ALPHABET (a Fanfiction) ✔

Chapter 13

Miezza and Jyra were in the kitchen, just chatting with Sheronica while she was doing her job. Zulfikar was giving an extra hand around, like cutting stuff, washing any spoon or plates that the girl used, and helped her to take things from upper cabinets where she could not reach them.

When they finished talking about how Twilight were better than Teen Wolf, or vice versa, and after a lengthy explanation to Sheronica about what Twilight was, they fell quiet. Instead, Miezza switched her attention to the fruit basket in front of her. In seconds, she was munching to a fresh banana that Noorizan brought.

Jyra was watching them cooking, specifically the one who really worked hard.

"Wow, Zul, I didn't know you wanted to be a chef." She remarked, and the petite girl who currently stirring something in the pot chuckled.

"I'm sorry?" Zulfikar asked. His forehead wrinkled in confusion.

Jyra sighed. "I'm saying that, I never see you working this hard. You're even sweating while you cut the vegetables."

Miezza nodded, stuffing her mouth with more banana.

"Well, I'm not complaining. It's great to have another pair of hand." Sheronica smiled.

His cheeks turned pink, and he continued chopping another cabbage. Jyra looked from the girl who was cooking to the guy who was grinning sheepishly, and realisation hit her. She leaned from her chair and propped her hands on the countertop, smirking up to Zul who just stared at her weirdly.

"Impressing the leader, are we?" Jyra said, and Zulfikar's eyes widened. Miezza looked from Jyra and Zul, then laughed.

"Oh my gosh, no wonder!" Miezza giggled.

"What?" The short girl asked, looking confused. Her smile that never wavered etched on her face, completing her 'what do you know that I don't' look.

"Nothing." Zul answered immediately, shooting daggers to Jyra who plastered an innocent expression.

Sheronica chuckled. "Fine, laugh on your own." She joked, and turned to rinse the chopped veggies before adding it into the pot.

Zulfikar narrowed his eyes while the two girls quietly burst in a fit of giggles.

Apparently they found it really fun teasing the tall guy, as his skin was pale, and it was so obvious when he blushed. Even his ears burned.

"Hey." A deep voice said, and all heads turned to the kitchen entrance.

Izzudin walked in casually and stood beside sitting Miezza. She stopped giggling abruptly, leaving Jyra to nudge her below the table.

"Hey girls." He acknowledged Miezza and Jyra who was sitting, and Zulfikar who was standing at the other side of the countertop.

"Zul."

Zul smiled and continued his job.

"What can I do for you, Izz?" Sheronica glanced to her back.

"Can I ask for more coffee? I finished mine."

His friend smiled, and started on his drink.

"Sure thing."

"Thank you." He said gratefully.

"It's hard to see you around, lately, Izz. You are holed up in your office. What's up?" It was Miezza.

It was true that Izzudin was barely seen with them, he would only come down for his meals, and even then, sometimes Sheronica will bring his food to him. Everyone was wondering, but the leaders won't tell them anything. No one dared to ask him, so she made the first step.

Because she missed him.

Izzudin flashed her a grin. "Why, miss me?"

Jyra bursted out laughing.

"No, just wondering." Miezza shrugged, hoping that her heart that was hammering onto her rib wasn't loud enough for him to hear.

"I have some reading to do. That's all. I'll be back before you know it to yell at your incompetence in the warfield." He grinned, blue eyes shining with humour.

Miezza chuckled. "Well glad to know. The practice isn't the same without your nagging."

Izzudin raised one brow in amusement.

"I have your coffee brewing. Give it some time." Sheronica said, her eyes smiling.

She wiped her palms on her apron and turned down the stove a bit. "Will you guys be a sweetheart, and help me to watch the soup? I need to grab the laundry."

She moved to the back door before Zulfikar stopped her.

"I'm going with you." There was no way he was going to leave her alone, not after what happened.

Sheronica smiled up to him and continued walking out through the back door.

And they were gone.

Jyra cleared her throat and stood up, her chair scraped on the floor, making loud noises.

"I just remember that I need to train with Lily. Bye." She winked at Miezza and left her with Izzudin alone. Miezza shoot air daggers to Jyra back, hoping that her friend would come back and save her from embarrassing herself.

Izzudin chuckled. "Well I guess, we both need to watch the soup." He dragged a chair and sat next to Miezza.

Things were quiet between them, only the sound of soup cooking on the stove was heard. Miezza stole a look to the guy who was sitting beside her, and saw him staring straight at his coffee. It was going to be ready in a few moments, but she cannot seem to open her mouth. But then Hisham's words echoed in her mind.

"She's really something, aren't she?" She started, and she sensed that she had now caught Izzudin's attention.

"Who?"

Miezza nodded to the steaming pot, and Izzudin chuckled.

"She is." He replied, and she noticed his proudness that laced in his voice.

"No wonder you're close with her." Miezza mumbled, but she was sure Izz heard her. She turned to him just to see him watching her.

Her tone changed when she said it, and he was trying to read her mind, but her face remained neutral.

"I am, just like I'm close to Farra and Aieyn." He replied.

Miezza darted her eyes back to the stove.

"But it is not the same with her."

"Miezza-"

She shook her head. "I am just going to say this once, Izz, so please listen. You can choose what to do after this, either you want to ignore me, or act like this never happens, I'll accept it. But just bear with me, just this once. I don't want to die in regret." She said, looking up to Izzudin who only watched her.

"I don't know if you notice, but the way you treat each other differently, and I.." She sighed.

"I don't know what to say, I'm not good at this. I wish I can turn back time and change what I feel towards you but I can't, and even if I could I won't. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I don't want to ruin our friendship because of this."

She played with her fingers and continued. "But I realised that I might not survive this war, and I don't want to die only as a girl who can make winds with her hands, and a member of this Clan." She glanced at him briefly and stared out ahead. "I want to be at least someone who leave an impression to you, I want you to remember me differently."

She bit her bottom lip and tried to contain her feelings. She turned to him.

"So even if I'd die, I won't be leaving with regret." She finished, and searched his eyes.

She had a little hope that he would be feeling the same thing towards her, but his face was void of any expressions.

She felt a pang in her heart so she took a deep breath, stood up and walked away, leaving Izzudin alone.