02
I turned around to see a guy around my age wearing the same uniform. It wasn't until I took a closer look that I realized he was one of my classmates, Aariz.
Aariz
Aariz chuckles, "I never thought the ice queen in our class would be scared of dogs."
Sara
"Hey, what's with the 'ice queen' thing?"
Aariz
"You're always quiet and never even spare a glance at the guys in our class, so everyone calls you the ice queen," he said with a smirk.
Sara
Eh? My face grew hot with embarrassment as I averted my gaze, trying to ignore the nickname that now seemed to be hanging in the air between us.
Aariz
"See? Even now you're not looking at me," he said, pouting playfully, clearly enjoying my reaction.
Sara
"I'm just not comfortable around people I don't know well," I said softly, still avoiding eye contact.
Aariz
"So, you're saying I'm a stranger to you, even though we've been in the same class for eight years?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement and a hint of incredulity.
Sara
"Just because we've been in the same class doesn't mean we're close," I replied, my voice firm but still cautious.
Aariz
"So, you expect people to try to talk to you when you're always like this?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he gestured to me, implying my reserved nature.
Aariz
"Anyway, want me to walk you home?" he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes sparkling with curiosity, as if daring me to say yes.
The sudden realization hit me like a ton of bricks - I had to get home quickly, or else my mom's wrath would be unleashed upon me. The mental image of being fried in a pan, didn't seem so funny anymore. I looked down at the stray dog that had wandered into our conversation, its curious eyes looking up at me, making me even more scared. My gaze shifted back to Aariz, and I found myself contemplating the offer he had just made. Walking home with him would mean having some company, but it also meant interacting more than I usually would. However, the prospect of reaching home sooner and avoiding my mom's ire won over my reservations. With a reluctant nod, I agreed to let him walk with me, thinking that it would definitely be faster with his company than trudging along alone. The sooner we started, the sooner I'd be safe at home, hopefully before my mom's patience wore thin.
Aariz
"Alright, let's go," he said, but before I could respond, he suddenly took a few strides towards the dog, shooing it away with a loud "shoo!" The dog yelped and scurried off, and I jumped back, startled by the sudden movement.
I walked alongside him, careful to keep a respectable distance between us, aware that the neighborhood aunts were notorious for their gossip. One misstep, and the news would spread like wildfire, reaching my mom's ears in no time. I wasn't about to take that risk, so I maintained a safe gap, trying to appear nonchalant despite the internal caution.
Aariz
"So, I thought you were always glued to Meher's side. Did she dump you for once today?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement and curiosity.
Sara
*I looked away, a hint of guilt creeping onto my face* "We had a fight... it's my fault, I guess," I muttered, letting out a soft sigh as I kicked at a loose pebble on the ground.
Aariz
_He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement_ "I think it's a good thing she ditched you today. I get to talk to you for once. You're always hiding behind Meher, and your, shall we say, 'reputation' doesn't exactly make people eager to approach you," he said with a grin, his words dripping with teasing.
Sara
"Why would you want to talk to me, though?" I asked, my curiosity piqued, and a hint of wariness creeping into my voice.
Aariz
"Just curious, I guess," he said with a nonchalant shrug, his eyes telling a different story as they lingered on me with interest.
Sara
*I raised an eyebrow, my gaze narrowing as I studied him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity*
Aariz
"I swear, no hidden agenda here," he said, holding up his hands in a mock defensive gesture, a disarming smile playing on his lips.
Aariz
"So, am I passing the trust test?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of playful challenge, eyes sparkling with amusement as he waited for my response.
Sara
"Not even close," I said flatly, my tone firm and unwavering, betraying no hint of doubt or uncertainty.
Aariz
"That's cold," he said, a low whistle escaping his lips as he shook his head in mock dismay.
Aariz
"So, got a boyfriend?" he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes watching me with interest, as if daring me to reveal something juicy.
Sara
"None of your business," I replied, my voice cool and detached, the hint of a warning underlying my words.
Aariz
"Come on, everyone's dying to know," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement, but his tone laced with a touch of teasing.
Sara
"Fine, I don't have one," I said, my voice a little softer now, though still guarded, as if I'd reluctantly shared a secret.
Aariz
"You don't? That's a shocker," he said, his eyebrows shooting up in mock astonishment, his tone dripping with playful skepticism.
Aariz
"Is there a reason why you don't have one?" he asked, his tone curious, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read between the lines.
Sara
"I'm just not interested," I said, my voice firm, but a hint of finality in my tone, as if to discourage further questioning.
Aariz
"Not even a secret crush?" he asked, his voice low and teasing, a knowing glint in his eye as he leaned in slightly.
Sara
"This guy really doesn't take hints, does he?" I thought, rolling my eyes mentally as I wondered when he'd finally drop it.
Aariz
"You're 15 and completely crush-free? That's adorable," he said, his tone laced with amusement and a dash of skepticism, as if daring me to spill the truth.
Sara
"If it's hard to believe, then don't. I don't care", I shrugged, my tone indifferent, a hint of annoyance flickering beneath the surface.
Aariz
He said with a chuckle, "You know, the way you talk is kinda rude."
Sara
I said with a shrug, "If it is, then don't talk with me."
Aariz
He said with a sigh, "No wonder Meher is the only friend you've got."
Sara
Are you insulting me now?
Aariz
He shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "Maybe." The word hung in the air, leaving me to wonder if I should take offense or just let it slide.
As I reached my house, I stopped on my steps.
Sara
"Thanks for walking with me," I said. "I appreciate the kindness."
Aariz
"It's nothing," he said with a smile. "In fact, I'd like to walk with you more often."
Sara
I locked eyes with him, my gaze unwavering. "Are you trying to hit on me?" I asked, my voice icy. "Because if you are, it's not going to work." My tone was firm, a clear warning that I wasn't interested in games.
Aariz
A hint of a smirk played on his lips. "I know," he said. "But I'm still going to try. And you don't have any right to stop me from trying." His eyes sparkled with amusement, daring me to challenge him further.
Sara
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I said, rolling my eyes. "Bye." I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there.
Aariz
"Uh-huh. See you at school tomorrow," he called out after me, his voice laced with amusement. I didn't bother responding, just kept walking.
Sara
"Don't talk to me at school," I said over my shoulder, not bothering to turn around.
Aariz
"Sure," he lied, a hint of a grin still on his face as he watched me walk away.
I nodded curtly, knowing he'd likely do the opposite, and stepped inside my house. The warmth of the interior enveloped me, but my relief was short-lived. My mother's angry face greeted me, her expression a thundercloud. I hastily kicked off my shoes and made a beeline for my room, desperate to avoid her lecture. I slipped inside and shut the door behind me, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
I tossed my bag onto the bed and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower, but as usual, "quick" was a relative term. An hour later, I emerged, feeling refreshed. I slipped into comfortable clothes and collapsed onto my bed, letting out a relaxed sigh as I sank into the mattress.
I lay there for a while, lost in thought, before deciding to call Meher. The phone rang several times before she finally picked up.
Meher
📞 "Hello?" Meher's voice was low as she answered the phone.
Sara
📞 "So, you're still mad?" I asked, my voice carrying through the phone.
Meher
📞 "I'm still mad," she said flatly, her tone unyielding.
Sara
📞 C'mon, what's with this short replies?
Sara
📞 "I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean to ignore you," I said, trying to placate her.
Sara
📞 "Fine, if you're not going to talk, I'm hanging up," I said, a touch of annoyance creeping into my voice.
Meher
📞 "Hey, did you walk home alone from school?" she asked, her tone softening slightly.
Sara
📞 "Oh, now you're concerned about me? Yeah, I walked alone from school," I said, stretching the truth slightly to gauge her reaction.
Meher
📞 "Are you okay, then? Did any dog chase you? You didn't fall down or anything, right?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Sara
📞 I chuckled, "I was just kidding. You know Aariz from our class? He walked with me."
Meher
📞 "Aariz? Why would he walk with you?" she asked, her tone tinged with suspicion. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
Sara
📞 "He said that he's interested in me and would try to pursue in the future," I said casually.
Meher
📞 "And what about you? Do you like him too?" she asked, her voice curious over the phone.
Sara
📞 "You really think so?" I asked, clearly uninterested.
Meher
📞 "Fine then. Anyway, I'm playing games now, I'll see you at school tomorrow," she said, her smile audible even over the phone.
With that, I hung up the call and lay back, my gaze drifting back to the ceiling as my mind began to wander through the events of the day.
The knock on my door shattered the silence, and I let out a resigned sigh, knowing exactly who it would be – my mom.
Sara
Can't a person even get a minute to themselves around here? *mutters under breath, eyes rolling in frustration*
Safiya
"Sara, open the door!" my mom barked, her knock growing more insistent, her tone brooking no delay.
Sara
I yanked the door open, "What do you want, Mom?"
Safiya
"For goodness' sake, how many times do I have to tell you not to lock the door? And what's this I see, no food in your stomach hours after school? You're always forgetting something, aren't you? Can't you just remember to eat your food without me having to remind you every single day? Do I have to keep track of everything you do?"
My gaze lingered on her, my annoyance simmering just below the surface, but I chose not to engage, instead turning and heading downstairs to eat. The familiar sugary taste hit my tongue as I mechanically chewed the snacks she had prepared, my frustration growing. Why does she always do this? Can't she see I hate sweets? It's like she's intentionally trying to make me uncomfortable. The sweetness felt cloying, and I swallowed, my mind racing with the same old questions. When will she learn to respect my preferences? When will she understand that forcing me to eat things I dislike isn't love, it's control? The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth, one that lingered long after I finished eating.
Safiya
"After you're done eating, hand over your phone to me," she instructed, her eyes scrutinizing me as if daring me to argue. "And get back to studying – you're in 10th grade now, and I expect nothing but excellent grades from you," she added, her voice firm and unyielding, a reminder of the expectations she had set earlier that morning.
Sara
I muttered a reluctant "Yeah, got it," not even looking up at her, my tone a mix of annoyance and resignation.
Sara
I pushed the plate away and stood up, my eyes drifting towards the phone in my pocket. I knew it was coming – she'd take it away, like she always did when it was study time. "Can I at least finish what I'm doing?" I asked, trying to stall, but her expression told me it wasn't an option. With a sigh, I handed over my phone and trudged towards my study area, the weight of her expectations settling in.
The routine felt suffocating – three hours of studying under my mom's watchful gaze, followed by a fleeting escape into the world of anime once she handed back my phone. I lost myself in the digital realm, the vibrant colors and stories a stark contrast to the monotony of my day. As the night wore on, the glow of the screen became my solace, a temporary reprieve from the tedious life that seemed to stretch endlessly ahead.
Comments
kanaikocho
Your storytelling skills are off the charts, keep it coming!
2025-04-26
0