Chapter 20-He looks like a man to me

I arrived at Zain's house the next day bright and early. Our luggage was carried by one of his guards and I followed. It was difficult, being around him. Maintaining eye contact, everything felt awkward and icky.

"Here," he said handing me a card, "Your mother wants you to have breakfast at the airport."

"Why are you giving me the money then, just get the food?" I said frustrated, " I want a coffee and muffin," I replied handing him the card

"Do I look like your butler?

"Get your own food?" he replied agitated

And that little argument helped ease up the tension between us and for the flight, I could go back to ignoring the living daylights out of him. We arrived changed into our formal wear and occupied our table. I couldn't stop staring at him, he was wearing a suit and had his contacts in. His jawline, neck, nose and even his ears looked good from where I was seated. I was mesmerized even more when he smiled. For the first time since I had known him, I noticed his eyes were a dark brown, almond-shaped…and the way his suit sat on him made him look…wow.

I looked away every time I noticed him turn towards me and felt my heart dashing each time, it was a tormenting game my heart was playing with me but I genuinely couldn't help but stare.

Our mothers were on stage handing out company awards and then announcing their new projects. After the formal part, everyone was allowed to part and all of the old family friends we had grown up with passed by our table complimenting us. Some gave me stares, those may have been the ones who came across the kissing news. A while after a picture of me standing with Zain was added to the entire Love triangle nonsense and Zain's mother wasn't happy. She threatened to sew whoever took the picture because the invitation had clearly stated that no pictures were allowed.

"Move, you're blocking my entry to the snack table, "I said pushing him

He tripped me catching me and the crowd went silent for a moment, I pushed him away taking my snacks and smiling at every staring adult and I walked toward the exit.

Speak about being the centre of attention. Zain followed apologising, but I scolded him with a mouth full, "Following me is simply going to make them talk!"

I spat on him accidentally but he wiped it of with a tissue, "Let them talk…I'm tired of acting like I'm perfect."

"You may not care but I do," I said calling our escort. "You had one job and one job only, to not leave us alone!"

I left the balcony, and bid my mother farewell telling her that I had a tummy ache. I wanted to scream looking at all the pictures they took of us, this was the one side of this love triangle non-sense I did not like. People might be thinking that I'm still hung up on him.

I screamed into my pillow, crying. Zayd sent me a few laughing emojis and stickers with the news and the caption, "They making us into a manga…"

I laughed for a while and stayed up chatting to him before passing out. The next morning I took a shower and had breakfast with my mother who denied speaking to me for behaving indecently. I legit wanted to tell her not to invite me next time and remind her that it was her fault that my name was in the ruins, but I bit my lip rather and endured the taunting silence. Zayd, Yumna and Devin had cancelled our camping trip because their families had planned a short vacation for each of them. I on the other hand was still stuck in this weird place because our flight was hindered. Zayd called the school speaking to the principal about him taking next week off. Great, now I'm stuck with the maniac for a week.

Our mothers saw it as an opportunity to bond and rest.

"I really don't want to be here," I told Zain's mother, " I don't get along with my mother because she's always bossing me around like I'm her little employee and your son is giving me a difficult time."

"Those are the 2 qualities that define them, we can`t change it, we can however try to speak to your mother to ease it up and tell Zain to stop poking his nose into your personal space."

"I wish you were my mother," I replied embracing her

As anticipated my mother received a call from work and left us, Zain's mother didn't really spend much time with us so I was left doing stuff with Zain.

We visited the beach and tried new food while I spend most of my time speaking to our escort. At night I would call Zayd, Yumna, Devin and Erica telling them about my trip while Zain stuck his nose into a novel. I ensured that he didn't skip any meals and watched him like a hawk when it can to taking naps and sleeping on time. He was a morning person so I struggled to sleep in and he often caught me drooling in Lala land.

One evening we went out to watch the fireworks. Our escort went to the bathroom for a while, leaving us alone for a minute or two.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

I agreed smiling. I was too happy to shoot him down or to ask him to shut up, it had been ages since I'd seen fireworks and had time to myself. For a moment, our eyes met and again trapped and mesmerized by how stunning the light around us made him look I thought of kissing him. We were interrupted by our escort who told us it was time to leave.

Relived, I went back into my room. Sitting on the floor. I needed to seize my breath, and understand why the hell my heart was racing. I had found this human being gross, why was I fantasizing about him. I was grateful that tomorrow was to be our last day.

My birthday.