Beyond the game

The sun had barely risen, but Yuzarsif had been awake for hours. Dark circles under his eyes told the story of a sleepless night, one filled with nothing but thoughts of Azra. His mind wouldn't quiet, racing through every interaction, every moment that had led to this point. Her coldness, her sudden withdrawal, the way she had refused to open up to him—it all gnawed at him.

The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he became. He had tried calling her last night, but her phone went unanswered. He had sent her messages, but she hadn't responded to a single one. There was a lump in his throat as he remembered the emptiness in her eyes when they had said goodbye at her apartment. Something had shifted overnight, and he had no idea what it was.

Yuzarsif clenched his fists as he sat on the edge of his bed, frustration mounting. The uncertainty was driving him mad. His heart ached for Azra, and the distance between them felt like a chasm he couldn't cross. He had to know what had happened. He had to know why she was acting like this.

A cold resolve settled over him as he picked up his phone and dialed Azra's number once again. The phone rang several times before going straight to voicemail. His frustration boiled over, and without thinking, he dialed her again. And again. No answer. No response.

Tension filled the air in his penthouse as Yuzarsif tossed the phone onto the couch in exasperation. He had had enough. He needed answers, and the only person who could provide them was Jamal. Jamal, who had been Azra's childhood friend. Jamal, who had witnessed the connection between them from the start. Jamal, who had said nothing when this whole mess began.

Without wasting another second, Yuzarsif grabbed his jacket and stormed out of his apartment, heading straight for Jamal's office. He couldn't wait any longer. He had to confront him.

---

Jamal's office was on the top floor of a sleek glass building, an imposing structure in the heart of the city. Yuzarsif had been here many times before, but today, he felt nothing but fury simmering beneath his skin. He marched into the lobby without slowing, ignoring the receptionist's greeting as he made his way to the elevator.

He had barely pressed the button when the doors slid open, revealing Jamal's assistant, a young woman who was visibly surprised to see him.

"Yuzarsif?" she said, eyes widening. "Jamal is in a meeting right now."

"I'm not here for pleasantries," Yuzarsif snapped, his voice low but filled with a dangerous edge. "Tell him I'm here. Now."

The assistant hesitated for a moment, but Yuzarsif's intensity was impossible to ignore. She nodded and quickly walked into the office, returning moments later to announce that Jamal would see him.

The tension was palpable as Yuzarsif entered the office, the door swinging shut behind him. Jamal looked up from his desk, his eyes flickering with surprise before settling into a more guarded expression.

"Yuzarsif, what's going on?" Jamal asked, leaning back in his chair. "Is everything alright?"

"Cut the bullshit," Yuzarsif replied, his voice cold. "What the hell did you say to Azra?"

Jamal raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the directness of the question. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Yuzarsif continued, stepping closer to the desk, "why the hell is she acting like this? Why has she shut me out? Why won't she answer my calls? What did you tell her?"

Jamal's face grew serious, and he sighed as if preparing for something difficult. "I told her the truth," he said, his voice lowering. "I told her about the bet you and your friends made."

The words hit Yuzarsif like a punch to the gut. His mind raced, replaying the conversations he had had with his friends, the jokes they'd made about winning over Azra. He hadn't taken it seriously, but now, hearing it from Jamal, the reality of it was sinking in like a cold, harsh truth.

"You told her about the bet?" Yuzarsif repeated, his voice shaking with a mix of disbelief and anger. "You actually told her that we made a damn bet to see who could win her over?" His heart pounded in his chest as he realized what Jamal had done.

"I didn't think it was my place to keep that from her forever," Jamal said, his tone quiet but firm. "I never meant for it to go this far. But Azra deserves to know the truth."

Yuzarsif clenched his jaw, a surge of frustration flooding his veins. "This isn't about her deserving the truth, Jamal. This is about you messing everything up. You've ruined it."

"I didn't want to hurt her, Yuzarsif," Jamal said, leaning forward slightly, his expression filled with regret. "I thought it would be better for her to know. I didn't know you were… that serious about her."

"Serious?" Yuzarsif spat. "I love her, Jamal. I've always loved her. But now, because of your stupid decision, she thinks I'm just another guy playing a game with her. I don't know how to fix this. I don't know how to make her believe that what I feel is real."

The two men stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling between them.

Yuzarsif's mind was racing. He couldn't just sit here and stew in anger. He needed to fix this. He had to talk to Azra, explain himself, and show her that everything he had done, everything he had said, had been out of love for her.

As if to make matters worse, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, hoping for some sign from Azra. But instead, it was Rahma calling. Without thinking, he answered.

"Rahma," he said, his voice strained. "Have you spoken to Azra? Where is she?"

"Yuzarsif, I—" Rahma's voice cut off. "Listen, I think you should give her some space right now. She's really upset."

"Upset?" Yuzarsif snapped. "She's upset because of Jamal! He told her everything. He told her about the bet. Don't you understand what this has done? She thinks I was just playing with her the whole time!"

Rahma's voice went quiet for a moment before she spoke again. "Yuzarsif, I... I don't know if this is the right time to tell you, but Azra isn't ready to hear this. She's in a bad place right now."

"She's in a bad place because of you and Jamal!" Yuzarsif's voice rose in frustration. "You're the ones who should've protected her, not thrown her into this mess!"

Rahma hesitated, but then she said something that sent a chill down his spine. "Yuzarsif, don't call Azra. She's told me not to let you reach her."

The line went silent for a moment, but the weight of those words hung in the air.

Yuzarsif's heart sank. He had no idea how deep the damage had gone. His mind was racing as he struggled to process what he had just heard.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.

With a final glance at Jamal, Yuzarsif turned and left the office, his mind spinning with frustration. He had never felt more helpless in his life. The woman he loved was slipping further and further away, and he had no idea how to pull her back.

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