"You're going to regret this Zaib whatever your last name is," she spat, rolling her eyes the annoying man sitting meters away from her. His eyes were narrowed in amusement as he stared at Zoya, surveying her furious gaze.

Zoya stood to her feet, eyeing the lovebirds on the other side smiling at each other. "You guys are lying. I really am sure! He was cheating." she restated, feeling desperate for some validation but Naimat stood up and grabbed her wrist pulling her along with her. Zoya followed with a scowl and recognized the kitchen.

"Zoe, you accused him for no reason," Naimat scolded, eyeing her. Zoya gasped dramatically, eyes widening in disbelief. "You're really just betraying me like that?" Her voice deepened and she muttered in a dangerously low voice.

"Zoe, you little—"

"You're just siding with him cause he's your fiancé's best friend!" Zoya interrupted, frustratedly accusing Naimat.

Naimat stared at her, unimpressed. "You won't listen anyways so I'll leave you alone to do what Zaib's asked for. Good luck." And she marched right out, abandoning Zoya who had now lost the color of her face. Zoya nibbled on her lower lip, staring off at the distance in defeat. No one was siding with her so maybe, she really was wrong. Zoya was already aware Naimat would not side with Zaib just for Ehsan.

She just wanted to somehow be proven right so she could avoid doing what Zaib had asked for her to do. Zoya sighed, searching around. She opened up random drawers looking for the things she'd need for his stupid challenge.

The flashback of his cruelty came back to Zoya.

"Why can't you just let this go," Zoya mumbled, unintentionally pouting for forgiveness.

Zaib's smile only widened and even though his smile radiated sweetness, it was far from that. "And why should I be doing that? Zoya Malik?" His voice brewing with sarcasm.

Zoya glared daggers. "What do you want?" She grumbled.

"I want you."

Everyone in the room paused. Everyone including Zoya who sat frigid with eyes zeroed in horror but her heart tweaking in wonder. Her heartbeat escalated and pumped so hard, she felt her body quiver due to the intensity of it. Those words were heavier than she could bear.

"—to bake me red velvet cupcakes."

Zaib was quite unpredictable. He could've asked for anything, literally any expensive item but he simply asked for cupcakes. Ironically, it was the one thing Zoya had trouble making. It was almost like he was aware of the fact that Zoya sucked at baking.

Zoya stood in the middle of the kitchen with arms folded over her chest, a scrunch masking her features. Couldn't that green eyed smug have asked for some cash or something? It would've spared her the embarrassment. More than the frustration towards him, she was shocked since Naimat abandoned her in such a horrifying situation. She knew Zoya was the worst at baking! Did she really have to leave?

Zoya nibbled on her lower lip. His sinister smirk replayed in her memory and she suddenly felt the urge to prove herself to him.

If he could irk her by a challenge, she could annoy him by completing the challenge successfully. She was going to give it her best shot!

Zoya rolled the sleeves of her shirt up to her elbow and pulled the dangling part of her hijab up, tying it to the back, determined to set things straight. She searched around looking for the apron. Zoya wasn't going to stand there mopping about her idiotic friend and her idiotic friend's fiancé's best-friend.

As she tugged the apron off the hook, she pulled it on and sped to the kitchen island placing the mixing bowl and hunting out the ingredients. She was doing well at guessing where all the things were until she realized she had spent more than just a few minutes in trying to find vanilla essence.

She ambled out to the living room, ignoring her messy attire. Before she could enter, she collided against a hard chest and stumbled back, a gasp escaping her mouth. Her widened eyes looked back up only to come across the black haired infuriating man, Zaib.

Ehsan was behind him on the couch, watching the television and Naimat was nowhere in sight. Zaib's complexion turned from a soft brown to pale as the tip of his ears reddened.

Wait... was he keeping an eye on her while she cluelessly worked in the kitchen?

Zoya only turned away awkwardly before voicing out her question. "Where's the vanilla essence located brother Ehsan?" She mumbled. Ehsan responded, "In the cabinet below the mini freezer" and she sprung out away from Zaib's gaze following her out.

She had begun to redden as she realized that Zaib had seen her all frustrated and nervous, locating the ingredients. She sighed and began to make the batter for the cupcakes.

They could be horrible like always. But at least she'd have completed the task. In her defense, Zaib never said he wanted tasty cupcakes.

They could be burnt for all Zoya cared.

Zoya didn't care. She didn't. Why would she?

As she whisked the eggs, her thoughts ran wild and her mixing pace declined. Somewhere within her heart, she did care. There was a pinch of nervousness which proved she wanted to impress him. Why?

Well... she didn't know.

Why did he have to ask for something baked!

She kept thinking, exasperated at herself. She irritatedly tried dodging the things running in her mind as she applied more energy and whisked the ingredients savagely. She added the flour into the bowl and hoped some miracle would take place and the cupcakes would turn delicious.

Please Allah.

—:-)—:-)—

"It looks decent," she heard Zaib mutter who sat leaning back on the couch, eyeing the plate of freshly baked red velvet cupcakes.

She bit her lower lip anxiously and looked away, seeming to not really care about what he thought of her baking skills. Her insides, however, hurled with anticipation and it was blowing her mind at how much such a minor ordeal mattered to her.

"Bro, they look delicious. I'm so hungry—" Ehsan chirped as he leaned forward, picking up one of them— "Ou-!" Zoya and Naimat stared baffled, as Zaib slapped Ehsan's nearing hand away, a shriek escaping him.

"Don't. Touch. Them." His voice was grippingly threatening.

Ehsan rolled his eyes, muttering something colorful under his breathe as he leaned back and resumed his attention back towards the television screen. Zoya felt her heart pace as she witnessed Zaib picking up a piece from the corner of her eyes.

She looked away immediately and stared at her phone wanting to not see the horror of what the distaste did to his face.

When it felt like the time was taking longer than it should've been, her gaze wandered towards him unintentionally and she caught him taking a bite from the cupcake. She froze, awaiting the dejection. Her breathing ceased as she tried to read his facial features.

As he gulped it down, the brightest smile elevated the spark in his eyes, making them shimmer. Zoya still not breathing, tried to calculate what the hell was going on and why his smile made her feel like suddenly she had obtained all control over her world.

With that one studious smile, Zaib wordlessly finished his cupcake.

She was still in puddles with her nerves all over the place and her body at another level of height. The smile didn't mean it tasted good; he could've been mocking her for all she knew.

"How do they taste?" And there came the question she dreaded. She gulped feeling her throat tighten and her palms sweating.

Why did it matter? Why did it matter Zoya?

"Just like how I imagined."

:-

Allah knows best

💜