Heaven was surprised to see Zarin looking the way he did. He was half-dressed like the other male demons in the kingdom and wore several bracelets around his arms. His black hair had grown to beneath his shoulders and his blue eyes had hints of gold. He looked like himself, yet different.
"Zarin?" She stood up from her seat.
"Heaven, what are you doing here?" He said, surprised and confused.
"Did grandma not visit you?"
His eyes widened. "Is grandma also here?"
"Yes." She stared at him from top to toe. "What happened to you?" She asked.
He held his arms out and shrugged. "Nothing. What happened to you? Why are you here?"
"Grandpa forced me to come here. Now do you still believe he wants what is best for me?"
Zarin narrowed his eyes. He looked displeased. "Your parents are not here." He said in realization.
"No. But your parents are not here as well and you seem to be alright." She pointed.
Something in his gaze changed, but then he smiled. "I am alright. How are you?"
"Are you asking because you care?" She asked.
This was why she had been avoiding to talk to him. She wasn't emotionally stable yet and knew that she would end up fighting with him.
He frowned. "No matter what you think Heaven, I do care for you." He said firmly.
"Of course. You just don't want me to be with Zamiel and the devil fulfilled your wish. So here I am. Are you happy now?"
She was being childish, but she just had so many emotions inside that she wanted to let out.
He sighed. "It is not what you think." He said.
"Is it not?" She tilted her head to one side and pretended to be thoughtful. "Is it not that you hated to see me change, and you didn't like Zamiel because he was the one causing the change in me. You hated that I was finding my own way because you were afraid to be left behind. Seeing me having finding a purpose made you feel lacking and since you didn't want to change, you tried to make me remain the same. Am I wrong?"
His gaze darkened, but he didn't deny it.
"You said you loved me, but that was only to make yourself feel better and justify your behavior." She had been confused about Zarin suddenly confessing his love but staying in this kingdom, observing the other demons and her grandfather made her learn and realize a few things.
People lied to themselves to feel better about their actions and that is what Zarin did. He didn't love her. He was only jealous, frightened, insecure, and selfish, and he didn't want to admit it to himself. It was easier for him to tell himself that he was doing it all because he loved her and cared for her.
Zarin clenched his jaw and looked into eyes. "You are right." He admitted. "I don't love you that way. I just hated to see you change. I hated the new you and I hate Zamiel."
The gold in his eyes seemed to glow as he spoke. "But you have already changed now. You are not my old friend anymore so I am leaving you and Zamiel alone."
Heaven nodded. Strangely, it didn't hurt as she thought it would. Her heart was numb and instead of being worried about it, she was relieved. She was tired of getting hurt. She wouldn't let anyone hurt her anymore.
But still, she cared for him, and the change in him worried her. What happened to him?
"You seem to have changed as well." She said calmly.
He sighed and relaxed his face. "I have."
Even if she had lost her friend, she hoped that he wouldn't lose himself. She hoped that Gina wouldn't lose her brother, and Klara and Roshan wouldn't lose their son.
"Your parents, they miss you."
He was still there from the way his eyes darted and looked down to hide the guilt. "I know. But I have found my place here."
Heaven stared at him for a long while. Something wasn't right. Something was different about him.
He looked up at her. "You shouldn't be here. You should go back." He said.
"I can't." She said.
He looked around as if afraid someone would hear them before looking at her again. "How long have you been here?"
"A few days. Why?"
"What happened to Zamiel? Did he just let you go?" He asked.
"Yes."
"I don't understand. What happened? How did he force you to come here?"
"You should ask him." She said. "I am curious to know if he will lie to you or tell the truth."
Zarin sighed. Probably giving up because of her attitude.
"Heaven. I know you don't like me right now but I am just trying to help."
"You can't help me." She said simply. "But you can help yourself. Stop running away and be a man. Neither your mom nor dad are cowards."
She knew he wasn't happy here, as he claimed to be. But admitting he was wrong, apologizing and going back was difficult for him.
His eyes widened, and he seemed surprised by the way she spoke. She was surprised, too. She didn't mean to be hard on him. She knew he was already struggling.
He nodded, as if accepting to be scolded.
She didn't want to be mean but thinking of her parents and what she would do to be with them while he left his parents willingly upset her.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm down. No good would come from fighting.
"Could you do me a favor?" She asked desperately.
"Of course." He said.
"Could you go to my parents and tell them that I am alright?" She wanted to write them a letter and Zarin was the only one who could leave this place.
"Yes." He said.
Heaven wanted to see if he let go of his hatred. "Could you also go to Zamiel?" She asked.
Zarin's eyes widened. He opened his mouth, paused for a while, and then breathed out. "Alright." He agreed.
For some reason, Heaven thought it was fun to torture him a little. She would have loved to see his interaction with Zamiel.