Masked

《16》

•{the mask}•

"Where to this early?"

Asmah exclaimed, making way for Huda to walk in, the smile never leaving her eyes.

"I haven't even had breakfast yet!"

Asmah sighed, walking to the large table standing just outside the kitchen. Huda chuckled, sitting down in front of her.

"Look at you, sleeping in on weekends."

"Well, it's not like we get any other day free like today. Besides, I was a little too tired yesterday night."

Asmah answered as she chewed on her honey waffle, Huda stared at her longingly.

"I know, a lot has been going on with you, these past few days. That is why I'm here, to let you catch a breath."

"Oh! I'm excited!"

Asmah squealed, dancing her shoulders as she finished her orange juice. Huda chuckled again, signaling her to get ready. She gave her an optimistic nod, before zooming into the kitchen with her plates and glass, then running upstairs. 

She came down after a long while, clad in a beige shirt, over which she wore dark brown carpenters, with a neatly tied hijab of the same combination. 

"Let's go!"

She beamed a smile at Huda, who had now stood up, her phone loosely held in her hand. 

"I had almost began to rethink my decision. Goodness, no wonder you're always late to work."

Huda eyed her, as she threw her phone back in her purse, while the short woman only displayed the wide smile she had put on for the rest of the day.

"I'm in no mood to be sad today, so no matter what you say, I wouldn't mind!"

"Woah, what a lucky day,"

Huda mumbled, as Asmah linked arms with her. That was one-of-a-kind ability that Huda felt only Asmah possessed, beaming out her feelings in high intensity, so much that they would become contagious, just as they had became then. 

The grey-eyed woman, who was wiser among the two, would tell the emerald-eyed one occasionally to keep it a little low at times, as anything is dangerous if left uncontrolled. Asmah had very much been practicing it, but would let her guard down at times. Those were some of the times that Huda cherished, some also being ones that she disliked.  

They walked into Huda's white Camry, bidding salams to Mariyam, who had been immersed in trimming off bushes that stood in all four corners of the Zaman house.

"Will you tell me where we are going?"

Asmah began as soon as the engine started.

"You'll know when we get there."

Huda smiled slyly, staring in front of her at the road, her slender hands smoothly sliding over the wheel. 

"You know, it's a bit unusual coming from you."

"Why's that?"

Huda asked after a pause.

"It's usually me who plans our hang-outs. I thought you didn't really care to do the spot-hunting?"

Huda chuckled. Asmah's witty question, followed by the person that came in her mind gave life to something inside her. Perhaps suppressed excitement.

"I didn't need to do it this time as well. A friend helped me."

"Friend?"

Huda stole a glance at Asmah's dumbfounded state, then giggled looking away quickly. Asmah continued to stare at the quite woman for another while, before rolling her eyes away, her lips curving into an 'o' shape.