No cake please

Chapter 36

~flashback~ Elizah---

"You finally turned 18," I said turning towards him

"Jee, now I can qualify for the nationals," he said looking towards the court

"You're so determined… don't forget to take it easy though."

"Will you wait for me?"

Of course, Zamin…we'll always be best buddies...

"Mango?" I then asked passing the fruit to him

He smiled placing my racket onto the court and helping me open the mango. We were still waiting for Saleema to join us. We had to go to extra classes that day. She's been swamped since our senior year began. All I could think of was all the failed applications that were laid on my room's floor.

I had to leave for a local sports university as Zamin progressed to nationals and Saleema won a scholarship.

At this point, I was a simple nobody with no vision…no hope.

I felt so unworthy, I had no hope...I could not love him or the stupid Omar who rejected me since 8th grade.

***

I found myself becoming a cold lifeless brick. Not because I felt useless at times but, because of the loss of myself. I was still in denial of the changes that had occurred. I lost both of my childhood friends at the same time.

Now, that's what real pain was...losing people who were a fraction of your memories.

It was time for the blooming of the jacaranda once again. This time, it wasn't something that made me happy...it hurt me rather.

It upset me, the memories just felt like a dagger and the yearning increased, each day with him not nearby. And with all of this yearning, I realized how much I had fallen for him. I missed everything about him, even his stupid remarks.

The letter had a tiny necklace with nothing more than a 'well done, you were useful after all'

I held the note onto my chest...

I found it difficult to cope with him, not being beside me.

"You've been on your phone all day?" she said passing me a snack

"Sorry, what were you saying before."

"Are we having sushi or ramen at the dorm?"

"Sushi," I replied

"But you don't like sushi?"

Shushi was Omar's favourite dish, "I like it…" I replied a little sad

Yusra was my new close friend, very tough-looking but one of the coolest people I've met and very intelligent too. We became friends after our first encounter in class. We shook on it and agreed to grab a coffee and ever since then, we spent a lot of time together. She's made me realise what it feels like to receive the same love and support a usually give. I moved into the dormitory as well for the sake of convenience so we were roommates as well.

***

'Omar'

After joining a new kickboxing club I finally found peace from trying to get seduced by my coach. It made me laugh though…I hope no one has to face anything of that sort. I made a few new friends but none like Elizah and her gang. She always attracted the most interesting individuals out of a crowd of people. The only thing I had of her besides all of her newspapers was the tiny jacaranda flower from our visit last year. I was a proud sensei…

I missed her, there was no smile like hers and most certainly no one as energetic as she was. It was difficult having to deal with that on days that felt long.

On one hand, I wasn't upset about having fought with her the day before our split…I found it easier, to stick to the decision. Now she could grow on her own...this distance wasn't as bad as standing in front of her watching her world fall apart knowing I couldn't hug her, and tell her that everything was going to be okay...even if my soul felt itself searching for her presence.

Passing pastry shops and going through my exam notes made me think of her. Her love for cola and how she would sneak in Doritos before a meal and not to mention her terrible coffee habit. All of a sudden did I feel like it wouldn't bother me to have those near me again.

I wanted to play pool and argue over who was dumber. I wanted to love her from afar and watch her yell as we watched fireworks…I missed how she would hop towards me when she saw me near the lake, and the way she would steal my ice cream cause she always finished hers first.

I missed her. I had never missed anyone before.

"We are going for a drive later you coming with?" Zach asked

"I`ll pass. .." I replied receiving picking up my mail.

She was on the cover of another local paper.

I don't know what I was thinking about leaving while my life seemed perfect and in its prime. With no doubts and hardly any sadness, I felt tortured by my decision. More was lost than gained.

"Just go back if you want to," one of my new kickboxing comrades said

"It's not that simple, if I go back I might mess up the order of things."

"Missing and hiding and assuming won't make you feel any better if you miss him or her. You miss them, besides most of us can hardly get through to you since you are so isolated."

"I do go out, just with the right people."

Since Elizahs kidnapping I haven't received any threatening messages. This weekend I was meeting up with Owais to speak to him about Elizahs progress. It was how I indirectly trained her while staying away from her, for the sake of religion for the sake of not making mistakes.

"Did you bring the huge chocolate chip cookies I asked for," he said spitting out his gum

"I won't dare to forget, I got Elizahs favourite cake…this time was always her cheat day."

"Elizah doesn't eat junk food anymore," he said checking out the boxes, "but I'll pass it to her."

"She doesn't eat cake?"

"she's a green freak like you, not to mention a fitness junkie. She has been one uniform weight for a couple of months now."

"Interesting…what else is different?"

"She doesn't talk much and usually is studying or practising on her own. She and Zamin have officially cut ties and Saleema hasn't stopped doing what she does."

"That doesn't sound like the Elizah I know."

"If she needs someone, it's definitely you," he said taking a bite from the cookie, " I have an idea."

"Go on..."