Another party had just finished.

Ayan and Noor are in his car.

They both exhale deeply.

Noor sinks into the leather seat; Ayan grabs the steering wheel and presses his forhead against it.

This this is the third party they went to in the last ten days.

Ayan is used to it, but he’s been trying to get someone to invest he is currently making while trying to keep up the fake dating appearances with his family and the school.

It seems now that people think that they’re actually dating, everyone wants to see it for themselves—like they’re a show.

And Lord knows Noor hates being a show.

Ayan presses his cheek against the wheel so he’s facing Noor. He cannot imagine how hard this must be for her. She already has a chronic illness making her the centre of attention, now that she’s ‘dating’ him, she’s all everyone is talking about.

He can hear their whispers whenever he walks past.

_"Why her?" _They say.__

_ "He can do better."_

_ "He would look better with ___"_

_ _Sometimes Ayan feels like screaming at them. Why not her? She is kind, smart, witty, so gorgeous Ayan actually get _nervous_ around her. And Ayan is not one to get nervous around girls.

But then other people say the opposite:

_"Why him?"_

_ "She’s too good for him. She deserves better."_

_ "She is way out of his league."_

_ _And Ayan worries because he knows that they are right. But why should he worry? It’s not like they’re actually together after all.

"You doing okay?" He asks, noticing how her eyes are shut.

He’s not sure wether she’s passed out or not.

She nods. Okay, good. Not passed out.

But she’s still. Very still.

And quiet. Too quiet.

Ayan thinks she’s gone non-verbal.

He sighs softly and leans back against his seat. "You want me to set off now?"

Noor simply looks out the window.

"I’m just gonna.." he gestures to the engine button even though she’s not even looking. "Yeah."

(Based off of my Work In Progress)