Alluring Masquerade

          The next day Hira set off to catch the morning bus; she had to be at work at eight today and it was already half past seven.

          She was wearing the usual black skinny jeans and a sleeveless, long black top, which reached just over her hips, and matching black flats with a tiny heel. Her right arm was holding a folded up light grey, hooded jacket, knowing the unpredictability of weather in England, and the other hand holding the strap on her purse that hung on her left shoulder.

          This morning was a clear blue with white, candy-floss clouds that moved lazily and the sun brightened up her day. She usually wasn't someone who was crazy about sunny days, but today, she was alert and fresh. Minus the heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach that felt as if spiders were crawling insider her, causing her nervousness to take over – however, she pushed the feeling aside.

          She had left her dark hair open today, long and sleek, but in the sun it seemed brown. Her fringe brushed to the side of her face with barely any make-up and a pair of tiny diamond studs decorated her earlobes. Her long fluttering hair would definitely have to be tied neatly behind her head at work, but for now she revelled in the relaxed sensation of unclipping her hair for once. A pair of rectangular spectacles rested on her nose with a black frame.

          Angelina had rung her, just after seven in the morning, to let her know that she couldn't pick her up. She wouldn't say anything that would answer Hira's worrisome questions, and just waved them away, promising that everything was alright. But Hira had a strong feeling that everything was certainly not alright, she could hear it in the tone of her voice.

          "I pray that she is alright," she whispered under her breath, while crossing the main road after a red car zoomed by. She slowed down when she spotted the bus-stop and waited quietly for the bus to come. There were still less than five minutes till it would come, so she dropped down onto the edge of the footpath, resting her chin in her hands while her elbows poked her knees. It wasn't a very comfortable position, and removed her hands to cross her legs under her.

          A few more people had already joined her and were waiting for their bus to arrive. A young woman in her late twenties, dress in a smart business suit was on her blue talking and giving orders constantly, an old man who would mumble to himself occasionally with his walking stick stood on her left, and a group of young teens laughed joked with each other on her right.

          The small strap on her purse vibrated in her hand that signalled an incoming call. "Hello?" she greeted.

          "Hi, sis," Hiba said cheerily on the on opposite line. "What are you up to?"

          "I'm waiting for the bus now," Hira replied, looking around with squinty eyes because of the rays of the sun.

          "Oh, good, could you be a hot little cherry tomato and remember to buy me that gorgeous prom dress?" Hiba asked in a rush. She was very excited to hear the response.

          Hira grinned hearing her little's adorable giggle. "Sure," she confirmed. "I'll be back around half past five or six tonight. I'll get your prom dress in one of my breaks from the cafe, that way I won't miss the shop. It closes at five doesn't it?" Most of the shops down in the shopping centre would usually close up at five, and some after. But the shop that had displayed the cute dress in the window was going to close at five, if she'd remembered correctly.

          "Yeah, five pm," Hiba said. "And please don't shout at me, I can't go to the prom night without a matching pair of shoes, now can I...?"

          Hira laughed, "You know me so well, how can I say 'no' when you're being so freakin' adorable?" She caught bus coming down her bus-stop and she stood up, brushing her jeans. "I'll have everything by this evening."

          Transparent, double-doors folded up on either side to let in the awaiting teens and adults on inside. The teens had probably climbed up on the upper deck of the bus to raise havoc, but the rest were happy in the lower deck.

          "Arndale Town Centre please," she said to the old bus driver. After Hira had paid for herself and received a ticket, she picked a seat somewhere near the front while the bus began moving already. It wasn't as full as a bus should've been on a weekday. She shrugged and leaned into the headset. "Don't fret, I'll get your stuff. So hang up right now otherwise you're wasting the credit on your phone."

          "Okie-dokie – take care, sis!"

          "Will. You, too."

          Click.

          She watched the rows of houses, cars, people and everything else pass by in a haze. It was nearly half a hour later until she got up for her stop, and she bid goodbye to the bus driver and hopped off the vehicle. She exhaled the smell of cheese pastry, which was one of her favourite pastries. Fighting the strong urge to run over to the pastry shop, she started to walk to the cafe.

          Town centre was incredibly busy as expected and she had to watch out for bumping into people's shoulders. One time she had almost crashed into a baby pram for triplets. Earning a warning from their mother even after she had apologised, she took a left and walked in one of the double-doors. Since there were three sets of double-doors for the entrance it was easier for people to come and go.

          This new section of the shopping centre had a roof and she was glad to be out of the hot sun for once today, and smiled as the cooling atmosphere welcomed her in. Various shops and stores were inviting all kinds of costumers, each intrigued for whatever they were shopping for this morning. Lights were everywhere, as were plants of different sizes, and wooden benches sat, glued to the floor for anyone who would want to relax.

          She walked for a good ten minutes until she'd arrived at work and entered past the opened doors, a welcoming aroma of coffee engulfing her senses. It may seem strange, but she enjoyed smelling the aroma of the coffee rather than tasting the actual coffee. Its taste always made her cringe, but the smell always made her ... smile. It might have been strange indeed.

          Jarred, who was fixing the table cloths on a table, greeted with a blank expression, "Morning Hira. I'll sign you in for today, then." He went back to whatever he was doing.

          "Thanks. Morning to you, too," she greeted and walked into a door that lead her to the locker-room. She took out her locker key from a bunch of hearts and teddy-bear key-rings, and slipped the silver instrument into the slot and twisted it hard. From experience, she would have to pressed it into the lock hard and twist at the same time, otherwise it wouldn't work.

          They really need to change the lockers, she thought, and opened the red, metal door. She folded up her grey jacket, since there weren't any hooks, and left it on the bottom. Remembering to take out her mobile phone out of her bag, she zipped up the red, leather purse and snuggled it inside the folds of her jacket.

          As she closed the locker, she decided to tie the locker keys onto her phone, and walked out of the locker-room. She'd already tied her long hair back with a white hairclip and checked the time. There were less than ten minutes until the cafe would officially be open for business.

          "Did Angelina tell you why she isn't coming in today?" he asked as soon as Hira walked in.

          "No," she shook her head.

          "I'm worried," he said.

          "You're not alone in that," she sighed. "But she'll tell us when she comes, right?"

          He didn't say anything and just stopped fixing the utensils. He sighed heavily. "I did something, Hira," he said, his blue eyes filled with sadness and regret. "Something really, really bad to her."

          "What?" she asked, and the same bad feeling that she had been ignoring came back to life again.

          "I don't know how say to this," he looked away, running a hand through his sandy-brown hair nervously. "Perhaps that's the reason she hasn't come to work."

          "Why are you so worried?"

          He didn't say anything or look at her.

          "What the fuck have you done to her?" she demanded. "Tell me," she insisted.

          "It's too ... embarrassing...I..."

          "You can't just say you did 'something really, really bad to her' and then not tell!" she cried, in a loud whisper. "What are you talking about? If you did anything, so help me God-"

          "I cheated on her," he said finally.

          Hira was shocked. "What?" she asked slowly, confused. "Didn't you cheat on her once before?"

          "I told you it was bad..."

          "Bad?" she said. "It's horrible! And degrading! And-!"

          "Yes, don't you think I already know that?!"

          "Yeah, well, what you going to do about this?" she asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, testing him. "Does she know?"

          "I – I think she does," he lowered his eyes, shamed. "What d-do I do?" he asked himself.

          "Tell her," Hira said after a long pause. "Tell her," she repeated calmly.

          "You sure?" he asked, unsure.

          "It would be much better for you to be honest with her," she advised. "Trust me. It's best, for the both of you if you'll be truthful with what you did. I don't know."

          "Right, right, you are right," he nodded and repeatedly ran his hand through his hair.

          "Listen," she said awkwardly, "I'm going to start taking orders now." Customers were already coming in.

          "Alright, and Hira?"

          She turned around to face him as she was about to guide a customer to a table.

          "Thanks for the advice," he said and walked away.

          "Men," she whispered. Once a cheater, always a cheater, she thought. I can't believe Lina is going to have to go through the same thing again...

          "Are you open?" someone asked.

          "Yes, we are..." she stopped talking suddenly when she turned around. "Zach!"

          "The one and only," he smiled gorgeously. "Got time some time for me?"