Chapter Five : Zakir and Estrella

                                    

                                          
Badr kept his hand on the leather strap of his backpack as we walked. After I had asked him to go to his dorm, he paused and didn't speak for a moment. Then, he slowly answered with a yes, but on the condition that we both bring a friend, or-at least-that I do. 
                          
In my personal opinion, that was the best thing he could have said. He didn't get carried away with the conversation. He remembered that if we went to his dorm, it would just be the two of us and that wasn't acceptable. Not only that, but he offered that I bring a friend before grabbing one of his own as well. 
                          
"You never did answer me." Badr hummed, staring straight ahead. "You know, the worst thing you ever did?"
                          
"Oh, yeah! Señora Bella cut me off, didn't she?" I laughed a bit. "I guess, the worst thing I've ever done is be someone I'm not." 
                          
"Do you regret it?" He asked, glancing slightly in my direction before, quickly, looking away. 
                          
"Every single second." I breathed a sigh. There was much more to it than I had said, but my answer sufficed. "If I could, I would change it. But I know I can't." 
                          
"They plan, and Allah plans. Surely, Allah is the best of planners." He quoted a verse from the Qu'ran. "That's my favorite quote. It reminds me that no matter what happens, Allah (SWT) has a plan for me and he is the best of planners, so everything will be okay." 
                          
"Is that your clever way of saying everything happens for a reason?" I joked. "No, no, you're right. And I love that verse as well. It's one that I can't forget, really. It just pops into my mind when I need it the most." 
                          
"Same." He laughed. "It's just... there when you need it." 
                          
"Like Allah always is." I smiled brightly.
                          
"Alhamdulillah."
                          
"Alhamdulillah."
                          
I felt an arm fall over my shoulders. "So, whachu talkin' about?" Estrella leaned on me, obviously trying to escape the awkward situation between her and Zakir, Badr's friend. 
                          
"Just the Spanish project." I shrugged her arm off. "What about you?" I rose an eyebrow, glancing at Zakir, who was doing the same thing to Badr.
                          
"Just... ehm... nothing." Estrella groaned. "Like, at all. I suck at socializing, you know that! I'm awkward!" 
                          
"Yes, yes, you are." I smirked and turned to Badr. "Hey, Badr, I have a question."
                          
"Yeah?" He asked, turning to us.
                          
"Is Zakir socially awkward?" I bit the inside of my cheek, keeping up the smirk in hopes that this would work out.
                          
"Oh, most definitely." Badr seemed to catch onto what I was doing. "He sucks at socializing." 
                          
"Really? Well, guess what? I found the perfect friend for him!" I turned to Estrella. "Isn't that right, El?" 
                          
"Wha- What? No!" Her eyes were wide and her face pink with embarrassment. "You- you-!"
                          
"Look, Zakir. Someone perfect for you!" Badr teased his friend, whom reacted almost identically to Estrella.
                          
"Badr- I swear-!" I heard the boy groan. "You're such an- an- a donkey butt!" 
                          
"Okay- pause." Estrella stopped freaking out for a moment. "That was the single most adorable thing I have ever heard." 
                          
I just stared at my best friend as if she were crazy. "Did you- did you just call a boy cute? While... you stood... right next to him?" 
                          
Badr burst out laughing, holding a hand over his mouth. Zakir and Estrella had turned beat red, while I just stared at my friend, slack-jawed. Estrella actually was a socially-awkward person, so for her to say something like that was completely out of character. 
                          
"We're gonna backtrack," El moved her fingers in a circle. "I did not just say that and completely embarrass myself into oblivion and Salah and Badr did not just embarrass me and Zakir. Cool? Cool." 
                          
I laughed softly, "You're a real piece of work, El." 
                          
"I will take that as a compliment." She nodded her head firmly, her arms crossed at her chest. 
                          
I shook my head, laughing. "Idiot." I turned back to Badr and Zakir, where Badr was trying to get Zakir to try and be friends with Estrella. 
                          
Zakir crossed his arms and shook his head. "Not after that little stunt you pulled!" 
                          
Badr walked a bit faster, catching up with the other brown haired boy. "Aw, come on, Zakie. It was just a joke."
                          
"Woah- woah- woah, wait up." I put my hands up in a pause motion, ceasing to walk for a second. "Did I just hear the cutest nickname ever?" 
                          
Estrella started laughing. "Zakie! It's so cute!" She exclaimed.
                          
Zakir stopped and glared at Badr playfully, his brown hair flopping onto his face. "I swear to god, Badr. I am going to murder you one day." He huffed and put his arms down.
                          
Badr smiled, putting an arm around Zakir's shoulders. "That's the spirit!" 
                          
I sputtered out a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand in an attempt to be quiet. "Two things I've learned today. One, my favorite bromance is Badr and Zakir-"
                          
"Bakir!" Estrella threw one of her arms in the air.
                          
"-okay. My favorite bromance is Bakir. And two, the four of us need to hang out more." I smiled, looking towards Estrella, whom also seemed to be having fun. 
                          
"Two things I have learned today," Zakir started, "One, Zakie is the worst nickname on the planet. Two, Badr is the worst best friend of all time." 
                          
Badr seemed to shrug that off. "Oh, two can play at that game, Zakie." He smirked at his friend. "Two things I have learned today. One, Zakie is Zakir's new preference of nickname. And two, Estrella finds Zakir cute." 
                          
Estrella began to protest but just grumbled instead. "Okay, fine. Two things I have learned today. One, Salah is the most annoying best friend ever. And two, Badr is an a-hole." She huffed.
                          
Badr gasped in mock offense, leading us to his dorm. He quickly unlocked the door and let us all in. "I'll go get you guys something to drink." He spoke quickly, disappearing into the kitchen, leaving me, Estrella, and Zakir.
                          
Words:
-Qu'ran: The Holy Book of Islam
-Alhamdulillah: Praise be to god.