The clock struck ten thirty in the morning and I was still on my bed, looking out of the window and thinking about whether to go downstairs or not, as I was already aware of what would happen. 

It was going to be super awkward!

I wasn't ready to face Lily and Zinnia after what happened yesterday. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't control myself from being irascible. 

I sat up and ran my hands through my mussed hair. I got up and did my morning routine before going downstairs to face Lily and Zinnia and also to get my coffee. Not a day passed without it irrespective of what happened. 

I went to the kitchen to see a filled coffee pot and my mug next to it. There wasn't any sign of Lily and Zinnia. 

Did they abandon me because of what happened yesterday? Then they should've done it a long time ago. 

I took a seat, poured coffee into my mug and began to drink it when Zinnia and Lily came from the backyard, laughing, with a pile of clothes that were out for drying in their hands. Upon seeing me, their laughter faded. Lily smiled at me while Zinnia didn't even glance at me. I smiled back at Lily and looked down at the mug, circling my fingers on it's rim. They went to the laundry room to array the clothes while I was chewing my bottom lip nervously. 

"Good morning," said Lily, walking to the counter.

"Morning." I smiled. 

Lily was standing across the counter without saying anything but smiling. I returned her a smile and took a quick glance at Zinnia who was sitting at the dining table. 

Super awkward. 

"How's the coffee?" Lily asked me.

"It's good. As usual," I replied. 

"Hey," I called Lily after a few minutes of pin drop silence. "I'm sorry."

Lily looked at me and smiled. "It's fine, El. I get it that you were frustrated about something yesterday and with that we..." she trailed off.

"Don't blame yourself everytime guys. It is me. It is always me," I said.

She sighed. "Let that be anything. How is your headache? Are you good now?" she asked.

"Yeah." I nodded my head. 

Lily's eyes went sideways to where Zinnia was and then to me. I got it right away and turned my head towards Zinnia who was reading a newspaper. 

"Zin," I called to which she snapped her head towards me.

I patted on the wooden chair next to me and flashed her a genuine smile. She walked towards me with the newspaper in her hands and sat down with a blank face. 

"Sorry..." I sang, gritting my teeth.

"Fucking bub." I chuckled and gave her a hug to which she didn't respond. "I'm still mad at you," she said, crossing her arms.

"No, you can't," I said as I looked at her with my puppy dog eyes and a pout on my lips, my hands still wrapped around her.

She looked at me and closed her eyes saying, "Ok, maybe not." And she hugged me back. 

I saw Lily standing at her spot and smiling at us. I stretched out my arm towards her and she also joined us. 

»»---------------------►

I shook my head once again to Lily's question about me and Danish. 

We were back to square one and were talking about our plans for today when Lily came across his name. Danish. And that led to the inquiries that were left incomplete yesterday. 

"Don't lie, El. Something did happen between you and Danish on Friday. I noticed it right away when you just looked down when Danish smiled at you and that too vaguely. I thought you would tell me something that night but you just said good night and ran to your room right after they left," Lily said with a grave expression. "So, what happened?"

I looked away from her to my fiddling fingers and remained silent for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and disclosing Friday night's events.

While I was saying that, I looked neither at Lily nor Zinnia as I didn't want to see their expression which distinctly said I was on the wrong side. I stopped talking and slowly glanced at them to see them looking at me with blank faces. 

I sighed and said, "I know. I made a mistake."

"No, you didn't," Zinnia said, which made my head snap at her.

"Yeah, you didn't. You just asked him to clear your doubt," said Lily, making me snap towards the opposite side, where she's standing. 

"Really?" I asked them.

They nodded their heads. 

I let out a chuckle, earning a perplexed look from them. "I-I thought you guys were gonna reproach me."

"No, why would we? We know you hate playboy's guts and you have your own reasons. You had a doubt in your mind whether Danish was one because of his looks which sounds a bit illogical as he said but it's fine," Zinnia said.

I smiled at her.

"By the way, what made you think he looks like one? Have you seen any other fuckboys that resemble Danish?" she asked.

"Well, I read Wattpad a lot lately. And the playboy hero in some stories actually resembles Danish in looks. So..." I trailed off, shrugging my shoulders. 

"Yo! Those are stories. They are pure imaginations. Don't relate your life with stories, dumbo," Zinnia said, giving me a slight smack on my head. "And that's the most fucking illogical reason one can give for judging someone based on their looks."

"Yeah, I know." I rolled my eyes. 

Zinnia shook her head and went back to reading the newspaper. 

Lily came and took my hands in hers across the counter and said, "Elka, what you did was right. You didn't jump to conclusions. In fact, you took a step to ask him directly which many of us don't. It's just the way you are, Elka. Don't mess up your mind thinking about it," Lily said, squeezing my hands. I smiled at her.

God, what would I do without these girls?

"Want some cookies?" she asked softly to which I nodded like a small kid. She mouthed a 'coming' and went towards the shelves. 

"It's true that his looks gave me playboy vibes but I don't know why I asked him, like for what reason. I can't get an answer myself," I huffed.

"Did you find him attractive?" Zinnia asked, making me stunned. 

I shook my head vigorously. 

"Don't lie, bub."

I nodded my head. 

Zinnia chuckled seeing my reaction before saying, "Then it's simple!"

I looked at her with a frown between my eyebrows. 

"You were attracted and wanted to get closer with him but you were also stopped by your hatred for playboys by his looks. You wanted to know whether he's a fuckboy or not before getting more close. If he's one, you could keep a safe distance or just ignore him and continue hating him but if he's not then you guys can be really good friends or something more," Zinnia said.

I looked at her with my lips apart as my brain interpreted her words. She was indeed right.

"Yeah," I said, pointing at her. "That's it. Oh it's so simple. But why was Danish triggered by that question?" I asked.

"Maybe because he also doesn't like fuckboys?" 

I nodded my head taking what Zinnia said as a possibility. 

"You're useful for something, Zin," I said, complimenting her.

"Perks of having a psycho friend," she said, lauding herself and making me laugh. 

As we were laughing, Lily placed a plate of chocolate cookies on the table and asked, "So, you are attracted to him?"

My laughter shrank as I looked at her with a sly smile.

"Yeah, he's not bad. In fact, we are similar in many ways. He's easy to talk to and not a flirt as I assumed him to be. He's funny and also smart. He knows when to take things seriously. No matter how many times I shot him down, he didn't let it get to him. Instead he would just roll it off and laugh at it. He's fun to joke around and not to mention, he's hot as fuck. I have seen many guys that are more handsome and hotter than Danish but none of them made an impact like him. He's good," I said with a goofy grin spreading across my face.

"Yeah, you're right. When me and Zinnia were talking to him, it felt like we were talking to you. You guys are similar in so many ways. You guys are perfect," Lily babbled, clasping her hands. 

"Yeah. And also, Lily, did you notice? Elka started with he's not bad and ended with he's good. Will probably begin as friends and end up with five or more children," Zinnia said, making me stop smiling and glare at her.

Lily laughed and took a seat next to me. 

"Wanna plunge your head in a toilet bowl this morning, baby girl?" I asked with my eyebrow arching challengingly. 

Zinnia chuckled before saying, "You and Danish. Let's wait and watch. Right, Lily?"

"Yeah. Even I'm waiting for that iconic moment," she said, nudging my arm. 

"Yeah, over my rich hot body, fucking cupids." I stuck my tongue out and continued to drink my coffee.

We even got a secret handshake
And she loves the music that my band makes
I know I'm young but if I had to choose her or the sun
I'd be one nocturnal son of a gun