The worst time of the year had come again. That's right. The Exam season. I know this for sure that there isn't a single student on this earth that likes examinations and thus, I and my group of friends weren't any different. 

Since it was the last year of school, the pressure was extremely high. Because this time our final results would determine which college would give us a seat. Like I mentioned before, I always had to try harder than others in my class to balance my image. 

So what if I was a bit mischievous? at least I studied well. But this time Yazan was going to be a tough competition for me. We challenged ourselves during the first midterm and he surpassed me with three per cent of difference and this time I wanted to set the bar too high for him to reach. 

My aim this time was to become the school topper so I started preparing for my exams way before the exams started. I spent my entire recess in the library studying and practising past papers. 

"No matter how much you try you won't be able to beat me" I looked up to see where that came from. The voice was undeniably recognizable. This guy is just so self-obsessed. On some days he has to take pride in how good he looks and on the other days he has to take pride in his grades. 

I didn't know when he came and sat opposite to me with his back facing me because of the absurd rules in the school of girls and boys not talking to each other. He pretended as if he was reading a newspaper. 

"Yeah right, whatever. Mr head boy" I just rolled my eyes which he couldn't see. 

I could only see him shaking his head, He probably had his signature smirk as well. 

"It's just that I can't believe my eyes"

"Well then, you should go and wash your eyes with cold water"

"You started your preparation so early just to beat me?" He chuckled.

"No. I am preparing for the Interschool debate competition" 

He nodded to my response then spoke after a while, "You don't have to prepare for it really"

"Why not?"

"Because you are already so good at arguing. You will win for sure" He laughed.

"Was that supposed to be a joke?" I had started to massage my temples by now because of stupid and annoying Yazan was being at that moment. 

"Yeah, why?"

"Because it is not funny" 

He turned around and mimicked my tone. 

"I hate you!" I said as I punched his arm with my book when the librarian was not looking. 

"I love you too," He said as he laughed. 

"Haww. Besharam! (Shameless) I said in Urdu. You have a girlfriend!" 

"I know that. You don't have to remind me" He just gave a grin and got up from his seat before the librarian got suspicious about his newspaper reading. But he was the head boy, he could break some rules.

"Listen," He said barely in a whisper. "Do you want to bunk your next class?" 

I looked around, my mind wandered to all the possibilities and consequences of bunking a class.

"With you?" I asked as I wrinkled my nose at him.

"No, me and Huda" 

"Nope. Sorry. I don't want to be the third wheel" 

"Oh C' mon. Not just me and her, other people will also be there" He stressed on his words

"But where will we go and how is that possible for so many people to be missing?"

He flashed his head boy badge in pride as he smirked, "We discovered a secret hiding place" he winked. 

My face broke into a lopsided grin. 

"Okay. See you then" 

After he left, I looked around for some time, issued a book and then left. 

*************

Since Huda had the pass of being the Headgirl, we both escaped to the "secret hiding" Yazan told me about. 

I was more curious about where this place was than experiencing the thrill of missing a class. 

The place came out to be the staircase which led to the terrace where nobody ever went. 

When we reached, there was no one except Yazan and I came to know how he played me because I was about to become the third wheel. 

"Why on earth did you have to call me if only you two lovebirds were going to be here?"

"Relax my lady" He glided his arm around my neck and rested his hand on my shoulder as we moved towards the terrace. As if I was one of his guy friends. I didn't understand what made him be so casual around me. Even the way he talked to me was different from how he did with other girls. I didn't understand his behaviour. Maybe it was because of how our friendship began? Or maybe because he noticed how much of a tomboy I was? 

His touch felt weird at first. It was strange how comfortably he could do it. I had never touched by a guy before and my body shuddered at this mere touch even if I had layers of clothes on. I guess he noticed that because he moved back quickly, "I am so sorry" 

I looked up at him. No matter how much of a jerk he was and no matter how much he annoyed me. One thing I knew I had come to admire about him was how much he respected women. And I was not just talking about his mother. Huda was a lucky girl. 

It was Talha's birthday and Yazan had planned this secret meeting as a surprise for him. Aisha, Noor and Faisal joined. Nouman got Talha with him and we set the candles on the small chocolate cake Yazan got for him. I did not know he managed to sneak that in school. But when Talha came we whisper-screamed "Surprise" so that our voices don't reach downstairs. Talha cut the cake and stuffed Yazan's face first. They man-hugged each other. Talha then went to Aisha and Yazan took a piece of the cake and fed Huda. Huda blushed. They shared sweet smiles with each other. And I wondered how must it feel to have someone pour so much of love on you and be so full of you. 

I looked at Nouman and his beaming face. I didn't know if I was destined to receive that kind of love. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                        *****************                           

 "Zukroof can you help me?"

"Help you with what?"

"I will start with a quote and you should end it or at least add a line to it. Whatever comes to your mind. Okay?"

"Okay..." I replied distractedly without even hearing her question properly. I was drawing the diagram of the sectional view of the heart that was the assignment to be done at home which I hadn't so I was doing it in the class.

Noor continued, "I did not fall in love with you," She said and then nudged my arm waiting for a reply.

"But I did. Eventually. With my own self." I giggled to my own response.

"Zukroof!" she whined. "generate something beautiful! What's that mind useful for?" She asked smacking her fingers on my temple.

I looked at her as I rolled my eyes. "My mind is useful for drawing this diagram properly. Unlike yours, that is only meant to make soppy love poems"

She huffed and remained quiet for a while. I was glad. It was not that I did not like talking to her but sometimes I need to recharge by sitting quietly and doing my work. Minding my own business in other words. 

"You are boring! No wonder you don't have a boyfriend!" She commented as she got up and moved to other classmates.

I did not say anything and neither did I had anything to say. Maybe she was right. I wasn't pretty or smart kind of beautiful. I was clumsy and a tomboy. There was nothing about me that was similar to any teenage girls. Except for my body.

And that's what made me wonder always if I were to be born with habits of a guy then why wasn't I born as a guy itself. That would have been less of a headache for my parents as well. 

*****************

After I came home, I sat studying for two to three hours with no break. I decided to take a break and logged into my Facebook. It had become a kinda routine for me. First came studies then came break time and that break time was always for surfing the internet.

I never had anything unusual or interesting on Facebook. Just like other days, I checked my notifications and inbox and then moved towards the log out button but just then, my inbox tone chimed indicating a message. 

 Yazan:  Hey! Howdie? 

I yawned as I typed my reply. 

Me: Tired and sleepy. What about you?

Yazan: I am good. Why what happened?

Me: Nothing much, was just studying for the past three hours.

Yazan: My god. What a nerd! How much do you study?

Me: I know. I did not do my very best in the first term. 

Yazan: You got 87%! How ungrateful can you be?

Me: LOL. I know but I want 90+ :P and easy for you to say that you got 90!

Yazan: A competition is good only if it is healthy. Why are you stressing so much for? Is there anything you don't understand that requires more time?

Me: Yeah...I have problems with Chemistry and Physics. I hate them. 

Yazan: Okay. How about we study together?  I can teach you some tricks to remember the equations. 

Me: And how is that possible? You know what? Sometimes you talk to me as if I am one of your guy friends.

There. I said it. 

Yazan sent laughing emojis as his response to my message and then typed. 

Yazan: Listen if your mom has issues then I can talk to my mom about it. You don't know my  Mom can do wonders. 

Me: LOL really? If that's the case. I'd be very grateful but there could be a problem.

Yazan: What?

Me: If we begin to spend so much time with each other. There is a chance that you may fall for me and I am not interested in entertaining any of your feelings :P

Yazan: haha don't worry. I have a girlfriend. 

Me: You promise you won't fall in love with me? 

Yazan: Wow. A walk to remember flashback. LOL

Me: You saw that movie? One of my favourites!

Yazan: Of course I did! 

We continued to talk about stuff until my eyes couldn't take any longer. We both went to sleep after sharing our goodbyes and good-nights. Little did I realise that a promise that day was not kept.