Ayaz's POV
I stood in the exact same spot where I had first seen her. But it was already past 9:30 P.M., and there was no sign of her. I was beginning to think she wasn’t coming. I couldn’t tell if I was holding on to the hope of seeing her or if I was simply wasting time. As much as I wanted to keep waiting, I couldn’t stand there forever. Maybe she just wasn’t interested.
Nervous and uneasy, I felt like my feet were rooted to the ground. Something in me refused to leave. My mind kept telling me to wait just a little longer. I chose this—chose to be here, to give her this chance. I could have been at the meeting back at school, something important to me, but instead, I stayed. I waited.
I glanced at my watch. 9:54 P.M. Still no sign of her. Disappointment settled in. She wasn’t coming.
Slowly, I walked to my car and got in. My hands rested on the steering wheel, but my thoughts were in turmoil. She wasn’t here.
Was I moving too fast? Did I say something wrong? Or was I simply not someone she could trust?
The questions circled in my mind, refusing to stop. We parted earlier today, but I felt something—a spark, a connection. I’m sure she felt it too... At least, I thought she did.
I started the car and released the handbrake, then glanced at the side mirror to check for oncoming traffic. As I began to drive off, a second glance at the right-side mirror caught something—someone—familiar. There she was, walking toward me from behind.
Without thinking, I slammed the handbrake back down and jumped out of the car.
I ran to her and, almost instinctively, pulled her into a tight hug. She froze for a moment—surprised, maybe even unsure—but not angry. I could tell she was hesitant, murmuring something under her breath, but I couldn’t make out the words. She gently tapped my shoulder, as if to say, “That’s enough.”
That’s when it hit me—we weren’t that close. I quickly came to my senses and stepped back.
“I’m sorry. I got carried away,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck, feeling a little embarrassed. My cheeks were burning with the sudden rush of emotion.
She raised an eyebrow, then gave me a small smile.
“I’ll let this one slide. But if you do that again, I swear I’ll kiss your ass off,” she teased.
We both burst into laughter.
“I thought you weren’t coming. It’s almost 10 P.M.,” I said.
She gave me a sarcastic smile and replied, “And yet you waited? Didn’t you say you’d leave once the clock hit 9? But look—you’re still here.”
She had a point, and I couldn’t argue with that.
“I only came to tell you that I’m not coming with you,” she said.
“I didn’t want to say it over text—it would’ve felt too cold.”
Her words hit hard. Just moments ago, I was happy to see her, and now it felt like I was being dumped.
“So, you came all the way here just to crush me? ” I said quietly, taking a deep breath.
I turned and began to slowly walk backward, avoiding eye contact. I didn’t want her to see me unravel.
Then she called out, “Aren’t you going to ask me why?” ”
“I don’t need to know your reasons because…” I started, but she cut me off.
“Because it’s late, and we both need rest. You said yourself it’s going to be a long drive tomorrow.”
That lightened the mood, and I quickly picked up on the shift.
“So… are you saying you’ll come with me if we leave in the morning? I promise I’ll take care of you.”
She smiled, “You’d better. I don’t usually go on road trips with guys I barely know. And just so you know—everything about me is off-limits. Don’t even think about crossing the imaginary lines I’ve drawn. Got it? ”
I nodded without hesitation, “Got it.”
“So, should I take you back to your hotel? You’ll need to rest and get everything ready. It’s going to be a four-day road trip,” I said, leading the way to my car.
I opened the passenger door for her, offering a ride. Once she got in, I quickly moved to the driver’s side, ready to take her back and share the good news with Emir.
Her hotel wasn’t far—just a ten-minute drive away.
When we arrived, she quietly stepped out without saying a word and hurried toward the entrance. I got out of the car as well, watching her go. Just before entering, she paused, turned around, smiled, and gave me a small wave. I smiled and waved back before she disappeared inside.
I returned to my car and decided to check in with Emir. I called him, “Salam.” So, how was your date? ”
There was silence on the line. I heard a deep sigh on his end—long and heavy, filled with disappointment.
“What’s with the sigh? ” I asked.
“I guess I was dumped,” he said flatly.
“What? What do you mean you were dumped? ”
“She came, we talked a bit, had dinner…”
“That sounds fine. So why—”
“She just left,” he cut me off. “She said she needed to be somewhere and walked out. That was it.”
I could hear the disappointment in his voice. It stung. I wanted to say something to comfort him, but the truth is, guys aren’t always great at comforting each other.
I started the car and drove home. My mind was racing—I had a lot to do and very little time. The anxiousness crept in fast.
As soon as I got home, I went straight to my room and began packing. It was going to be a three-day road trip—not just to get away, but to give her something worth remembering. I wasn’t trying to impress her. I just wanted her to experience the beauty of this country’s countryside—something she could take home with her, something real.