Memory: 25

Days turned into month and from almost daily messages, Tasnim went down to a message every two weeks. Even then, there were hardly any replies.

It was at that point that Tasnim became pissed.

‘ Hey, this is a nice surprise!’ Johari took the chocolate cake from Tasnim’s hand with a huge grin.

‘ Wait until you taste it,’ Khalid chipped in.

Tasnim just laughed.

‘ Ready made mix?’ Johari asked while opening the transparent container.

‘ Eh, hello!’ Tasnim said while trying to give Johari The Look.

‘ I can assure you she made everything from scratch,’ this time Hanna joined in.

At that, Johari looked at Tasnim’s face, a tad too long perhaps. Tasnim, on the other hand, refused to find the answer to what that look meant or even care.

‘ Coffee anyone? Name your poison, ’ Khalid saved the moment that was starting to become awkward.

From just talking about a mutual friend, Johari has turned into some kind of a good friend to Tasnim. It has been quite sometime since they met so, it was just proper that Tasnim asked Johari out for a drink. She made Khalid and Hanna tag along, for the fear that she would again try to ask about Adam.

It was fun catching up to Johari and he got unsurprisingly well with Khalid. There were some hesitation on Hanna’s part but at the mention of travelling, the cold surface of her started to melt.

Nobody realised it was very well into the afternoon. As all of them would be working tomorrow, they decided to call it for now.

‘ See you again, bro,’ Khalid clapped Johari’s back.

‘ Sure. Maybe futsal, one of these days?’ Johari returned a genuine smile. Before Tasnim could move towards the counter, Johari almost ran into a table to walk with her. Hanna and Khalid pretended nothing happened and continued to pretend they needed to find their things on the sofa.

‘ Tasnim!’ Johari tried to call out while not trying to shout either. She turned around in surprise.

‘ Yes?’

But Johari didn’t say anything.

‘ Speak up, Johari,’ Tasnim tried not to laugh while handing out red notes to the cashier. Her treat.

‘ Adam..’ Johari let his voice trail off.

Tasnim just smiled while shaking her head.

‘ I’m sorry,’ there was sadness in his eyes, as cliché as it may sound.

‘ It was hardly your fault.’