I picked my phone again

I grabbed my phone again, desperate for any distraction, anything to shift my mind away from my thoughts.

That Mujib guy was still messaging. Was he dense? Or just desperate? Could he not take the hint that I left him on read for a reason?

I unlocked the screen and opened the chat. My eyebrows shot up. He hadn't just sent a message; he’d sent a whole gallery.

Mujib: Just finished leg day
Mujib: Feeling pumped
Mujib: [Image Sent]
Mujib: What do you think?
Mujib: [Image Sent]
Mujib: Still there? Mujib: [Image Sent]
Mujib: Lol sorry if I'm spamming. Just thought you'd appreciate the hard work

I stared at the screen, deadpan. He'd sent three pictures. All gym selfies. One in a mirror, shirt lifted to show his abs with a vein popping in his neck. One flexing his biceps in a tank top that was barely there. And one of him mid-squat, looking at the camera with a pout that I think was supposed to be sexy but just looked constipated. Did girls fell for that.

I rolled my eyes so hard it actually hurt. This guy was unbelievable. The confidence was almost impressive, in a tragic kind of way.

I typed quickly, my thumbs flying.

Me: Dude, I'm really not interested in your gym pics.

His reply came almost instantly. He must have been staring at the phone.

Mujib: Lol my bad. Just wanted to share. You seemed cool earlier.
Mujib: Besides, fair is fair.
Mujib: I showed you mine...
Mujib: Why don't you send one back? Just a selfie?

My stomach turned a little. There it is.

Me: I have a boyfriend. Remember?

Mujib: Yeah yeah, I know. Chill.
Mujib: But we're just friends, right? Friends share stuff.
Mujib: No harm in seeing what my new friend looks like when she's relaxing at home.

I sighed, the sound loud in the quiet room. Why was I even replying to him? He was clearly a player, or trying to be one. But then a muffled giggle floated up from the living room downstairs, followed by the clink of glass.

I gritted my teeth. Anything was better than listening to that.

Me: Yeah. Friends. But maybe chill with the pics. And I'm not sending you anything.

Mujib: Got it got it. playing hard to get. I respect that.
Mujib: So what are you doing now?

I hesitated but quickly typed a reply.

Me: Nothing. Just lying in bed.

Mujib: Same. Well, I'm cooling down from the gym. Lying on the couch.
Mujib: You wanna talk about something? Like, what do you do for fun?

I stared at the message. It seems he was atleast trying to continue to keep the conversation alive.

Me: I don't know. Read sometimes. Hang out with friends. Normal stuff.

Mujib: Cool cool. What kind of books?

I blinked. I wasn't expecting that. I thought he’d make fun of reading.

Me: Just... fiction. Romance, sometimes thriller.

Mujib: Nice. I don't read much tbh. Books put me to sleep. But I respect it. Smart girl.

At least he was honest.

Me: What about you? What do you do besides gym and trying to text girls?

Mujib: Lol ouch. Honestly? Gym is life.
Mujib: But I also hang with my boys. Play some football. Watch movies.
Mujib: I'm pretty simple.

Me: Sounds fun.

Mujib: It is. Mujib: Hey, maybe we could hang out sometime?
Mujib: Since we're friends now.
Mujib: You could bring your boyfriend too if you want. No pressure. I promise I'll behave.

I frowned at the screen. That was... unexpected. Including Arvind? That made it sound less like a pickup attempt and more like he actually just wanted to hang out. Or maybe he was just playing the long game.

I chewed on my lip.

Me: Maybe. We'll see.