...Kashish tapped her fingers against the edge of her phone, staring at the empty chat screen....
...She had typed and erased the same message three times already....
...Should she message Zaid?...
...Would he even care?...
...She swallowed her pride and started typing again....
...Kashish: Zaid, are you free?...
...The message sent. The wait began....
...Her heartbeat quickened when the “typing…” indicator appeared....
...Then it disappeared....
...Her fingers clenched around the phone....
...Nothing....
...No reply....
...Her throat tightened as she exhaled sharply, locking her phone and tossing it onto the bed....
...This was becoming a pattern....
...Zaid was drifting. And she… she was just standing there, watching it happen....
...It hurt....
...God, it hurt....
...---...
...[Group Chat – Chaos Unleashed]...
...Maryam: GUYS!! BIG NEWS!!...
...Harry: Do we have to guess?...
...Jack: Please say you got kidnapped....
...Maryam: RUDE. But no. Something even better....
...Kashish: …?...
...Maryam: Zaid and Saba are going on a real date!...
...Kashish blinked....
...Her stomach twisted so fast she thought she might be sick....
...Saba: Maryam—...
...Maryam: Don’t deny it, Saba! He asked you himself, right?...
...Kashish: …Cool. Have fun....
...She sent the message before she could stop herself....
...A second later, Zaid finally replied....
...Zaid: …Thanks....
...That’s it?...
...That’s all he had to say?...
...Kashish gripped her phone, staring at the word....
...The worst part?...
...She could tell he didn’t even notice how much it hurt....
...---...
...[Private Chat – Archie & Kashish]...
...Archie: You okay?...
...Kashish: Not really....
...Archie: What happened?...
...Kashish: Nothing. It’s stupid....
...Archie: If it bothers you, it’s not stupid....
...She hesitated. Archie always had a way of making her feel like her feelings mattered....
...Unlike Zaid....
...Kashish: He’s going out with her....
...Archie: Yeah. I saw....
...Kashish: It shouldn’t bother me, right?...
...Archie: I think it’s okay if it does....
...Kashish: It’s just… I feel like I don’t exist to him anymore....
...Archie: Maybe he’s the one who doesn’t deserve to exist in your world....
...Her breath hitched....
...He made it sound so simple....
...Kashish: I wish I could stop caring....
...Archie: Then let me help....
...She stared at his message....
...For a moment, just a moment, she wished she could feel something—anything—for Archie instead....
...---...
...[Private Chat – Zaid & Jack]...
...Jack: Dude. What the hell?...
...Zaid: What now?...
...Jack: Kashish left the group chat....
...Zaid froze....
...Zaid: …She said she was busy....
...Jack: Right. Keep telling yourself that....
...Zaid: What do you want me to do?...
...Jack: Maybe act like you care?...
...Zaid rubbed his face, frustrated....
...Of course, he cared....
...Didn’t he?...
...---...
...[Private Chat – Maryam & Saba]...
...Saba: I don’t think I should do this....
...Maryam: Do WHAT?!...
...Saba: Go out with Zaid....
...Maryam: Girl, what??...
...Saba: He’s not over her....
...Maryam nearly dropped her phone....
...Saba: I feel like I’m forcing something that isn’t there....
...Maryam: He’ll get over her! You just have to give him a reason....
...Saba: He should already have one....
...Maryam’s jaw clenched....
...Kashish is ruining everything....
...Saba: I think I need to step back....
...Maryam stared at the message, fury burning in her chest....
...No....
...She wouldn’t let Kashish win....
...---...
...[Private Chat – Zaid & Kashish]...
...Zaid: Hey....
...No response....
...Zaid: Kashish?...
...Still nothing....
...His chest tightened....
...Was this what it felt like?...
...Was this what she had been feeling all along?...
...For the first time in his life, Zaid realized—...
...Maybe this time, she wouldn’t come back....
...---...
...To Be Continued…...
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