On the eve of Tuesday, Haifa sat at
her desk, checking her makeup and dress once again. Aseel had said he would
call, and she was absolutely thrilled about it. This was the first time he had asked
for a FaceTime call, she cannot believe her strategy had actually worked.
Aseel's texts had become more frequent, and now he wanted to see her face.
She sat with her newly fixed phone,
dressed in a chic maroon top adorned with silver buttons and a soft
cream-colored scarf elegantly covering her head and chest. Around her neck, she
wore a silver necklace. Her makeup was flawless, with coral lipstick and smokey
eyes that held a subtle hint of glitter. She had taken her time getting ready.
Her mother had invited her to join
her at Kaafa's house. Apparently, they were still short-handed there, but Haifa
had been avoiding returning for the past four days. While she was pleased that
it was keeping her mother distracted, she had her own priorities to attend to.
She had even turned down Saira's offer
to attend a special show happening that very night in Vavathi. One of the
famous winners from the previous year's singing competition, Maldivian Idol,
was performing. While Haifa had wanted to go, she didn't want to spend more
time with the family.
After her conversation with Saira,
Haifa had felt like she was being drawn into the family's close-knit circle.
She was determined not to get too involved with the people here; she had her
own agenda to pursue. She would never truly be one of the islanders; her heart
belonged in the city.
In the days following, Haifa mostly
stayed in her room after work. She kept her interactions, even with Afa, to a
minimum. She didn't want to be swayed by any more revelations or feelings that
might challenge her goals. To achieve what she wanted, she had to be resolute,
just as she had been with Aseel.
If she hadn't been assertive with
him, he would never have given her the attention she desired. Yes, she had
resorted to games and schemes, but it seemed like the right choice at the time.
Sometimes, to achieve your goals, you have to be a bit strategic. Perhaps, once
she was sure he was committed, she wouldn't need to employ such tactics.
Haifa eagerly watched the time, and
when the call finally came, her heart raced with excitement. She answered with
a smile.
"Hey, beautiful," Aseel's
face appeared on the screen. His long hair was tied up on top of his head with
a scrunchy, and a few strands of hair framed his face. The style was
impeccable, accentuating the handsome angles of his face. But for some reason,
Haifa found it a bit pretentious.
"Hey, you," Haifa said,
tilting her head and offering a warm smile. "I've missed you so
much," she added.
"Have you? You've seemed really
busy since you moved, hardly calling me," he replied with a sly smile.
"So, what have you been up to?"
Haifa gave a coy look. "This
and that," she replied. "I did mention I've started working."
"Yeah, it looks like you're all
settled there now." He said in a dry tone.
"Well, I'm trying," she
said. "So, when are you going to visit? You promised to come,
remember?" A hint of anxiety crept into her voice, but she quickly masked
it. Keep it together, Haifa urged herself.
"I don't know. I've been
thinking, and I just don't feel like going," Aseel replied. "Besides,
what is there to do? You're even staying home. Face it, Haifa, that place seems
pretty boring." His tone sounded disinterested.
Haifa nervously tapped her fingers
on the table. She couldn't let him think Vavathi was too dull; that would imply
she was boring now. Aseel easily got bored, and she needed to go the
extra mile to seem interesting to him.
"It's not boring here, there's
even a show tonight," Haifa blurted out in a mild panic. "It's the
grand opening of a new bank branch, and Halid is performing his songs."
"The Idol winner, Halid?"
Aseel's eyes narrowed with interest.
Haifa smiled brightly. "Yes,
the very same! Also, the robot man was here yesterday." She fluttered her
eyelashes. "We're going to the show. It's a shame you're not here. I know
you're a big fan. I'll make sure to post pictures, maybe we'll even get selfies
with them."
Now, Aseel genuinely appeared
crestfallen. He had been a devoted follower of the Idol competition, especially
cheering for Halid. Now, all she had to do was attend the event and capture the
best pictures.
Haifa glanced at the time
dramatically. "I should start getting ready. I'd love to stay and chat,
maybe tomorrow?" She asked, leaving a slightly jealous Aseel behind.
After ending the call, she was so
elated that she wanted to jump up and down and clap her hands. Her plan had
worked perfectly. Not only had she managed to end the call first, a
rarity with Aseel, but she had also left him feeling jealous and wanting more.
Now, she was the interesting one, and if she played her cards right, she could
get him to agree to visit soon, and maybe even more.
Haifa realized she had
underestimated the power of simple games. She had always thought that
relationships were about honesty and trust, But now, she saw that a little
strategic maneuvering could go a long way. All she needed to do now was find
Saira and prepare to have an awesome time at the show.
***
Haifa sat in the stadium area,
surrounded by nearly the entire island's population. The show was better than
she expected; she enjoyed the songs and managed to capture some fantastic
photos. The night was clear, with bright floodlights illuminating the entire
area, and the stage itself was a spectacle of colorful lights.
People were scattered across rows of
white plastic chairs, some cheering enthusiastically, while others sang along
to the music. The atmosphere was festive, though, Haifa couldn't help but feel
like the lights were too intense, causing her to break into a slight sweat.
She intended to stay for the entire
show, even though she was starting to feel thirsty. Should have brought a
water bottle, she thought.
Saira noticed her looking around and
shouted to be heard over the loud music, "Who are you looking for?"
Haifa leaned in closer, replying,
"Is there a place where I can get a water bottle?"
Saira nodded and gestured for her to
follow. She led Haifa through the crowded stadium to the entrance area, where a
small stand offered various beverages. Haifa quickly searched her bag for some
cash.
"Here," Haifa heard a
voice beside her and turned to find Zishan standing there, holding out a water
bottle with a warm smile on his face. Her heart did a strange little dance in
her chest as she accepted the bottle. Zishan looked incredibly handsome in his
black button-down shirt and jeans, and his eyes seemed to twinkle.
"Thanks," she said
gratefully as she took a long sip from the bottle, relieving her thirst.
Once her immediate need for thirst
was quenched, Haifa nervously screwed the cap back on the bottle. She hadn't
replied to any of his messages over the past few days, and she was certain he
had noticed her ghosting him. Haifa had wondered when she would run into him
again; it was a small island, after all.
However, she also hoped that her
reaction would be less intense next time. She wanted to forget the way she had
felt around him, to suppress her undeniable attraction. She didn't want to feel
anything for any man other than Aseel; it just wasn't right.
If she could, she would have avoided
him, but she had no choice in the matter. The mature thing to do was to simply
ignore her feelings and hope they would eventually fade away. After all, Zishan
seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and he had no clue about the effect he had on
her. It was her issue to deal with, and she intended to solve it without
involving him or anyone else.
"You're looking absolutely
stunning tonight," Zishan said with a warm smile. "Are you enjoying
the show?" His gaze locked with hers, making her feel a bit weak in the
knees.
Haifa struggled to find her words.
How did normal people react to compliments? "Yes," she managed to
say, her cheeks blushing slightly.
"Hey, Saira, how are you?"
Zishan asked, shifting his attention to Saira. Haifa breathed a sigh of relief,
realizing that he was just being friendly and she wasn't the center of
attention.
Saira glanced at Haifa before
replying, “I'm fine, how are you?” she asked. “Hey, have you seen Fizey?”
Fizey? Haifa wondered if that was the mysterious "boyfriend"
Afa had hinted at earlier. Saira had never mentioned him before, so Haifa
hadn't asked. Perhaps tonight she'd finally get an introduction.
Zishan shook his head, “No, I
thought he would be with you,” he said.
“Maybe I missed him; he said he
would be here,” Saira replied as she reached into her bag for her phone. “I'll
just give him a call.” She started typing on her phone.
Zishan’s attention turned back to
Haifa, “So, are you going to take part in the competition?” he asked. “I'm
still thinking about it,” Haifa answered, trying to keep her focus on the
conversation.
“Come on, it would be fun. I can
take you to so many places, beautiful secret spots for you to explore,” Zishan
leaned in slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. The scent of his cologne,
a woody fragrance with a hint of spice, wafted towards her, tempting her to
move even closer.
“Let me show you the world,
princess,” he added with a smoldering expression.
Princess. Haifa felt her breath catch in her throat. Was Zishan flirting
with her? And using a Disney song line?
Zishan wiggled his eyebrows in a
comical way, making her laugh.
Haifa had contemplated the
photography competition for quite some time, and she had already made up her
mind not to enter. It was set to last for three months, and she had no
intention of staying in Vavathi for that long. She couldn't bear the thought of
spending that much time there. However, there was another crucial reason for
her decision: Zishan.
Haifa knew that if she entered the
competition, it would be with the intention of winning. To win, she would have
to compete against professional photographers and seasoned islanders who knew
the area far better than she did. Let's be honest; the prize was substantial.
To secure victory, she would need a
competitive advantage, a secret weapon. The person right in front of her knew
Vavathi and the surrounding islands like the back of his hand—possibly the most
stunning places and settings.
This also meant that she would have
to rely on him and spend a significant amount of time with him. Haifa was not
comfortable with just how much she had been thinking about him in the past week
alone. It was a risk she simply couldn't take.
“Let's go; Fizey is waiting for us
at the stage entrance,” Saira said excitedly. “He said we can meet Halid.”
Fizey turned out to be Fizal, a tall and lean guy who was the typical
“class clown.” He was also one of the planning committee members of the event.
After taking numerous group photos
and selfies, when they finally left it was well past midnight. The boys dropped
off the girls at their house before departing to their respective homes.
Did you love the chapter, please let me know your thoughts
in the comments.
Have a wonderful day!
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