Next Door || HAMZAH THE FANTSATIC

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟐𝟔

Y/N

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 0:26

I run my fingers over the spines of the sketch books, their pages thick and textured. My phone is in my other hand with Lia's face filling the screen as she waits for me to speak.

"Is 100 pages enough?" I murmur, keeping my voice low so I don't disturb the other customers. 

"Yeah, I have some pages left from other books anyways." She replies with a small sigh after. I slightly laugh, "Don't limit yourself, I've got money." I say with a faint smile. 

She tilts her head, giving me an exaggeratedly empathetic look. "Wow, I wish all guys were like you," she teases, puckering her lips into exaggerated kissing faces at the screen. I cringe playfully at the sight.

"That wouldn't be so bad," I laugh lightly, grabbing a couple of extra books for myself while we talk.

"You're just out by yourself, right?" Lia asks, her voice soft and hesitant, as though she's unsure if she should ask. I hum quietly in response, and she quickly clears her throat, shifting the tone of the conversation.

"At least I'll get to see you in a week. Classes are starting soon," she says, forcing a smile as she moves to a safer subject.

"Yeah, our last year," I reply. "Excited?"

She wrinkles her nose immediately. "Kind of. School's exhausting, but it gives me something to do," she admits, her voice trailing off with a long sigh. I nod in quiet agreement.

I head toward the checkout counter, balancing the books in one hand and my phone in the other as Lia continues to chat. 

 I step outside to find a quiet corner in the nearby park—a bench shaded by trees, far from the noise of the street.

Settling down, I set the bag beside me and shift my phone into both hands, the screen filled with Lia's curious expression.

"How aesthetic" she says, leaning closer to her camera. "So, what are you gonna do now? A cafe? Or are you just gonna sit there until Hamzah calls?"

Her grin is teasing, and I shake my head, letting out a quiet laugh. "What— He's not calling right now. He's busy." 

"Oh okay," she replies, her eyebrow arching. "So, how's it going? You two still in the honeymoon phase" She adds on, I let out a small scoff. 

Honeymoon phase? 

"Sure, but I guess we're getting more comfortable." I say, my tone getting lower as I speak. She gives me a teasing look, her eyebrows raised with a faint smirk. 

"That's good, he really does seem like a solid guy. And you seem... happier. Like, genuinely happy. I mean, it's kind of gross, but still,"

I laugh at her mock sincerity. "Okay, thanks."

"Okay, you should go find something fun to do before I end up stuck on this call for the rest of the day." She retorts, her face moving away from the screen.

"Fine, bye." I flash the camera a small smile, giving a small wave before hanging up.

Lia's words replay in my mind—about being happier. I feel it too, but hearing it from her makes it... real.

It feels too early to head back home, and the idea of sitting around in silence isn't appealing.

Instead, I grab my coffee and the bag with my new sketchbooks, deciding to take a walk through the park nearby. Maybe I'll go and try to feel like a main character.