TANGLED IN LOVE

It was our second-last round of football. The tension was thick, the crowd restless. Then it happened, our opponent shoved Zayn hard, sending him crashing to the ground. They snatched the ball, sprinted forward, and scored.

The whistle blew. The round was over.

Alex clenched his fists, rage boiling over. "WHAT THE HECK- They clearly cheated!" he shouted.

I rose slowly from my seat, a cold smirk tugging at my lips. My voice was steady, cutting through the noise.

"Let them try. Today, it won't work in their favor."

Minutes later, the third round began.

I stepped toward Zayn, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, bro. Don't beat yourself up over it."

His eyes blazed with fury as he snapped back. "Seriously? Look at the scoreboard! They've already got the lead, they can win this!"

I chuckled darkly, folding my arms across my chest.

"You think I'd let that happen? Not in this lifetime, Zayn. Just watch because the game is mine now."

With that, I strode into midfield as the stadium erupted with cheers. The crowd roared my name, every voice fueling the fire in my chest.

The whistle shrieked. The final chance.

An opponent charged at me, desperate for the ball. He lunged, trying to shove me aside like he had with Zayn.

But I saw it coming. I dropped low, slipped past him, and sprinted toward the goal. My heart pounded, the crowd a thunderous wave behind me. One kick, clean, precise and the ball soared.

Goal.

The stadium exploded. My teammates swarmed me, arms wrapping tight in victory.

Through the chaos, my eyes locked on the one who had pushed Zayn. His face was twisted with anger and bitter disappointment.

I walked up to him, my smirk sharper than ever.

"You look disappointed," I said, pausing just long enough to let it sting.

"And you should be. Because this game isn't for cowards who only know how to push. This game... is for players who fight with skill."

His fist clenched tight, his eyes blazing with rage.

"You moro-"

Before the insult could leave his lips, I cut him off with a mocking click of my tongue.

"Tch tch tch... kids really shouldn't use such ugly words. Didn't your mommy ever teach you manners?"

My teammates gasped at the jab, and my opponent froze, fury choking whatever comeback he had.

I didn't give him the chance to speak. I stepped back slowly, my smirk widening, daring him to lunge. But he didn't. He couldn't. His pride had already been crushed.

I glanced over my shoulder, spotting Zayn still lingering near the bench.

"Zayn," I called, my voice cutting through the corridor. My tone wasn't a request, it was an order.

"Let's go."

He blinked, startled, then quickly jogged after me.

Zayn's excitement was all over his face.

"Why leave now, huh? We should be celebrating!"

I chuckled softly, calm as ever.

"You look happy... but Salah comes first. Salah is the reason we succeed. Miss it, and everything falls apart."

Zayn smiled awkwardly.

"Right... sorry bro, I forgot. Let's go."

We left the noise behind and went to the locker room. After performing ablution, we prayed Salah, which calmed our minds and steadied our hearts.

When we finished, I sat back, eyes closed, hands raised in Dua.

"Ya Allah, shukr alhamdulillah for granting me this success. Thank You for guiding me, keeping me focused, and letting me finish strong."

As soon as we finished Salah and stood up, I shot Zayn a sideways look, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

"So... how about lunch? Just the two of us."

He nearly choked on his own breath.

"What the- bro, you sound like a pervert!"

I cracked up, holding my stomach.

"Ya Allah, Zayn, calm down! I was talking about food, What did you think about?"

He covered his face with his hand, groaning.

"Man, you can't just say stuff like that with a grin. People are gonna misunderstand!"

I smirked, shouldering my bag.

"Let them. Makes life more entertaining."

Zayn sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up.

"Wallahi, one day your mouth is gonna get you slapped, and I'll be the first to laugh."

I smirked.

"Correction- you'll be the one slapping me, because no one else has the patience to deal with me this long."

He squinted at me, lips twitching.

"Bro, you're not wrong... I deserve an award of Official Asher Tolerance Expert.'"

I chuckled, nudging him with my elbow.

"I'll get you a trophy shaped like my face. You can keep it by your bed."

His jaw dropped.

"Astaghfirullah! Why would I put your ugly face next to me when I'm sleeping?"

I burst out laughing, walking toward the door.

"Because you'd miss me too much otherwise."

Zayn groaned loudly, dragging his feet behind me.

"This is harassment. Pure harassment."

I grinned over my shoulder.

"Nope. This is friendship. Try escaping, I'll still find you."

He muttered under his breath, but I caught the smile tugging at his lips.

"Ya Allah... give me strength to survive this idiot."

I smirked.

"Amen to that."

We started walking toward the exit when Zayn suddenly stopped, snapping his fingers.

"Wait.. bro, my bag. I left it on the field."

I sighed, shaking my head.

"Of course you did. You'd forget your head if it wasn't attached."

He laughed awkwardly, already jogging back toward the stadium.

"Yeah, yeah, just wait here. I'll be quick!"

I didn't bother following. Instead, I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, letting the stadium noise fade into the background. Out of the corner of my eye, Natalia approached. Hips swaying, fingers twirling her hair, that sly smirk plastered on her lips.

"Congrats on the win, Asher," she purred, her voice low. "Or should I say... congratulations, daddy."

My eyes darkened, the smirk slipping from my face.

"Careful," I said, my tone like a blade. "You know I hate that word."

She stepped closer, stretching out her hand toward mine.

I caught her wrist mid-air and shoved it away, not gently. My gaze burned into hers.

"Don't touch me."

Her smirk wavered, but she tried to laugh it off.

"Relax, Asher. I just wanted to celebrate with you."

I tilted my head, voice dropping lower, colder.

"Celebrate however you want... just don't put your hands on me again otherwise you won't like the outcome."

Natalia's smirk deepened, her voice turning into a low, sultry whisper.

"Why keep pretending, Asher? One night with me, just one and you'll never go back. I can give you everything you've been denying yourself."

I froze, then slowly turned my head toward her, eyes locking on hers like a predator sizing up prey. My smirk was gone; only ice remained.

I didn't answer. I just stepped forward, slow, deliberate.

Her confidence flickered. She instinctively stepped back, her heels clicking against the floor. I moved again.. another step, closer, unblinking. Her breath hitched, the smirk on her lips twitching as her back brushed the cold wall.

Natalia's eyes lit up the second my hand slammed against the wall beside her head, trapping her. She let out a breathless laugh, tilting her chin up at me.

"I knew it... you're finally giving in. Took you long enough." She paused, her eyes landing on my lips then on my eyes.

My lips curved into the faintest smirk, but my eyes stayed sharp, lethal.

"Giving in?" My tone was quiet, almost calm, but dripping with venom. "Natalia, don't flatter yourself."

Natalia stepped closer, her eyes filled with lust "Asher... just admit it. You want me."

I laughed, low, sharp. "If I wanted you? You'd already be begging. On your knees. Doing exactly what I told you to."

Her lips parted, breath quick, eyes dark with need.

"Asher... I'll satisfy you. Just... let me."

My lips curling into a cold smirk, gaze pinned hers, sharp and cold.

"Look at you," I said, voice low, lethal, dangerous. "Desperate. Throwing yourself at me like that... and for what? You think I'm going to fall for it?"

I pulled back just enough to let her see the ice in my eyes, my voices dropping filthier, harsher "Natalia, Here's the truth.. you're not desire, you're just a cheap temptation and I don't waste myself on trash."

Her breath hitched, lips parting, eyes burning with anger.

"You... you can't just-"

I cut her off and dropped my hand from the wall, straightened, voice flat, merciless.

"Now crawl back to your fantasy, Natalia. Keep your craving to yourself Because you'll never have me in your bed."

Her lips parted, eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and heat, but she didn't move. I didn't wait for a reaction.

I turned on my heel and walked away, each step deliberate, leaving her pressed against the wall., burning with want and denied, staring after me in silence.

I kept walking, and a few steps ahead, I saw Zayn frozen in place, eyes wide, still trying to process what had just happened.

I caught up and fell into step beside him.

Zayn shook his head, mouth slightly open, eyes wide.

"What... what was that just now? Seriously, what was that?"

I chuckled at his reaction "what do you mean?"

Zayn caught up to me, shaking his head.

"What was she doing there?"

I rolled my eyes, keeping my pace.

"Ugh don't ask me ...Let's grab lunch first before we starve"

He laughed, nudging me lightly.

"Alright, alright. But you owe me an explanation later for that whole Natalia thing."

I shrugged, smirking.

"Deal. Now walk faster before I leave you behind."

He rolled his eyes, trying not to smile.

"Yeah, yeah... I'm coming, boss."

After lunch with Zayn, I got back home and kicked off my shoes at the door. The moment I stepped into the living room, I spotted Mom. Without thinking, I ran up and hugged her. "Hello, pretty mommy," I said with a grin.

Mom chuckled and hugged me back. "Why do you always flatter your mom, huh?"

I pulled back slightly, resting my hands on her shoulders. "Who else am I supposed to flatter if not you?" I teased.

She rolled her eyes, smiling. "Asher, you're twenty... time to get a girlfriend-"

I cut her off mid-sentence. "Mom, you know I hate all that relationship stuff. I'm never interested in... being in love."

She nudged my hands away and gave me that mischievous smile she always does. "What do you mean? You can't even give your mom a daughter-in-law?

I rolled my eyes. "A daughter in law?Mom, I'm not getting anyone for you."

She shrugged, smirking. "Fine. But don't complain when I start asking Zayn if he knows any nice girls."

I laughed. "Mom, don't even think about it."

She just winked. "Too late."

I rubbed my eyes and stretched. "Ugh... fine. Now I'm going to study. Finals in two days."

I got upstairs and immediately headed to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face, I groaned. "Okay... slightly more awake now."

I ran a hand through my hair and glanced at the mirror. "Let's do this."

I grabbed my notebook and dove back into studying. Hours passed in a blur of pens scratching and pages turning. Finals were in two days, and nothing was breaking my focus.

A knock at the door pulled me out of my notes.

"Sweetie?" Mom's voice floated in, deceptively calm.

I looked up, already guessing trouble. "What happened?"

She leaned against the doorway, smiling. "There's a wedding today. You're going."

I groaned, slumping back in my chair. "Mom... finals are in two days. Can't you go without me?"

Her eyebrows rose, amused. "Go without you? And miss your charming presence? Not a chance."

"I hate weddings," I muttered, rubbing my temple.

She smiled, mischievous in every way. "Life doesn't care about your feelings, darling. You'll go. Now get up and get ready before I start choosing your tie for you."

I rubbed my eyes. "Fine, Mom... you win."

She leaned in, teasing. "Of course I do. Up you go."

I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, ma'am... but if my tie looks ridiculous, it's on you."

Her laugh filled the room. "Noted."

Minutes later, I stood in front of the mirror, brushing an invisible crease from my suit. My brown eyes met my own reflection, lashes dark against my skin. I looked composed, though inside, I was anything but.

A wedding, two days before finals. Brilliant timing, I muttered under my breath, adjusting my tie. Weddings were noise, attention, expectations, the exact things I avoided.

But the reflection staring back at me was calm, collected. I didn't have to enjoy it. I just had to survive it.

Well...little did he know, this night wouldn't let him walk away untouched, because someone was about to turn his world upside down.

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