Zayn's point of view
I was taking my food from the counter and walking to the table when I saw her. She was standing by the table with her cousins and walked across me to the washroom. She was wearing an oversized denim jacket, a white tank top, and boyfriend jeans and still managed to stand out among others. I rush to my table and keep the food tray down. "What took you so long?", Sifath asks me. All my friends are sitting, their eyes stuck on their phones. The moment I brought my food all the hands prying to take my fries but I shove my tray away. "Nothing, I just saw somebody I know, I'll tell you later about it. I'll be back don't touch my food", I say to my friends. I walk back standing at a distance from their table so they wouldn't see me. I spot Kashmira, laughing and shoving food inside her mouth and I find myself smiling. I tried to be with her. She's my best friend but I had wished to be more and I tried my very best to be with her and we almost achieved that but somewhere along the line we both found each other with someone else. I never cheated though. I loved my girlfriend. I gave her time, tried to treat her right, make her smile, and got involved enough that when she broke my heart I was pretty depressed. Kashmira and I still talk sometimes. How would it be if we actually worked out? I fill my cup with cola and as I turned around to leave I bump into someone and my cup of cola spills over someone. It's Mahira. Darn it! She looks at me surprised by the predicament. I look at her apologetically all the while she's glaring at me furiously. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking. I am extremely sorry", I apologize to her and hand her tissues to clean the mess I made. She rubs at her clothes to soak the cola and I apologize some more.
"It's fine. It's okay", she says looking at me. Her eyes look somewhat calmed down but she's still agitated. I try to go back to the table not bothering to fill my cup anymore. "You don't wanna fill your cup again?", she asks.
"I am sorry again and yeah kinda embarrassed", I tell her smiling awkwardly.
I turn around somewhat nervous and smile apologetically before putting my cup on the counter. "It's fine, really it happens", she says smiling gently and goes back to her table. That went well. She is unexpectedly nicer in person. She seemed like a humorless, annoying kid in the conversation but then again it was two years ago. I fill my cup when I feel a stare. Someone's staring at me. But I am staring too. It's Mahira. It's unexpectantly cold and throws a shiver down my spine. The stare lasted for about twenty seconds and it felt like time has somehow stopped. Her brown eyes were as if peering at me closely and I wasn't able to move, it was as if she's looking through me, my soul. She smiles awkwardly before looking away and taking calamari to her lips. I go back to my table where my best friend is already raising his brows and smiling slyly at me.
My phone beeps for the 12th time today and I decline the call just as fast. Again. My mom keeps calling me but I don't want to talk to her. Not now. I want to avoid it for as long as I can until I can't, that is when I go home. There is another beep and it's a text from my mom. She can't give me a break, can she?
Mom: We are having guests over. Come home.
Zayn: I'll be there later. I am kind of busy.
I text her back and shove the phone back in my pocket. I take a sip from my cola and look across the table. She's really pretty. I watch her talking and laughing at something. They keep on laughing hilariously. All of them.
"You seem very lost today. What's wrong?", Mahin asks me looking suspiciously and following my line of sight. I immediately look back and smile.
"Nothing special," I nod nonchalantly.
"You don't seem that way. You're not into the conversation at all. Where is your heart at? Are you looking at those girls? I mean I don't blame you. They're hot".
"That girl though, the one with the curly hair is so tall and fat. How much does she eat?", Moon badmouths.
"She's very beautiful just the way she is and she is my best friend, don't talk like that about her." I feel angry and agitated by his words. He doesn't know her. I do. She's a beautiful human inside and outside.
"Okay, chill. I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's okay. I'll head out now." I say and storm out. They keep calling for me but I just head out. I take a long breath outside the restaurant. It's the time of sunset. The sky looks breathtaking. The grey sky widespread over my head and big white-grey clouds covering the sky is a whole dramatic view. The red and grey never mixing together yet together.
"It's so beautiful. So fresh", a voice whispers beside me. I look beside myself to find the same girl looking at the sky, her head arched up in the sky. I can't see her face just her eyes. She's wearing a black mask covering her face. I am wearing a stupid panda mask my sister shove inside my pocket. As unhygienic as it is that she mistakenly shove her mask in my pocket, I feel really embarrassed.
"Come inside the car Mahira", her cousin calls for her.
"What about Kashmira?", Mahira asks.
"She will come herself".
She looks at me with those brown eyes boring into mine and whispers, "Interesting mask" and heads towards the car. I feel my cheeks getting warm with embarrassment or blush I can't quite get the reason.