Chapter 1: A New Beginning

...Kashish never thought much of Zaid when they first met online. To her, he was just another friend of her little brother, Agustya. He was logical, mature, and smart, always giving off a sense of confidence that made him seem older than his years. But despite the difference in age and the distance between them—Kashish in India, and Zaid in the USA—something about their bond felt like family. She always saw him as a brother....

...That was, until one evening when the dynamics between them shifted. It was a casual conversation, one of those long chats that went into the early hours of the morning. They laughed, teased each other, and as always, she felt safe around him. But that night, she realized something she had never noticed before....

...Zaid wasn’t just her brother. He was… more....

...Her heart raced, and before she could stop herself, the words slipped out....

...“I think I like you, Zaid,” she confessed, a blush creeping up her neck....

...There was a long pause. Her fingers hovered over her phone, waiting for a response. Finally, the text appeared....

...“I’m sorry, Kashish. I see you as a friend. Nothing more.”...

...Her heart sank. It felt like someone had punched her in the chest. She had never expected this, never imagined that Zaid, the guy who she trusted the most, would reject her feelings. The next few days felt like a blur, each moment filled with awkward silences and uncomfortable glances....

...But Kashish wasn’t the type to give up easily. Over the weeks that followed, she tried everything to get Zaid’s attention. She adjusted her behavior, tried to act more mature, more attractive—everything she thought would make him see her differently. But nothing worked. Zaid was still the same. His affection never changed, and neither did his opinion of her....

...Meanwhile, girls were constantly flirting with him, and Kashish couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy whenever she saw it. Zaid, Agustya, and Kashish often made fun of the girls who flirted with him. It was all in good fun—at least, that’s what she told herself....

..."Why are they so obsessed with you?" Kashish would laugh, poking fun at Zaid as he rolled his eyes....

..."I don’t know," Zaid would say nonchalantly. "It’s not my fault if they’re attracted to me."...

...Deep down, though, Kashish’s feelings were starting to change. She had always been the one to annoy him, to mess with him. She was the one who ruined his day just by being herself. But Zaid always shrugged it off, pretending it didn’t bother him. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to deny it, Kashish always noticed the subtle signs—the way he would look at her when she wasn’t looking, the way he would check in on her, even if it wasn’t necessary....

...And then, a new girl entered their lives....

...Her name was Maryam, and though she was a minor, she was crushing hard on Zaid. Kashish could feel her jealousy rise the moment she saw the way Maryam flirted with him in the group chat. But Zaid wasn’t interested. He made it clear, in his usual blunt way, that he wasn’t looking for anything with her. He didn’t see Maryam like that, and Kashish, surprisingly, felt a strange sense of relief....

...However, the real twist came when Maryam introduced Zaid to Saba, a girl who, like Zaid, was logical, smart, and seemed to have her life figured out. They hit it off instantly. Kashish felt her stomach twist in a way she didn’t expect. Watching Zaid and Saba grow closer stung more than she wanted to admit....

..."I don’t like this," Kashish confessed to Agustya one night as they both stared at Zaid and Saba’s growing relationship through their phones....

..."Yeah, I know," Agustya said, his voice full of concern. "But you can’t force him to like you, Kashish. It’s not fair to either of you."...

...But it was hard to just let go. Kashish distanced herself from Zaid, watching from the sidelines as he fell for Saba. The pain was overwhelming, but Agustya was there for her, comforting her in ways she never knew a little brother could. He made her laugh, kept her distracted, and reminded her that not everything was about Zaid....

...Maryam, on the other hand, wasn’t so understanding. She had apologized to Kashish and the group, but she quickly became jealous of Zaid and Saba’s relationship. It wasn’t long before she started spreading rumors, twisting the truth, and turning their once tight-knit group into a web of drama and mistrust....

...Kashish felt herself slipping further into despair, but then something unexpected happened. She began to change. She stopped trying so hard to get Zaid’s attention. She focused on herself, her studies, her friends, and slowly, she began to heal. But just as she was starting to find peace, Maryam stepped in once again. With her manipulative ways, she convinced Kashish that the only way to move on from Zaid was to give someone else a chance—someone who was interested in her....

...That’s when Archie entered the picture....

...Archie was one of Zaid’s close friends, smart, logical, and somewhat of a mystery to Kashish. He had always been there in the background, but now, with Zaid and Saba growing closer, he seemed to be more present in her life. Kashish, in her vulnerable state, found herself drawn to him. He was kind to her, listened when she needed someone to talk to, and offered her a comfort that she had been craving....

...It wasn’t long before Kashish began to develop real feelings for Archie. But was she truly interested in him, or was she just trying to move on from Zaid? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t have time to think about it. Maryam’s influence was stronger than ever, and Kashish found herself more conflicted than ever before....

...The twists were just beginning, and as each day passed, the lines between love, loyalty, and betrayal became more blurred....

...And little did Kashish know, Zaid wasn’t as indifferent to her as he appeared....

...To be continued......

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