Rekindled

Labiba

My vision is foggy due to the inadequate amount of sleep I got last night. I bring my hands to rub my eyes in disbelief. Ivory skin, lazy black curls. I would recognise those caramel dipped eyes in every crowd. How could I not?

The pair of eyes look back at me in visibly equal incredulity before walking past me like I'm just another classmate he's never met before. It's almost cruel how the universe likes to mock you.

"Existential crisis?" Zahra waves her hand infront of my face, close enough to land a slap.

I chuckle at her comment and lead the way to our seat. While I'm sat all I can think about right now is, how?

What were the possibilities? Why did it have to be the university of California? What about the real reason we parted ways? Where did I ever stand? What happened now? I had so many questions thrown at my face the moment I walked in through that door and saw the person standing infront of me. The person I thought I'd never get to see again.

Zahra takes the seat beside me. "If you glare at him any longer you'll make a hole in his back with your eyes."

I flinch back and open my mouth to speak but I'm at a loss of words. She knew, of course she knew. My eyebrows scrunch in confusion. She must've noticed my change in expression because she continued.

"I had no idea if that's what you're thinking. I didn't even attend classes until today because of you!"

Zahra is my friend of 10 years. The oldest and the closest person I've ever had as a bestfriend. I'm almost surprised at how I managed to last so long with someone.

Oh well when my mind lingers a little too long on that question it opens a closed wound.

"I know you'd tell me. I don't know how to feel about this." I let out a sigh. I don't really know what to tell her. I do know what to feel about this actually. I should feel enraged, loathing or abhorrence but unfortunately the only I thing I feel right now is confusion and heartening. I feel a tingle of joy in my heart acknowledging the possibilities. But I suppress the feelings far back into my mind because the last time I allowed myself to feel that way I ended up in an endless spiral of despair. I need to stay away for my own good.

Zahra gives me a sympathetic look before changing the topic. "So when are you going shopping with me?"

I stare at her in confusion "Shopping for what? We went shopping just last week."

"Tell me you're kidding. We have a prom to attend by the end of this week!" She says it like it's the most obvious thing ever that I'm going.

"I would go but I have a company to work on." I record whatever our professor was spewing because today my attention is elsewhere.

She rolls her eyes at me. "Boring. I knew you'd say that which is why, I got you a date."

"A what?" I yell out loud enough for her to hear but not others.

"A date yes but you'll only know after he asks you out."

I glare at the brunette beside me. She's impossible and adamant. Arguing with her is pointless so I give up. I'll just keep in mind to reject the lucky person.

I pack my stuff into my bag as the class is dismissed. "Shopping at Tuesday, be there at sharp 3"

She mimicked a loud yes. I chuckle at her excitement. I don't have the heart to let her down. We part ways since she has a class now and I'm on my way to the cafeteria. A gust of strong cologne hits me when I reach inside. I don't have to look to my left to know who's here.