"𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒉𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚."
☆ 𝑹𝒖𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌, was never meant to feel. Heir to a billion-dollar empire, he has everythin...
Senem's eyes widen. "Ruhaan Malik? Mr.best player? Of course we know him! He's like, everywhere!"
Bree gasps, her face lighting up with interest. "Wait, what? You met Ruhaan Malik? Spill, girl!"
I sigh, feeling a mix of annoyance and reluctance. "Well, 'met' is one way to put it. More like crashed into him—thrice. The first time, I was just minding my own business, walking across campus, when this stupid football rolled towards me. Being the good Samaritan I am, I thought I'd return it. Turns out, the ball led me straight into the boys' locker room."
Senem's jaw drops. "No way! I am already melting GIRL!"
"Yeah," I continue, rolling my eyes. "So there I am, standing in the middle of a sea of sweaty guys, when who should appear but Ruhaan freaking Malik. And of course, he's got this stupid grin on his face, like he's already planning his next move."
Remy leans forward, completely hooked. "And then what happened?"
I groan, the memory still fresh. "He starts with the smooth talk, calling me 'sweetheart' and all that crap. I shut him down real quick, told him I wasn't interested in whatever game he was playing. But of course, I didn't know who he was at the time. Later, I found out he's this big-shot football player and—get this—a billionaire's son."
Bree's eyes are practically sparkling. "Wait, he's a billionaire's son too? Are you serious? That's like... every girl's dream come true! Sure, he's a billionaire, but he's just a real gentleman who has us all wrapped around his little finger."
"More like my nightmare," I mutter. "A few days later, I'm in the library, trying to study, when who should pop up again? Ruhaan. He's all like, 'Hey, sweetheart, need help with those books?' Like, seriously? I told him to get lost, but he just wouldn't take the hint. He's so damn persistent."
Sanem grins. "I mean, can you blame him? You're totally out of his league, Sehr. Maybe he's just trying to figure out how to win you over."
I roll my eyes. "Please. If he thinks he can charm me with that lofty attitude, he's got another thing coming. He's an asshole, plain and simple. He's merely flirting with me as he does with all the girls around, but I— am not to fall for his manipulative tactics."
But Remy is all in now, leaning closer with a wicked smile. "So what happened next? Don't leave us hanging!"
I groan again, rubbing my temples as if that will erase the memory. "Later, I'm out shopping with Laila, trying to forget about the whole thing. And who do we bump into? Ruhaan, of course. This time, he's all like, 'Hey there, sweetheart. Miss me?' I was about ready to throw something at him, but he just keeps going, teasing me, calling me 'sweetheart' like it's some kind of joke."
Bree claps her hands, her excitement contagious. "Oh my God, he's totally into you! And he's so cute!"
Sanem joins in, her voice rising with enthusiasm. "Right? And he's gentleman, hot, and a football star? Girl, you hit the jackpot!"
I throw my hands up in exasperation. "Seriously, you guys? He's a total jerk! And you know what else he said? After I finally snapped and Laila called out my name, he had the audacity to say, 'Good to know your name, Ms. Sehr, but don't you worry—I'll still call you sweetheart.' How dare he!"
Bree is practically squealing now. "Oh my God, he's got game! I love it! And you know what that means, right? He's not going anywhere. He's hooked!"
I shake my head, trying to fight back a smile. "You guys are impossible. There's no way I'm letting some football player get under my skin. He's nothing but a rich, arrogant flirt."
But as my friends continue to gush over Ruhaan, teasing me relentlessly, I can't help but feel a little knot of something unfamiliar twisting in my stomach. Annoyance, definitely. But maybe, just maybe, there's something else there too.
Not that I'd ever admit it. Not to them. And certainly not to Ruhaan Malik.
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˜⋆✩· ꙳ ❧. - Author's Note:
I know this chapter might feel a little slow, but I promise there's so much more coming ahead. I really wanted to take a moment to highlight her bond with her friends, their little hangouts, and how they share bits of their lives with each other. It's these moments that add depth to the story. Hope you enjoyed reading, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter!
