📍New Jersey, New Brunswick
“Aaaaah, omg I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, aaaaaah”
I screamed so loudly in excitement that Imaan got startled.
“What happened?Reejh?”
shocked Imaan was looking at my face very carefully.
“Sorry Imaan, did I scream too loud?”
Imaan sarcastically replied,
“No, I was actually scared by the sound of a gunshot. Obviously, you screamed very loudly. Now tell me, what happened?”
I whispered softly into Imaan’s ear,
“Ana Huang finally released the next book of the King series. Now I’m going to finish the Twisted series quickly and start reading this one.”
Imaan put her hand on her head and said,
“So much noise for just a book? What’s wrong with you, girl? Anyway, love, let’s finish up quickly and then go home.”
I nodded and started completing the orders.
“Hey, can I get a medium-sized cool wrap and grilled chicken club sandwich….aaannnddd”
I was waiting to take the order.
“Aaandddd aaah idk can you suggest me something?”
“Ah yes, ma’am, you can complete your order with grilled nuggets, waffle potato fries with mac & cheese, and in salad, you can add either a side or Cobb salad.”
She was confused but agreed. My suggestion seemed to please her. Of course, it would, as I could see she’s a foodie. It’s nice when someone sets aside their insecurities and focuses on their own happiness.
“Okay, a Cobb salad,”
she said with a big smile and completed her order. I low-key liked her spirit. This was my last customer.
Imaan quickly completed the order, and we both went outside Chick-fil-A. Then Imaan asked me about my love for books.
“So, tell me Reejh, why do you like romance novels so much?”
I corrected her, saying,
“No, not romance.”
I took a pause and said in a dramatic tone,
“Dark romance, my love.”
Imaan rolled her eyes and said,
“None of this is real, Reejh. In real life, there are only villains with bad intentions. In real life, neither Rhys Larsen will come to protect you, nor will Josh Chan heal your period cramps, nor will Christian Harper handle your insecurities, nor will love be like Alex Volkov’s. You like bikers, right? So do you think every guy is Tristan Cain? No, Reejh, not everyone has good intentions in this world. Protect yourself because I don’t want you to get hurt. The world doesn’t care about anyone’s sorrow. So step out of these storybook worlds and see reality. Not everyone is as genuine and good as you.”
Imaan’s eyes were filled with tears. I knew why she was saying all this. Two years ago, she was just like me, completely crazy, seeing goodness in everything, loving everyone—in short, she was a complete sunshine girl. And then Imaan fell in love with a guy, and she did everything in love that a girl could do out of madness. She was completely blind in love, and then one day her boyfriend cheated on her. At night, the doorbell rang at my house.
I opened the gate to find Imaan, crying and drenched in the rain. She couldn’t believe that the guy she loved so much had betrayed her so badly. That night, she was crying and sobbing, asking,
“Why me?”
I thought she would forget everything in a few days, but now, after two years, she still hates the word ‘love’ and has become a living corpse.
Coming out of my thoughts, I said,
“Imaan, life gives everyone a chance to be happy. It’s not necessary to be happy with someone; the joy of loving yourself is unmatched. I know you were shattered after that breakup, but I pray to God that you find the kind of love you have always wanted.” I took a pause and said, “I don’t know what’s in my fate or who is in it, but I do know that my best friend is always with me, protecting me, guiding me, and loving me a lot. And thank you, Imaan, for never making me feel the lack of a home.”
She hugged me instantly and said,
“I’m so lucky to have you, Reejh , and I’m glad that you are my best friend.”
I said bye to her and went towards parking lot
I moved towards my car when I realized that someone was following me. I turned around to look but there was no one there. I started the car and then noticed a sticky note
“Shit, I forgot again. What are you doing reejh?”
I said to myself
I drove towards Walmart and bought everything on my list. I put all the stuff in my car and headed towards Dunkin’s drive-thru.
“Hey, can I get a medium vanilla swirled iced coffee?”
I ordered.
“Is it caramel or just plain?”
“Caramel and with extra cream.”
“Yeah, $2.54.”
He handed over my coffee and said,
“Have a nice day.”
“Yeah, thank you, you too,”
I replied.
I started driving and reached home in 10 minutes. I opened the door to my house. Just then, a message from Imaan popped up on my phone:‘Hey babe, I reached home.’
I smiled at her text and quickly replied,‘I just got home too.’
We always call or text each other upon reaching home to make sure we got home safely.
I placed the bags on the bed and went to the bathroom to take a hot shower. After the shower, I drank my coffee and grabbed a book that I had already started reading, Twisted Lies, my current favorite. As I began reading, it started raining heavily and the power went out. I got up from the bed and quickly went to the large balcony in my room. The white curtains in my room were fluttering wildly in the wind, and my heartbeat was racing.
“Oh God, please don’t do this, I’m very scared of the dark,”
I muttered to myself.
Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder, so loud that it shook me to my core. I took a few steps back in fear, and then I realized that someone was behind me. Suddenly, a 6-foot tall , muscular man, wearing a mask—not exactly a mask, but something that covered his mouth and nose, leaving his eyes to sparkle in the lightning flash.
Write a comment ...