...[Private Chat – Zaid & Kashish]...
...Zaid: You didn’t answer my question....
...Kashish: I did....
...Zaid: Then why does it feel like you’re lying?...
...Kashish: Why do you care?...
...Zaid clenched his jaw, staring at the screen....
...That was the problem, wasn’t it? He did care....
...More than he wanted to admit....
...But he didn’t know why....
...And that frustrated him....
...Kashish: If you’re expecting me to apologize for leaving, I won’t....
...Zaid: I don’t want an apology....
...Kashish: Then what do you want?...
...He hesitated before typing:...
...Zaid: I don’t know....
...She stared at the message for a long time....
...Then, for the first time in weeks, she let herself be honest....
...Kashish: Maybe that’s the problem, Zaid. You never know....
...And with that, she logged off....
...---...
...[Group Chat – Chaos Unleashed]...
...Maryam: Sooooo, guess who’s back?...
...Saba: Who?...
...Maryam: Zaid’s fan club....
...Harry: Wait, he has a fan club??...
...Jack: I mean, makes sense. He’s decent-looking....
...George: You mean annoyingly attractive....
...Saba: Are you guys simping over Zaid rn?...
...Harry: Absolutely not....
...Jack: We have standards....
...George: …Mostly....
...Zaid sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose....
...Zaid: Can we not do this?...
...Maryam: Why not? The girls are cute....
...Zaid: Not interested....
...Kashish: Of course, he isn’t. They’re not Saba....
...Silence....
...Zaid’s heart stopped....
...Saba hesitated....
...Saba: Kashish…...
...Kashish: What? I said what everyone was thinking....
...Zaid’s grip on his phone tightened....
...Zaid: What’s your problem?...
...Kashish: Nothing. I’m just stating facts....
...Zaid: No, you’re being petty....
...Kashish: And you’re being predictable....
...Saba: Guys, stop....
...Kashish: Why? He doesn’t like drama, right?...
...Zaid exhaled sharply....
...Zaid: You want me to react? Fine. What do you want me to say?...
...Kashish: Nothing. You never say anything when it actually matters....
...And just like that, she left the chat....
...Again....
...---...
...[Private Chat – Archie & Kashish]...
...Archie: Want me to say “I told you so” or should I be a good friend?...
...Kashish: Shut up....
...Archie: Oof. You’re really mad....
...Kashish: I just—ugh!...
...Archie: Deep breaths....
...Kashish: I don’t need therapy from you....
...Archie: You do, but okay....
...She groaned....
...Kashish: Why do I let him get to me?...
...Archie: Because you care....
...Kashish: I don’t want to....
...Archie: Feelings don’t work that way, Kash....
...Kashish: Then how do they work?...
...Archie: You either deal with them… or let them destroy you....
...She stared at the screen....
...Archie: And right now? You’re letting them win....
...---...
...[Private Chat – Zaid & Saba]...
...Saba: Are you okay?...
...Zaid: Why wouldn’t I be?...
...Saba: Because Kashish just called you out in front of everyone?...
...Zaid: She’s being dramatic....
...Saba: You really don’t see it, do you?...
...Zaid: See what?...
...Saba: How much she cares....
...Zaid frowned....
...Saba: She wouldn’t be this mad if she didn’t....
...Saba: She wouldn’t react at all....
...His chest tightened....
...Zaid: So, what? You’re saying she still likes me?...
...Saba: You know she does....
...Zaid stared at the message....
...Did he know?...
...Or had he just been ignoring it?...
...Saba: Just… don’t hurt her more than you already have....
...He exhaled....
...Saba: And don’t hurt yourself, either....
...He didn’t reply....
...Because he didn’t know how....
...---...
...[Private Chat – Agustya & Kashish]...
...Agustya: Wow, you really went for it today....
...Kashish: Don’t start....
...Agustya: Not judging. Just impressed....
...Kashish: I don’t need your approval....
...Agustya: No, but you do need to talk to him....
...Kashish: I did. He never listens....
...Agustya: Maybe because you don’t say what you actually mean....
...She clenched her jaw....
...Kashish: I can’t do this again....
...Agustya: Do what?...
...Kashish: Be his second choice....
...Silence....
...Then, after a moment:...
...Agustya: You never were....
...She blinked....
...Agustya: You were always his first. He just never figured it out in time....
...Her vision blurred slightly....
...But she didn’t reply....
...She couldn’t....
...---...
...[Private Chat – Zaid & Kashish]...
...Zaid: I didn’t mean to make you feel like that....
...She hesitated before responding....
...Kashish: Like what?...
...Zaid: Like you weren’t important....
...Her chest tightened....
...Kashish: You didn’t make me feel like that, Zaid....
...Kashish: You proved it....
...Silence....
...Then:...
...Zaid: What do you want me to say?...
...Kashish: Nothing....
...Zaid: Then why are we still talking?...
...Kashish: I don’t know. Maybe because I’m an idiot....
...Zaid: You’re not an idiot....
...Kashish: Then what am I?...
...He hesitated....
...Then:...
...Zaid: You’re someone I don’t want to lose....
...Her breath caught....
...But before she could reply, he sent another message....
...Zaid: But maybe I already have....
...And this time, she didn’t deny it....
...---...
...To Be Continued…...
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