Since they were kids

Playmates

"Tasleemah!" Ihsaan bellowed, balancing himself on the branch of an oak tree. It was his turn to count in their regular game of hide and seek after school. He sat there scanning the school compound determined to find her. " I refuse to be defeated once more" he thought to himself. After 15 minutes however , he reluctantly decided to give up. "Tasleemah I give up!"he bellowed once more. "Yes! I knew you'd surrender!"she squeeled jogging gingerly towards the oak tree. "You can come dowwwn nowwww" she teased as she stood under the oak tree peering up at him with her moon-shaped eyes. He warily came down and stood infront of her. " I'm not playing this game again" he said sounding frustrated. "Come on its just a game" she giggled, patting him on the shoulder. "Come let's go home" he said punching her shoulder playfully as they made their way through the gate.

They strodded to the bus stop waiting for a bus to go home. Not long after a few buses drove up. Without further adue, they shared a friendly hug, gave their salaams and departed on different transports. "How long am I going to hide this from her" Ihsaan sighed as he sat quietly in the bus and leaned his head on the window in deep thought.

Since the day Ihsaan laid eyes on Tasleemah at Madrasah-tul-bayt he was drawn towards her beauty and charisma. As they became closer his feelings towards her only progressed. From that day on however, she is yet to know. At age 9, Ihsaan was already considering her as his possible wife in the future. Each day that went by, he was always baffled on the decision of telling her how he felt. Each attempt he made, he was always pulled back from the fear of the feelings not being mutual which could have bruised the beautiful friendship they shared. After considering all these factors, he released a huge sigh and slipped into a light doze.

"Ihsaan! Wake up!"the bus driver shouted. Ihsaan jumped out of his doze in shock and warily looked around. "You're home now" he continued. " OK shukran" he quickly responded and made his way out.

Tasleemah's POV

I admired him in silence as he sat blindfolded counting to 20 in our regular game of hide-and-seek. "When am I going to just tell him" I pondered. I fell in deep thought and before I knew it he was already at 15. I scampered aimlessly trying to find the perfect hiding spot. Without second thought, I slid under the auditorium and peeped out waiting patiently for my crush to find me. I was infatuated by him from the first day I laid eyes on him at Madrasah-tul-bayt. His face was perfectly sculptured with almond shaped eyes that pinched at the sides. His hazel eyes pierced into my soul like a dream whenever we made eye contact. He had this general swag about him that just made me melt. Since that day on, I often found myself smiling insantaniously whenever he crossed my mind. As I got to know him better my feelings towards him only progressed.

"Tasleemah!"he shouted at the top of his voice. I dug my body deeper under the auditorium to conceal my head. After waiting for what seemed like forever, he echoed once more "Tasleemah I give up!". "Argh" I sighed, "He's such a crappy seeker". I cautiously pulled myself out and ran towards the one place he always used to search for me, the oak tree.

I peered up and saw him sitting on a branch swaying his feet nonchalantly. "You can come dowwwwn nowwww" I teased in a singing tone. He got up and cautiously climbed his way down. "I'm not playing this game again" he pouted. "Come on, its just a game" I giggled, patting him on the shoulder trying to muster my amusement. "Come let's go home" he said punching me on the shoulder. Oh my, whenever we made physical contact my skin would tingle. We made our way to the bus stop and waited patiently on buses. Moments later, the buses arrived. We exchanged a friendly hug, gave our salaams and went our separate ways. As I got in the bus I gave the bus driver my salaam and sunk into the first seat I could find. Ahh, dont I make it obvious enough that I like him or do I literally need to spell it out before he gets the picture? But then again, he probably has picked up the signals but pays a blind eye towards them because he doesnt feel the same way. "But who can resist me?" I whispered boastfully to myself. My mind was clouded with thoughts and before I knew it, I was home. I gathered myself together and quickly made my way through the door.