I picked my phone again

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

That Mujib guy was still messaging. Was he dense? Or just ****? 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.