"BETWEEN FAREWELLS AND FIGHTS"
I jolted awake, my chest rising and falling like I had just run a marathon. The dream still clung to me like sweat.
In it, I was standing in the middle of the hostel corridor, clutching my suitcase while Raffy's voice roared at me.
"Get out, Wateen! You don't belong here!"
Beside him, Mehzil smirked, her arms folded, her eyes dripping with triumph like she had finally won. And the prize was Raffy.
My luggage was thrown at my feet, clothes spilling out like pieces of my dignity. No matter how much I begged, no matter how loudly I cried, Raffy's glare never softened.
The last thing I saw before the dream shattered was Mehzil's proud smile—sharp, victorious, like a knife twisting inside me.
I sat up,
I jolted awake, breath heavy, the dream still flashing in my head—Raffy shouting, Mehzil grinning, my things thrown out like I was nothing.
I smirked coldly, shaking my head.
"Pathetic," I whispered. "As if a dream like that could scare me."
I pushed the blanket aside and sat up straighter, my voice turning sharp.
"Raffy, Mehzil… whoever thinks they can throw me out, better pray it stays in dreams. Because in reality—no one throws *me* out."
I tilted my chin up, letting that cruel little smile creep onto my face.
"They'll break before I ever do".
Raffy was sleeping peacefully on the other side, as if the world hadn't just burned me alive in my dreams. I glared at him through the darkness and muttered under my breath,
"Of course… sleeping like a baby after ruining my night."
Just then, my phone buzzed on the side table. I snatched it up, the screen lighting my face. *Street Crew* group call.
I slid my finger across the screen and pressed it to my ear. Zara's voice came first, bright and cheerful.
"Wateen! Wake up, lazy head—we're leaving today! Meet us at the hangout spot before we go."
Zain's voice joined in, teasing as usual.
"Yeah, don't be late for once. We wanna see everyone before we head out."
I rolled my eyes but a small smile tugged at my lips.
"Relax, I'm coming," I said gently. "Wouldn't miss saying goodbye to you guys."
Raffy and I were getting ready when my phone buzzed. It was a message from Maheen:
*"Can you pick me? I'm at City Park."*
I quickly replied, *"Okay, on my way."*
We drove out, and soon spotted her waiting by the park gate. I rolled the window down. "Why didn't you come with Ayan?" I asked curiously.
She shook her head quickly. "Nothing. Just felt like coming alone."
I didn't push further, but the silence told me it wasn't "nothing."
We reached our spot, and Ayan was already there leaning against the railing. The moment he and Maheen's eyes met, the air thickened. Something unspoken was hanging there.
Before we could even process it, Zain and Zara smiled and hugged us goodbye.
"Take care, guys! We'll miss you!" Zara said warmly.
"Don't break the crew while we're gone," Zain joked before walking off.
And just like that, they were gone, leaving the four of us behind.
Raffy and I exchanged a look. Maheen and Ayan's odd, stiff behavior was impossible to ignore. Finally, Raffy asked, "Okay, what's going on between you two? You both look like you're in some kind of drama."
Ayan sighed. "It's not what you think. I wasn't even cheating…" His voice trailed off, frustration clear.
We both tried to calm them down, explaining, reasoning, hoping to clear the misunderstanding. But right in the middle of it, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Ohhh Raffy baby… "
All of us turned, and there she was—Mehzil, standing with that same irritatingly proud smile.
I murmured under my breath, just loud enough for Raffy to hear, "Why is this buffalo here now? Doesn't she have her own place… her own friends?"
Raffy stiffened beside me, his jaw tightening at Mehzil's words. "Not now, Mehzil," he said firmly, his voice colder than usual.
Maheen rolled her eyes and turned away, Ayan muttered something under his breath, and I just crossed my arms, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a proper reaction.
Still, I couldn't help but smirk to myself. "Pathetic," I whispered so low only Raffy caught it. He glanced at me, almost amused, and shook his head.
The tension hung heavy, but none of us wanted to waste more energy on her. Raffy finally turned back to the group. "Ignore her. We have bigger things to sort out."
And just like that, we walked past Mehzil, leaving her and her fake smile behind.
The day had started with a nightmare, and now it felt like we were living in one.