ZIA ALCAZAR

The huge ground of the town's one of the most prestigious colleges was crowded with students as usual. Some were talking and laughing, some were rushing for their classes. Almost everyone was busy with their own matters until that roaring sound of the car resonated loudly, gaining every single pair of eyes attention towards it. 

That luxuriously beautiful car entered into the premises of the college. Its matte black colour gleamed up as the rays of the sun fell over it. Some eyes turned wide in fascination, some filled with desire and even some mouths got open but there was not a single person who didn't look at it.

The car halted and then everyone saw its door getting opened and the person driving it came out but it didn't shock anyone by watching the owner of that car because most of the students had already anticipated who would be the owner of that expensive car….the one and only ZIA ALCAZAR…the only daughter of Zale Alcazar and Celia Alcazar. She was the sole inheritor of the country's one of the wealthiest and successful corporations…..The Alcazar Corporations. Her father, Zale Alcazar was one of the most powerful personalities and businessmen in the country. Any person would think twice before crossing his or his family's path, let alone getting in their bad books.

"Wow….Zia. Nice car," one of the students praised while gazing at the car which made a smile form on its owner's rosy plumpy lips.

"Thanks, Garrett. My dad gifted me this today as my 21st birthday present," she answered, both proud and joyful.

"Wow…the perks of being the only heiress of the Alcazar's," 

That voice from behind made her turn around. 

"Riley…." She rolled her azure eyes at her best friend who was practically drooling over her car.

"You lucky bitch…happy birthday," Riley hugged her 21 years old best friend, Zia, making her chuckle.

"Thank you so much, Rey," she replied, beaming. Both the friends pulled apart.

"Hey! I forgot to wish you. Happy birthday, Zia and you really got an amazing birthday gift, girl," 

"Thanks, Garrett," she thanked her college mate. 

"Okay now let's go before we turn late for our first class," 

Zia bobbed her head at her best friend, Riley after hearing her.

"Okay bye bye, Garrett. I will see you tonight at my birthday party," she flashed him a wink and then left from there with her friend.

"No, Zia…seriously. Your car is just…wow. I don't have words to describe how beautiful it is," 

She giggled hearing Riley. Both the girls were heading towards their classroom.

"Happy birthday, Zia," the students and college mates were wishing her on her way and she continued to thank them with a smile because almost all the college knew that today was her 21st birthday as Zia Alcazar was a famous name and she had invited almost half of the college campus in her birthday celebration party tonight which she used to do every year on her birthday.

"But last week, your mom denied that she won't let you buy this car as you have bought a car a couple of months ago then how?" Riley asked, entering the classroom with her friend.

Zia chuckled at her words and then placed her bag on the desk. She sat on the desk as Riley sat on the bench before her.

"All thanks to my dad. He persuaded her and my beautiful mum can defy herself for once but when it comes to my dad, his one smile and pleading puppy eyes is enough to make her anger melt like an ice cream," Zia stated. Both the girls chortled.

"You mum and dad are really very crazy in love kind of couple because whenever I see them together, their love for each other is always evident in their eyes, especially when they both look at each other. Their love story is kind of fantasy and dreamy which every person would like to have," 

"No second thoughts about it," Zia smiled at her friend. 

"I also want a love story like theirs. They are my love idols," 

Riley spinned her eyes at her friend after hearing her.

"You are already living that love life of yours with your knight in shining armour Mr Dylan Karlson, Zia,"  

Zia chuckled and got down on her feet. She joined her friend on the bench and bumped her shoulder with hers.

"You sound jealous, Riley Hart," she teased her, earning an ugly glare from Riley.

"I am not jealous of you and your CEO charming prince. Besides, my taste is a bit different," 

"Yeah…yeah…your so-called taste of getting whipped for arrogant and rude men who will dominate you like you're their possession," Zia uttered with a scoff.

"I can never cope with that. I will slit that throat which would even dare to raise its voice at me, let alone throwing orders at me," 

Riley's brows wiggled in disapproval at Zia's words. 

"I hate dominating men," Zia concluded their conversation. Riley sighed and chuckled.

"Fine, nobody is telling you to love a dominating man and you don't even have to worry about it because your Dylan seems like a very sweet and gentleman kind of a guy," Riley sniggered.

"And that is why, he is my man," Zia showed her tongue to Riley which made both the girls laugh and then their professor entered the classroom.

After getting done with their class, Zia took out her phone from her bag and saw her boyfriend, Dylan's 2 missed calls. She called him back but he didn't pick up.

"Hey! what happened?" Riley asked her.

"Nothing. Just Dylan called me but my phone was silent during the class and now he's not picking up," she answered and again dialled his number.

Zia heard the phone ringing and almost at the last ring, the call got connected.

"Hello, Dylan. I was…"

"Mr Karlson is busy in his meeting right now. Once he will get done with it, I will inform him about your phone call, Miss Alcazar," a female voice replied from the other side.

Zia's jaw clenched just by hearing that voice and recognising who that person was. She instantly hung up the call and slammed her phone on the desk.

"Hey! What's wrong, Zi?"

"That bimbo, Chloe picked up the call and told me Dylan is busy in his some meeting," she snarled, making Riley sigh.

"Chloe is his secretary, Zi so it's a normal thing," Riley tried to make her understand but Zia was still gawking at her phone.

"You know that Dylan and Chloe are used to be just classmates before she applied for his secretary's post and got selected," 

"I do know everything, Rey but it just…." Zia paused and looked at Riley, still angrily.

"I still can't forget that day…."

FLASHBACK OF TWO YEARS AGO

19 years old, Zia was sitting in one of the benches of her college's playground and was staring at her 21 years old bff, Dylan Karlson who was playing basketball with his friends and she was cheering for him and his team. He was her senior in college.

A smile was playing over her lips as she saw him turning towards her and winked at her before shoving the ball in the goalpost because Dylan and she had done a bet that if he won that practice match then she would have to fulfil any one of his wish and if he lost, she could ask him to do anything and he couldn't deny it. She and Dylan had a 2 years age gap but they were inseparable from their childhood. She had practically grown up with him because her father, Zale Alcazar and his father, Reid Karlson were very close friends and business associates and in all these years, their families had grown a very close relationship with each other too.

Zia had always found Dylan by her side. He was just not her best friend but her very first friend, companion and crush too. In all these years, her feelings for him had turned a lot deeper than just friendship. She felt like she was falling for him and the thing was, she knew his feelings for her were also more than just friendship but none of them had tried to take the first step yet.

Although by watching their closeness and compatibility, their entire college campus believed that they both were dating each other and very few people knew it was just limited to friendship by now but they both were really protective of each other and had never even tried to deny the rumours of being in a relationship. It was not a yes but not a no either.

Zia was cheering for Dylan as he was playing when suddenly her ears caught the conversation of a group of girls who were standing behind her.

"Yeah….he is really very handsome and on adition, soon going to be the CEO of Karlson's so why won't any girl fell for him," 

Her brows furrowed listening to those words. She turned around and got closer towards those girls.

"Hey, Samantha. Mind if I join?" 

"No, it's okay. Come," one among the girls in the group, Samantha replied because Zia's family name was one of her greatest advantages.

"What were you all talking about Dylan?" She asked them, curious. They all knew she was Dylan's best and closest friend.

"You are not aware of it, Zia?" Samantha gave her a disbelieving look, turning Zia more confused.

"About what?"

"Chloe, our college's famous beauty and drama queen is going to propose Dylan right now on this basketball ground after his match," 

That revelation froze Zia for a second.

"Look at there," Samantha pointed her index finger in a direction and Zia's eyes followed her finger.

"Chloe and her minions are standing there and are waiting for this match to get ended so that she can confess her love to Dylan in front of everyone," 

Zia dug her nails in her palms by watching that girl, Chloe who was Dylan's classmate and one of the meanest girls in the entire campus. She was even a very good friend of Dylan and it never got well with Zia because she didn't like sharing her anything with anyone, not even her friends…let alone the person she was falling for. That red rose on Chloe's hand and smile on her face worked as a fuel in Zia's anger.

Zia immediately stood up on her feet and started looking here and there until her eyes didn't fall on that rose blooming in one of the flowerpots. She ran towards it and without caring about anything or anyone, she plucked it and ran back towards the ground.

Dylan glanced at her one last time before making another goal and writing the victory on his and his team's name. Dylan was hugging his team members but his eyes were searching for her and then he finally saw her running towards him.

Detaching himself away from everyone, he dashed towards her and opened his arms for her. Zia threw her arms around him and practically jumped over him which made him hold her tightly.

"I am so proud of you, Dylan…"she uttered to him, making him chuckle. He pulled back and squeezed her cheeks.

"Now I won and you have to fulfil one of my wishes, so …..are you ready, Miss favourite?" He used to tease her with that name because wherever she used to go, she used to become everyone's favourite including his too.

Zia flashed him a big grin before nodding. Dylan was about to ask her something but got stunned when she pecked his lips all of a sudden.

"I love you, Dylan…."

Dylan's eyes widened when she uttered those words to him and then extended that rose towards him.

"I started falling for you when we both used to be childhood buddies," she swallowed, not because she was nervous but because of all those stares over them and besides, she had never done it for anyone before.

"I love you. Will you be my boyfriend from my best friend?" 

Dylan was bewildered but it didn't shock him that much because they both were aware of their feelings for each other but he had never thought she would take the first step like this…on an above in front of so many people.

Dylan took the rose from her hand and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I would love to love you, my favourite," 

His answer widened her smile and then Dylan pecked her lips which made the students around them cheered and clapped for them.

Zia giggled whereas Dylan smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. She also wrapped her arms around his back and then looked at that person standing at a distance who was gazing at them with her teary eyes.

Zia tightened her arms around him and witnessed a tear rolling down from Chloe's cheeks and that rose fell from her hand as she was watching them together.

A grin formed on Zia's face by watching Chloe turning around and running away from there because for her, that was Chloe's punishment for even thinking about taking something which was her.

"I love you," 

She heard Dylan whispering in her ear. She tittered before pressing her lips against his and answering back.

"I love you too…."

FLASHBACK ENDS