Chapter 84: Chapter 84

The cafeteria was buzzing with the usual chatter and energy as the gang hung out at their usual spot. Zahir, Zada, and Zian were laughing and joking about the football match, but something felt off to Zada. She noticed the faint marks on Zahir’s neck that were partially hidden by his collar. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Zian also followed Zada’s gaze.

“Uh, Zahir... what the hell is that on your neck?” He asked, leaning closer, his voice half-serious, half-amused.

Zahir’s playful grin didn’t falter. He shrugged casually, adjusting his collar.

“What? Nothing, just a bug bite or something,” he said nonchalantly, avoiding their eyes as he reached for his drink.

Zada exchanged a look with Zian, clearly not buying his excuse.

“Yeah, right. Since when do bugs leave marks that look like that?” She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she raised an eyebrow.

“You guys are overthinking it. I told you, it’s nothing.” Zahir shifted uncomfortably but kept his cool.

Zada smirked and tugged on his sleeve, pulling him a little aside.

“Oh, really? Let me see, bro,” she said, her voice playful but firm. She grabbed his chin and tilted his head, revealing the unmistakable bruise-like marks. Her eyes widened as realisation dawned. “Oh my god… Zahir, are these hickeys?”

“So what if they are? You are acting like I have never had a hickey before.” Zahir froze for a split second but quickly recovered, his grin turning cocky. Zian snorted, leaning in closer to inspect Zahir’s neck.

“Dude, we know that you like to keep up that stud image you have cultivated. But we clearly know you haven’t touched any girl ever. What has changed now? Who is the lucky girl?” His tone was teasing, but there was genuine curiosity in his voice.

“Look, it’s no big deal. Just some fun, you know?” Zahir chuckled, trying to play it off.

Zada, however, wasn’t buying it. Her brow furrowed as she stared at him, deep in thought. Then, as if a lightbulb went off in her head, she blurted, “I know it must be Emily.”

Zahir went pale almost instantly. His playful demeanour cracked for a brief second before he quickly composed himself, straightening his jacket.

“What nonsense! Why would I let Emily, out of all people, give me a hickey?” He asked, his tone laced with arrogance, though there was a hint of panic behind his eyes.

Zada crossed her arms, her smirk widening as she exchanged a look with Zian, who now wore the same knowing grin.

“Zahir,” Zada said slowly, her voice laced with amusement, “we have known you since the moment we were formed in Momma’s tummy. Nobody knows you better than us. So we can say with absolute confidence that, out of all the people in the world, if you let anybody give you a damn hickey... it would only be Emily.”

Zahir scoffed, rolling his eyes, though he seemed more flustered now. “You are insane,” he muttered. “I wouldn’t—”

“Save it,” Zada interrupted with a laugh. “You are not fooling anyone. Your face gave it away.”

Zahir groaned, running a hand through his hair.

“You two are unbelievable,” he muttered, but before they could press him further, he seized the opportunity to escape. “Look, I have got better things to do than listen to your crazy theories. I’m getting more food.”

With that, he quickly walked back to the table, leaving Zada and Zian exchanging victorious looks behind him.

When Zahir returned to the table, still trying to shake off his siblings’ suspicions, Emma suddenly leaned closer, squinting at his neck.

“Zahir, hold on... what’s that?” she asked, poking the spot on his neck. “Did something bite you? That looks like it might be serious. You should get it checked out.”

Zahir blinked, caught off guard by Emma’s innocent assumption. He almost laughed out loud but managed to suppress it, shaking his head.

“Yeah, a bug or something,” he muttered, trying to keep a straight face as he brushed her hand away.

“Must have been a big bug. Maybe you should put some ointment on it.” Emma, still oblivious, frowned in concern.

Zahir simply nodded, still amused at how Emma didn’t connect the dots, while Zada and Zian barely contained their laughter in the background.

“You know what? A few years ago, we went for a trip to India. And we went to a rainforest there for trekking. It was so beautiful out there. And during that trekking, some bug bit me on the neck. I had a huge bruise on my neck. And our guide plucked some leaves and all and ground it on stone and applied it on my neck. The bruise almost immediately disappeared. Isn’t that cool? But it smelled so awful. I had to spray perfumes all over me to get the smell off me. But I don’t usually like using perfumes. I get a headache from the smell of the perfume. But there is this ‘Chi Chi perfume’. I like that one. It is mild and doesn’t give me a headache. Once I-..”

“Enough Emma darling. We got the point.” Zada said in a pleading tone and Emma huffed in annoyance.

As Zahir sat at the table, half-listening to Emma’s rambling about her bug bite story, his attention drifted to the cafeteria entrance. His eyes narrowed as he spotted Emily, Aaron, and Emil walking in, laughing together.

Emily’s carefree smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she was around Aaron—it made something churn inside him. Aaron leaned closer to say something to Emily, and she threw her head back, laughing loudly at whatever joke he made. The sight of her enjoying herself with Aaron sent a wave of jealousy crashing through Zahir’s chest.

He clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around the soda can in front of him as his thoughts spiralled.

‘Why the hell does she laugh at everything he says? It’s not even that funny,’ Zahir fumed internally, his eyes following their every move. ‘And why is she standing so close to him? What’s so damn special about Aaron anyway?’

Zahir’s mood soured further when the trio headed toward their table. Emily glanced in Zahir’s direction, her smile faltering for a brief second before she quickly masked it, pretending like nothing was wrong. But Zahir caught it—just a flicker of something, maybe guilt, or maybe she was just messing with his head. Either way, it only fueled his frustration.

Aaron, ever the friendly guy, greeted everyone at the table with a cheerful grin.

“Hey, guys! What’s up?” He said, sliding into the seat beside Zian, while Emily and Emil took their spots next to him.

Zahir plastered on his usual smug smirk, though it was clearly forced.

“Not much,” he muttered, eyes flicking to Emily, who was now engaged in a conversation with Emil about something he couldn’t care less about.

Aaron, seemingly oblivious to the tension radiating from Zahir, turned his attention to him with a bright smile.

“You missed out, Zahir. Emily totally beat me at the pool earlier. I am never living that down,” he said, shaking his head in mock defeat.

Zahir’s lips twitched into a cold smile, barely hiding the irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

“Yeah, well... losing doesn’t seem like a surprise for you, Aaron,” Zahir said, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. Aaron chuckled good-naturedly, completely unfazed by the jab.

“Ouch, that hurts, man. But I guess it’s true—I am not exactly the pool champion.” He shrugged, still smiling, his easy going nature only making Zahir feel more aggravated.

Zian, who had been observing the interaction with a smirk, chimed in.

“I don’t think it’s just the pool you suck at, Aaron,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Maybe we should teach you a few things, starting with how not to lose to Emily.”

Aaron laughed again, completely unaffected by the attitude being thrown his way.

“I think I’ll take that lesson, actually. Might save me some embarrassment next time,” he joked, his upbeat attitude never wavering.

Liam, who had been quiet so far, raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, clearly unimpressed with Aaron’s presence. The gang wasn’t exactly hostile, but their subtle digs and cold demeanour made it clear they weren’t fans of the guy. Aaron, though, remained cheerful and seemed determined not to let their attitude bother him.

Zahir, on the other hand, couldn’t tear his gaze away from Emily, who was now leaning in to say something to Aaron, her hand lightly resting on his arm as she laughed at another one of his jokes. The sight made Zahir’s blood boil. He knew he had no right to be jealous—it wasn’t like Emily was his or anything. But the thought of her being so close to Aaron, acting like they were best friends, gnawed at him.

‘What’s with all the touching?’ He thought bitterly. ‘She doesn’t laugh like that with anyone else. Is she doing this on purpose?’

“Zahir,” Zada’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She was watching him carefully, her sharp eyes noticing every flicker of emotion on his face. “You alright? You seem... distracted.”

Zahir shook his head, forcing a smirk. “I’m fine. Just thinking about something,” he muttered, trying to play it off.

But Zada wasn’t convinced. She followed his gaze toward Emily and Aaron, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“Right. Thinking about something or someone?” She asked, her tone teasing but with an edge of seriousness.

“Shut up..”

“By the way, I see the same design on her too.” Zada whispered cheekily and Zahir frowned at her.

“Design? What design?”

“The one you have on your neck. I can see it on hers too..” Zada teased and Zahir glared at her, clearly not entertained.

“Emily, you too got a bug bite?” Emma, clearly oblivious, asked out loudly, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Who else got the bug bite?” Emil asked curiously.

“Zahir too.” Emma said, pointing at the bruise on Zahir’s neck.

Emily and Zahir squirmed under the knowing gazes of Zian, Zada and Liam. Emma was totally oblivious and Emil was too trusting to even think it could be something other than a bug bite. Aaron raised an eyebrow at Emily and got a pinch on his thighs in return.

“High time the university did pest control..” Aaron said jokingly, tongue in his cheeks.