing else matters anymore."
Sara brushed his hair back gently. "You talk too much when you're emotional."
He smirked, his tone dropping lower, teasing. "And you look too beautiful when you're comforting me. It's distracting."
She rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "Asshole..."
"This asshole is honest," he murmured, tracing slow circles on her waist. "One look at you and I forget every damn problem."
She laughed quietly. "You're using trauma as an excuse to flirt now?"
He grinned. "Maybe," he leaned and pecked her lips, "It's working though, isn't it?"
Sara tried to hide her smile, but her heart had already softened. He leaned in again and pressed a slow, tender kiss to her forehead.
"Stay like this," he whispered. "Always... Don't push me away. At least tonight."
She sighed, giving in. "Fine. But if you try anything dirty, I'll throw you out of bed."
He chuckled softly, his lips brushing her ear. "Too late. I'm already thinking something dirty."
"Kairo—"
"Relax," he murmured, pulling her closer again. "Not that kind. Just… dirty thoughts about how lucky I am to have you."
She rolled her eyes, but her heart fluttered anyway. He pushed her down on the bed and tucked his face back into her neck, his voice fading to a whisper.
"I love you, you know that?"
Sara smiled softly, running her fingers through his hair. "I know. Now sleep, idiot."
He threw his legs on her, trapping her completely, and mumbled something that sounded like you're my peace before his breathing evened out, his arm still snug around her waist.
Sara stared at the ceiling for a moment, her hand still tangled in his hair. The man who once drove her insane… was now sleeping like a child in her arms.
She sighed quietly, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.