Beyond the game

The week had been a whirlwind of normalcy for Azra—busy mornings at the orphanage, long afternoons at the college, and quiet evenings with Yuzarsif. It felt like things were falling into place, and yet, there was still that part of her that couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. But that all changed when she met Rahma for their usual catch-up at a small café downtown.

Azra had invited Rahma for some tea and to unwind, thinking it would be a relaxing break. They'd been talking about various things—work, the orphanage, and some funny incidents that had happened to Azra at college—when Rahma seemed to grow a little distracted.

Rahma, ever the mysterious one, had been acting a little different lately. Azra hadn't been able to pinpoint why, but there was something about her behavior that felt... off. As the conversation continued, Azra couldn't help but notice the small, secretive smiles Rahma would sometimes wear whenever she glanced down at her phone. Her friend would occasionally get a message, and though she would glance at it quickly, she would then lock the screen without showing Azra what it was.

After a few moments, Azra decided to make light of the situation. Leaning forward with a teasing grin, she gave Rahma a sly look.

"Okay, spill it, Rahma," Azra said playfully. "I know that look. You're hiding something. You've been acting all mysterious lately."

Rahma flushed slightly, but her lips curved into a knowing smile, as though she had been caught red-handed. "I have no idea what you mean," she replied, trying to keep her tone innocent.

Azra raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. "Oh, come on. You're really good at hiding things. But I know when something's up. So... who's the lucky guy?" she teased, crossing her arms on the table.

Rahma froze for just a moment before she let out a small laugh. She didn't deny it—if anything, the way her cheeks flushed was enough to confirm Azra's suspicions.

Azra leaned back, a smirk spreading across her face. "Wait, is it someone I know?"

Rahma hesitated, then nodded, looking around the café as though checking if anyone was listening. "Well, it's... complicated," she said, her voice dropping slightly.

Azra's curiosity was piqued. "Complicated? Come on, Rahma, you can't just leave me hanging like this. Who is it?"

Rahma took a deep breath, finally meeting Azra's gaze. "It's Malik. Yuzarsif's friend."

Azra blinked in surprise. "Malik? The one who's always so serious and... gruff?" she asked, her voice a little louder than she had intended.

Rahma nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, I know. It's... unexpected, but we've been talking for a while now. Things just kind of happened."

Azra couldn't help but laugh, leaning in closer. "I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. But I'm glad to know what's been going on. You've been keeping things under wraps, haven't you?"

Rahma gave her a playful shrug. "I didn't want to make it obvious, especially since... well, it's still new. I didn't know how you'd react."

Azra grinned widely. "Well, I'm not mad. Actually, I'm happy for you, Rahma. You've been so secretive about everything lately. I was starting to think you were hiding a whole double life."

Rahma laughed, rolling her eyes. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of spy or something."

"Well, with all that mysterious texting, who could blame me?" Azra teased, winking. "I'll admit, I'm impressed. You're really good at keeping secrets. I didn't think you had it in you."

Rahma blushed again, clearly embarrassed but amused by Azra's teasing. "It's not like that. I just wanted to figure things out before I said anything."

Azra nodded thoughtfully. "I get it. It's important to take your time. Just... don't leave me in the dark next time, alright?"

"Deal," Rahma said, smiling. "I won't keep secrets from you again."

Azra leaned back in her chair, satisfied with the conversation. "Well, now that I know, you better fill me in on all the details later. I expect a full report on your relationship with Malik, Miss Secretive."

Rahma rolled her eyes but laughed, clearly relieved to finally get it off her chest. "Fine, fine. I'll keep you updated, promise."

As the conversation shifted to other topics, Azra couldn't help but feel a little giddy. It was nice to see Rahma opening up, and it reminded Azra of how important it was to have someone in her life who truly understood her. Just like Yuzarsif did for her.

She was glad that her best friend had found someone to lean on, even if it was Malik—the last person Azra would have ever guessed for Rahma.

Life had a funny way of surprising them all.

---