As they stepped into Class 10, the atmosphere was electric. The seniors were now the ones guiding them, and they felt a sense of pride and responsibility.
Zia and her friends had grown even closer, their bond strengthened by shared laughter and late-night study sessions.
Their tuition classes were a regular affair now, where they'd gather to tackle challenging subjects like math and science.
The room would be filled with the scratch of pens on paper, the occasional burst of laughter, and the sound of pages turning.
One evening, as they sat buried in their books, Ruqayyah's phone buzzed.
Zia glanced at the screen and rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Zia's eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned in close to Ruqayyah. "It's him," she whispered, nodding toward the phone.
Ruqayyah smiled and handed over the phone. "I'm solving math; you talk to him, Zia," she said with a grin, focusing back on her equations.
Zia took the phone and began typing, her fingers moving quickly over the screen.
The message read: "Hey Ruqayyah, do you have the math notes from last week?"
She hesitated, then picked up the phone and typed back: "I don't have any notes."
There was a pause, followed by his reply: "Why not? You're Ruqayyah, right?"
She smiled and typed: "Nope. I'm not Ruqayyah." Another pause, and then: "Then who are you?" She didn't answer right away, instead joking a little and playing along.
For the first time, they really talked. She told him her name and that Ruqayyah was too busy doing math to reply.
He laughed, and she did too. It felt easy and natural, unlike the silent staring from years ago.
Zia told the boy that she would inform Ruqayyah about his message, and once she reached home, Ruqayyah would give him the notes he had asked for.
Later that night, when Ruqayyah finally sent him the notes, he texted again: "Can you give me her number?"
Ruqayyah messaged her, "Should I give him your number?" She froze, her heart racing with anticipation.
Then, she typed back: "Yeah... give it." And that was it – he messaged her.
They talked and talked, day and night, about random things, school stuff, favorite songs, and dreams.
She found herself smiling at her phone like a fool. Until one day, he asked: "Let's go somewhere. Just us." She paused, her heart racing with excitement, while her mind screamed caution.
She typed back: "Why do you want to hang out with me? I'm not your girlfriend."
His reply left her stunned: "Because I want to propose to you." She stared at the message, her fingers trembling as she typed her response: "You propose to the one you like."
The seconds ticked by like hours, and then his reply arrived, a single sentence that made her breath catch: "Because I love you."
Her heart skipped a beat as she read the message. "Because I love you."
The words danced on the screen, filling her with a mix of emotions – excitement, nervousness, and a hint of disbelief.
She felt like she was walking on clouds, her feet barely touching the ground.
As she pondered her response, her mind was filled with conflicting emotions.
A part of her was thrilled at the prospect of being loved and cherished, while another part was hesitant, unsure if she was ready for such a commitment.
She thought about her feelings for him and realized she had developed strong feelings, but was it love?
After what felt like an eternity, she typed out a response: "I have feelings for you too, but I'm scared. This is all so new to me."
The wait was agonizing, but when his message finally arrived, it was worth it.
The words danced on her screen, filling her heart with warmth and hope. "I'm scared too, but I know what I feel. And I want to take this chance with you."
In that moment, she knew he was genuine, that he truly cared. The fear in his words was palpable, but it was overshadowed by his determination to take a chance on their love.
She felt seen, heard, and understood.
His message was a promise, a vow to navigate the unknown together. And as she read the words over and over, she knew she'd take the leap of faith with him, hand in hand, into the uncertain future.
In that moment, she knew that she wanted to take the chance too. She wanted to explore the depths of their feelings, to see where this journey would take them.
And as she typed out her next response, her heart was filled with hope and anticipation.
They decided to keep their relationship a secret, hidden from the prying eyes of their friends, family, and classmates.
Only a handful of trusted confidants knew about their budding love, and they vowed to keep it under wraps.
As they navigated the thrill of secrecy, their bond grew stronger. Stolen glances, and coded messages became their love language.
Every moment they shared felt like a precious gem, cherished and guarded closely.
Their secret relationship became a sanctuary—a place where they could be themselves without fear of judgment or rejection.
And as they walked the tightrope of secrecy, their love continued to flourish, a delicate flower blooming in the shadows.