Anything Could Happen

Friends Help Friends

Chapter 31.

I applied a bit of lipgloss and eyeliner before throwing on another dress and a pair of sandals (the pretty type). After tying my hair into a high ponytail, leaving few tendrils to frame my face, I inspected myself in the mirror. To myself, I looked presentable, not overdone. Other people's opiniond didn't matter. As long as I was content with myself.

"You look beautiful Deli!"

Yıldız wore a white vest with a pair of denim shorts and takkies. She also had minimal makeup but she looked good.

"Likewise. I totally understand why Cihan fell for you."

I almost immediately regretted my words because the couple were not on good terms and neither was Fuad and I. I made a mental note to not being up the topic of our boyfriends again. Yıldız simply smiled and grabbed my wrist before pulling me out of her bedroom.

"Mom! Dad! We'll see you later. Delnaz and I are going out for lunch," Yıldız ran out the main door, dragging me with before her parents could reply.

~●○●~

Chicken Cuisine was empty when Yıldız and I walked in. A woman stood at the counter waiting for someone to stop by. Yıldız and I quickly ordered three meals before finding ourselves a comfortable spot. I placed my satchel on the seat next to me. I looked around nervously but there was nobody other than the crew that bustled around behind the counter and in the kitchen.

"She should be here any minute now," Yıldız said, inspecting her watch.

My palms began to sweat. This plan made me feel very uneasy. I was not one to call out people on their personal issues. Yıldız, however, was my opposite; confident in pretty much everything that she did. With trust in my heart, I left this plan to her.

We waited for about 5 more minutes before we were graced with another presence.

"Yıldız."

"Afsana."

The two had a staredown before Afsana took her seat.

"Hello Delnaz." Afsana gave me a cold look before continuing. "Sorry to keep you ladies waiting, I was held up with the traffic."

The funny thing was that the roads were empty.

"Yes, right. Of course you were."
Yıldız continued to use her phone as she mocked Afsana.

I stifled a giggle at how serious they were being. Our food soon arrived and we dug in. Well, I did. Afsana and Yıldız were too busy having another staredown to embrace the bite-sized heaven right under their noses.

"So, Afsana, want to tell us a bit about Hassan?"

I cringed for Afsana and started to feel sorry for her. She was visibly uncomfortable, shifted in her seat but continued to pop several chips into her mouth. Confidence is key, right?

Afsana took her time to chew her food and let out a barely audible sigh of relief when she was done. I watched her intently. She seemed so confident to the world but call her out on one minor insecurity and you've already broken down part of the walls she'd built up around her. Afsana made herself out to be nothing but someone's crownie. She, herself couldn't see that she was actually so much more than that.