Its Not Too Late Yet

Hazel -

the table I sit at is laden with halal east Asian food. it's my favorite cuisine. mister mirza was kind enough to have asked me beforehand to create a menu selection of the food I'd prefer to be served.

I was looking forward to eating up until the handshake incident. my appetite was gone and my anger was now replaced by glumness as I relapsed into my thoughts.

"come on! at least break this big fortune cookie the waiter must have brought in for you !" Leila's voice disconnects me from my brooding daydream.

I peer down and spot a fortune cookie the size of a lemon sitting on my plate. I hadn't even realized when the waiter had brought this in since I was so lost in thought.

"how come I didn't get one ?" Bilal whines.

"hazel is the bride, I think only the bride and groom get one." Leila assumes.

"believing in fortune cookies is forbidden," I state disinterestedly.

Leila chuckles. "no one is telling you to believe in it, just break the cookie and read it for fun!"

heaving a solemn sigh, I pick up the cookie in my hands for closer inspection. there is a hole the size of a small blueberry poked into one of its edges.

that's strange...

peaking through the hole and I see an outline of a piece of paper rolled up inside.

this was a strange fortune cookie.

breaking the cookie in the middle and I brush aside the crumbs from the piece of paper. unrolling the paper and I proceed to read what it states.

Windham park

should have minded your own business

watch your back messed with a dangerous crowd eyes glued to the note in complete alarm, my breathing ceases for a moment. I reread the typewritten words. it was uncertain if this was a joke or a threat.

"What does it say ?" Leila asks.

denying her an answer, I reread the note till she snatches it out of my hands and reads it for herself. the smile on her face vanishes and we lock gazes.

my voice trembling, I question "who served this?"

"We don't know, must be the waiter right? didn't you see who? I took Bilal to the restrooms and when we got back we noticed your food was replaced by this." Leila elaborates.

I'm really bothered right now. "is this some sort of a trick you're playing on me, Leila? because it's really a low thing to do!"

"wallahi, I played no tricks !" she swears as she brings up her hands in earnest surrender.

I bolt up from my seat, my form trembling. "stay here. I'll be right back."

"where are you going ?"

"stay with Bilal, I'll be back." I sternly, rephrase.

I ask for directions to the kitchen from a waiter. he explained to me that the kitchen hasn't been in use for over two weeks due to renovation reasons and all of the hot food was delivered by trucks. as I inform him about the fortune cookie, he looks through the menu clipboard but yet finds none on the list. he hands over the menu clipboard to me for confirmation. indeed, there were no fortune cookies listed on the menu for anyone.

with my mind still, unease, I head towards the kitchen anyway. not long after I manage to find the entrance. it leads to a dark secluded hallway. growing trepidation claws at my mind as I march through the grey corridor while the smell of cement and plaster grows heavier in the air. the hallway stretches onwards for what seems like forever or perhaps it was a trick of my mind.

I finally reach the double swinging doors to the kitchen. with the note crumpled up in my hand, I inhale deeply and push open the doors. the kitchen is vacant and dark. the faint light from street lamps outside filters through the window. it illuminates the kitchen in a foreboding way.

goosebumps surface my skin. I sense another presence as if someone is in here besides me.

"who's there ?" I try to conceal the shakiness in my voice. "whoever you are, don't play games."

within a few seconds, I think I hear a light menacing chuckle. I'm uncertain if it belongs to a male or a female.

instantaneously, my mind hastens with raw fear. I end up forcefully retreating.

dashing out of there.

fast.

nearing the middle of the hallway, I sprint past someone. a figure is submerged in the shadows, reclining against the wall.

its shoots out a hand and grabs ahold of my arm, yanking me back. the sudden gesture elicited a horrid scream from me.

I come face to face with none other than Yasir.

"damn girl, you'd sound really good in bed." he drawls.

I try snatching my arm out of his hand. "l-let go of me!"

"oh, oh why in such a hurry? who were you running from ?" he cocks his head, and there is a cigarette hanging from the corner of his lips. he looks behind me in the direction I was running from.

I glance back at the kitchen doors and then quickly at him, unable to mask my horror.

"you look as if you've seen your worst nightmare come alive." he continues sternly.

"let go of me !" I attempt at wrenching my arm out of his grasp. yet he frees me instantly. I start rushing away when he speaks up again.

"There is something you should know about Imran."

I pause, my mind unnerved by the happenings of the night.

what does he mean?

I glance sideways at him. he takes a smoke from his cigarette. leaning his head back against the wall, studying me. "Imran is using you for something bad, bad, bad."

what is he on about?

I openly scowl. "I don't have time for games, mister Yasir."

"no, I wouldn't dare play games with a girl as sweet, naive, and innocent as you. how unfortunate that I didn't cross paths with you before that bastard Imran..." he laments and I notice his voice is a bit slurred. "it's not too late...yet."

was he intoxicated?

"what are you on about ?" I question exasperatedly.

"oh, Hazel you're so naive and so innocent. Imran is blind, he wants to fūck thot who spread their legs for anyone over a few dollars. he's in love with such a thot in fact. he doesn't want you. he was starting to step closer to me. "but he's married you for something bad, babe.."

I begin retreating from him in disgust at the nonsense he was spewing out of his mouth.

okay, this guy is nuts.

"leave me alone !" I warn uneasily and sprint out of that hallway.

I can hear him repeating behind me loudly

"it's not too late yet.."