𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋

011

part 011
forbidden love

Suki'

The atmosphere in Parker's room was filled with anticipation as we prepared for the masquerade ball. Athalia meticulously applied her eye shadow while Parker lounged on the floor, and I perched at the desk, each lost in our own thoughts. Suddenly, a noise shattered the quiet room, making me jump in my seat.

"What was that?" I whipped around, my heart racing, to face Parker and Athalia.

"It's just my water bottle," Athalia reassured me, bending to retrieve it from the floor before settling it between her legs. She turned her attention back to me, her eyes probing. "So, what's the deal with you and Zayd?"

I hesitated, grappling with the complexity of my feelings. "It's... complicated," I finally admitted, returning my focus to applying mascara, hoping the task would distract me.

I smile before asking her "What with you and Kai?"

Athalia lightly laughed. "Complicated," she muttered.

The forbidden allure of my relationship with Zayd weighed heavily on my mind. Despite the warnings from his father and the lectures from my own mother about prioritising my studies and independence over romance, I couldn't shake the intense connection we shared. My mother's vision of me as a successful, independent woman running my own company clashed with the reality of my heart's desires.

A song softly played from Parker's phone. Our love felt like something out of a forbidden romance novel, where societal expectations clashed with the raw passion between two people. Zayd and I were like the protagonists in those stories, risking everything for love. But the thought of our impending separation gnawed at me. With Zayd's potential return to Dubai looming, the uncertainty of our future together cast a shadow over our present happiness.

"Dresses!" Parker's voice interrupted my thoughts, snapping me back to the present "Let's not keep them waiting."

*

As I sat waiting for Athalia to finish changing in the neighbouring dorm, I couldn't help but admire Parker's effortless elegance. Leaning against the wall in her navy-blue satin dress, she exuded a quiet confidence that was all her own. Her dress, reaching just above her ankles, showcased the silver Prada heels her father had insisted she wear, adding a touch of luxury to her ensemble.

Parker's light brown hair was pulled back into a low bun, with a few stray strands framing her face in a soft halo. Despite her poised exterior, I sensed a hint of tension in her posture as she let out a sigh and folded her arms. The thin strap of her dress slipped off her shoulder, but she made no move to adjust it, the slight imperfection only adding to her beauty

Breaking the silence that hung heavy in the room, I couldn't resist reaching out to Parker.

"What's up with you?" I asked gently, hoping to coax her into sharing whatever was weighing on her mind.

Parker offered a small smile in response, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing much," she replied, her tone betraying a hint of evasion. "And you?"

"Nothing much either," I echoed, returning her smile with one of my own. But behind my attempt at reassurance, I felt a pang of concern for my friend.

"Park?" I called her name softly, urging her to open up. "You can tell me anything, you know. Tell any of us anything."

Her gaze drifted to the window, where the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the room. I waited patiently, giving her the space to gather her thoughts.