Zoya woke up to the sound of a group of men babbling at the centre of the tunnel. Their voices echoed.
It was six o' clock in the morning.
Once again, recalling what had happened yesterday. It was hard to believe it was true.
"Let the bygones be bygones," Zoya said and stood on her feet.
Will he be thinking of her?
"I bet that he will go back to the club girls."
She composed herself, "why am I even thinking of all that? He will eventually forget me."
"At least, I brought some money with me. Also, I still have to work at the convenience store."
***
Abir woke up in the room. Zoya won't be waking up by his side anymore.
They had been living together in the apartment for eight months. They planned to continue being in live-in till they find stable professions, then get married.
He recalled what had happened the previous night.
Zoya would give him a goodbye kiss before leaving for her shift. Now, no goodbye kisses.
He pretended to not care. Actually, he doesn't care. Let the bygones be bygones.
Will she be thinking of him? How long will he last without her… money?
"Sorry bro, I couldn't see you leave yesterday. I was busy," a group notification from Bob popped.
"Busy making love," messaged Xing teasing Bob, followed by an emoji depicting suspicion.
"Yes," replied Bob.
Mark came online and texted, "I want the details."
Mark was Xing's cousin and they met yesterday, only. "In a single day, Bob and Mark became close enough to share details," Abir wondered.
In the afternoon, Xing, Bob and Mark grouped at Miguel Street near to Abir's workplace.
Although only Abir did pamphlets distribution, Bob would always join him, and help him sometimes. They both were college friends after all. Xing was Bob's roommate. Xing worked as a tattoo artist.
Bob saw Abir walking slow-paced. Overcasted with something. Bothered.
"Why Abir," Bob asked.
"We broke up."
"Isn't this what you wanted though? Shouldn't you be happy," Bob said, glancing at Abir's drooped face.
Abir remained silent. He was sick, but why is it bothering him? Maybe because he had become used to the days with Zoya.
Zoya concerned about him, Zoya held his hands, Zoya comforted him, Zoya never left him alone.
She was there with him in his hard times. They had so many memories together.
"Move on, pal," Bob tried to console him. "I cannot stand you looking pale and sad when I am here." Something struck him, he said excitedly, "talk to that girl you met yesterday. You liked her."
"What? Who said I liked her?"
"I saw."
"I also saw that," Xing added.
Abir gave them a shocked glance. Did he like- No way.
"Let's go to the club again today and confirm. Prove me wrong."
The same evening Abir, with his friends, went to Bariston Club. The same atmosphere, but this time Abir had a motive. But he arrived late.
The other three were upstairs while Abir was at the ground floor. They told him, "why are you coming with us? You have to welcome her, remember. This is just the beginning. Be ready to do everything for her." Xing smirked. He knew these things aren't easy. Not easy to please a woman.
After about half an hour, Amy entered wearing a white crop top, looked like a shirt knotted, above her belly button and jeans shorts. She had her wavy black hair loose, the same way as the previous day. She held the power to make any man fall for her from head to toe.
Their eyes met. Once again, Abir fell in love with her. He totally forgot why he was standing there in the first place.
How could such a woman exist? Seductive.
Amy saw him standing by the drinks' counter.
Bob hasn't yet told him that Amy might be the rich chick Abir lacked.
Amy walked up to Abir. He slid for a moment but managed his emotions. Control, keep it in.
She sat beside him. Abir already had a drink. "One for me," she said, looking at the bartender and pointing at Abir's glass.
The bartender smiled and started mixing. Abir glanced at him. Why did he smile? He was young but not as handsome as Abir. Maybe Abir was just overthinking. Then he passed Amy her drink. But made another one for Abir.
"We couldn't talk much yesterday. I didn't even ask for your phone number. I thought about you all night," she said.
"I had some personal issues," he said.
"You know I like shy boys, right?"
"Y-yes. Why?"
"It is what you are thinking. You are my type," and she took a gulp.
Should he be flustered at this point? He had two drinks down the throat. Feels intoxicated already. Strange. He had the capacity to drink more than that to feel dozy.
"Really?" Abir replied, trying to look confident and controlling his emotions.
"Wanna test me?"
Abir was too innocent to understand her double meaning sentences.
She insisted, "let's dance."
Abir had never danced before but he wasn't so bad either. You just have to move to the beats.
His hands on her curves, her hands on his shoulder. Swaying with the rhythm.
"May I know why it had to be me? You could have chosen anybody else. You are already beautiful," Abir asked.
"Just. I was attracted to you. You seemed different. Different from the other men." Amy slid her index finger gently down his face.
He stopped her and held her slender hands, putting it back around his neck. She smirked and looked down.
He closed his eyes, went closer, kissed her lips and moved back. It was more like a peck on the lips. He felt dizzy. Why? Why now of all this time?
She knew Abir was being hesitant but that pill worked. She saw him getting off-balance.
She kissed him back. They both lip-locked for a minute. The world seemed to disappear slowly. The music in the background faded.
Amy gained her composure. She grabbed Abir's hands and took the slowly-feeling-dizzy Abir to an aisle of rooms on both sides.
She opened an empty room, holding his hands. Closed the door and started kissing right away.