The issue with inline comments is resolved.
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"This is Ava, Taylor and Esteban!" Haseena introduced, looking way too excited while doing so. "And guys, this is Karishma."
"Hi," the head chef muttered, feeling rather awkward.
"She's cuter than how you described her," Ava noted. Karishma blinked, wondering just how much Haseena had talked about her to her friends.
"She is very cute," Haseena nodded in agreement.
"Her highlights are so blue," Taylor stated in awe. "Do you dye it yourself?"
"Uh, yeah," Karishma replied.
"Nice. If I wanted to dye my hair would you help me out?" Taylor questioned. "I was thinking something funky. Like green or pink."
"Sure?" Karishma was confused. The giant gangster wanted to dye his hair pink?
"Speaking of hair, I should probably get mine cut too, huh?" Haseena said as she ran a hand through her hair, that were getting longer than her usual style.
"I think you'd look nice with long hair," Karishma pitched in before she could think twice about what she had said.
"Yeah?" Haseena smiled, before looking at Ava. "Cancel my saloon's appointment."
"You don't have a saloon's appointment."
"So make an appointment, and then cancel it!" Haseena exclaimed.
"Idiot," both Ava and Karishma said simultaneously. They glanced at each other, a smirk on Ava's lips and an uncertain frown on Karishma’s. Maybe, just maybe, Karishma was going to get along just fine with Haseena's buddies.
"Great," Haseena mumbled, "now I've got two people calling me an idiot."
"Did you guys order? I'm hungry," Taylor stated as he grabbed the menu.
Much to Karishma’s relief, the attention shifted from her to the food. She exhaled softly, her fingers pinching the hem of her shirt as she stared absent-mindedly out of the window. A hand just above her knee caught her off-guard, making her look at Haseena who was sitting beside her.
The crime boss shifted closer to Karishma, making the chef gulp. Haseena had a soft smile on her face, and Karishma could sense that the woman seemed concerned about something. Karishma looked confused as Haseena leant forward, her face just a few inches away from Karishma's, before she turned her head to whisper in Karishma’s ear instead.
"Let me know if this is too much for you, yeah?" Haseena said, keeping her voice low so that only Karishma could hear her. The rest were too busy deciding what to order anyway. "We can just get the food packed and get out of here. I wouldn't mind. I know my friends can be a lot."
Karishma was a little stunned. She wasn't expecting Haseena to be this observant and considerate. The head chef couldn't help but feel her solid heart melt just a tad bit. Haseena listened to her. She remembered that Karishma liked puzzles. She also noticed Karishma, like really noticed her. From her quirks to her comfort or lack thereof, she was attentive to all of it.
"I'm fine for now," Karishma replied.
"Okay. Just say the word if that changes and I'll make an excuse to leave," Haseena added. Karishma nodded, unable to take her eyes off Haseena who shifted back to her original place.
Gabby came back to take the rest of the orders. Karishma felt the same uneasy feeling return in her stomach as she watched her talk to Haseena and the others like they were long term friends, which to be fair, they probably were. The worst part was that she seemed really nice and sweet, so the chef not only felt unsettled, but also guilty.
