Chapter 80: Chapter 80

“Aaron..” Emily screamed in excitement and ran towards him as soon as she spotted him.

“Em, my darling..” Aaron called out and opened his arms wide for her. Emily jumped into his arms and Aaron twirled her around, both of them laughing with abandon.

Zahir's eyes narrowed as he watched Aaron twirl Emily around in his arms, their laughter ringing out like some kind of twisted melody in his ears. He crossed his arms, glaring at the scene as if his sheer annoyance alone could pry them apart.

"What is this guy, a human merry-go-round?" He muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping impatiently against his biceps. He wasn’t even sure why it bothered him so much. It’s not like he had any claim over Emily. Still, something about seeing her wrapped up in Aaron’s embrace made his blood boil.

Liam, standing beside him, glanced over and smirked.

"You alright there, Zahir? You’re staring pretty hard." Liam teased and Zahir scoffed, trying to sound indifferent.

"Who, me? I am fine. Just... wondering if that’s even safe. I mean, what if he drops her? We’ll have a hospital case on our hands."

"Yeah, sure. That’s exactly what you're worried about." Liam said with a chuckle.

Zahir rolled his eyes, his gaze shifting back to Aaron and Emily.

"Seriously, though. Twirling? What is this, a rom-com? Who does that in real life?" Zahir couldn’t hide his annoyance.

He knew he was being ridiculous, but the sight of Emily's joy in Aaron's arms gnawed at him. It was irrational, infuriating, and—worse—he had no idea why it bothered him so much.

“Seriously, Emil? You have no problem with this? Some random guy is twirling your sister around like a sick romantic movie and you are smiling and watching?” Zahir asked Emil, who was watching Emily and Aaron with a smile on his face.

“When it comes to Em, I blindly trust Aaron.” Emil said with a shrug and Zahir scowled.

"Maybe she likes dizzy spells," Zahir grumbled. "Whatever, it's none of my business." He shoved his hands in his pockets, trying not to glare, but failing miserably.

Once the excitement subsided, Emily dragged Aaron to the group.

“Ron-Ron, do you remember me?” Emma asked excitedly and Aaron had an exaggerated frown on his face and Emma’s smile dimmed thinking he didn’t remember her.

“I can’t recall..” Aaron said and Emma pouted. Zian breathed a sigh of relief.

“I grew up. Maybe that’s why you didn’t recognise me.” Emma said sadly.

“My Emmy Emmy grew up? No way!” Aaron exclaimed and Emma’s face lit up hearing that.

“You remember me!” Emma squealed in joy.

“Emmy Emmy? What rubbish!” Zian said, making a face.

“Oh Zi-Zi. That is Ron-Ron’s pet name for me. When I said I would call him Ron-Ron, he said he would call me Emmy-Emmy. Isn’t that sweet?” Emma asked with a giggle.

“Sickeningly!” Zian muttered under his breath.

Zian’s jaw tightened as he heard Emma giggle over the ‘Emmy-Emmy’ nonsense. He could barely stand the sound of it. His eye twitched as he tried to keep his cool, but the whole situation felt like a slow burn under his skin.

"Ron-Ron? Emmy Emmy" Zian muttered again, unable to keep his annoyance in check. "Who even comes up with these ridiculous names?"

Emma, oblivious to Zian’s growing irritation, was too busy fawning over Aaron.

"Oh, and do you remember how we used to play those silly games when I used to come over? You always let me win."

"Of course! I couldn’t say no to you, Emmy Emmy. You were the cutest little thing." Aaron laughed, throwing a playful wink Emma's way.

Zian, trying his best not to roll his eyes, clenched his fists. Cutest little thing? he thought bitterly. What is she, a puppy? He cleared his throat loudly, hoping Emma would catch on to his discomfort, but she was far too engrossed in her trip down memory lane with Ron-Ron.

"Yeah, right," Zian interjected, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So cute, you probably had her on a leash, too."

"What are you talking about, Zi-Zi?" Emma blinked at him in confusion.

"I am just saying, it’s kind of pathetic how you're fawning over someone who used to let you win at everything. It seems as if he had no confidence in you winning otherwise.."

“You go brother!” Zahir cheered his brother in a low tone. He couldn’t openly express his dislike towards Aaron, but Zian can easily do that.

“Oh Zian! Don’t tell me you are jealous!” Emily teased him. Zian’s face flushed with irritation.

"Jealous? Of him?" He scoffed, shooting a sideways glance at Aaron, who seemed completely unfazed by the whole exchange. "Please. I just don’t get why everyone’s acting like he’s a celebrity or so.."

"Relax, man," Aaron cut in, a smirk playing on his lips. "We’re just catching up. Nothing for you to worry about."

Zian bristled.

"I am not worried." His voice came out sharper than he intended, and Emma looked at him in confusion. Her Zi Zi is a gentle sweet man. She has never seen him talking so rudely to someone.

"Then why do you look like you want to punch him?" Emily asked, half-serious, half-amused.

"I do not!" Zian exclaimed, quickly crossing his arms over his chest. "I just think it's ridiculous, that’s all."

Aaron chuckled, clearly enjoying how riled up Zian was getting.

"Hey, don’t worry, Zi-Zi. I am not here to steal your thunder."

"You know what? Call me Zian. Just Zian." Zian gritted his teeth at the use of the nickname.

"Whatever you say, Zian," Aaron said smoothly, flashing Emma a grin that made Zian’s blood boil all over again.

"Good," Zian snapped, feeling both embarrassed and infuriated that he was even letting this get to him. It wasn’t like Emma liked Aaron — she was just being friendly. But something about seeing her light up around Aaron made Zian feel like he was suddenly irrelevant.

“Aaron, did you recognise who this is?” Emily asked, pointing at Zada who was silent until now.

Aaron looked at the beautiful girl and his eyes lit up in a way it hadn’t when he saw Emily or Emma. Liam clearly noted it and his jaws clenched in anger.

“Aaron, do you remember me?” Zada asked with a soft smile. Liam scowled seeing Zada smiling at Aaron.

“Does anybody forget their first love?”