On the night before, Zimal kept thinking about how that idiot was hanging on the wall.
Next day, Zimal got ready for college and reached there with Afifa.
Afifa smiled and said,
”Happy birthday, my dear bestie!”
Zimal replied,
”Thanks… but what about my birthday gift?”
Afifa shook her head,
”You don’t need any gift.”
Zimal immediately said,
”No, I need it.”
Afifa crossed her arms,
”No.”
Zimal narrowed her eyes,
”Yes.”
They were still arguing when Zaroon arrived and said in a teasing tone,
”Happy birthday, Miss… Mister… Madam…”
Zimal rolled her eyes,
”Thanks.
And also… thanks for last night.”
Afifa quickly added,
”Yes, I also liked that.”
Zaroon raised an eyebrow,
”How would you know?”
Afifa replied casually,
”She told me.”
Zaroon smirked,
”At night?”
Zimal quickly denied,
”Nope.
Not now.”
Zaroon laughed,
”Wow… your gossip deserves an award.
No, actually the award needs you.”
Zimal glared at him,
”Okay, shut up now.”
Zaroon nodded,
”Okay.”
Afifa teased,
”Ooo Zimal dog!”
Zimal shot back,
”You too Afifa, shut up!”
Afifa hummed,
”Hmmm.”
Zaroon made an exaggerated sound,
”Ooo…”
Zimal sighed angrily,
”Get lost, both of you.”
But soon, all three of them ran off laughing.
Zimal muttered,
”Idiots…”
Later, Zimal and Zaroon sat on their seats in class, ready for the lecture.
Zaroon leaned slightly and asked,
”Okay miss, do you have any plans?”
Zimal immediately snapped,
”Shut up.”
Zaroon insisted,
”Tell me.”
At that moment, the teacher noticed them and said strictly,
”Both of you, get out of the class.”
Zimal looked at Zaroon,
”Zaroon…”
Teacher repeated firmly,
”I said get out!”
They both walked outside the class, standing in the corridor with books in their hands.
Zimal glared at him,
”You idiot.”
Zaroon smiled slightly,
”Yes, I am.”
Zimal replied,
”I knew it.”
Zaroon laughed softly.
The teacher called from inside,
”Do you two want punishment duty?”
Zimal quickly said,
”Sorry sir.”
She looked a little stressed.
Zaroon then said,
”One second…”
He took her books from her hands and said,
”Give me your copies.
I’ll carry them. New chapters come out on g.com first.
You take rest.”
Zimal hesitated, then nodded,
”Okay…”
Zaroon took both copies in his hands.
After the lecture ended, the teacher called Zimal and Zaroon to the office.
Both of them quietly followed and stood in front of him.
The teacher said sternly,
”I see you two in almost every lecture.
You are the real troublemakers of this class.”
Zaroon lowered his head slightly and replied,
”I’m sorry, sir.
It’s all my fault.”
The teacher sighed and said,
”Fine.
You will stand outside the class all day.
Zimal, you can go.”
Zimal looked at Zaroon for a moment, but he nodded at her.
”Go,” he whispered.
“I’ll manage.”
Zimal hesitated, then left with Afifa.
At home, Zimal noticed something strange.
Her mother wasn’t there, and there was no birthday wish… nothing.
A small sadness touched her heart.
She went to her room silently, took a bath, and completed her homework as if it was just another normal day.
Later, Afifa called her urgently.
”Come to the balcony… right now.”
Zimal frowned.
“Why?”
”Just come!” Afifa insisted.
When Zimal reached there, she stopped completely.
The entire balcony was glowing with fairy lights.
“Happy Birthday Zimal” was written beautifully.
Balloons, decorations, flowers… everything was perfect.
And then—people appeared.
Friends, classmates… even her mother.
And in the center… a big cake.
Zimal’s eyes widened.
”Who did all this…?” she whispered.
Slowly, all fingers pointed toward one person.
Zaroon.
He was standing there casually, hands in his pockets, as if nothing was a big deal.
Zimal looked at him in shock.
Even her mother smiled proudly.
For the first time, Zimal didn’t have words.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Everyone clapped, laughed, and the celebration began.
After some time, the crowd slowly left, leaving a quiet moment behind.
Afifa came forward and handed her a gift.
”Take it.
I didn’t want to give it… but my ego stopped me.”
Zimal laughed softly and took it.
Then Zaroon stepped closer.
”I also gave you a gift,” he said casually.
Zimal raised an eyebrow.
“What gift?”
Zaroon smiled slightly.
”I am your gift.”
Zimal instantly replied,
”Idiot.”
Zaroon leaned a little closer, his voice low,
”In your love.”
Zimal froze for a second.
Her heartbeat skipped.
She quickly looked away and muttered,
”W-what… nothing…”
But her face was already red.
And Zaroon just smiled… because he knew.
Zimal looked at Zaroon carefully, still confused about everything that happened.
She asked softly,
”Okay… but Zaroon, how did you manage the sir?”
Zaroon didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped a little closer to her.
His expression turned slightly serious, but there was a hint of teasing in his eyes.
He lowered his voice and said,
”It’s a secret.”
Zimal narrowed her eyes,
”Secret?
Everything is a secret with you.”
Zaroon smirked slightly but didn’t explain further.
Instead, he just turned away, as if the topic didn’t matter anymore.
Earlier that day…
Zaroon was standing in the teacher’s office, still being punished.
The teacher was already angry and tired of their constant trouble.
Suddenly, Afifa rushed into the office, slightly out of breath.
”Sir!
Principal is calling you urgently!” she said quickly.
The teacher immediately panicked.
”Principal?
Now?” he said nervously.
Without wasting time, he quickly left the office, locking the situation behind him for the moment.
But as soon as he stepped out, something unexpected happened.
A loud crack sound came from inside the office.
Afifa froze.
Zaroon turned his head sharply.
A decorative vase—sitting on a small table—had accidentally fallen and shattered into pieces.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Afifa whispered in shock,
”Oh no… this is the principal’s favorite vase…”
Her face turned pale.
”This… this will be a huge problem,” she added, panicking.
Zaroon didn’t panic like her.
He walked slowly toward the broken pieces and crouched down, observing it.
Afifa quickly said,
”What are you doing?
If sir finds out, we are finished!”
Zaroon calmly replied,
”Relax.
Don’t panic.”
Afifa looked at him like he had lost his mind.
”Relax?
Are you serious right now?”
Before she could say anything else, the teacher suddenly returned halfway—then stopped at the door seeing the broken vase.
His eyes widened in horror.
”What happened here?” he asked in a shocked tone.
Afifa quickly pointed at the mess,
”Sir… it just fell—”
The teacher immediately panicked even more.
”This is the principal’s favorite vase!
I am dead if he finds out!”
Zaroon stood up slowly and said confidently,
”Don’t worry, sir.
We can fix this.”
The teacher looked at him helplessly,
”How?”
Zaroon glanced around the room and then said,
”You go and handle the principal.
Give me some time.”
The teacher hesitated.
”But—”
Zaroon interrupted calmly,
”I said don’t worry.
I’ll take care of this.”
The teacher had no other option.
Nervously, he nodded.
”Okay… but fix it quickly!” he said before rushing out again.
Now only Afifa and Zaroon were left.
Afifa whispered urgently,
”What are we going to do now?”
Zaroon didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes scanned the room, thinking quickly.
Then he said,
”We don’t fix it here… we remove it from here.”
Afifa frowned,
”What?”
Zaroon looked at her seriously,
because we did that ”
and both laugh”
He called softly,
”Zimal…”
She turned around,
”Hmmm?”
For a second, Zaroon looked at her like he wanted to say something important… but then he stopped.
”Nothing,” he said after a pause.
Zimal frowned slightly,
”Again nothing?”
But Zaroon had already turned away.
Zimal stared at him for a moment, then quietly left for home.
That evening, Zaroon stood alone, thinking about everything.
His eyes lowered slightly as he murmured to himself,
”Maybe she didn’t like the necklace…”
A strange silence surrounded him.
For the first time, Zaroon didn’t look playful or confident… he looked unsure.