His silence his pride ( continuation)

Game

As their relationship grew deeper, the playful side of their dynamic continued to blossom. Zaid, always looking for a way to amuse himself while still testing the boundaries of their new closeness, came up with a mischievous idea.

One evening, as they sat on the couch after dinner, Zaid looked over at Mahra with a teasing grin. "How about a game?" he asked, his eyes glinting with a playful challenge.

Mahra, who had come to expect Zaid's pranks by now, raised an eyebrow. "What kind of game?""Stone, paper, scissors," he said with a devilish smile. "But with a twist. The loser has to remove a piece of clothing every time they lose."

Mahra stared at him, wide-eyed, a mix of curiosity and suspicion flickering across her face. "Wait, what?" She leaned back in the couch, crossing her arms over her chest. "That's your idea of a fun game?"

Zaid shrugged, a smirk forming on his lips. "Oh, come on. It'll be fun. Besides, you've got nothing to lose." His eyes flicked to the oversized sweater she was wearing, making her feel a little self-conscious.

Mahra rolled her eyes, but couldn't deny the growing sense of amusement. "Alright, fine. But you better not get any funny ideas."

He chuckled. "You'll see."

And so, the game began.

For the first few rounds, the stakes were small—Zaid lost his jacket, Mahra removed her scarf. But as they played, Zaid cleverly used his socks as a way to add more layers, knowing that the game would progress as it went on. Each time Mahra removed a piece of clothing, she felt the playful tension between them rise, but Zaid never seemed to lose, his strategies impeccable, his hands always just a second quicker. Mahra, on the other hand, was laughing nervously as she realized that with every round, she was losing more and more.

Soon, she was down to her last few pieces of clothing—just a loose shirt and her leggings. Zaid, now sitting comfortably in his thick sweater and long pants, flashed her a confident grin. "Looks like I'm winning."

Mahra's laughter faltered, replaced by a mixture of frustration and slight embarrassment. "This is ridiculous!" she said, though she couldn't hide the flush that colored her cheeks. She was down to the bare minimum, and there was no denying that Zaid's playful teasing was working.She crossed her arms over herself, trying to maintain some dignity, but her eyes were sharp, accusing. "What's your real plan here, Zaid?"

He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"

"You knew this game was rigged from the start," Mahra said, her tone suddenly serious. "You deliberately wore extra layers, so I'd end up losing. This isn't a game; it's a trick. You've got some evil plan behind this, haven't you?"

Zaid leaned back with a smirk, his hands behind his head. "Evil? Come on, it's just a little fun. I didn't make you play."

Mahra shot him a pointed look, her arms still crossed. "Oh, don't act like you weren't getting a kick out of this. You've been planning this for days, haven't you?"

Zaid laughed, and his face softened with the realization that she was indeed onto him. "Okay, maybe I did have a little strategy. But look at you—you're not exactly protesting that much."Mahra, still glaring at him, stood up abruptly, her expression shifting to one of feigned indignation. "You're unbelievable, Zaid. I'm not a toy, you know."

Zaid immediately stood up, his smile faltering as he realized he might have crossed a line. "Hey, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just a game. I was joking. I'm sorry if it went too far."

She stood there for a moment, looking at him in silence, before her anger began to melt away. "You're lucky I'm still trying to figure out if you're just being playful or if you actually have a devious side."

Zaid walked over to her, his tone softening. "I swear, Mahra, I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought we'd have some fun. I never want to make you feel uncomfortable, not for a second."Mahra let out a sigh, her shoulders relaxing. "Well, next time, maybe let's stick to games that don't involve stripping people down, okay?"

Zaid nodded immediately. "Deal. No more devious games, I promise."

He pulled her gently into his arms, relieved to have avoided an actual fight. She allowed herself a small smile as she leaned into him. "Just... maybe next time you can lose once in a while," she teased, poking him in the chest.

Zaid laughed, the tension between them dissolving completely. "You know what? I'll let you win next time. But only if you promise to play without accusing me of evil schemes."

"Only if you stop trying to outwit me with your layers of clothes," she replied with a playful smirk.And with that, the lightness returned to the room. The playful banter, the teasing, and the gentle rivalry were all part of the process of growing together. Zaid knew it would take time, but the laughter, the understanding, and the way they now freely shared moments like these—without the burden of guilt or obligation—was proof that they were learning how to love each other in a way that was both playful and sincere.