"Because I already gave up on her, Elka."

I just stared at her with my eyes wide and lips apart. 

Seeing my face, she nodded before saying, "I think it's just hopeless, Elka. Amy loves Ash."

"Wait. How can you be so sure about that? Did she tell you that?" I asked, trying to figure out what I had missed. 

"If you love someone, you don't need words. The eyes, chico, they never lie." She gave me a faint smile.

"Ok, Al Pacino, got it. But that's sorta inappropriate in this context. So tell me, did she tell you that she loves Ash?"

"As I said, Elka, Amy didn't tell me. I know it from the way she looks at him. Do you think that I'm saying this whole thing is hopeless just because she went to talk with him?" Zinnia asked to which I tilted my head with confusion. "That day when we were at the ground, I noticed Amy stealing glances at Ash when I was talking to her. Ash caught her looking at him and maybe it urged him to talk to her. It was for sure that they were missing each other."

"So that's what happened," I muttered under my breath after a few seconds of silence. "So you just gave up?" I asked her, the last two words coming off as mumble but Zinnia caught that. 

"Yeah, what else can I do? I don't want to hold onto something that hurts me. Sometimes, it is better to let go of things, even if it's the air that helps us to live but can also choke us to death," she said, taking a sip from my frappuccino. 

I nodded my head. 

"You're fine, right?" I asked.

"No." She shook her head. "My wound is still fresh and open."

I sighed as I placed her frappuccino on the table. 

"I'm sorry," I said. "It's because of me you started to get close with her. It was me who gave you high hopes which made your heart drop from a peak. I shouldn't have pushed you in the first place. I'm really sorry, Zin."

"Why do you have to apologize, Elka? You just did something that anyone, who wants to see her friends happy, would do. You know that I have feelings for Amy and also Amy isn't happy with Ash. You took an effort to make both me and her happy by shipping us. But sometimes, things won't go the way we plan and it's quite normal. So stop saying fucking sorry and give me back my frappuccino. It's been in your hands for an awfully long time."

I chuckled at Zinnia before leaning back on my chair and saying with a smirk, "I kinda like Peppermint now."

One and a half hours passed with me and Zinnia roaming around, trying out some clothes and playing games. Lily called us to let us know that they finished shopping and to meet them at Burger King. 

While walking towards Burger King, Zinnia pointed out at the entrance of the mall, calling out Danish. My eyes followed the direction she was pointing and saw him at the entrance. As soon as Zinnia called out his name, he looked at us with a grin on his face. Our eyes met for a split second before he darted his eyes from me. He walked towards us, smiling and not to mention, he was only looking and smiling at Zinnia. 

"Hi. How are you doing now? I heard you weren't feeling well yesterday," he asked, standing in front of us.

"I'm okay," Zinnia replied, smiling. 

"Where is Andrew and Lily?" he asked.

"They are at Burger King. They asked us to meet them there," she said.

"Ok then, let's go," he said to Zinnia and came in front of us and started to walk. 

Zinnia nodded and looked at me with a puzzled face once we were behind him.

"Why didn't you talk to him?" she asked me in a low voice.

"Why should I? Let him talk to me first and if necessary, I will respond," I said without looking at her.

"He also didn't say anything to you which is so unlike him. The Danish I know will now be walking beside you and pulling your leg. What happened?"

"How do I know? Go and ask him," I said, looking at her, a bit annoyed. 

She halted on her tracks and said, "Fine."

She rushed to Danish who was walking in front of us and linked arms with him. He was startled seeing Zinnia beside him and glanced at me. 

"Let's go, Danish," Zinnia said.

"What about h-" Danish got cut off by Zinnia while he was pointing at me and asking. 

"She will come. Let's go," saying that she turned around and dragged Danish to Burger King. 

Wow. I am now neglected. 

I sighed and followed them. 

As we entered, we saw Andrew and Lily sitting at a table not far from our sight. We walked towards the table and joined them. 

We ate our food, talked and laughed and were having fun. Well let's say, they were having fun. I mostly stayed quiet, only responding when prompted. I was feeling irritated, annoyed and neglected, all at the same time. 

I really thought that Danish would come to me and talk but he didn't even spare me a glance. I felt like I was invisible when he was laughing and chatting with Lily and Zinnia. I wouldn't be surprised if they plan something after this day without me. Needless to say, I knew they wouldn't do anything like that but being ignored was something that could get on my nerves quickly. So these kinds of thoughts flooded my mind natch. 

Talking about Lily and Zinnia, they now knew for sure that something did happen between me and Danish yesterday. And I knew for sure that they weren't going to sling my hook unless they squeezed out every single detail from me. In a nutshell, I was doomed. 

Andrew dropped us three at our home around four. I was grateful to Andrew as we had to end our outing because of his job. I wasn't having a good time anyways. 

The car ride was also boring for me while the others, especially Danish, Lily and Zinnia were jamming to the songs that were blasting from the speakers. The loud music, their horrendous voices and having a solitary day were all a hassle to me.

I took off my shoes and plopped down on the couch. Sighing heavily, I fished out my phone from my pocket. 

"A day well spent!" Zinnia said, sitting beside me.

"Yeah, indeed it was," Lily agreed with her. 

"Danish is fun, right?" Zinnia asked me, nudging my arm.

"Yeah, I guess so," I replied nonchalantly without looking at her. 

There was a moment of silence until Lily called me asking, "Elka, what happened between you and Danish?"

I raised my head to look at both Zinnia and Lily staring at me, waiting for an answer. 

I sighed heavily before saying, "I'm having a headache. I think it's a migraine. I'm gonna rest and sleep it off."

Saying this, I got up from the couch only to be pulled back by Zinnia, causing me to plop down back on the couch. 

"What the fuck is wrong with you guys? Why the hell do you always have to irk me?" I shouted at them as I couldn't take it anymore. Not today. 

Zinnia let go of my arms promptly as she saw rage running through my veins. 

Lily stood at her spot for a few seconds before taking slow steps towards me. Zinnia moved away from me, now sitting at the edge of the couch while I was sitting with my head in hands that were resting on my knees. 

This wasn't something new as well. I was always a hot-tempered person who broke anything that came to my sight when enraged. I got angry and annoyed over small and silly things. So the people around me always had to think not twice, but thrice before they tell me or do something for me. And that was why no one ever chose to stay by my side forever. 

"El, baby, it's ok. Go to your room and take some rest," Lily said, bending down to my level and caressing my hair. 

I jerked her hand away before standing up and dashing to my room. I slammed the door and flumped into my bed and buried my head in pillows, letting sleep engulf me after half an hour.

Downstairs, Lily and Zinnia were sitting on the couch without uttering anything. 

Zinnia looked at Lily to which Lily smiled faintly and patted her back before saying, "Don't worry. She will be alright."

My night runs into morning, all the time
And through my phone I'm scrolling, bang my line
Off that drank it's hard to focus (focus)
Seems like I am always chosen by romantics that are hopeless