Saudade

03

The interior of the house was simple. A three seater couch, a couple of bean bags and one central table lying in the living room. 

I looked at his back as he went towards the kitchen.

"Would you like some water?"

"No thanks." My palms became sweaty as the realization of me finally meeting him descended on me.  Stealing a long  glance to have a proper look at him, I kind of don't remember if I kept breathing.

He was tall, not as tall as those fictional boys I read in books, but tall. Probably because he had a lean figure. The black hair seemed like they hadn't seen a hairbrush in ages yet somehow he managed to pull off the look. 

He was not the Greek god I had thought he would be, credit going to his honey like voice and guitar playing skills. But he was handsome, having a good personality. How is you being a fanfic and new adult fiction reader his fault? I mentally slapped myself as he returned with two glasses full of some juice. There was a plate with chocolate chip cookies on it. Well, he keeps chocolate chip cookies at home, that is a good sign. Let's hope he is a Swiftie. God please, please, pleaseeee! The boy was already checking all the boxes for my potential groom.

Except that I didn't know anything about him.

"Why are you still standing? Please have a seat?"

"No, I.. um, I actually have to go back." Pointing with my thumb towards the wall our houses shared, I stammered.

"Well, you are visiting me for the first time. It would be rude if I let you go like that. Besides, Leo is still outside and I will escort you to the gate only if you eat these and drink the juice." He extended his hand holding the plate.

I am in an empty house with a boy I know nothing about. What if he has spiked the juice? He doesn't seem like a creep, but what do I even know about him? I was mentally arguing with myself as I took small steps towards the couch. I will eat one and if I felt dizzy I will call Humna to come fetch me before he does something bad to me. I picked one of the cookies, looking at it before taking a small bite.

"By the way I am Adam Yaqoob. It is nice to see that my neighbor next door strongly supports global peace." He snickered as I raised an eyebrow at him.

"What else what I supposed to say? For all you know I could have poisoned your dessert."

"The way you think I poisoned your cookie?" He retorted.

I was stunned. "I saw the way you looked at it, as if it was a cactus." This time, he laughed loudly, a proper, full fledged laugh.

I ducked my head in embarrassment. "No, it is not that. I um, could you please not embarrass me for it? You are a random guy. How would I know to trust you already?" I blurted out.

Screw your fat mouth. I mentally yelled at myself. 

"I am impressed with your maturity. How old are you?" He changed the subject, clearly trying to ease my nerves.

"I am 20. In fact 19, one of those kids who celebrate two birthdays." I think I laughed a little too loudly.

Embarrassment tingled in my palms, seeping through my joints until I could see it gleaming from within my flesh.

I have a tendency to get excessively embarrassed at trivial mistakes. At least that is what my sister thinks. I think that I am a walking talking bundle of embarrassment. And I don't think she needs to know that.

"Amazing. I am 23, by the way. Legally 22, because well, I also celebrate two birthdays." He grinned, exposing his leveled teeth.

My curiosity peaked as I eyed him one more time. The frame of his eyeglasses perched on his nose bridge added to the depth of his poetic eyes. Perhaps his eyes were the most alluring feature on his face. They twinkled like stars in the light. His beard reminded me of a certain fictional doctor, a very sexy gentleman who is the dream guy of every Pakistani girl..

Er.... Yeah, I am still not over Yakeen Ka Safar. What about it?

"Where do you study?" He asked, picking up a chocolate chip cookie, slightly extending his hand towards me before putting it in his mouth. As if reassuring me that it is not poisoned. God I want to start digging a tunnel in the ground like a rabbit and stop only when I am in Afghanistan.

I took a sip of my juice.

"I just got into NBS. First month of my first semester." I tried to check if he's impressed, but all I could see was surprise etched on his face.

"That's great. I just got transferred into NBS as well. From IBA. Mine isn't first semester though, I am in my seventh and about to graduate in like a year." He flashed me a smile before continuing.

"Now that we are very good friends, I would love to help you if you have any problems with your studies. Not bragging or anything but I am pretty smart, you can count on me."

I was so shocked that I couldn't even register him totally bragging while saying that he wasn't. He even patted himself on the shoulder muttering something like Good job champ.

He called me his... friend. When did that happen? And uhm, getting friend zoned was not exactly my intention when I came here with the bowl of fruit trifle in my hands.

Now that we are desperate, might as well gladly take what we are being offered.

"Sure, very close friends. Of course I will come to you before anyone else."

"Great!"

Not at all, bestie. I hate this.

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