Chapter 68: Chapter 68

“So, what’s the last task?” Liam asked in exasperation.

“Be patient, potential brother in law..” Zahir said dryly.

“Potential? Are you serious, Zahir? There is no ‘potential’ in this context. I am your future brother in law. No matter what..” Liam said in annoyance.

“How you handle the third task would answer that, Frederick..” Zahir said with a scoff.

“Listen, I am doing this simply to entertain you two. There is really no need from this. Even Mirrie feels the same way, don’t you Mirrie?” Amar asked looking at Zada and she nodded her head, agreeing with Amar.

“Ewww.. Stop calling her with that name. It sounds so weird.” Zahir said, making a face at Liam calling their sister with a pet name.

Amar rolled his eyes, realising whatever he is going to do, Zahir would come up with some or the other complaints.

Zian chuckled, simply watching the scene unfold in front of him.

“Zi - Zi, Zi - Zi,” Emma ran towards them and pulled the chair next to Zian and sat on it, breathlessly.

“What do you want, Emma? Why were you running?” Zian asked sternly. He was still angry with Emma for hiding Zada’s matter from him. He isn’t going to forgive him any sooner.

“I am going to sing a song for you..” Emma said excitedly.

“What?” Zian asked in confusion and the rest of them were watching in amusement.

“Yes. You are angry with me and I am going to sing for you. After the song, all your anger would melt and you will be like always.”

Emma's announcement of singing a song for Zian drew surprised glances from everyone at the table. Zian, trying to maintain his stern demeanour, sighed inwardly, anticipating another one of Emma's quirky endeavours.

Emma cleared her throat dramatically, causing Zian to exchange bemused glances with the others. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Emma began singing.

“You're my Honeybunch Sugarplum

Pumpy-umpy-umpkin

You're my Sweetie Pie

You're my Cuppycake

Gumdrop Snoogums-Boogums

You're the Apple of my Eye”

Her off-key singing echoed through the cafeteria.

Zada covered her mouth to stifle laughter. Liam exchanged a knowing look with Zahir, who was unsuccessfully attempting to suppress a grin.

As Emma reached the chorus, Zian struggled to hide his amusement. The stern mask wavered, and he let out an involuntary chuckle. Emma seized the opportunity, intensifying her performance with exaggerated gestures.

“And I love you so and I want you to know

That I'll always be right here

And I love to sing sweet songs to you

Because you are so dear”

However, as the song concluded, Zian quickly composed himself, adopting a serious expression. Emma, expecting him to be all melted, raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Wasn't that amazing, Zi - Zi?" She asked, flashing a hopeful smile.

"Oh, absolutely breathtaking. Your singing has truly left me speechless." Zian, fighting back a smile, replied with an exaggerated sigh.

"You're supposed to be melting with love, Zian. What's wrong with you?" Emma's smile faltered, her eyes narrowing in annoyance.

"Maybe I am just immune to your singing charm." Zian, keeping up the act, shrugged.

Unfazed, Emma decided to escalate her plan.

“Well, in that case, I won’t waste my time here anymore. I am craving a bike ride right now. Ethan is waiting for me outside with his new motorcycle. Anyways, see you later guys.” Emma waved at the others sitting on the table.

Zian's eyes widened in surprise, and a subtle pang of jealousy flickered across his face. He cursed under his breath as he watched Emma grab her bag and head towards a guy, probably Ethan, who was waiting outside the cafeteria.

“Damn it..” Zian, unable to contain his jealousy, hurriedly got up, excusing himself from the table.

Outside, Emma grinned as she saw Zian approaching. The plan was working just as Zada had predicted. Zada had told her last night that Zian is extremely possessive about her. And if nothing works, try making him a bit jealous and possessive. And the idea was working like a charm.

As Emma attempted to climb onto Ethan's motorcycle, Zian reached them, his jaw clenched. He pulled her down from the bike

“What is your problem, Zi?” Emma said, pretending to be annoyed.

“You are not going anywhere.” Zian declared.

“Who are you to decide that? I will go wherever I want with whoever I want..” Emma said, glaring at Zian.

Zian, fueled by jealousy, was having none of it.

"Fine, if you badly want to go for a bike ride, we will go on a ride, but it will be on my bike." Zian said furiously.

“No! I don’t want to go for bike rides with someone who doesn’t like me and someone who is angry with me. Ethan likes me and Ethan is not angry with me. I will go on a ride with Ethan.” Emma declared and Ethan was already shivering.

He knew it was Emma’s plan and he was scared of Zian.

“Ethan likes you?” Zian’s voice was hard and though he was asking Emma, his eyes were on Ethan.

Ethan trembled in fear seeing the wild look in the usually calm Zian’s eyes. He shook his head, his tongue refusing to move to answer Zian.

“Do you like Emma, Ethan? Do you want to take Emma on a bike ride, Ethan?” Zian asked coldly.

Ethan shot a helpless look at Emma and Emma narrowed her eyes at him, asking him to play the part she taught him.

“Uh! Emma wants to..-” Zian didn’t let him finish his words.

“I am asking about you, Ethan. Not Emma!” Zian’s cold voice made Ethan shiver.

“Why are you scaring him? You shouldn’t bother about all this. After all, you are angry with me and you should stay angry. Lemme go for a ride with Ethan..” Emma said once again and tried to climb on Ethan’s bike.

Zian pulled her along, after shooting an angry glare Ethan’s way. Ethan gulped seeing that.

Zian revved the engine of his motorcycle, eyeing Emma with an expectant expression.

"Are you getting on or not?" he asked, trying to sound stern.

"No, I don't want to get on a bike with someone who's angry with me. I want to go with Ethan." Emma replied defiantly, crossing her arms.

Zian sighed, realising she is going to be adamant..

"Let me also see how you go with Ethan." He dismounted from the bike and effortlessly picked Emma up, placing her on the pillion of his bike.

Emma shrieked, surprised at Zian’s move. He quickly made her wear the helmet.

"Safety first, Emma. Now hold on tight." He climbed onto the bike, revved the engine once more, and they sped away from the university.