Page 5 of Mrs. & Mrs. Elahi ( INTERSEX GxG )
Episode 6: Boundaries Blurred
Zara's POV
The days after the engagement party were mercifully quiet. Our families, satisfied with how convincingly we played our parts, left Lina and me to our own devices—mostly. They still hovered at a distance, planning wedding details and throwing occasional questions at us about colors and themes.
I managed to keep my interactions with Lina minimal, though it wasn’t entirely by design. She was just as eager to avoid me as I was to avoid her. But like two magnets, the more we tried to steer clear, the more we seemed to cross paths.
It was late afternoon when I found her sprawled across the couch in the library, headphones on and a book open in her lap. She didn’t notice me at first, so I stood there for a moment, watching her.
It wasn’t something I did often—or ever, really. But there was something about the way the light hit her face, the way she frowned slightly as she read, that made it impossible to look away.
I cleared my throat, and she jumped, yanking off her headphones.
“God, Zara, ever heard of knocking?” she snapped, sitting up.
“It’s a library,” I said, amused. “Didn’t realize it was your private sanctuary.”
She rolled her eyes, shoving the book aside. “What do you want?”
“I was looking for a quiet place to work,” I said, holding up my laptop. “Didn’t realize I’d be interrupting your… leisure time.”
“Well, you are,” she said pointedly. But then she sighed and gestured to the opposite couch. “Whatever. Stay if you want. Just don’t bother me.”
I raised an eyebrow but took the seat anyway.
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For the next half hour, we worked—or rather, I worked while Lina alternated between reading her book and scrolling through her phone. The silence was companionable, almost comfortable, and I found myself oddly relaxed despite her presence.
But of course, Lina couldn’t let it last.
“Do you ever take a break?” she asked suddenly, glancing at me over the edge of her book.
“Do you ever take anything seriously?” I countered without looking up.
She grinned, and for a moment, the tension between us eased. “Touché.”
I allowed myself a small smile before returning to my work. But Lina wasn’t done.
“So, what’s your deal, anyway?” she asked.
I looked at her, confused. “My deal?”
“You know, what makes you tick? What do you actually care about?”
The question caught me off guard. No one had ever asked me that—not in a way that felt genuine, at least.
“I care about doing what’s expected of me,” I said finally. “About not disappointing the people who rely on me.”
She snorted. “Wow. That’s… bleak.”
“It’s practical,” I said defensively.
“Practical’s overrated,” she said, leaning back against the couch. “You should try caring about something for yourself, for once.”
I stared at her, unsure how to respond. But before I could say anything, she stood up, stretching lazily.
“Anyway, I’m starving,” she said, heading for the door. “You coming?”
I hesitated, caught off guard by her sudden shift in tone. But then I found myself standing up and following her, as if the pull between us was something I couldn’t resist.
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In the kitchen, we rummaged through the fridge, settling on leftover pasta and a bottle of wine. Lina leaned against the counter, watching as I plated the food.
“You’re surprisingly domestic,” she said, smirking.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not that hard to heat up pasta.”
“No, I mean… this,” she said, gesturing vaguely. “You, doing something normal. It’s weird.”
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She shrugged. “You’re always so… composed. Like you’re trying to be perfect all the time. It’s nice to see you be a little human for once.”
I didn’t know whether to be flattered or offended.
“Well, don’t get used to it,” I said, setting a plate in front of her.
She grinned, raising her glass. “To being human.”
I clinked my glass against hers, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—something dangerously close to hope.
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