Chains

Chapter 21

Suspicious. That's how I've been feeling ever since I had dropped of that cake on Saturday at Neymar's house. It was bad enough that it seemed like he was having one hell of a get together as his driveway was packed with expensive cars but it appeared that everyone was invited to his party except me. And by everyone I meant Gerard, Shakira ,and yes, Maluma. Maluma. His presence at the party was what made me the most suspicious as I didn't even know that they were even friends to begin with. By the few faces I glimpsed at the party, as well as the expensive cars in the driveway, I concluded that this was a party for the rich and famous only.It was the only explanation I could muster up as to why not even Shakira had asked for me to tag along or even mentioned this to me. Despite being the sister of a famous singer,it was evident that I ,on the contrary,did not have a name for myself. Maybe that's why the two guys who had claimed to like me were laced in the arms of their famous counterparts.

However, the situation made me also realize how friendless I actually was in this lonely city of Barcelona. Many of the people in that room that I considered a' friend' were originally Shakira's. Now that I was thinking about it, the only person that I truly met who had absolutely no relation with Shakira was Zayn. After thinking long and hard about this for a few days, I had finally made up my mind to move out of Gerard and Shakira's home so that I could gain some more independence for myself. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I stayed with them, but I couldn't help but to feel bad for intruding on their privacy as a family for so long. The money I made from my business was more than enough get me an apartment. 

"How about this one, do you like it?" Zayn asked as we entered the fifth apartment we had listed. After telling him my plans he made it his duty to help me find the right one and I didn't object as he knew the city better than I  did. He had revealed to me previously that although he was originally from England, he had gotten a scholarship to attend " La Universitat de Barcelona"  to get a bachelors degree in fine arts and ever since he graduated last year he had no interest in going back home. 

That was partially due to the fact that his parents didn't agree with him doing art as a full time job as well as his view that the 'babes' here in Barcelona would have a total meltdown if he had decided to leave.

"The previous one was better" I said as I placed back an ordinary painting which masked an extraordinary hole in the wall.

"Really?" Zayn asked, feigning sadness, "But I really thought that the termite dust on the floor gave the room character. You just need a few gallons of water and you would've had your own f*cking beach,sand and all" he said,pouting. I couldn't help but to laugh at him as we exited the building. 

"Why don't you look at one of the apartments in my building?" he asked, ignoring the next apartment on our list. I gave him a pointed look to which he raised his hands up in defense. 

"I'm trying to channel my inner Beyonce here,Zayn. I'll be somewhat dependent on you knowing that you'll be the only person I know there" I said, taking the crinkled paper from him.

"That doesn't mean you can't still be independent" he said,coming to a halt,"and besides, the next apartment we'll be going to is way out of your budget". I sighed loudly as I remembered the figures I heard for the apartment when i was on the phone with the owner. I huffed as I glared at him,knowing that he was actually right.

"Great so that settles it" he said,taking hold of my hand as he dragged me back into the direction of his studio. Despite both of us having a car, Zayn felt the need to let us walk to all our destinations today which was definitely taking a toll on my body. In the midst of defending myself against the scorching heat and the lactic acid build up in my legs, it suddenly clicked as to why he wanted us to walk.

"You conniving little shit" I said, coming to a halt once more,lengthening this whole 'apartment search' process. The look on his face was priceless as he tried to figure out what he did to unleash my dramatics.

"You planned this all out didn't you? Making us walk all this way knowing that the previous apartments weren't anything to rave about so that I would be too worn out and discouraged to not pick your building as a last resort".

I watched as his lips slowly crept upwards,revealing his pearly whites. My eyes grew wide as he erupted in laughter, earning stares from passersby. He placed his hand on his chest as if that would help to calm him down but it only amplified it in my opinion.

"Took you long enough to notice"

I shot him a glare which immediately ended his laughter. He dried stray tears then grabbed both my hands.

"Oh come on. You liked my studio ,didn't you?Admit it" I tried to find something bad about his studio apartment but sadly I couldn't. It was actually a pretty decent place and within my budget unlike the ones we had visited previously.

Malik : 1 , Mebarak: 0

{A/N: Lets just talk about that gif of Maluma....like why do that to my ovaries,huh? Ahhhh cuteness overload on a different level}