THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS

03 The Flashback

For the upteempth time I cut off the phone call, fuming. Apparently Zak didn't get the hint because the phone rang again. A message popped up when the call went unanswered. Against my better judgment, I pressed it open.

Where are you?

I lowered my gaze and scanned the tables paced within a few feet of each other on the green field opposite school. It took me only a few seconds to spot Zak with Aminah and Natasha. He had his phone out and the girls were chatting. Even up on the third floor balcony I could detect the uneasy look on Zak's face.

Serves him right.

Another message appeared.

Look, I am sorry. I swear I will explain everything. Meet us at the table.

I put the phone back in my pocket and jumped down the small wall I was sitting on. Rushing down the stairs, two steps at a time I reached them just as Zak looked up. He seemed surprised but took it in stride, giving me a nervous smile.

I narrowed my eyes before sauntering over. Taking the seat next to Zak, I picked up a wafer in front of him.

"Hey!" I forced myself to sound cheerful. Aminah and Natasha both gave a smile in return.

"I was just going to ask, are you both going to participate in the Business Camp?" Aminah asked. She turned sideways at Natasha who was poring over a notebook, seemingly lost in it. "Sha is a leader."

I saw Zak's face break out in a grin. "Of course! I wouldn't miss it." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that. We have never been part of any extracurricular activities ever unless you counted basketball back in primary school.

Natasha looked up and beamed at Zak. "Great! Let me check if you are on my team." She scanned the list on her book and looked up dejected. "I guess you are not. What about you, Junaid?"

"Oh. I don't..." A sudden kick up my feet stopped me. I scowled at Zak who was still smiling at Natasha.

"He is going." Zak spoke for me.

Even before his words were out, Natasha was back to the list. I noticed her short, uneven finger-nails as it trailed over the words. For some reason, I found it attractive that instead of the talons most girls sport, hers was more unpretentious.

"Oooh!" She said, squealing. "Finally someone I know." She blushed as soon as the words came out. "I mean, not that we know each other but,"

"But we do now." I said simply, cutting her words short. She gave me a grateful smile.

"I am on Mifzal's team." Amina said, sighing. "And apparently you cannot switch teams either."

I saw the last hopeful look on Zak's face disappear. He was tearing a tissue paper to bits.

The bell rang. Amina and Natasha headed off to class with a quick goodbye. I stayed back with Zak, watching the students depart.

Before he opened his mouth, I spoke quickly. "No, man. I am not going to switch with you. You deserve it for the trick you pulled on me. Seriously, couldn't you have given me a hint about Lamina, uh, Amina?" I felt my pent up frustration surface. "I have been going along this darned thing for you and you don't even care about anyone else but you, huh? What if she still likes me? I cant hurt someone's feeling just to get that girl for you!"

I raised angry eyes at him only to meet his down casted face. The tissue lay in shreds around him and his face was clouded over. "Zak?" I called out to him but he didn't seem to hear me.

He looked up in surprise when I kicked him under the table like how he had shut me up with his, a few minutes ago. What? My knee still hurts.

He sighed and stood up. "You are right. This is bullshit. Nothing seems to go right! Natasha didn't spare me a glance and for all she knows I am a bumbling loser." He kicked an empty chair. "I get all nervous around her and now, this camp could be that one chance to get to know her. Especially, since I can't expect you to ask Amina out." He raised his eyes, looking at me. "I am sorry, man. I don't know what I was thinking. It wasn't fair for you." He strode off.

I didn't follow him but stayed in the now empty park. I had my math class next and I decided to skip it. I pulled out a cigarette from my back pocket and lit it up. Turning my face away from the school building, I took a long drag, feeling the stress escape along with the smoke that trailed out.

Yes, It's not fair. I closed my eyes and tried to remember the gangling, clumsy girl in fourth grade who stalked me. Well, maybe not stalked exactly, but I only had to look over my shoulder to see her.

*flashback*

"Lamina!!!" I jumped up in shock as someone screamed. Sure enough, I found an equally startled Amina behind me. She had a hand raised towards me, a smooth, folded piece of paper in her hand.

"Ju-Ju..." She stammered, her hands still resolutely pulled out.

I stepped back, but unfortunately, someone snickered and stage-whispered. "JuJu!!"

Backing away, I shot her a furious looks as the boys chanted the name to me. "JuJu! JuJu! JuJu!"

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw her drop the paper and run into the opposite direction.

Later that day, I had walked out of the class and stepped on a dirt-stained, thick paper lying right outside my class. Knowing it was what Amina wanted to give me I snatched it up and pushed it inside my bag before anyone else could see it. The last thing I needed was the boys to torment me with that. I felt my anger rise at Amina for causing all that trouble for me. Couldn't she leave me alone?

I had forgotten all about it the rest of the day until I pulled out my books from the bag to do homework when the dreaded paper fell out. My first thought was to throw it away. But then, out of curiosity, I pulled it open.

GOOD LUCK FOR THE EXAM!

In pink, glitter ink, the words were scrawled across a faint blue background. A small trail of hand-drawn flowers circled it. There was no name on it-she must have wanted it to be anonymous. Maybe that is why she had crept up on me.

Away from the boisterous teasing and prying eyes, I didn't feel compelled to throw it away. I tucked it into my book stand as I quickly picked up my Science book, to revise for the exam the next day-which I would have forgotten if not for the dirty paper now hidden among my favorite story books.

*end flashback*