Beyond the game

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Azra stepped into the café, her eyes scanning the warmly lit space. The café was one of those cozy, hidden gems in the city—small, intimate, with shelves lined with books and soft instrumental music playing in the background. It was the kind of place that made conversations feel more personal, as if the rest of the world faded away once you sat down with your cup.

She spotted Selina already seated by the window, a cup of coffee in front of her. Selina, as always, carried herself with effortless confidence, her long hair neatly tied back, dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit that suited her businesslike demeanor. Azra made her way over, setting her bag down as she took the seat across from her.

"You're early," Azra noted with a small smile.

Selina smirked, stirring her coffee. "You're just late."

Azra laughed softly. "Fair enough. I wasn't sure if this was just a casual coffee meetup or if I was walking into an interrogation."

Selina raised an eyebrow. "Interrogation?"

Azra shrugged. "You did seem pretty eager to meet up after everything went public about Yuzarsif and me."

Selina leaned back in her chair, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "I won't deny I was curious. But I also find you... interesting."

Azra gave her a skeptical look. "Interesting how?"

Selina tapped a manicured finger against her cup, as if choosing her words carefully. "You don't play games, Azra. You say what you mean, and you mean what you say. I respect that. It's rare."

Azra tilted her head, thoughtful. "I don't see the point in pretending to be someone I'm not. It just makes life unnecessarily complicated."

Selina nodded in agreement. "Exactly. And that's what makes you stand out. I can see why my brother is drawn to you."

Azra felt a flicker of warmth at the mention of Yuzarsif. "He makes it easy."

Selina smirked. "That's not what he told me when he was agonizing over whether you felt the same way."

Azra laughed, shaking her head. "Well, that's in the past now."

Selina took a sip of her coffee, watching Azra with an appraising look. "So tell me, now that everything is out in the open, do you feel different?"

Azra considered the question. "Not really. I mean, people stare a little more, and our friends won't stop teasing us, but beyond that, nothing has changed between Yuzarsif and me. It just feels... right."

Selina nodded approvingly. "That's how it should be."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the hum of the café filling the gaps in their conversation. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, Azra asked, "What about you, Selina? Is there someone special in your life?"

Selina chuckled, setting her cup down. "Not yet. But…" She hesitated, as if weighing whether to continue.

Azra leaned forward, intrigued. "But?"

A small, almost mischievous smile curled on Selina's lips. "There is someone I find... interesting."

Azra arched an eyebrow. "Really? Who?"

Selina exhaled lightly, as if saying the name aloud made it more real. "Jamal."

Azra blinked, momentarily surprised. "Jamal?"

Selina nodded. "Yes. We met at the business gathering not long ago. We talked about work, life, all the usual things. But there was something about him that caught my attention."

Azra folded her arms on the table. "What exactly about him interests you?"

Selina thought for a moment before answering. "He's not like most of the men I've met. He's ambitious, sharp-minded, but... there's something reserved about him. Like he's holding onto something."

Azra's fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup as she processed Selina's words. She knew Jamal well—better than most. He had always been the dependable one, the silent thinker, the man who rarely revealed his emotions.

"He's a good man," Azra said carefully. "But you're right—he holds things close to his chest."

Selina studied her. "Do you know what he's holding onto?"

Azra hesitated. She had her suspicions, but it wasn't her place to say. Instead, she answered, "I think Jamal has his own struggles, but that doesn't mean he isn't worth knowing."

Selina smirked. "I never said he wasn't."

Azra leaned back, giving Selina a curious look. "So, are you planning to go for it?"

Selina twirled her spoon in her coffee, appearing deep in thought. "I don't chase, Azra. But I also don't ignore something interesting when it's right in front of me. Maybe I'll see where it goes."

Azra smiled. "That sounds like you."

Selina chuckled. "And if I do? Would you warn me about him?"

Azra shook her head. "No warnings. Just... don't expect him to open up easily."

Selina took another sip of her coffee. "That just makes it more intriguing."

Azra laughed. "You really are something else."

Selina smirked. "So I've been told."

Their conversation drifted to lighter topics after that—business, travel, random stories from their childhoods. But as they spoke, Azra couldn't shake the thought lingering in the back of her mind.

Jamal.

Selina was right—he was holding onto something. And Azra had a feeling she knew what it was.

The question was… would he ever be ready to let it go?.

And if Selina truly pursued him, would he even see what was right in front of him?

Azra had no answers. But as she watched Selina talk about Jamal with a flicker of curiosity in her eyes, she realized something.

This might be the beginning of something neither of them saw coming.

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