Behind His Smile ( Boys From Hell #4)

.22

| Mia |

I sighed and reminded myself to be careful. Not to be vulnerable in front of everyone.

Iqra. . , she was my tribe.

Everyone knows their tribe. The kind of people you can trust your vulnerability to.

My guards went down on their own around her.

Whomever was standing outside. .

I switched my guards up and let the fire breathing dragon out on the grounds of my heart to protect me.

I could do the crying and the pity party at night. All alone. Right now, it was all about looking sorted.

Gritting my teeth, I got up and rubbed my throbbing temples.

Going towards the door, I was about to unlatch the door but I paused. My hand paused. .

Why did I feel like I was going to collapse any moment?

Maybe I should—

I jumped when the doorbell was pressed again.

Before opening the door , I made sure I had the fakest smile in the whole world on my face.

The faces that greeted me on the other side were—

"Gloria?! Conrad?!"

I was . . surprised and. .glad. Yeah,  I was glad to see their faces. The familiarity of them.

A sheepish Gloria and an embarrassed Conrad who stuck his hand up into air into a hi.

"I brought supplies." Gloria grinned raising the box of chocolates to my nose level.

Her eyes were sneakily searching my face. .I knew the questions in her eyes.

Is Mia okay?

Is she fine?

"And I bought the . . ." Conrad stepped beside Gloria and I could see the ice cream pack in his hands.

A weird kind of happiness spilled in my heart. Seeing people being there for me when I was at my lowest. . .it had the power to bring me back to life.

I stepped back and let them in.

Gloria stepped in with confidence.

While Conrad was a little bit of out of his place. He just stepped in the lounge. . looking awkward.

"So it's Saturday night and I thought we should have a—thanks," I took the chocolates from her , " slumber party. Not slumber slumber. .I mean a chillax party. Yeah that's the word. "

"A none judgmental party." Conrad quipped in.

"With a dash of a pity party." I added in trying to make fun of what happened. Trying to take it lightly.

As if what happened was not a big deal and it happened with everyone.

The both of them didn't react at all to my comment. They glanced at each other and grinned.

"Here is the coffee—"

Iqra stopped in her tracks. The two cups in her hand. .her eyes going wide seeing the company I had.

Gloria and Conrad too took a look at her.

"Oh wait!" Gloria snapped her fingers. " I know her. You told me about her. .  Iqra!" She said happily.

Iqra's eyes zoomed from Gloria to Conrad and then to me. I could see she was slightly intimidated and needed help.

So I moved towards her and took my cup of coffee . .my hands were full.

So was my heart.

Iqra seemed glad when I stood by her side. Like she could breath again.

"Iqra that's Gloria and that's Conrad." I introduced her to them.

She smiled at the both of them.

And then she whispered.

"MashAllah , she's so pretty!"

I nodded, agreeing. If only she knew my bestie was equally pretty in the inside too.

"Iqra says you're pretty Glow." I said out loud.

Iqra snapped me a betrayed look , her cheeks glowing red.  I grinned.

Gloria smiled , the usual smile when she received a compliment.

"Awww, not more then you."

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In the next fifteen minutes, everyone had grabbed their positions and it was as if. . .we knew each other from eternity. We were cracking silly jokes, talking about shit that didn't make any sense. Laughed on everything that came out of our mouths.

Iqra blended with them with ease.

Gloria had the superpower to make everyone comfortable. She knew her aura captured people so she was used to make people comfortable in their skin. I remembered, how I would feel queasy around her.

The three of us were on the couch while Conrad was occupying the single couch.

"I don't get it . How did you two patch?" I asked pointing at Conrad and Gloria.

"Should I tell her?" Gloria blinked innocently at him.

Conrad sighed.

"Be my guest."

"He was dating my class mate, Lucinda. I got to know him from there and yes he's a friend of Logan. I mean it wasn't like we were friends or whatever. I just knew him. He seeked me out today. .asking for you and here we are. " She shrugged.

"Really?" I glanced at Conrad who seemed a bit uncomfortable .

"Yeah. .I mean. .," He rubbed the back of his neck ," it was a rough day for you." He said quietly.

"It wasn't rough. It was like being plowed by a bulldozer." I grinned at him and he seemed shocked as he casted an unsure glance at Gloria as if asking her should I laugh?

Gloria slung her arm around my shoulders.

"See Raddy boy? That's my girl. Her spirit is that of a wolf. " Gloria went as far as smacking my cheek with a kiss.

"Our girl ." Iqra said. . covering my hand with hers.

And sitting between them, I had to be thankful. Thankful to God for blessing me with them. I thought I was going to die crying when I reach home . .my empty home. And now. .the same home was filled up to brim with their warm energy.

The energy I desperately needed to fill up the hollow pit in my heart.

Looking from him to Gloria to Iqra. .it was safe to say I had their back. I had them.

I was clinging on to them for the rest of my life.

For a second blue eyes flashed before me and a pang of hurt surged in me but I had to act like I wasn't missing him.

And maybe one day my act will become real.

One day I won't miss him.

At all.

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