HER CRUSH

Chapter15

Zarah..
So, where's my rival?" I asked again , sipping my juice like I was cool and unbothered, when in reality my heart was thumping like bambam drumline.

He  tilted his head, clearly amused. "Rival? Who exactly are you talking about?"

I rolled my eyes. That chewing gum you call Sufyan. Always with you, always in the background. Even in our first proper conversation, his name was flying around. I should be jealous."

He burst out laughing, deep and rich. "Wait...you're jealous of Sufyan? My cousin?"

"Cousin, brother, twin flame, emotional support gum....whatever he is," I retorted, pointing my straw at him like it was a dagger. "You talk about him so much I thought maybe I should send him chocolates just to get on his good side."

He  leaned back, smile  spreading across his face. "So you admit it. You are jealous."

I nearly choked on my drink. "Excuse me? Me? Zarah Tukur? Jealous?" I placed a hand dramatically on my chest. "Impossible. I simply don't compete with chewing gum."

The waiter arrived with our food....steaming plates of rice, grilled chicken, and meat with onions. My stomach growled loudly enough for Abdullah to hear, and I quickly coughed to cover it up.

"Wow," I think your stomach just confessed its love to the food before you did."

I glared at him, stabbing my chicken with unnecessary force. "Better than confessing to you."

He laughed again, you know, you're actually funny when you're angry."

"I'm not angry." I sniffed. "This is just my normal, everyday beautiful face."

"Beautiful, yes," he said smoothly, making me freeze mid-chew. Then, as if nothing happened, he dipped his meat  in pepper sauce like he hadn't just set my heart on fire.

Ya Allah. Did this boy just....I quickly looked down, pretending to rearrange my rice. If he caught me blushing, I'd have to throw myself under the table.

Trying to recover, I raised a brow. "So, Oxford boy, aerospace engineering, final year... Are you planning to build rockets or just airplanes for rich people?"

"Both," he answered easily. "Maybe one day I'll build something that takes people like you to the moon."

"Ha!" I smiled . "Me? I don't need a rocket. My attitude already reaches the moon and back."

He gave me a long look, then burst out laughing again. "You're unbelievable, Zarah."

"I know," I replied smugly, stuffing a forkful of rice into my mouth. "But that's what makes me unforgettable."

For a few minutes, we ate in silence ....well, except for my brain, which was yelling at me like a gossiping auntie. Look at you, Zarah, acting cool while this guy with the smooth voice and Oxford brain is sitting across from you in kaftan. Don't choke on the meat  now.

He  broke the silence. "You know, Sufyan will definitely want to meet you one day."

"Why?" I asked cautiously, narrowing my eyes.

"Because you've already declared war on him without even meeting him," he said, chuckling. "And he'll want to know the girl who thinks she's his rival."