Aisha's POV
I wake up from the beam of sunlight striking my face.
I must have forgotten to drape the curtains over my room's windows last night.
I yawned and stretched my body. I rubbed my eyes and before I could get up from my bed I was met with a pair of scrutinizing eyes that had my heart jumping out of my body.
With a yelp, I stood up, and my heart drummed loudly against my chest.
"Would you care to explain to me what is going on with you?" My mom's sharp tone pierced my heart. Almost.
She was tapping her feet impatiently against the floor as her arms were folded against her chest, authoritatively.
I gulped the lump forming in my throat.
"I was meaning to tell you maa…"
"Then when were you going to?!" Mom's voice was a little higher than before.
"I… I just couldn't find the right time. I was-"
"You couldn't take out a few minutes from your day to tell me you were going to order this?!" Mom's hand resurfaces from behind her back with a box in it.
"Wait- What?"
Mom waves the box in front of my eyes and then it dawns upon me what she meant.
Thank goodness! I wasn't found out.
Yet.
"Uhh… It came already? Yeah, I ordered these face creams and serum a day ago." I said taking the box from her hands.
"I can see that young lady."
"Then what is bothering you maa?"
"This is from an expensive brand. They are very costly. Who paid for it?" Mom's words had me stopping mid-way before I could go and put the box away in my dresser.
Quickly thinking of a great excuse, I turned around and stayed just as confident as ever.
"These are not mine maa, this is Sana's box. I'll hand it to her today at university."
"But… Why did she ask you to order her stuff?"
I facepalm my inner self and think of another lie. "Uhh… Because the brand was charging her extra money to deliver it to her house, she asked me to take it instead since it didn't cost her much." I bite my lip and my mother nods her head.
"Alright. I almost got a heart attack when I saw the price tags on the products. Never waste your money on such chemicals. It will ruin your virgin skin." Mom pats my cheek before heading towards the door outside. "Come downstairs, I am fixing you some quick breakfast."
"Thanks maa!"
I took a breath of relief when she was out of the room.
I almost got caught today.
Shaking off the feeling, I look at the box in my hands and a huge smile makes its way on my face.
I got a PR package from this huge brand!
They just emailed me yesterday and today I have the package. Oh God! I never imagined people would pay me so much money by just saying a few nice words about their product.
I pick up my phone before fixing my hair and rubbing off the sleepiness from the corner of my eyes. I open my phone camera and with a bright smile, I start my day with a new video, ready to greet my followers.
~~~
"Sanaaaaa!" I yell as soon as I spot her in the corridor of our university department. I run towards her and grab her in a tight hug. "I love you so much!"
Sana laughs before squeaking out of the hug. "Let me guess, L'Oreal sent you their PR package?"
I nodded excitedly and we both jumped up and down with our hands entwined.
"This is just the start Aisha. You are going to become a real star! But… Don't you ever forget me when you do!"
"Of course not! It was all because you pushed me, Sana or it had never happened."
"If that's so… You have to do something for me too."
"Anything for you. Just say it." I squeezed her hand, reassuringly.
"You need to help my Tiktok grow too."
"Of course, even if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have done it. What are friends for?" With a small hug, we smile at each other.
"If we were somewhere foreign, people would have mistaken us for girlfriends."
"Aren't we?" I wink at her and we laugh out loud.
"Aisha, I need to talk to you." I turned around and Hazek was standing behind me with a frown on his forehead.
My mouth formed into a thin line. "Say what is it?"
"Not here." He looks around and I notice a few people looking our way. "Let's go to the library."
I looked at Sana who didn't look very happy about Hazek's sudden presence.
"Later Hazek. I have an assignment to submit." Without hearing his reply, I went past him while Sana followed me behind.
~~~
The teacher wrapped up the class and we were free to go a few minutes earlier than the break time.
Sana and I went to the cafeteria. I grab a corner table while she goes to grab some snacks for us. I opened up my phone and scrolled through the heap of messages when I suddenly stopped at the name of a certain someone.
David Smith: It would have been great to know you.
"Here." Sana's voice brings me back to reality. "You were so immersed in the phone. Who is it?"
I take the sandwich from her hand and shake my head. "Noone."
"Lies." She gave me her iconic Sana look before leaning forward and reading my messages. "You haven't replied to him yet?!" She almost screams.
I wet my lower lip and shook my head in dismay. "I don't know what to say."
"Open your eyes, Aisha! This is not Hazek!" She presses my shoulders to grab my attention. "This is David Smith. A millionaire in the film industry. Out of the whole world, You! You have grabbed his attention. Don't let this chance slide and grab onto this man before he runs away. He is your first and only chance to skyrocket your career as an actor."
"I… I don't know Sana. I am just scared."
"Scared of what?"
"Scared if something bad might happen… Scared if this is all okay…"
Sana rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You're just scared your family will find out. If it was me… I would have done everything to change my circumstances. Do hell with what others might think, do what is right. Your freedom is your right!"
"I was right." The new voice had both of our heads turning in its way. It was Hazek, standing just a few feet away from our table. "All this time Aisha wasn't comfortable with Tiktok but was brainwashed by her very own best friend Sana for her own good."