What Lily feared came true, making Zinnia's and my words go down the drain. Me and Zinnia couldn't just accept the news that Andrew walked away from Lily when he got to know she was carrying his blood. I never thought Andrew would do this. The love I had for him as a brother was being replaced with hatred and repugnance. 

Lily narrated the whole thing that happened to us once she pulled herself together. He was all lovey dovey until Lily unfolded the news that was meant to be celebrated. But things took a turn for the worse as he said to Lily that he was not ready to start a family and he was sorry. 

Lily didn't utter a word and as she was about to leave his apartment, a grasp on her wrist made her stop and look back at a grieving Andrew. But she knew that it was late to sympathize with him, as she awaited for him to empathize with her. 

To be there for her and caress her baby bump and plant kisses on their unborn child. To feel the little kicks that makes them both happy as they get to know their baby is all lively. To choose a name and clothes for their bambino and showering it with love and care even before it sees the world. 

»»---------------------►

"This is..." Zinnia trailed off. 

Lily was lying on my lap, her eyes closed as my fingers glided through her hair, soothing her. 

"I can't believe it. I can't believe Andrew just turned his back at her and that too in this state."

I looked at Zinnia and gestured to her to lower her voice. She sighed and plopped down on the couch opposite to me with her head in her hands. 

"Zin," I called, making her meet my eyes. "We are gonna do this. We are gonna raise this baby. Lily is twenty and she's all fine with bringing her child to this world. She wants mental support so that she can be strong enough to raise this baby without Andrew's existence or support. We will do this for Lily and for our godchild," I said sternly. 

Zinnia nodded her head before looking at Lily and caressing her hair. 

Just then, we heard the doorbell along with faint knocks making me and Zinnia look at the door and then at each other while Lily writhed in irritation on my lap. Zinnia opened the door. 

"What do you want?" she yelled, making me stretch my neck and waking up Lily. 

"Can I talk to her?" A pleading voice of Andrew was heard that made me look at Lily who sat up and was as wide-eyed as me. 

Before Zinnia could say anything, Andrew barged in and froze when he saw Lily on the couch, looking like a mess. Seeing her, his eyes teared up even more as he knew right away that he was the cause of Lily's teardrops. 

"What do you want?" she asked coldly. 

"Lil-"

"What the fuck do you want?" she screamed at him, making everyone in the living flinch. 

"Lily..." Andrew dimmed.

"I gave every second of my time for this fucked up half year relationship and still you can't stay with me. I held you close to me as I was scared that you would break down when you were at your lowest. I was there to understand you like no one did and still stick around you like a lost puppy when all you did was push me away every single fucking time. I did everything I could to tell you that you're the one for me when you kept on chanting you're not good enough for me like some fucking mantra. And in the end, I'm the one who's hurt. I'm the one who's drowning in tears. I was doing everything to prove that you're not like my exes. But you proved wrong. You proved yourself wrong, Andrew. Now get the fuck out of my face," she said, pointing towards the door. 

Andrew began to cry and shook his head vigorously. 

"No, Lily. Please. Hear me out," he begged.

"What's there to hear from you? You already said that you don't want this," Zinnia said from behind, making Andrew look at her and shake his head again. 

I kept mum. If I didn't find out that I was a girl who was scared to fall in love because of my past, then Andrew wouldn't be even here. I would have already punched him black and blue and threw him out of our house. But right now, I was the only one that could understand Andrew a bit as we were on the same boat. I knew that I was nowhere to judge him and let alone curse or shout at him as I had been dwelling in my past all these years. 

"Lily, I'm sorry. I really am," Andrew managed to say in between his sobs. "I know that I was a douche for turning my back but I love you, Lily. I really do."

"Enough with this, Andrew!" Lily yelled and got up from the couch and marched towards him.

She harshly grabbed his arm and made way towards the door, followed by Andrew who was trying to stop her from slamming the door on his face. 

Before she could throw him out, I rushed towards them and stopped Lily. 

"Lily, wait. Let him say what he has to say," I said, clutching on her hands and letting go of him.

"Why do you want to hear him out, Elka? He doesn't want this. He doesn't want me and the baby."

"I want this!" Andrew screamed on top of his lungs making the three of us look at him. "I want this, Lily. I want you and our baby."

"Then why did you tell me that you couldn't do it?" she asked, tears streaming down her face just like Andrew. 

"I wasn't expecting this, Lily. At that moment, I was shocked and wasn't in my right mind. I felt like I wasn't ready to be a father as I think I'm not good enough for anyone. But the moment you walked out of my apartment, I knew I had to stop you from leaving because, Lily, I know that I'm nothing without you. I know that I love you so much that I always try to be the best version of me for you. I know that it's going to be cold without your presence next to me because you're my home. You're my safe place. I love you, Lily. I love you and our baby. I already love our little one. Trust me. Please, don't leave me."

Andrew was pouring out his heart which made Lily cry even more while me and Zinnia had our eyes welled up. 

"Fuck my past. You're my present and my future. I love you, baby. Please don't leave me," he said and hugged Lily to which Lily stayed still for a few seconds before bringing her arms to wrap around his shoulders and pull him closer. 

I stood next to Zinnia, watching them. 

"Please don't leave me. I love you, Lily."

Andrew cried, his face on the crook of her neck. 

"I love you too. I'll never leave you."

»»---------------------►

Lily and Andrew were in her room whilst me and Zinnia were in the living room, sitting quietly.

"You know something?" Zinnia asked, killing the silence. 

I turned to face her and hummed to which she said, "You're a lifesaver."

I looked at her, my face bemused. 

"If it wasn't for you to take that step to stop Lily and let Andrew talk, then they wouldn't be in that room now," she said, pointing towards Lily's room. 

I let out a small chuckle before saying, "I just had to do it, you know."

"Yeah. I know," Zinnia said and smiled at me.

Our heads diverted towards Lily's room as we heard the door open and saw a happy Lily and Andrew coming out. 

"Ok, girls. I should probably go now, it's late," Andrew said to which me and Zinnia got up from the couch and gave him goodbye hugs. 

"Take care of Lily for me, ok?" he said after retreating from the hug. 

"You don't have to say that. We are gonna do it anyway," I said to which everyone laughed. 

"Yeah, I know," Andrew said and ruffled my hair. He turned towards Lily and said, "Take care, baby. I'll come tomorrow."

Lily nodded her head and gave a bright smile. 

While Andrew was going to step outside, he turned around and called me and said, "Elka, Danish misses you."

»»---------------------►

Days passed. Me and Zinnia became busy and responsible with both college and Lily. Zinnia started to work on her project that was postponed while I took the position of newspaper assistant editor of our college. With that, we took care of Lily. We cooked for her, did her laundry, cleaned the whole house and everything we could. Even though Lily said she was fine and could do it on her own, we didn't allow her to move a muscle. Instead, we joined her for yoga classes. 

In college, everything was usual, the way it was. The same teachers except for a change of two because of new subjects, me and Amy sitting next to each other, Zinnia and Lily joining us for lunch and also a bottle of apple juice as my lunch. But one thing changed. Danish. 

He was nowhere to be seen these days. My eyes wandered from time to time in search of him, only to catch a glimpse of him a few times and that too with Katie. I couldn't help myself from feeling jealous and sad at the same time but I knew that I should keep myself from confronting him. I knew that I wanted more time to get a grip on myself if I really wanted to be with Danish. 

I was on my way to the restroom. It was the last period and we were free. Amy and Clay were on the ground, with Ash getting chastised by his coach every now and then because of his lack of attention on the practice match. Of course, how could he focus when Amy and Clay are sitting right in front of him, holding hands and talking happily? He couldn't just accept the fact that Amy left him for some ordinary guy. But he didn't deserve a pure soul like Amy anyways. 

On my way, someone called from back, making me stop in my tracks. I turned around and saw that girl, Katie, jogging towards me.

"Hey. Elka, right?"

I nodded my head.

"I'm Katie. We are in French together but we have never talked to each other before," she said, smiling, the silver rings that were pierced on her lip and left eyebrow taking my attention. 

"Yeah, I know. What is it?" I asked.

"Umm, ok. Here, Mrs. Noémie told me to give you this," she said, holding out a set of papers. 

"What's this?" I asked as I took it.

"I don't know."

"Oh, the assignment I submitted last year," I said, going through it.

"She's giving it to you now?" Katie asked.

"Yeah. Well, you know her. She's the queen of procrastination and that's why half of the class failed for French."

She chuckled before saying, "Facts!"

"Did you get your assignment back?" I asked.

"No. For that, I didn't submit."

"Oh, ok." I nodded my head.

"Yeah. Alright, I'll go now," she said, taking steps back. 

"Yeah, ok. Bye," I said and turned around. 

"Elka," she called me.

I turned around to face her and she said, "Danish misses you."

»»---------------------►

From the moment I met Katie to sitting in the living room with Lily, there was only one thing that was going on my mind. Danish.

He missed me, so did I. 

I had never made an oath that I wouldn't see Danish anymore. In fact, the only reason why I was trying to gain my composure was to see him, without having tears clouding my eyes that made my vision blurred, without having any difficulty in breathing and without my body being weak. One and a half months passed with me and Danish not seeing and talking to each other. But it felt like one thousand years to me. 

"Earth to Elka," Lily said, waving her hand in front of my face as she knew my head space was not here. 

I blinked my eyes before looking at her and flashing a smile. 

"Thinking about him?" Lily asked to which my smile faded. "Elka, if you miss him, just go and talk to him."

"I'm just taking my time, Lily."

"Yeah, I know. I saw Danish today at the cafeteria and I talked to him."

"Oh, ok," I said, nodding my head.

"He said he-"

"Misses me," I completed her.

She nodded and gave me a faint smile.

"Fuck! I miss him so fucking much," I groaned, covering my face with the sofa cushion. 

"Then go and tell him. It's useless telling us," Zinnia said, walking into the living with a pack of Pringles in her hands. 

"But I-"

"I think you're ready to face your fear, Elka. You are already strong and with that you've trained yourself to not let your fear get you when you're with Danish. And above all, you won't know if you're ready or not until you face reality. So get your ass up and call him," she said.

"Yeah, I'm sure you're ready. You can do it, Elka," Lily said, assuring me that I have prepared myself to fight my demon. 

"Ok," I said and went upstairs. 

Not to get my phone but to get my car keys. I changed my clothes before grabbing the keys and went downstairs. Hearing the jiggle sound of the keys, Lily and Zinnia looked at me, completely baffled. 

"I'm gonna go to his apartment," I said.

They smiled widely and gave me fist pumps. 

»»---------------------►

I inhaled and exhaled long breaths to calm myself. I was standing in front of Danish's penthouse and warming up to talk to him and it felt like I was going to run a marathon. After mustering up the courage to face him, I rang the bell. It took a few minutes for the door to open, revealing Danish with an athletic tank top and shorts, his messy hair and grown beard.

Wow! How does this guy manage to look hot in this simple outfit?

"Elka?" Danish called me out of sheer amusement. 

"Hi," I said, raising my hand and biting my bottom lip.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Uhmm...you gonna let me in?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Come in," he said, moving aside. 

I mouthed a thank you before entering his penthouse. After that party, it was the first time I was coming here. It looked different from that night with couches and teapoy set neatly in the middle of the living room. The apartment was white with a marble floor and it was surrounded by glass windows. 

"Wow, this looks different from that of that nightclub," I said, taking in the contemporary style of his penthouse. 

"Yeah, I know. Take a seat," he said, pointing towards the couch. 

I nodded my head and took a seat with Danish sitting across me. 

"So, how are you?" he asked. 

"I'm fine. What about you?"

"Good." He nodded and looked at me. 

We were silent for a few minutes before Danish broke our eye contact saying, "I'll get you something to drink. What do you want?"

"Uhmm...chocolate milk?" I asked, tilting my head. 

He looked at me and smiled. 

"Yeah, sure," he said and got up. 

"I'll also come," I said as I got up along with him. 

He nodded his head and took steps to the kitchen while I followed him. While we were walking, I halted my steps as I saw a few frames hung on the wall of the dining room. 

"Is that your brother?" I asked, pointing at a frame that had Danish side hugging a handsome guy in late 20s. He resembled Danish but I had to agree- Danish was the hottest!

Hearing me, Danish came back to where I was standing. 

"Yeah, that's my brother."

"He's handsome. Hotter than you," I said, going through the frames.

"Let's agree to disagree," he snapped to which I chuckled. 

"Your parents?" I asked, pointing to a couple that were posing in front of the Colosseum. 

"Yup."

My eyes then fell on a lady who was around her sixties. Her eye and cheek wrinkles on her olive skin were flaunting with the beauty that would captivate anyone. I was sure that this lady would be floating in her vanity every day. 

"And this is your..." I trailed off and looked at him, a smile playing on my lips. 

"Ammi," he said.

"She really is a Persian beauty," I said. 

"I know."

I was going through the frames once again before I snapped my head towards him asking, "Where is your brother?"

Danish looked at me before pointing towards a closed door. 

"He's in his room."

"Oh, I'll go say hi to him then," I said as I took a step but Danish caught my arm, making me look at him with knitted brows.

"He-he's busy Elka. He's having this...online meeting with his colleagues."

"Oh, ok. I'll meet him later then."

"He's gonna be really busy. You know, he's a businessman who follows my father's path after all," he said, giggling. 

"Ok, then." I nodded my head.

By now, I was kind of sure that Danish was hiding something from me and that too it was related to his brother. But I put that at the back of my mind and tried to focus on what I came here for.

I followed him silently to the kitchen. 

"I don't have any packed ones so I'll make one for you," he said, taking the chocolate syrup from the cabinet. 

I smiled and nodded my head. I watched him as he poured milk into the blender and then the syrup. He walked to the refrigerator and took a box of chocolate ice cream. He dug two scoops which made his triceps and veins of his arms pop out, making me swallow a small lump. He blended everything and poured it into a glass with a straw before serving me. 

"Here you go."

"Thank you," I said and took the glass in my hands. 

My eyes went wide as soon as the milkshake touched the taste buds of my tongue.

"It's amazing."

"There's nothing Danish cannot do," he said, pointing at himself. 

I rolled my eyes playfully at him before taking a long sip. 

"So," he said, catching my attention. "What made you pay me a visit?"

I gulped down the shake and licked my lips.

"I heard you missed me," I said.

He looked at me and smiled faintly. 

"Yeah, I did. I missed you like crazy," he admitted. 

I looked down at the chilled glass I was holding. 

"And I know that you also missed me because you like me, Elka."

I looked at him again and nodded my head slowly.

"Let's date, Danish," I said, looking at an astonished Danish who had his mouth apart and eyes as wide as saucers.

A few minutes of silence passed before I became befogged as he threw his head back and started to laugh. 

"Ok, that was a nice joke though," he said.

Seeing my face, he realized that I wasn't joking as he thought I was. He looked for something on my face that said I wasn't serious but as he couldn't find what he was looking for, his laughter came to a halt. 

"You're serious?" he asked.

"Yeah. I am," I said instantly. 

"Elka, this isn't a joke. I may believe that you are ready to date me and I don't wanna make a fool of myself when you say it was for fun later."

"Dan, I'm serious. We can date."

"Why suddenly?" he asked, his voice low.

"Because I like you duh!"

The corner of his lips went upwards and Danish was grinning like a Cheshire cat. 

"Ok, then."

I smiled at him and drank the milkshake in one go. The naughty devil in me popped out of nowhere as I took out the straw and drank it, making a mustache of milkshake deliberately as I knew what would happen when Danish saw it. I put down the glass and looked at Danish who was still smiling at me. As he brought his hand to my lips, I quickly wiped away the mustache myself with the back of my hand. 

"I can do it myself," I said and chewed my bottom lip.

He looked at me in awe and said, "I'll say an understatement." I tilted my head to which he said, "You're such a tease."

I let out a belly laugh at his understatement which made him also join me. 

"So, Elka Alastair?" he called me out, making me hum to him. "Will you go on a date with me?"

I pursed my lips before saying, "Yes, Danish Rivera."

He smiled and opened his arms saying, "Can I have a hug? I missed you."

My heart literally melted seeing his affection for me. My eyes became a tad teary seeing the love he had for me and not being hesitant to show that. I wanted this. I needed this.

I took steps closer to him and wrapped my arms around his torso. That familiar feeling of warmth and comfort passed onto my skin, making me hug him more tightly. I buried my face into his muscular chest, taking in the scent I missed terribly. I raised my head and looked at him who was having his eyes on me. 

His eyes traveled from mine to my lips and asked, "Can I kiss you?"

"No."

"Ok."

I let go of him before saying, "I'll get going then." 

"Ok. I'll see you on Saturday?," he asked.

"You mean tomorrow? Yeah, sure."

"I'll text you the time."

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"That's a surprise."

"Owwwkay," I said and turned my heels and walked towards the door of his penthouse. 

"Tell your busy brother I said hi."

"Yeah, sure. I will."

As I opened the door and was about to step out, Danish called me from behind making me face him.

"I missed that smile."

I said I didn't feel nothing baby, but I lied
I almost cut a piece of myself for your life
Guess I was just another pit stop
'Til you made up your mind
You just wasted my time