INSECURE (On Hold)

Chapter 6

'I thank god every day because I was blessed with the gift of meeting someone as special as you'

Ayani

The smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me as soon as I opened the door of the small café I worked part time. There were small booths lining the wall and the remaining space was scattered with small tables.
Despite the cafes size there was always a healthy flow of customers. Which was why I was not surprised to see almost all the booths and tables occupied.

'Hey! Yaan.'

Arin called out to me from her place behind the counter. She was a pretty girl with a heart shaped face and lively brown eyes. She was literally a ray of sunshine in my dull life.

'Hey. How have you been?'

I gave her a small smile and put my bag in the small cupboard kept for the staff.
I worked at the cafe on week days at the evenings. My weekends were spent at a printing shop just across the street from the university we both attended. We met at work but were too busy the rest of the time.

'I'm ok. Just tired cuz I stayed up all night.'

She huffed, throwing her hands up into the air in a dramatic manner.

'Come on Arin. We both know you were finishing the assignment. You procrastinate too much. Isn't it time you worked on that?'

Arin was a major in procrastinating. She drags her work until its just hours till the deadline. I'm surprised she actually gets a decent score on them.

'Oh stop lecturing me. Go and do your job.'

She pushed me away acting as though she was angry but the smile on her lips said otherwise.
I turned around to serve the first table that was recently taken. After tying up the apron I grabbed a note pad and a pen from the top of the counter.
The table was full, all of them boys.

'Hi. I'm going to be taking your orders. What would you like to have?'

Putting on my best smile I greeted them with politeness. They looked a little older than me but didn't have the proud atmosphere around them that most teenagers usually had these days. I felt a little better knowing I recognized none of the three I was facing. The fourth had his back to me so I had no clear view of his face. His hair was black and wavy and I couldn't help but wonder if I had seen it before.

'I want coffee. Black, no sugar.'

Said a shockingly familiar voice. The boy with the similar hair turned and it was like I was slapped across my face.
I'd recognize that face anywhere.

Oh, dear! Its really him! Twice in a day. Gone were my chances of ever forgetting the beautiful stranger.

The head was familiar alright. It was Neil,from the library. As we made eye contact I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes.

'Hi. Ayani! We meet again. Do you work here?'

His voice brought me out of my thoughts once again. I nodded, unable to answer verbally.
I took the other orders in a rush, desperate to escape the burning heat of his gaze. If this was what he felt when I stared at him at the library I wonder how he tolerated it. I felt vulnerable than I had ever been.

I gave the order to the chefs inside the kitchen and took out a water bottle from the fridge along with four glasses to go along with it. Instead of making my way back to the table I stopped at the counter.

'Arin! Do me a favour please. Take these to the table I just took the order from. The one on the left.'

I pointed towards the table Neil sat.

'Yaan. What happened? Did they say something at you?'

Arin questioned, her protective mode on. She absolutely hated Laisha and her minions. Too bad our schedules didn't match.

'No. Just go. I'll tell you later.'

I waited anxiously as Arin walked to the table. Neil asked her something and she seemed to hesitate before answering.

♡♡♡

'Explain!'

Arin dragged me to the kitchen and fixed her eyes on me. Her hands were on her hips and the serious look in her eyes told me she was not letting this go.
I told her everything and she seemed almost confused.

'So you're telling me the 'HOT BOY' sat with you at the library when there were no other occupied tables? Did he do something to make you uncomfortable? Is that it? Did he call you names?'

Arin asked me and I immediately shook my head. My cheeks were flushed at the term she used to describe Neil.
She narrowed her eyes at me. In a second, her eyes lit up like bulbs and she screamed out.

'OMG! OMG! YAAN! YOU LIKE HIM DON'T YOU! WOAH! THIS IS EPIC EPICCCCC!!'

Her shrill voice rang out through the kitchen, gaining disapproving looks from the people there. I put my hands on her mouth fearing the customers might hear it.

'YAAN! This is amazing. You should go after him. He is d*mn fine to look. I can almost see you guys together. Your babies will be cuuuutte. Those looks will be a sure plus. Tell me Yaan. You like him, don't you? Get him guuurl. I've been DYING to go on a double date with you but, you never find a boy that matched your expectations.'

She threw a glare my way. I simply put my hands on my ears. For a small girl like her she sure had a big voice. A potty mouth too. One could never guess the pretty, innocent Arin was a tiger in disguise. She was sweet to the people she cared about but, she would burn you with her tongue if you dared to provoke her. While I admired her as my friend I still wished I could be a little like her.
Brave.

'WAITTT! He asked me about you. Doesn't that mean he was actually expecting you back there? I officially approve this ship. Ship AYAA.....Aaa...Neelaa aaa...'

She trailed off, obviously trying to come up with a good ship name. Arin was one of a kind. One thing  I always liked about her was her positive thinking. She helped me a lot to cope on with everything or rather the absence of certain things in my life. 
She gets over excited about things and I told myself that it was exactly what she was doing right now.

Neil was probably taken.
There was no way someone with such good looks could be single. Even if he was I doubted he'd be interested in me.

While I didn't deny I found him attractive I still felt apprehensive about us being together. It seemed like a dream. A fantasy that will never be real.

I didn't go back to his table. I was too scared to be in front of him again. My nerves were singing, my heart in a frenzy.

I was drying coffee cups at the counter when Neil left along with his friends. My eyes followed his sturdy back as he Walked to the door. He stopped a few feet from the door and turned back abruptly.
His eyes met mine and my breath constricted.

Oh no! He caught me. Can you be more obvious Ayani? Now he will think I'm some kind of freak! Stop looking. Stoooooop.

My cheeks were on fire. The self-satisfying smirk that made its way onto his lips confirmed the fact that he saw how red my face was.
As much as I hated that he caught me I still felt a little better that he didn't ignore me like all the others.
He must have liked the fact that he had an effect on me.

Or did he?

A/N.
Hi readers! This is a long chapterrr. Hope you enjoyed reading. I feel badd for Ayani. 😕
I wouldn't want to be caught staring😅.
Will Neil be different?
What do you think abt Arin? Please dont feel offended by Arin cursing. It just comes with her personality.
Im Sorry that both of  their names start with A. It was just a coincidence.😁
Though it fits them. Being close friends and all that. I honestly think it's kind of cool.😍
I can't come up.with a good ship name for the time being. It would be GREAT if you guys helped me.🙏🙏

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT. I look forward to reading what you think about this chapter.