Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Emma was munching on her pizza when she saw Zada walking into the cafe.

Emma raised her hands and waved frantically earning Zada's attention.

"Adaa!. Here, here." Emma called out happily.

"Ada??" Zahir and Zian frowned at the new name of their sister’s name.

"There. My best friend. Her name is Zada. I call her Ada because I am her bestie and I should call her something different.” Emma said in a serious tone, making the brothers wonder whether to chuckle or roll their eyes.

"You should??" Zian asked.

Zada came to their table and took a seat next to Zahir.

"Twins. This is my best friend Zada. And Ada, these are the infamous twins. Zahir and Zian. Remember our project??" Emma eyed Zada not so discreetly.

"Project?? What project??" Zian asked in confusion.

"It's a secret Zi - Zi," Emma said with a cheeky smile.

"Zi - Zi? Now what's that??" Zian asked with a chuckle.

"Hey, that’s my special name for you. I always give special names to everyone. Everyone calls you Zian. You said you sister calls you Zi. Your brother too calls you that. But I like Zi. So I thought I would call you Zi-Zi. Aren't I smart?? You know what? When momma was pregnant with me she used to eat twenty one almonds every day. Her momma, that is my granny. She used to make momma eat all those things like almonds, saffron in milk, spinach, broccoli ,tomatoes. But I don't really like tomatoes. They are so eeww.... " Emma ranted on and the triplets gaped at her with an open mouth.

"Okay. I don't have the energy for another discussion on tomatoes please." Zada called a halt to Emma's ranting.

"Sweetheart!! I am hurt." Zahir said, clutching his heart dramatically, earning an eye roll from both his siblings.

"Why?? What happened??" Emma asked with a frown.

"You have special names for everyone, but not for me??" Zahir asked with a pout.

"Oh no!! I am trying to figure out one. I haven't come up with one yet. Everyone, feel free to suggest a special name for Z1" Emma said earnestly, making them all chuckle.

"Okay sweetheart. I am waiting with bated breath." Zahir said and took some fries from Zada's plate.

Zada swatted his hands away.

"How many time have we told you not to steal from our plates." Zada whispered, leaning towards him.

"We are triplets. What is yours is mine too." Zahir whispered back, grinning cheekily as he stole another fry from her plate.

Zada groaned.

"When will you grow out of this triplet excuse. You have been using that ever since you learned to talk." Zada whispered again in annoyance.

"And that happened way before you two learned to talk. I know you two still hold a grudge against me for that. But what is my fault in that? I am born smart, unlike you two. You two had to work hard to keep up with me. That doesn't mean you will treat me like this little sis. I am hurt." Zahir said with a pout.

"Shut up, drama queen..And how many times I have to tell you I am not your little sister. I am only ten minutes younger to you." Zada whispered again and they both looked up to see Emma looking at them with narrowed eyes.

"Emma.... "

Emma pointed a finger at Zahir.

"You... "

"Look. We will explain okay. Relax," Zahir said, trying to placate her.

"What is there to explain? You were stealing fries from my bestie's plate. As a best friend I will fight you from my Ada's corner. You will buy her another plate of fries." Emma said and Zahir and Zada breathed out in relief and Zian rolled his eyes.

"All the best bro. I wonder how long she will take to figure out that you have feelings for her." Zahir mumbled, audible only for Zian, earning a glare in return.

Zahir placed another plate of fries in front of Zada and bowed dramatically in front of Emma.

"You wish is my command, your highness" he said and Emma giggled.

Emma's phone binged and she attended the call and after listening to the person on the other end she shrieked in excitement.

"I am at the cafe. Come here fast," she said and hung up the phone and did a little dance in her seat.

"What happened?? Who was it??" Zian asked, smiling at her happy face.

"It was Ryan." Emma said happily.

"Who the hell is Ryan??" Zian asked. He didn’t mean it to come out like that, but he couldn’t stop the words from rolling out of his tongue.

"He is my classmate. You remember Zada?? I told you about him. He got a new bike. He brought it today. He said he will take me for a ride around the city. We are bunking the class today." Emma said, clapping her hands in excitement.

Liam, after sending his mother home, walked towards the cafe and on his way he met Isabella.

As they entered the cafe he saw his Mirrie sitting with the twins and Emma.

Emma seemed to be having an argument with Zahir?? Or was it Zian??

The other one and Mirrie were watching the scene with an amused look on their faces. The only thing missing is a bucket of popcorn.

"What's going on guys??" Liam asked as he pulled a seat next to Zada.

Zada could feel her heart in her throat. Her brothers and Liam together in front of her. A scene she has been dreading for such a long time now.

He wouldn't behave as if he knew her. Would he??

"Oh Emma here wants to go on a bike ride and Zi seems to have some problem with that." Zahir said with a smirk.

At the same time a good looking guy entered the cafe, twirling a key on his fingers.

He looked around and spotted Emma and a smile appeared on his face.

"Heyy Emma," he walked towards her and his eyes widened in surprise seeing the golden clique with Emma.

"Wow!! You are friends with the golden clique. That's fantabulous," he said in excitement.

"I am fantabulous." Emma said, grinning proudly.

"Heyy. I am Ryan. I am Emma's friend. Actually we are going for a ride. I came to pick her up," he said with a charming smile and it just pushed Zian’s wrong button.

Zian stood up from his chair and towered over the guy. He folded his arms across his chest and stared him down.

"You want to take her for a ride??" He asked, staring straight into the guy's eyes.

Ryan frowned cluelessly.

"Uh yes."

"You do??" Zian again asked in a dangerously calm voice.

Ryan cleared his throat and smiled awkwardly as he saw the danger signs in Zian's stance. The guy was staking his claim. It was as clear as daylight. It is better for his health to back off now.

"Actually, mom wanted me to come home early today. I totally forgot. I think I should go home now." Ryan said, throwing an apologetic glance at Emma.

Zian patted Ryan's shoulder, swatting away the invisible dust.

"That's great. Mom should always be your priority. Now go" Zian said in smooth tone and Ryan shot an awkward smile at him.

Emma pouted as she watched Ryan run away from the cafe in a hurry.

"That was supposed to be my first bike ride." Emma said giving Zian an accusing look.

"If you want to go on a bike ride. I will take you." Zian said and Emma's face lit up like a thousand watts bulb.

"Really??" Emma asked in excitement.

"Yeah," Zian nodded, equally excited, but he didn’t show it.

"You have officially become my knight in shining armour," she declared, throwing her arms around him giving him a tight hug.

The others on the table looked on with widened eyes and open mouths.

Heat crept up Zian's cheeks and Zahir smirked evilly.

"Aww! Is Emma's zi-zi blushing?" Zahir asked, cooing at Zian.

"Shut up," Zian glared at him.

"How fast time flies. Look at you, all set to go on a bike date. It feels like yesterday you were running around in your diapers." Zahir said dramatically, wiping away his non-existent tears.

"And forgetting his underwear," Zada quipped, totally forgetting the audience.

"Forgetting under... -" Emma trailed off questioningly, as Zian glared at Zahir and Zada.

"Shut up. One more word and I will disown you," he said to both his siblings and took hold of Emma's hands and walked away from there, ignoring the loud laughter from their table.

Zahir and Zada hi fi ed, having successfully irritated their sibling.

Liam stared at them in absolute confusion.

"You guys know each other??" He asked.