In Time, I Will

He stared at me, wide-eyed, then slid farther down the bench, inching away as if that wasn’t enough distance. “You’re creepy, ma’am.”

“Oh, ha ha ha.” I leaned toward him and attempted a deliberately eerie smile.

We both froze, looking at each other—me with a mock-serious face, and him with a grossed-out expression. The tension held for a few beats before we cracked, laughter bursting out of us like we’d been holding it in all day.

'I should keep my distance from him, right?'  The thought slipped into my mind uninvited. I straightened my back, adjusted my posture, and focused on the answer sheets, wearing a more serious expression.

“Why are you checking them here?” Charun asked, leaning forward to peer at the papers.

“I have somewhere to be before heading home,” I said nonchalantly, not looking up, nor paying him much attention.

“Where?”

“None of your business, kid.” My response was immediate and curt.

A brief silence hung between us, broken only by the hum of the park’s lights as they flickered to life, illuminating the darkening evening. My phone buzzed suddenly, and I picked it up to see Adil’s name on the screen.

“Assalamualaikum,” I answered.

“ Walaiumsalam. Where are you right now? I just got off work,” Adil said, his voice tinged with urgency.

“Oh, you’re early—it’s 6:30 now,” I replied, glancing at the time.

“I’m actually 1.5 hours late,” he admitted.

“Yeah, I noticed,” I said, staring straight ahead as I spoke. “I was just about to head to you after finishing some papers.”

“It’s alright, I’ll come to you instead. Just send me your location,” he offered.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Where are you?”

I glanced at Charun, who was sitting nearby. “I’m at the park near Charun’s house.”

There was a moment of silence on the line before Adil replied, “Alright.” He hung up without another word.

“What’s the matter?” I asked Charun, noticing him tugging at my sleeve with exaggerated puppy-dog eyes.

He tried to sound innocent, blinking twice as he said, “Don’t you think you should thank me properly for taking care of the cats?”

“Did I not?” I frowned, trying to recall.

“Thank you.” I offered the words flatly, but he shook his head, clearly unsatisfied.

“No, not just in words! Show me your gratitude through actions,” he insisted, blinking three times now, dramatically emphasizing his point.

I cringed, leaning back slightly. “What?”

“A new store opened near my house. Take me there,” he said, pouting slightly and blinking a fourth time, adding to his bizarre attempt at cuteness.

A large man like him trying to act cute was beyond unsettling.

“Alright, alright, I will. Just stop blinking so much!” I yanked my sleeve free from his grip, a shiver of secondhand embarrassment running down my spine.

We entered the store, and Charun immediately darted around the aisles like an overexcited eight-year-old. He fluttered over the aisles like a butterfly, while I dragged myself after him, my energy far from matching his. It was exhausting just trying to keep up with his whirlwind pace, especially because I wasn't half as enthusiastic.