LOVE TRIALS

v

Sufiyan had been scrolling on his phone when she knocked on the passenger window, indicating him to unlock the car. He did, he had been waiting for it, preparing for it.

Sufiyan flattened his hand on the leather cover as she opened the door to the passenger seat, "Can you please sit at the back?"

"No. You're not my driver."

Sufiyan gave a tight smile, "Yes. Please, Eli will sit here. We'll pick her on the way."

"Who even invited Eli?" Maysa bristled, quietly.

"She's my plus one to your birthday party," Sufiyan winced when Maysa closed the car door, harshly.

A moment later, she sat in the backseat, he imagined he would see the angry fumes coming out of her ears if he spared a look at her and Sufiyan had to cover his smiling mouth with his hand before she saw it. She would surely kill him for laughing at her as he reversed the car out of the driveway. If looks could kill, he would have been buried six feet under the wet soil, he was aware of her empty stare at the back of his head.

Sufiyan wished she'd say something but nothing betrayed her carefully mastered composure while his emotions were a wreck. He hated it when Eli sat beside him and Maysa remained at the back, staring out of the window. She wouldn't look at him, no matter how many times he'd tried to catch her eyes in the rearview mirror.

"Happy Birthday, Maysa!" Eli turned in her seat so she could look at the back, halfway through their journey when the tension in the air thickened. She could cut it with a knife if she tried, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Maysa closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she had plastered a small smile on her lips when she faced Eli.

"Thank you," Maysa smiled, politely.

"Here, this is for you," Eli said as she gave her a small shopping bag. "I hope you like it."

Sufiyan held his breath when Maysa sought his gaze in the rearview mirror, he gave a subtle nod.

"Thank you, you didn't have to," Maysa said, softly.

"So, how old are you, now?" Eli asked, in vain efforts to dissolve the tension in the air.

"Never ask a woman her age and a man his salary," Maysa reminded her, cheekily as Sufiyan chuckled.

"Oops, sorry." Eli smiled, bashfully.

Maysa witnessed the easy exchange between Sufiyan and Elizabeth, a sudden feeling of loss encompassed her. She blinked, banishing the terrible thoughts out of her mind. She was grateful, she didn't have to sit between them for too long when they reached the destination and she schooled her expression.

She had to act surprised, Shahzaib didn't know Sufiyan had ruined his plan with the cruel play of his words, two nights ago.

Maysa detested him for stealing a moment's happiness from her among other things he had taken from her so selfishly, without a thought of returning them.

She hated him for it.

"Surprise!"

Maysa gasped, a genuine smile pulled at her lips when Shahzaib greeted her at the door of the restaurant with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. She almost turned around to ask Sufiyan about the specie but resisted.

"Happy Birthday, Maysa! You look amazing," He leaned in to whisper in her ear and she took a step back, stumbling into his open arms, he caught her against his solid chest. Her skin singed where his hands clasped her arms, he held her tightly and her eyes rose to meet his, unbidden.