As usual, I was again late to wake up and by the time I reached college, it was already half-past nine. My classes started at nine and it is one of the toughest things for me to reach on time.

Should I go to my class now? I would have to hear the long lecture by my professor on reaching late for the hundredth time and I would not be getting my attendance.

It's better to skip class right? So, I called Issa to ask whether she had reached here and if she is in class or on her way to college because most of the time, she would be with me for bunking the first hour. I tried calling her but she was not picking up her phone.

I guess her phone is on silent mode.

Dailing to my other friend's number, Shifa, I waited for her to attend the call to know whether I should enter the class or not. But, even she was not picking up the call. I know that it would be boring to bunk class alone, so I have no other option than to attend the class. Without wasting any more seconds, I rushed towards my classroom.

When I neared my class door, my heart was racing due to the marathon I just had and paused for a moment to grasp some air but, my eyes almost bulged outside and the rhythm of my heartbeat doubled. I stood near the door of my classroom astounded and amazed for a few minutes.

The person standing before my class was none other than Mr Cute! What in the world is he doing in my class? I stared at him for microseconds and came back to my senses after a few breaths as I was still surprised by what I just witnessed.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Shifa motioning with her eyebrows for me to come inside the class and take a seat near her. I promptly entered my class, and thankfully, he did not even notice me entering in such a hasty manner.

He was saying some important things standing before the class to the students, but my ears were deaf at that time. But, one or two words were struck on my ears. I guess he is some social activist in our college, as the way he was talking had a professional and impressive touch to it. Even though there were other boys with him, probably his friends, he was the only one who spoke more compared to his friends.

Later advising the class to give the names of interested students to the leader of the class, he walked away after giving a bright smile to the class, and my heart slightly melted on that smile.

"What was that about? Joining and giving names for what?" I asked Shifa as she was the only one who listened to the things Shaym and his friends were saying.

"He is the leader of the Palliative group in our college, so students, those who are interested in joining and being a helping hand to others, can give their names to our class leader, Aboobacker," Shifa answered, taking a notebook from her bag.

"Wow, the head of the college's Palliative group! Impressive!" Anna exclaimed and clapped her hands like a small kid.

"Well, when I first saw him, I knew he was a kind-hearted, not always smiling type guy with the cutest looking beard and a person who had the passion to help others," I said this a little proudly and loudly because my crush was not like all other boys. He was doing good things for society and people in need. Everyone made up their faces when I said that, so I gave them a wide sly smile without showing my teeth which made me look weird.

My friends cringed at the reply I gave but ignoring them and their teases, I thought about the palliative group which he mentioned earlier.

Today, the first hour was free. That was the reason why he was in our class introducing students to join the Palliative group, and thankfully, I did not miss my attendance this time. We were gossiping non-stop and sitting on our benches.

Abruptly, Talha came and sat on the bench opposite to ours. "Well, Naiza, nice selection," he said, but I did not understand what he meant by that, and I made a clueless face looking at him and my friends.

"I mean your crush! Shaym, he is a good guy and most of the girls have a crush on him," he said with a pleasant smile.

"Talha, it's just a crush. It's nothing serious and not a big deal. A crush doesn't even last long. They only last for a few days or weeks," I said casually.

"But Naiza, he is a good guy. Having a crush on someone like him who prays five times a day at the correct time and who even goes to the masjid for the Fajr prayer is not that bad. We all juniors have huge respect for him," Talha was ranting about all the good qualities of Shaym.

"He doesn't even allow his friends to engage in bad habits like smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs. He hates it so much and always tries his best to guide someone who is addicted to it," Talha told, and I was so fascinated by hearing all these characteristics of Shaym. All of a sudden, I felt like the crush I had on him grew more by listening to how Talha described Mr Cute.

"He even lectures us, 1st-year boys, in Hostel to not engage in those activities," Talha kept on talking about him, and I felt felicitous listening about Shaym.

"Ma Sha Allah, boys like these still exist! By the way Talha, how do you know so much about Shaym?" I asked him because I got curious about how he knows Shaym so well.

"Because we're in the same hostel," he said calmly.

"What?! He was in your hostel this whole time, and you're just telling me now? Wait, wait, wait! How do you know that I have a crush on him because we only asked you only his name that day," I asked as I just realized that he too got to know about my little crush on Shaym and how he knew about it.

I clearly remember asking about Mr Cute's name only. I didn't mention about the crush thing to Talha, right? Or did I?

"Well, it just slipped out from my mouth accidentally," Anna said while scratching her head with an apologetic smile. Anna being Anna. She can't keep her mouth shut and it always works 24/7, but I didn't care because it was Talha.

"So what Naiza? Only I know about your crush and no other boys from our class would know. You can trust me. Besides, did you really think you could hide it from me?" Talha asked, feigning sadness. Talha is one of us! We never considered him a boy because we always gossip with him in college, and he too enjoys our company. He is the best friend one can ever have. He is an innocent type of boy and can't even lie for a joke.

"I'm glad you know it. Now, I will get updates about him from you. Also, who is in for joining the palliative group because I'm in!" I exclaimed with a grin.

Later, we all gave our names to our class leader. At the time, Aboobacker said that a Palliative group meeting is conducted at 3 pm after class for the students who have given their names. That was unexpected! Now I have to face him again. I was equally excited and nervous to see him. What if I do something stupid in front of him and his friends? I only had this fear in me as I tend to do foolish things when I'm agitated.

Thankfully, today he was not at his usual spot near the gate with his friends during lunch break. I was happy to not see him as we would be eventually seeing him at the meeting after the class.

-

After a while, our class was over, and it was finally 3 pm! Time for our meeting, which was held in Sociology class. With a profoundly beating heart and shivering hands, I entered the designated class with my friends. As soon as I stepped inside, my eyes searched for him on whether he has reached or not. Like expected, he was already present and was near the table along with his friends standing there with so many papers and files. Well, a responsible guy I guess.

"Everyone, please take your seats. The meeting will start soon," Shaym announced. It was the first time I heard his voice. Yes, the first time as I was too shocked to witness him this morning in my class and didn't even get a chance to notice his voice at that time. He had a massive, hard masculine voice, which was quite loud and sharp for his small, cute face.

Soon, the meeting started, and we started discussing future awareness programs and events to be conducted on the Palliative group. Monthly collections from all classes for the needy people, few campaigns and so on. At the time, I got to know that he was not a silent person as I expected him to be. Shaym and his friends were talking non-stop about the programs that needed to be conducted, and his friends even cracked some jokes to keep the meeting lively and interactive. We all laughed at their lame jokes. Even he was also laughing out loud and his face was glistening brightly while he smiled and laughed at the same time.

Aww! How can someone be so cute while laughing so loudly? My heart just melted twice on his smile today.

After an hour and a half, the meeting was over. We all grabbed our bags from the desks and got up to leave. We sat on the last bench of the class and I was the one who sat on the corner side. So, I eventually being the last one to reach the door.

All of a sudden, a voice stopped me from behind, "Did all the students who gave their names from your class come to this meeting?" Shaym asked, with a calm expression and without looking at my face.

I became blank, numb, and stood there looking here and there. Then, with great difficulty, finding a proper word I answered, "Yep". That was the only word I managed to say, and I hurriedly left from there as I didn't want to make the situation more awkward.

All my friends were waiting for me outside with a mischievous grin on their face.

"Naiza, you could have answered him more like dragging the answer to some of your rantings like, 'I don't know. If you want, I can check it, and then I will inform you'. Something like that, so you could become friends with him," Jina said with a little disappointed tone. She was the only one who desperately wanted me to be friends with him as soon as possible, without wasting any of the opportunities. But it's not as easy as she says to be friends with your crush.

"I was so shocked when he inquired me about the list. Please understand my situation! It was the first time he talked to me. Next time, I will answer with a longer sentence. Happy now?" I asked Jina with a sly smirk. She nodded and beamed.

After reaching home, I promptly took out my diary from the cupboard and wrote today's date. I wanted to pen down everything that happened today at college from how my day started seeing Shaym and his smile and then again how my day ended with the same smile. But, since I was so happy proper words were not forming for me to write and surprisingly I didn't know how to express it. Words do not come to me when I get too happy. I circled the date I wrote on the diary and thought that, just by seeing the date, I would remember today's events, which would bring a smile on my face when I read it later.

Assalamu Alaikum

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