Silent Ties: Fusion Of Hearts

Chapter 13

Zia's POV:
I was so into the game that I forgot where I was. Things became exciting, and we were all shouting at the end to win the game. Everyone on the team died except for me at the last second. My brother and his pals began cheering. I was brimming with excitement and determination, unwilling to let victory slip through my fingers. There was total silence when I let out a loud cheer after winning the game. I was sitting crowded inside the group when I noticed that everyone was staring at me, perhaps thinking about what she was talking so loudly about. When all his buddies started laughing, I was so embarrassed that I clutched my brother's coat in the hopes of hiding behind him. God, what the hell am I doing? If people start calling me insane, that's horrible. Things begin to return to normal as everyone eagerly points to the game score and begins congratulating me on my MVP status. My brother's friend has been making fun of him by saying that your sister is a better player than you. As they continue, I begin to look at the nearby food counter when my gaze is drawn to the individual who is standing and staring at me.

His piercing gaze met mine. His eyes were like no other; whether they were sapphire blue with brown flecks or glacial blue with hazel streaks, I couldn't tell. I was at a loss for words. Nothing quite fits the description of his distinctive feature. His stare intrigued me and surprised me at the same time. I was curious to see his eyes up close. I was an avid reader. Despite reading hundreds of descriptions of stunning eyes, none that I can currently recall seems to match them. He raised his brow as if telling me to concentrate. I realized I'd been staring at him for a long time. I knew that was impolite of me. He had an amusing smile. I didn't understand why he was smiling, though. Something irritated me, but I couldn't pinpoint it. As I lowered my gaze, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks: he was the man intended to be my potential suitor, the one I was supposed to meet for marriage. Oh no, I just had a staring contest with that guy. Why didn't the picture clearly show his stunning eyes, and how could I have missed the fact that he is the same as in the picture? His eyes in the photo just appeared to be ocean blue. This photo of him looking like this is not what my eyes remembered-only the adorable one.

Azlan's POV:

I saw her while looking for Arif, Asif's brother. At first, I wasn't sure it was her, but as I got closer, I understood. She was playing games with other boys while sitting there in comfort. Then, as if they were winning, they burst into applause for her. Her face was beaming with delight, and she let out a loud cry as soon as she won. Although I was aware that she was overcome with excitement, her triumphant expression was stunning. It wasn't until our gazes connected that I realized I was staring. She just looked at me, and I could see she didn't know who I was. She must not have seen me yet. I smiled, and she averted her gaze. Oh my goodness, did I forget that I was antisocial toward others? My mother told me to be sweet, therefore it's not a terrible thing that I reacted without thinking.

My only hope is that I won't become awkward later. My gaze lingered in her direction, but she was no longer present. I began searching for her, but she wasn't in the vicinity. Did she flee? Was she feeling embarrassed? Did I cause her any discomfort? Questions and doubts flooded my mind, each one more unsettling than the previous one. I heard my mother calling just as I was starting to lose patience. She mentioned that she wanted me to meet the girl's family members. For the first time in my life, I became tense. I wasn't even anxious about my performance the first time I pitched my idea to investors. I was nervous because I knew I would be judged on whether I was a suitable match for her.

My thoughts swirled in chaos, leaving me unable to recall my response to my mother. However, upon meeting her parents, a sense of calm washed over me, grounding my nerves. We had a lengthy conversation about unrelated topics after I introduced myself. A minute later, she and a guy arrived. He was the one she hid behind when she felt embarrassed. He identified himself as her brother, Ishaan. He also began chatting to me, while she was standing next to her mother and conversing with my mother. She suddenly laughed at something my mother said, and I was curious what it was. Unbeknownst to me, my focus had been captivated by her presence from the moment she entered the room. I knew I couldn't join their conversation just yet, but it was all I wanted to do. I must control myself to avoid being consumed by the intense curiosity she ignites in me. Why am I becoming so intrigued by her? Was it magic, or what did she do? I've never felt this lack of control in my demeanor before.