"How's the exam?" The universally hated question to be asked after an exam, especially if your exam didn't go well. 

"I got the hardest set, I guess" Noor pouted, I turned towards the rest of the girls. "We'll be glad if we could afford to get passing marks," Aisha said as she dropped her belongings in her bag and placed it on her shoulder

"Anyway, it's over now. I can't believe we have only one exam left and then we are done with school. Can you believe it? It looks like we just started" I beamed, I was beyond ecstatic with the thought of finishing school because that meant that I had to move on to a new pedestal of my life, the high school life. 

When Khatija and Zeenath joined our group, I braced myself to break the news. "Are we dropping by BR or are we going straight to home?" Zeenath questioned. 

I cleared my throat. "Actually guys, Yazan wanted to drop me home. He lives in the same area as mine" I shrugged nonchalantly as if it was the most normal thing for me and Yazan to hang out all the time. 

"Okay, no problem. Just inform any of us when you reach home okay?" Khatija added and the rest nodded before taking turns to leave the school campus except Aisha who was waiting for Talha to come. 

When the three of them left, Aisha moved towards the wall, finding us a shade below a tree. "Zuki is everything okay with you and Yazan?" 

I leaned onto the wall behind us as I scrunched my eyes due to sunlight casting on our faces, "Yeah, why?"

"I don't know" She shrugged. "Sometimes I catch him staring at you when you are distracted, like when you are talking to us or something"

"Yeah, so?" I asked plainly as if I didn't know what that meant. 

"I feel like he has feelings for you" 

I looked at Yazan making his way towards me amidst other guys and I straightened myself, "I don't think so" I lied. Of course, I felt that too but at that point in my life, I was in denial. Because he was the one who set Nouman and me up. 

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

 "So, what do you guys usually do after leaving school?" Yazan asked as we were walking down a hill that led to the main street from where we used to take an auto.

"We do an after exam party" I chuckled. 

"What?" He chuckled as well thinking it was a joke but then he turned to look at me, "Seriously? You guys do parties after every exam?" His eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Nothing major, man" I shook my head, "We just have some ice cream and then we take an auto and drop everyone one by one. We divide the auto fare equally and usually, I am the last one to get down" I narrated what has been going on ever since our exams began.

"Oh, that's cool" He nodded as we continued to walk.

"What do you guys do?" 

"Umm..." His thoughts wandered, "We just meet up at someone's place after lunch and play games"

I laughed, a typical boy thing to do. "And you don't study for the next exam?"

"We do when the exam is on the very next day but when there's a ten days gap in between, why should we bother that much? Anyway, we had learned everything during the pre-boards itself, so yeah"  He stopped at the Baskin Robin's store where I along with my girls used to have ice-cream every day. 

"What?" I asked as he stood there waiting for me to react. 

He walked inside the store, "C'mon, the tradition must go on" 

I smiled as I joined him. 

We took ice-cream cones each and walked down the rest of the hill and fetched ourselves an auto. Throughout the distance talking about random things like, "Did you ever looked up at the moon when your father was driving and you were on the backseat and you thought the moon was following you? and "Did you believe a tree would grow in your stomach if you ate a seed?" 

We laughed on crazy myths that we believed as children as the auto driver took us home, Yazan dropped me first and then left for his place. 

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

"uh...Asalaamu Alaikum?" Yazan's mom Salwa said making Yazan aware of her presence. 

Yazan looked up at her from where he was standing near the shoe rack, trying to remove his shoes. She was sitting on the couch in front of him. 

"Walaikum Salam Mom, I'm sorry I didn't see you" Yazan excused plopping himself down on the couch across from her. 

"Of course, you didn't see. There's this smile playing across the corner of your lips that tells me that something happened and you are still thinking about it" His mom smirked, the 'I know you so well' kind of smirk all mothers have. 

Yazan threw his head back and laughed, "You do know me well, Ma"

Salwa kept her cup of tea down on the table in front of her, "So, tell me what happened?"

Yazan shrugged, "Nothing major, Ma. I and Zukroof decided to come home together after the exam and it was fun"

Salwa crossed her leg over the other as she leaned back on to the sofa as she considered Yazan for a moment. "You seem to like this girl a lot" She mentioned, in a tone not so serious nor lenient. 

Yazan sighed as he looked up at her. He has always felt comfortable sharing his feelings with her. He had an elder brother, Yusuf but he was closer to Salwa than his brother. For him, his mom was his best friend and now as he was sitting across from her, a sort of uneasiness ran course his entire body. He wasn't sure how to respond. 

"She's my best friend" He began and then licked his lips trying to phrase a proper statement, "And I have never had a girl best friend. Things with her are a different type of fun"

Salwa took a deep breath in, "You know why I never had to worry about Yusuf? Because he himself realized the difference between haram and halal. He learned why Allah has forbidden some stuff and you...on the other hand..."

Yazan nodded, "I know, Ma. I know. I have had girlfriends in the past. But, I feel like that was my immature stage and now is the time I am really growing up"

Salwa nodded appreciatively, "And why do you feel so?"

"Because Zukroof makes me want to become a better person and I know coming from a 15-year-old boy may seem stupid but it is what it is. When I am with her I realize I want to be her friend throughout my life and that's only possible if I marry her one day and that's only possible if I become a good person in spiritual terms as well as personality-wise"

Salwa was shocked to hear this kind of wisdom coming from his 15 yr old son, "Wow. That girl has certainly done some kind of magic on you"

Well...it's more of her choosing someone else over me that has done the magic, He thought to himself and did not say it aloud because he didn't want his mother to have a bad impression about Zukroof

LAST EXAM DAY

Ever since I realized I had feelings for Nouman, I had this thing before I went to sleep where I'd fantasize about my story with him. He was like a Disney prince to me. And when that day finally came when Nouman confessed his feelings for me, my heart was over the moon.  

Now due to exam season, we used to meet before we had to go separate ways to write the exams waiting for the gates of the exam hall to be opened.  I stood there with my group of friends and that became our routine - the last minute revision we used to say. And each time I turned to look at him, he was always looking at me already and because it was the last day of our exam, the nervousness of the exam was long gone but the excitement remained, I mouthed, "Best of luck!", and he blew a kiss and replied, "To you too". I couldn't help but blush. This guy. Oh god.

And all my friends would feel as if it was their birthright to go, "ooh Nouman and Zukroof, Zukroof and Nouman...", they would stretch our names and then try to tease me by whispering, "Sitting on a tree.....K-I-SS-I-N-G" and then they would laugh out loud. 

I would just bury my face in my hands because it felt so embarrassing. 

"Aww, you're so cute Zuki!"  Aisha commented, giving me a side hug. 

I was so excited about today because for the first time I was hanging out with my friends and also having my first date. Last night he called me to say he was going to give me a surprise after the exam and according to what was planned before all of my friends decided to go to a mall. All of us to different subdivisions of the same mall. Noor and Faisal decided to go for bowling and Laser-tag, Aisha and Talha for an Ice cream date and I had no idea what Nouman had planned for us.

"C'mon girls, Keep your belongings here and move to your respective halls", The teacher called out and each of us realized that it was the beginning of an end to school. 

I just wanted to hurry with writing my exam so that I could get to know what surprise he had planned for us. All of us kept our color dresses in our bags in order to wear them after the exam got over and walk to the mall. 

After coming out of the examination hall, I asked Yazan to join us since today was going to be our last day together with our friends.  After a lot of convincing, He finally agreed.

I changed my uniform and wore a black button-down shirt with black skinny jeans because Nouman requested. I kept my uniform in my bag and came out of the hall center waiting for everyone else to join. Yazan joined me a few minutes later and said, "Zukroof, I want to tell you something, most probably every woman wants to hear this" and he came closer to me and I was like, "umm...Yazan?" He came closer, only an inch away from me, and then took my hand and flipped it so that my palm was facing up and then kept Galaxy Flutes and said, "I have a chocolate for you!" and when I looked up at him in confusion, his face broke into a smile.

I returned his smile, "Oh god, you scared me! Thanks and I'm not sharing this with you!", I said sticking my tongue out at him. He shrugged, "Sure! All yours"

"Faisal told me that he is taking you on a lunch date and then somewhere to share some quality time, Noor said emphasizing the word quality time. I smiled nervously, I didn't even know what that meant.

"Hey, gorgeous!", Nouman came in front of me tucking his hands into his side pockets. He was wearing a black shirt and black jeans like me. So, we were gonna twin today and my excitement cum nervousness was over the top.

"Hi", I managed to say with my smile going from one ear to another

"Ready for the day, my lady?", He asked flashing his adorable smile and offering me his arm.

I circled my hand over his arm and turned back to everyone as I said, "See you guys at the mall!" 

We had to walk down the hill like I did every other day with my girls to take an auto but god was only aware of where Nouman was taking me. While we were walking, He took my hand and intertwined my fingers with his t, and the way he did it, it was so quick that I felt electricity run throughout the course of my body. From the tip of my fingers till my knees. I looked at him and then to our intertwined fingers and the way he held my hand so tight. I didn't even realize I was blushing when a loud horn from a truck that passed by us, interrupted me.

"Do you love me?", He asked looking into my eyes when we reached the footpath.

I looked into his sparkling eyes and replied in the affirmative, "I love you, I do", and he blushed for the first time in front of me and looked down as he felt embarrassed all of a sudden

"You look so cute when you blush!", I giggled.

"Eh! I'm not blushing! Guys don't blush okay?", He muttered, his ears turning red from blushing so hard. 

"Aww...okay," I chuckled. "Okay tell me please where are you taking me now?"

"Just walk a little bit, you'll eventually know cupcake!", He winked at me.

After we crossed another street, we reached the entrance of the mall.

"Ah! We could have taken an auto if we were coming to the mall", I said in a duh tone.

"Then, my lady, I wouldn't have had the privilege of holding your hand for a longer time" 

I laughed. "Oh my Romeo" I kept my hand over my heart, "I'm so overwhelmed"

"Let's go shall we?" He asked as we walked inside hand in hand.

 We walked into KFC and within a few minutes, Noor and Faisal joined us and sat on our table.

"Hey, are we having a double date?", Noor squealed in excitement

"OMG Yes!", I gestured Noor to sit beside me, opposite to Faisal and Nouman.

"Where are others?" I asked.

"Upstairs at the bowling center, haunted house, and laser tag. OMG! You know what Zukii you should try that chocolate fountain upstairs. It's like...It's like.." She bit her lip and waved her hands in the air, "Like...heaven...yum.." She licked her lips dreamily. I felt my mouth water.

"WHAT?" I stood up from my chair, Nouman and Faisal looked at me shocked. "You are telling me there's a chocolate fountain upstairs and I'm here sitting stupidly waiting for a burger? Seriously?  I wanna go there now!".

"Zukroof" Nouman laughed as he shook his head, "It's not the end of the day. I will take you there first sit and have your meal!", He assured me.

I smiled. I knew somewhere in my heart that I was never going to forget this day. We had popcorn chicken and then I hurriedly took him to the chocolate fountain. When we went to the playing area, Yazan and Talha were bowling and Aisha and Khadija had just come out of a room panting and sweating looking really scared.

"What's wrong with your faces?", I laughed looking at them.

"We just came from the Haunted House. Damn! It's so scary. I thought I was gonna pass out" Khadija said and I laughed because Khadija had a way of exaggerating things.

"Well, we should definitely try then," I looked at Nouman.

He smiled, "Sure, why not?"

We walked towards the mouth-watering chocolate fountain first, we were given sponge cakes on a stick we had to dip and soak that in the streaming chocolate and savor the majestic delight and then we made our way towards the Haunted House. We planned to enter that house in a group of partners. Me and Nouman, Talha and Yazan, Noor, and Faisal.

When we entered we couldn't stop laughing at each other because everything was dark and our faces were glowing and our teeth were glowing in the dark too as if we were advertising for a Colgate ad. I wasn't able to recognize who was beside me or in front of me or behind me. We started walking ahead and then the floor beneath us started shaking and I caught someone's arm as I screamed, "Ssh, it's nothing" someone tried to comfort me.

"OMG Nouman, This is indeed scary", I said when people wearing zombie and skeleton clothes appeared. I held on to his arm tightly and he guided me the way. We started to walk ahead of everyone in the group and as the way started to get clear and we continued to cross more dangerous hurdles, I held him tighter. He guided me the way and finally we pushed open the door out of the house.

I shut my eyes closed because of the exposure to the light outside when we came out.

"Hey! You guys came first", Khatija clapped.

I laughed remembering how scary it was inside and then I looked at the person beside me and it was Yazan.

"Yazan? Where is Nouman?"

"I don't know!" He shrugged. "I just guided you the way because you were getting so scared", He said.

I laughed, "Hey! It was scary alright? But why hasn't he come out yet?" I kept looking at the door waiting for them to come out

 When they finally came out, I walked over to Nouman, "What made you come out so late?" He glared at me, "Because, I thought you lost your way and I was searching for you inside, but no, you are already out with your best friend, He sounded super pissed.

"I..I am sorry," 

"It's okay, now let's go", He said taking my hand and walking past everyone.

"Where to?", I asked as I tried to catch my pace with him.

"Surprise!", He smiled. I couldn't comprehend if his anger drained away that quickly or he was trying to take me away from Yazan. 

We came out of the mall and took an auto, He instructed the driver to take us to a park and when I heard him say that, I looked at him with a question mark on my face.

"Relax!" He giggled, "I'm not kidnapping you or something"

I turned to look ahead of me, I didn't know why he wanted to take me to the park. When we reached the park and He got us the entry tickets. It was only then that I remembered coming to this park in my childhood and it had been a very long time that I visited it. We walked inside hand in hand towards the greenery and I asked him the question that has been in my head for a long time, "Nouman, you were not aware I had a crush on you right? then how come without fearing rejection you just came up to propose me?"

"Nah!" He shrugged,  "I knew you liked me"

"What? IMPOSSIBLE!" I chuckled "or was I that obvious?", I asked as I lowered my volume.

He laughed. "No, I asked your best friend, He rolled his eyes as he emphasized that. I didn't understand why He got so easily jealous of mine and Yazan's friendship.

"Oh!", I said lightly.

"And next year, I'll be walking this same path but without you by my side", He said looking down at our joint hands

I squeezed his hand in mine as I said, "Aw, it's okay. At least we have this moment dude! Why ruin the present thinking about the future?"

"Yeah..." He nodded, "You are right" 

"Wait," He said as he stopped walking. "Now is the surprise time", He kept his hands on my shoulders. That electrifying touch made me blush so hard. He then removed the hair tie from my ponytail and let my hair down. He adjusted my hair around my head. I didn't even dare to look up at him. I was feeling so intimidated by his closeness to me.

"You look so beautiful when you have your hair open!",He said.

"Um. What's the surprise Nouman?", I half-whispered him. Because having him this close made my knees feel like noodles, I couldn't even muster the courage look up at him.

He removed his hands from my hair, "Just a minute!" He gestured his finger at me as he turned around and walked away.

I didn't know where he went but as soon as he left, I took a deep breath in and out and then my phone started ringing, I brought my mum's phone with me because she wasn't here. I took out to check who it was and it was Yazan.

"Hey!", I picked up.

"Hey, is everything okay?, like the way Nouman stormed you out of everyone's sight seemed like he was pissed. tch.", He said on the other side of the phone. I could picture him running his fingers through his hair.

"Yeah, everything's fine" I nodded as I kept looking to my right and left waiting for Nouman to come, "He brought me to this park nearby for a surprise. Just call me before you guys decide on leaving the mall okay?"

"Yeah sure", He answered and when I saw Nouman coming, I cut the call.

"Hey", He smiled. He held a red velvety small square box in front of me

"What's this?", I asked, after all, I've been waiting for this moment for god knows how many hours.

He opened the box gently revealing two blue earrings.  A big blue stone in between and white little stones around it. They were so beautiful.

"They are so pretty!", I gasped

"You liked it?", He asked.

"Like? I loved it!", I beamed.

"Let me help you wear this I want to see how they look on you", He said and I didn't feel the need to object.

"Sure!", I started to blush when he came closer and then pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear and then placed the earring carefully on to both of my ears and then cupped my face in his hands and raised my face so that we looked at each other on an eye to eye level. The moment I looked at him, His eyes sparkled at me, I blushed as I looked down. "You are so beautiful, Zukroof! So beautiful", He whispered

It was so electrifying, I felt numb. Almost as if I couldn't feel anything and then I felt another jolt of lightning run through my veins when I realized Nouman hand snake around the curve of my waist and He was leaning all ready to kiss me. By the time I could realize what was happening, I felt his lips brush against mine and I pushed him back within a reflex.

"Stop it Nouman!"

"Why? What's wrong?"

"What the hell did you think you were doing?"

"C'mon dude, you're my girlfriend for god sake!", He argued

I felt like an arrow was shot directly at my heart. Was this the man I chose to fell in love with?

"Are you serious? This is what you wanted to do by bringing me here?" I asked him.

"What's wrong with that? every couple does that! and by the way madam, you are going to Kuwait forever and god knows when will we get to meet. So, what's wrong if I wanted to kiss you?" He asked.

I just couldn't believe the way he was talking to me. I felt my tears sprung up to the brink of my eyes. I felt so betrayed by the guy standing in front of me.

"Are you even listening to yourself right now? you think a kiss is important for this relationship to go on?", my voice broke towards the end. I was about to cry.

"Oh please, now don't start off with wait till we get married" He rolled his eyes. "Every couple does this Zukroof, I don't know why does it seem such a huge issue to you"

I couldn't keep it in for long as tears started to stream down my eyes. "I don't even know who you are anymore. I hate you"  I managed to say as I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. I quickly grabbed my belongings and started walking away from him towards the exit.

After a while, I started running as more tears started to build up in my eyes.  I bumped onto someone on my way towards the exit. I looked up to say sorry and it was Yazan. I immediately regretted telling him about the park.

"Zukroof? why are you crying? what happened?", He asked.

"Nothing. Just leave me", I said, my voice broke.  I could hear Nouman's voice behind us and I didn't want Nouman to create a scene. I pushed past him and ran out, took an auto, and headed to my house.

Sitting in that auto all by myself I hugged myself as I let out all my tears. I hate him. I hate him. I kept repeating to myself as I continued to cry. The driver kept looking at me from the rearview mirror.

I removed the earrings and threw them in my bag tied my hair and cried until I reached home, 

My phone kept ringing and ringing with only one name flashing on the screen.

Yazan calling.....