[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice Chapter 127: Love and the Things We Don’t Say

~Evric’s POV~

The shoot for today finally wrapped, and everyone started scattering, Vanya and a few of the crew heading off to grab food. I stretched my arms out, letting out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Work was good today, but honestly, all I could think about was Zayn.

Vanya caught . She tilted her head at and asked, "What’s with the smile? You look... different today."

I chuckled, sliding my phone into my pocket. "Can’t help it. My boyfriend’s birthday is coming up."

Her brows lifted, clearly intrigued. "Oh? That explains it. So, what are you planning?"

"That’s the problem," I admitted, half-laughing but serious at the sa ti. "I don’t even know what to get him. I want it to be special. Sothing that really shows him how much I love him." My smile widened without even trying. Just saying it out loud made feel lighter, happier.

"You sound happy just talking about him," she said.

"I am," I answered instantly. And it was true. My chest softened in a way I couldn’t hide. "He drives crazy sotis and on his birthday, I want him to feel like the most loved person in the world."

Vanya smiled, looking at with this understanding expression. "You really are a lover boy, Evric."

I laughed softly. "You can say that again, Vanya." Then, with a tilt of my head, I asked, "Tell , what’s the one thing soone could do for you that would make you truly happy, especially on your special day?"

She opened her mouth, ready to answer, but I lifted my hand gently to stop her. "Wait. Before you say anything... let explain why I’m asking. The reason I’m so caught up in this, so desperate to get it right, is that this will be his first birthday with , in this relationship. It’s not just a day to celebrate his birth. It’s a day that will mark the first ti I get to show him what it ans to be loved by ."

My voice dropped a little, my chest tightening with sincerity. "I want whatever I do for him to speak louder than words ever could. To tell him, without even saying it, just how much I love him. I want him to feel it, to never doubt it."

For once, Vanya didn’t smirk or tease. She just looked at thoughtfully, her eyes softening. After a mont, she said, "Then don’t think about money or anything flashy. Think about sothing only you could give him, sothing no one else in the world can. mories. Monts that will stay with him forever."

I frowned slightly, intrigued. "Like what?"

Vanya smiled at , a little shy, a little unsure. "I don’t know, Evric... I’ve never loved anyone enough to reach this stage of yours."

Her honesty caught off guard, but I only leaned back and asked, "What about surprises? A vacation? Sothing like that?"

She shook her head with a small laugh. "Seriously, you don’t have to worry yourself. I know whatever you give him, it’s going to be special. Because it’s coming from you."

I looked at her more closely, letting her words sink in, but I couldn’t shake the restless feeling in my chest. "No, Vanya," I said quietly, "that’s not enough for . I still want sothing big. I just... I want to show him I love him."

Vanya’s smile softened, her gaze lingering on . For a mont, she didn’t say anything, maybe because she knew nothing she could suggest would match the fire I already felt inside.

So I exhaled, pushing my hands into my pockets. "Don’t worry. I’ll find my way around. I’ll figure it out. I just need him to see it... to feel how much he ans to ."

Even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t just about a gift. It was about proving with everything I had that Zayn wasn’t just loved, he was everything.

After everyone finished eating and headed back to the hotel, I asked Mr. Karl to stay with for a while, I needed his help with sothing.

The wicked part of Rogan is that my father knows damn well I’m already buried in work here, yet he still keeps sending more tasks to my email. Sotis I wonder if he does it just to test how much I can handle. Good thing Jas has been keeping up with most of it, and Mr. Karl helps run errands here while I finish what’s left.

But right now, as Mr. Karl worked quietly beside , I found myself slipping my phone out and opening a browser tab. I typed slowly, almost feeling ridiculous but still determined:

Best way to surprise your boyfriend.

I leaned back, staring at the screen as dozens of ideas popped up, romantic dinners, surprise vacations, engraved gifts, love letters. I couldn’t help but smirk at so, my mind already wandering, imagining Zayn’s reaction.

Because this wasn’t just any birthday. And no matter how busy I was, no matter what my father threw at , I wanted to make sure Zayn felt sothing unforgettable, sothing that scread he was my everything.

Yesterday had been so packed I didn’t even hear Zayn’s voice once. We only exchanged a few short ssages, and when he finally replied, it was already late. By now, I knew he would already be asleep, and if I called, he probably wouldn’t pick up.

Still, I couldn’t resist. I tried a video call anyway. It rang once... twice... and then, to my relief, he answered.

"Hello, baby," I said with a smile, but the second I saw him, the smile faded.

He answered, but his tone was flat, tired. His face looked pale, his eyes swollen as if he’d been crying. My heart tightened.

"What’s wrong, baby? Did you cry?" I asked, panic creeping into my voice.

He gave a weak smile and shook his head. "No. Just a headache. I’ve been working all day, I’m tired."

But I could see it. His eyes told a different story. He had been crying. "Zayn," I pressed gently, "please. Tell the truth. What happened?"

His lips trembled before he broke down.

"Evric... I almost lost my life." His voice cracked as tears rolled down his face. "Nantam and Dean brought food. It wasn’t from my restaurant, but from another place. And it was a dish I know well, one I cook myself. I know the recipe, Evric. That dish never has shellfish. Never."

He drew in a shaky breath, clutching his chest as if reliving it.

"But this one did. Sohow, they put shellfish in it. I didn’t notice until it was too late. The mont I ate it... I couldn’t breathe. My throat closed up. I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t even reach for my phone." His voice broke completely now. "If Nantam hadn’t forgotten his wallet and co back at that exact mont, I don’t know if I’d still be here talking to you."

My whole body went cold. Hearing him say that, imagining him struggling alone, unable to breathe, made my chest ache so badly I could hardly breathe myself.

But then again, you have allergies? A dozen questions pressed against my chest. When did this happen? How? Why am I just finding out now?

I wanted to ask, to demand answers, but I held myself back. This wasn’t the ti. Zayn’s eyes were already swollen, his face pale.

I pushed the thoughts away and softened my voice. "Babe, clean your eyes. I can’t stand watching you cry. How do you feel now?"

He sniffled and tried to smile. "I’m fine."

But inside, I wasn’t fine. A sharp ache tugged at , the part of that didn’t even know Zayn had food allergies hurt. He had never told . Not once. He never ntioned it before, not in passing, not in all the nights we stayed up talking.

How could I not know sothing this important?