When Ziya arrived at her favorite place, no one could be seen there. So, she sat on her usual spot and recalled everything that happened today. She was very much excited to see him.
For the past year, he was the one who accompanied her every night. She hoped that the handsome boy whom she saw today would be her prince charming. Because when she saw the handsome boy, she felt the same when she chatted with her prince charming. Even though she didn't say it aloud, she knew she likes him. She likes him for no reason. They had never seen in the past nor talked personally. But she felt safe with him. She felt happy chatting with him. She felt sad when he didn't reply to her messages. He understood her well and even had supported her. If she was confused over something, he'll help her to make a decision. He never disliked her because of her naughty self instead, he enjoyed each and everything she did. She had imagined how he looked and dreamt about him many times. She still was not sure whether it is love or not. But she knows herself well. If she was given a choice to select a person across the world to stay nearby that person, she definitely will choose him for no reason. She believes him that much.
But when she saw a boy who was as beautiful as an angel, she could not calm herself. Her heart skipped a beat. Surprisingly, she felt close to him like she knew him for a long time. She never felt like this. This was a new feeling.
Just then someone approached her. Ziya collected her random thoughts and glanced up.
She saw the same handsome face above her. She was about to stand when the other person sat near her.
"What are you thinking?" He asked.
"Huh?"
"You are smiling. Are you thinking about me?" Leo said with an attractive smile.
Only now Ziya realized she was smiling as though she was another Mona Lisa.
'Huh… Are you here to embarrass yourself?'
She must find a hole to hide to escape from this embarrassing situation.
"No, I am no…"
Before she could finish, he handed a gift parcel to her. She accepted it readily like she saw a treasure.
A warm smile appeared on his calm and collected face.
Ziya was ready to unpack. But he stopped her.
"Not now. Open after you go home"
She silently nodded her head.
Ziya secretly glanced at him now and then. For some time, no one spoke. Even though no one spoke, the atmosphere was not awkward instead it was entirely warming.
Ziya could not take this anymore. So, she initiated the talk.
"Why are you not talking?"
...
She got no reply. She was going to ask if he was deaf. But he spoke before her.
"I thought you are angry at me."
Hearing this, Ziya could not calm her heart. She was happy. Happy that he confirmed himself. She didn't question his identity because she didn't want to hear any denial. She felt he was him. She didn't want to be disappointed. So, she skipped the introduction part. If she asked and he denied it, she could not be able take that. She didn't know why she felt like this. But she now confirmed she likes him or maybe more than like or love.
'Maybe love at first sight'
She needs time to confirm her feelings.
"Are you not?"
He spoke again.
"Huh?" Ziya was confused.
He smiled and said, "Are you not angry at me?"
"Nn...yes," She smiled and continued "So how do you plan to lure me?"
She did not know why but she didn't feel embarrassed to talk like that even though it was their first meeting.
"What do you want me to do?" he played along with her. It was no new to him. For the past one year, he had became so much familiar with her to the point of knowing her silly thoughts.
Ziya fell into deep thought and Leo enjoyed her serious face.
"What about you sing a song for me?" Ziya started her game.
"Only if you dance with me" he replied.
Ziya was tongue-tied by his response.
"You… then buy an ice cream for me"
"Only if you share with me"
"Then cook for me"
"Only if you eat with me" Leo continued demanding.
…
Ziya wore her wicked smile and continued.
"Then buy a hello kitty for me"
Leo noticed her wicked smile but continued playing.
"Only if you come with me"
Ziya blinked her eyes innocently. Leo could not take his eyes from her. Her eyes were his weakness.
"Then sing a lullaby for me"
Leo was still mesmerized but answered unconsciously.
"Only if you sleep…"
His illusory hands patted his chest. Luckily, he didn't complete it. He was almost caught of guard.
Ziya thought her plan would succeed but who knew he would stop midway. She was utterly disappointed. She shook her head to show her disappointment.
"Are you that much disappointed?"
She heard Leo talking to her but could not say why she felt it was a little domineering. She felt she was in grave danger.
'No, I must escape'
But before she could, Leo captured her and trapped her between the nearby tree and him.
"Where do you think you are going?" Leo asked.
"Of course, I am going home"
'Oh no, I must do something or else...'
"Is it so? But why do I feel you planned to run away from here, huh?"
"No, no. I am not planning anything. And why should I run away from here? Will you eat me? No, right? So why should I escape? Also, you are not scary at all"
"Eat you? Do something like this, you will know if I eat you or not"
"Huh, what did I do now?"
"Think it through"
He chuckled before leaving a confused Ziya.
...
When Ziya arrived home, her grandma was preparing dinner for her. She soon freshened up and went downstairs to help her grandma.
While eating, Ziya was busy with her thoughts, so she didn't notice the old lady who was calling her for the third time. The old lady found something amiss. So, she stood up from her chair and went near Ziya and examined her.
Ziya finally came to her senses but still, she couldn't understand what had happened.
So, she asked, "What happened granny?"
But the old lady didn't reply instead she continued examining her granddaughter.
"Granny, what are you doing? What happened?"
"No dear. Are you okay? You seemed out of place today and this never happened before. What happened, dear? Tell me."
Ziya didn't know how to respond. She was caught red-handed.
'Can anyone help me?'
Her prayer was soon heard. Someone called her.
'Thank God, I escaped now' she thought and fled away.
...
In her room, Ziya took out her mobile and eagerly glanced at her mobile screen. To her disappointment, it was her friend Emily. She accepted the call but she didn't speak first.
Emily waited for a few seconds and spoke, "Hello? Who are you? Where did you get this phone?"
Ziya was dumbfounded again.
"Hey, what are you saying? This is ME, ZIYA"
"Are you? Really?"
"Yes, I am"
"Babe, it really is you. But why didn't you talk first?"
"I felt bored to talk"
"That's all? Ziya babe, you must come with me tomorrow. We can go to the hospital. You know there are many...."
Ziya cut her off.
"Why should we go there?"
"We can check if you have any problems. See, you still seem different from our Ziya"
"What are you saying, Emy? I am as normal as always and there is no need to go to the hospital"
"No babe, Morning you seemed sad because of your cute bro. But what happened next? You ignored us after lunch and now you forget how you talk; Just say what happened. We are your friends. Don't try to hide anything from me"
Ziya thought for a moment and she too thought she was a bit different today. But she also wasn't sure of what was happening to her, then what she could tell now.
"Okay, I'll tell after I figured out"
"Mm Okay. But don't forget we are your friends"
"Now tell me why did you call me now?"
"It's okay. That's not a problem. If you are busy, I'll hang up now"
Emily was about to hang up.
"Wait"
"Tell me"
After giving some thought, Emily voiced her thought out.
"Babe, his birthday is next month. What should I give him?"
Only then Ziya remembered the gift that was packed neatly in her bag. She totally forgot that she received a gift from him. She just only wanted to open that gift now. So, she stepped towards her study table and took out the gift from her bag. She unpacked it.
It was a key chain. A half heart and a boy who was playing the violin was the portrayal in the key chain. It was simple and impressive. But if one looked carefully, he could say it was not as simple as it seems. Any one could easily say it was a couple-key chain.
There were some diamonds like stones along with the half-heart. If these are real diamonds, then it must be made of platinum.
Ziya was astonished by his gift. Yet, she liked it. When she looked at it carefully, she saw something carved on it.
'ZILY'
So, he brought it from ZILY.
ZILY was a famous jewelry brand. It was established a year ago but it became the top brand in the country in this short time.
Ziya saw it in the magazines. She never brought it.
"I love it" She exclaimed.
She again fell deep into her dreamland.
...
On the other hand, Emily had not hung up the call. She was calling Ziya all along. But our dream girl Ziya never heard it. Emily forgot that she was in a grand banquet and yelled.
"Baby?"
...
"Ziya dear?"
...
"Babe, what happened?"
...
"Ziya?"
"Ziya, where are you?"
"Are you okay Ziya?"
The people in the banquet became so quiet. Even the breathing sound could not be heard.
Two ladies approached her. Celine and Sia stepped towards Emily.
"What happened Emy dear? Why do you seem worried?"
Celine asked.
"Mom, Ziya was talking to me. But suddenly, she stopped talking. I am worried about her"
"Don't worry. Nothing must have happened. Maybe she has something to do"
Sia who heard this panicked.
"When did you call her? Did she say where she was? No... I must check myself..."
Celine who knew Ziya was Sia's daughter did not know how to console her friend.
"Sia don't panic"
As if she had not heard anything, Sia took out her mobile and tried to call Ziya. The call didn't go through. Sia got even more panicked. If one looked carefully, he could see her pale face.
Celine tried to console her friend.
"Sia don't worry...."
Just then they heard something.
"I love it"
Sia who knew her daughter easily identified her voice. She calmed a bit and glanced at Emily's phone.
Emily was confused very well. She had seen Sia at some parties. Sia was her mom's best friend. So, she knew her. But what made her confused was, her aloof aunty Sia panicked and that too was for her friend, Ziya.
Since both Ziya and Emily decided to hide their identities, Sia and Celine supported them. They knew it was hard to get a precious friend. So even though they knew about their daughter's friendship, they kept mum. It was not because they don't trust each other, but to give their daughters a surprise.
"Aunty, you know Ziya? Then do you know where she lives? She seemed out of mind today"
Emily asked Sia.
The once panicked Sia was nowhere to be found. Since Ziya was her daughter, she knew her well.
When Sia heard Ziya's exclamation, she understood her daughter was amazed again. Since childhood, Ziya was very fond of gifts and surprises. Today was her birthday. She might have got something she liked. So, it was no wonder Ziya didn't respond during the call. Even though Emily, Lillie, and Ziya were best friends, she never got this much exclaimed before. So, they did not know about this side of Ziya.
Since Emily did not know who she was, Sia introduced herself again.
"Hi Emily, I am Sia, Ziya's mom"
"What?" Emily felt a bomb blasted in her head. She never expected Ziya to be Sia's daughter. She turned to her mom and Celine nodded her head.
Emily could never have thought that Ziya was in fact not a poor…
Even though she had some queries, she didn't ask anything and continued to digest the shocking news.
"And don't worry. Ziya is absolutely fine. She might have amazed by the gift she received today again"
"Again?" Emily asked.
And Sia explained about her daughter's naughty habit.
Emily after hearing her friend's endless craziness about gifts, could not stop laughing and now she was in so much pain. She didn't know what to do. She just needed some time and some fresh air to digest this news. and, she felt a little suffocated. So, she stood up, excused herself, and went out.
After she went out, someone followed her.