Despite having an off, Karishma’s body clock woke her up in the morning. She got out of bed, made herself some breakfast, and then went back to take a nap. She could feel life being breathed into her body as she hadn’t felt this relaxed in a very long time, and she was looking forward to having a calm day indoors.
It was the afternoon, and Karishma was lounging on the couch. She was wearing just a pair of shorts and bra and reading a novel she had been wanting to start for a while now. She loved days like this, when she didn’t have to interact socially at all and could enjoy her own company.
What Karishma wasn’t expecting was a knock. She kept the book down but forgot to remove her reading glasses or wear a shirt as she went to the door, which she religiously kept locked now. She looked through the peephole, feeling deja vu as she saw the woman she had gotten quite familiar with in the past month.
Of course, it had to be Haseena. Who else would visit her?
“What are you doing here?” Karishma yelled through the wall, keeping the door still closed.
“Are you going to open up?” Haseena retorted.
“No!”
“Come on!” Haseena all but whined, stretching the ‘o’ of the ‘on’. Karishma could just imagine the dramatic pout on the woman’s face as she sighed, before opening the door.
“Hi! I know this is-“ Haseena paused, her eyes travelling down Karishma’s body and then back up. She was checking out the chef so openly, without an ounce of shame that it made the woman shift on her feet. For the first time, Karishma noticed a slight red tinge on the gangster’s cheeks.
“What?” Karishma snapped.
“You wear glasses?” Haseena gulped.
“When I read,” the chef muttered, as she took them off.
“So fucking adorable. Ah you’re going to be the death of me,” Haseena groaned as she entangled her fingers in her hair, pulling at the strands.
“Um...” Karishma cleared her throat. “Why are you here?”
“Aren’t you going to let me in?” Haseena questioned, trying her hardest to keep her eyes up. She didn’t want to make Karishma uncomfortable by staring too hard.
“No,” Karishma replied, using her body to block Haseena’s way inside.
“Fair enough,” Haseena mumbled. “I’m here to take you out.”
“Take me...out?” Karishma’s eyes widened slightly. “With a gun?”
“No!” Haseena exclaimed, shaking her head rapidly. “Not in that way!”
“Then what? I already told you that I’m not going on a date with you,” Karishma stated.
“It’s not that either. Trust me, when I take you on a date it’s going to be fucking majestic,” Haseena grinned. “For today I just have something fun planned. Well, at least I hope it will be fun? I just thought it’d be something you’d like and I wanted to take you there.”
“And why exactly should I go with you?” Karishma rose a challenging brow.
“Uh,” Haseena frowned. “Because I’m asking nicely? And saying please? Pretty please?”
Karishma was dumbfounded. By this point, she was certain that Haseena had a few loose screws, because how the hell was she treating everything like it was just so casual? This was definitely not how normal relationships worked. Especially professional relationships, like the one Karishma and Haseena shared, of course.
But maybe, just maybe Karishma was a little bit out of it too as she nodded slowly. “Okay,” Karishma whispered. “Give me ten minutes. Wait out here.”
“Really?” Haseena grinned. “Yes! Take your time! I’ll wait!”
Karishma rolled her eyes as she closed the door on the crime boss’s face. She quickly went to her bedroom and changed into a pair of jeans and a black shirt. She looked at herself in the mirror, trying to make her hair not flow in all directions. She sprayed on her best cologne and was about to walk to the door when she realized that the last time she wore these clothes was when...she was going out on a date with her ex.
“This is not a date,” Karishma mumbled to herself as she walked to the entrance, “this is definitely not a date. Fuck, what am I doing with my life?”
Haseena was, indeed, waiting patiently for Karishma in the hallway. The head chef almost felt blinded by how brightly she smiled when she saw Karishma leave her apartment, as if a part of her was expecting to get stood up.
“Are we going to walk?”
“No, I’m going to drive us there,” Haseena replied, making Karishma frown.
Karishma didn’t know where they were going, and Haseena was...a goddamn criminal and now Karishma was supposed to get in a car with her?
She could literally take her to the woods and bury her alive and nobody would even know. The severity of her stupid decision was finally weighing her down, but it was as if her legs had a mind of her own as they kept following Haseena until the chef was in the passenger’s seat. All rationality was clearly thrown in the dustbin.
“Where are we going?” Karishma asked again.
“I told you, it’s a secret,” Haseena answered.
“I’m going to consider this a kidnapping,” Karishma spoke.
“It’s not kidnapping if you’re coming with me voluntarily,” the crime boss point out.
“Whatever,” the chef muttered.
“The same way I didn’t technically broke into your apartment since you did leave the door unlocked,” Haseena hummed. Karishma turned to face her, narrowing her eyes in a glare. Haseena glanced Karishma before chuckling and focusing on the road again. “Okay, okay fine! I’ll let you have that one.”
“Thank you?”
“You’re welcome!”
What an idiot, Karishma thought to herself as she shook her head, before looking at Haseena again. She was wearing a baby blue shirt with black jeans. Her sleeves were folded till her elbows and Karishma had a good view of the exposed tattoos. Haseena ran a hand through her hair, her lips pressed in a thin line as she drove.
A hot idiot. A really hot idiot. But an idiot nonetheless.
Stop thinking that she’s hot! Karishma cursed at herself. But she is...
Karishma was battling her biggest enemy- herself.
It was as if the devil on her left shoulder was fighting the angel on her right. And the unfortunate part was that the devil was real damn strong and convincing. The intrusive thoughts were getting too powerful, and Karishma almost didn’t have control over her tongue as she spoke up again.
“Your shirt is nice,” Karishma said before she could think too much about it.
“Oh, yeah?” Haseena took a quick look at Karishma as she smirked. “Blue is my favorite color.”
Karishma bit the inside of her cheek as she turned to face out of the window. She didn’t want Haseena to look at her again because she was sure that she was pink already. Goddamn genetics. Why couldn’t she be one of those people that never blushed or got flustered?
It wasn’t Karishma’s fault, though. She’d never had someone flirt with her so openly and she simply didn’t know how to react. Yes. This was all on Haseena.
“Can you please tell me where we’re going? Because if you’re going to murder me then I’d like to call and say goodbye to my mom,” Karishma stated.
“That makes no sense. Why would I murder the woman that I want to spend my life with?” Haseena retorted, leaving Karishma stunned yet again. “Too cheesy?”
“Yeah...”
“Thought so,” Haseena chuckled. “But don’t worry. We’re actually almost there.”
Karishma really didn’t know what to expect as Haseena parked. The two got out of the car and began walking, with Karishma still following Haseena and feeling even more confused now. When Haseena finally stopped in front of a building, Karishma furrowed her brows as Haseena grinned before going inside. It was completely empty, apart from the employees that worked there.
“What is this place?”
“They have escape rooms here! And there are so many themes. I read that the Conjuring one is fun if you’re into horror, and the Sherlock Holmes is the best if you like mysteries. They also have an original themed room, and some other movie based ones. I didn’t know which you’d like more and I also didn’t want other people to disturb us so I booked all of them,” Haseena stated.
“You booked the entire place just for us?” Karishma questioned, in disbelief of the woman she was facing. Haseena nodded, as if it was the most natural thing to do in the world.
“Yeah!”
“Oh,” Karishma blinked. “But why... why an escape room?”
“You said that you liked puzzles but you haven’t had time to do them in a while and what’s an escape room if not a bunch of puzzles? I just thought it’d be exciting and you might enjoy it. A change of pace, you know?” Haseena answered before frowning, looking worried all of a sudden. “Wait, did I get it wrong? Or are you claustrophobic? Because I know some areas inside get a bit stuffy. We can leave if that’s the case.”
“I’ve never tried an escape room,” Karishma whispered, before smiling softly. “But they sound fun. Which one do you want to start with?”
“Really?” The smile was back. “It’s your day so you get first pick.”
“Let’s do...” Karishma hummed, going through the brochure on the wall. “Lost at Sea?”
“Aye. Lead the way, captain.”
Haseena turned out to be a lot smarter than Karishma had initially assumed. Instead of letting Karishma take the lead, she was working alongside her to solve the games and puzzles in the escape rooms. She was quick witted, and very observant of the surroundings, sometimes even catching clues that the chef seemed to miss.
“I think we should go through the hallway,” Haseena said as they looked at the two routes in front of them. This was the fourth escape room they were trying out. They could either move further by climbing up a ladder and crawling through the attic, or passing through a rather tunnel-like hallway.
“It’s kinda narrow, don’t you think?” Karishma muttered. “But I believe this is the way to go too. I have a feeling the attic is a diversion.”
“Want me to go first?” Haseena asked.
“Nah, follow me.”
“Happy to do that!” Haseena exclaimed with a nod. Karishma huffed as she stepped into the hallway.
The lighting inside was dim, and they had to walk sideways to get through it.
“Karishma?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you have agreed to go out with me if we had met under different circumstances?” Haseena questioned, catching Karishma completely off-guard as she stopped in her tracks, causing Haseena’s arm to bump into her.
“You mean if you hadn’t broken into my apartment?” Karishma clarified. Haseena hummed in agreement, making Karishma frown as she sighed deeply before continuing to shimmy through the hallway. “I’ve never thought of that, so I can’t really say for sure. If I met you for the first time as the new owner of the restaurant then I still would’ve kept my distance, I think.”
“Why?”
“You know how the saying goes,” Karishma mumbled. “Don’t shit where you eat.”
“I see.” Haseena stayed silent for a few seconds, and Karishma could feel the shift in the air. Just as they were almost at the end and could see the way out, Haseena grabbed Karishma’s arm to stop her, making her turn around rather awkwardly so that she was facing Haseena.
“Huh?”
“I-“ Haseena paused, taking in the surprise on Karishma’s face and the slightly widened eyes and parted lips. She could feel the other woman’s breath, only a few inches between them as the dark golden light made the chef’s features look all the more delicate.
“You what?” Karishma whispered.
All of a sudden, it was as if Haseena had completely forgotten what she was going to say. Being so close to Karishma had made her mind go blank, and all she wanted to do was kiss her. On cue, her gaze shifted downwards to Karishma’s lips. Her soft, pink, and really kissable lips.
But it wasn’t the right time. She knew Karishma would push her away, and then she would ruin any chances of ever winning over the chef. She had to be patient, even though it was killing her to stay away. Haseena pulled in every ounce of self control that she had, before smiling at Karishma.
“I wanted to thank you for agreeing to come with me today,” Haseena stated. “I had a lot of fun.”
“You could’ve waited till we were outside to say that,” Karishma mumbled. “But, uh, but I had a nice time too.”
“Yeah?” Haseena grinned. “Can we do this again? Not just escape rooms, I mean. There are a few more places that I want to try out with you. I have a whole list saved on my phone! I can show it to you if you-“
“Let’s get out of here first,” Karishma sighed as she shook her head, before turning around and continuing out of the hallway.
After that, both the women decided to call it a day. Karishma was ready to head home and have an early night, and she thought they were on the way to her apartment when she got in the car with Haseena, but as it turned out, the crime boss had other plans.
“I think you missed the turn for my-“ Karishma paused. “Uh, where are we going now? And don’t say that it’s a surprise.”
“How can I take you home without feeding you?” Haseena spoke. “I’m taking you to my favorite diner.”
“That’s fine, I can eat at home,” Karishma argued, but Haseena was having none of it.
“Come on, they have the best milkshakes in town-“
“I’m lactose intolerant,” Karishma cut her off.
“What!?” Haseena was flabbergasted. “But you’re a chef!”
“Yeah, so?” Karishma shrugged. “I can be a chef and be lactose intolerant, you know.”
“Damn. I would’ve guessed you were immune,” Haseena hummed. “Don’t worry, they have almond milk too. And don’t even get me started on their steak! Trust me, you’re going to be licking your fingers in the end. I’ll clean dishes at the restaurant for a week if not.”
“Sure, you’re on,” Karishma let out a light laugh as she smirked. Just the mental image of the crime boss doing dishes was enough of a motivation for her to want to check out ther diner that Haseena was hyping up.
The diner actually wasn’t very far from where Karishma lived, but she had never been in that area. That wasn’t a big surprise, though. Karishma hadn’t explored much, or at all, since she moved to the city. The only three places she went to was the restaurant where she worked, the gym, and the grocery store.
The place looked old, or maybe they were just going for the vintage look. It had a homliness to it that reminded Karishma of the diner she worked at back in her town. From the decor to the music that was playing, it all felt too familiar.
Haseena and Karishma slid into a booth, as the chef started going through the menu. The gangster didn’t seem to care about that, as she raised her arm to catch the attention of a waitress.
“Haseena,” the young waitress smiled as she greeted her. “Haven’t seen you here in a while.”
“Just been busy with work,” Haseena replied. Karishma looked between the two, it was clear that they knew each other quite well. “How’s Gloria?”
“Mama’s good, I’ll let her know that you’re here,” the women replied. “The usual, then?”
“Yup!” Haseena nodded. “Oh! And this is Karishma! She’s new to the city and guess what? She’s a chef too! You should come to the restaurant where she works sometime. You will love her food. Especially the tacos that she-“
“I don’t think she wants to hear you go on about me,” Karishma interrupted, feeling a little awkward. “Um, I’ll have the steak with a side of mashed potatoes.”
“Sure. Anything to drink?” The waitress questioned.
“Just water, thank you.”
“Awesome. I’ll be out with your food in a bit,” she stated, before bending down to kiss Haseena’s cheek. She didn’t even look at Karishma again as she turned around and left.
Karishma didn’t know why but she felt a weird sensation in her stomach. Like something was churning inside. Could it be because she hadn’t eaten in a while and was hungry? It just felt unpleasant, and she couldn’t help but be put off.
“That was Gabby,” Haseena said. “The diner is her mom’s. I’ve been coming here since...since I was a kid, actually. So I know them all pretty well.”
“I see,” Karishma hummed, playing with the hem of the table cloth. The pit in her stomach just wasn’t going away. The more she thought about it, the worse it became. “You and Gabby seem close.”
Why the fuck did Karishma say that? Why would it matter to her if Haseena was pally with some random waitress? It wasn’t any of Karishma’s business whatsoever. So what if she kissed her cheek? It’s not like she cared about that.
“I pretty much grew up with her, so yeah,” Haseena shrugged, completely clueless of the tornado of thoughts that were causing a havoc in Karishma’s mind.
“Right,” Karishma muttered, her voice sounding rather bitter. “Just friends?”
“Huh?” Haseena tilted her head in confusion, looking at Karishma innocently. “Yeah, I mean, we’ve never dated or anything if that’s what you’re asking. She’s like a sister to me, honestly.”
“I don’t think that she sees you as a sister though.”
“Huh?”
“Just making an observation,” Karishma shrugged, trying to act casual. “It was obvious that she has a thing for you.”
“Oh,” Haseena sighed. “I don’t know. Ava seems to think so too, but I don’t see it.”
“Ava sounds smart.”
“She is! I think she might be the smartest of us all, actually. Or maybe Esteban, but he’s always just so quiet that you never really know what’s going on in his mind. Sometimes it’s like- oh, wait,” Haseena paused, looking at the entrance of the diner. The door opened, ringing the bell on top, and in walked three very familiar faces. “That’s them!”
“Wha-“ Karishma turned around, looking at who Haseena was pointing at.
There was a Latino woman, covered in tattoos from her neck to all the way down. She looked so badass that Karishma couldn’t help but be in awe. Next to her was someone that she couldn’t even call a man, but a giant. He must’ve been easily 6’7”, with a broad build that went with the height. Though his light blond hair and childlike facial features gave him a rather innocent look.
The third was another man, who walked absent-mindedly behind the others with his hands in his pockets. He had two piercings in each ear, and the half sleeves t-shirt he was wearing gave a good look of his inked arms.
Karishma knew that this must’ve been the other members of Haseena’s gang. And as Haseena waved over for her buddies to join them, Karishma cursed internally, once again wondering how the fuck did her life lead her to eating dinner with a bunch of dangerous criminals?
