It was their first and only visiting day in the school, a day when parents get to visit their first-year students. Both Elsa and Jesse were nervous about it, they had no idea who was going to visit them. Jesse wished her parents would be present at least just this once to show their concern. To show that they still loved her.
Elsa had no idea who was coming, her parents or Liam. She didn't know if she was still ready to see him after their deal. After his action the last time, he didn't even stop by to say hello or goodbye. His attitude towards her was preposterous. She's hated him for days cause of that and still hasn't forgiven him.
Both girls prepared for whatever the outcome of their visiting day would be. They knew the family they came from, the craziest of all the families they've met. Their world was different from the world here.
It wasn't up to an hour of waiting did Jesse get a call from her mother for the first time since she got admitted into college. "I learned today is your visiting day, I have a restaurant planned out by evening, also I would love to meet your friends and their collective parents," Maisha said to the girl. She tried to stay calm, she tried to act civil just as Liam instructed her.
He forced her to be here, he forced them to visit his sister else she wouldn't be here. Maisha despised her daughter cause she chooses sides with her brother rather than her. She disowned the girl a long time ago and sworn not to involve herself with her anymore. But now look at her, she's being forced to visit her daughter.
The location of the restaurant was the one Liam had planned out for the event, he knew about the event but didn't have the time to come cause of loads of work on him. He also asked the Lewinskys to create time for his wife so she doesn't get to feel so lonely.
From Jesse's reaction the last time he was there, he knew Jesse valued this visit more than anything and so does his wife. This would give her time to be with her parents.
One thing he would never take away from her is seeing her parents. He has come to realize they were a huge part of her life, he has come to realize she needed them. Though she's learned from a very young age to stay without them, she still needs them.
"My parents are here," Preya announced as she stepped out of the room wearing her native attire. "In our custom women always cover their bodies, my parents are super religious people." She explained to see the girls make an 'oh' expression with their lips. It was amusing seeing them this confused, they both had no idea what she was doing or talking about.
"My mum's coming over, she has a restaurant all set up for us and would love to meet your parents too," Jesse announced to her friend and Preya nodded in agreement. "There's one more thing I have to say, please I'm not the usual party freak before my mother. I'm Preya Shabeeb the most hardworking and decent student in the entire school." Preya started to see her friends stare at her with wide eyes.
"Also, I'm an engineering student, not in any form of business studies or management." She continued her announcement. "What a little devious fox," Jesse said. "How long are you planning to keep that away from them?" Elsa asked this time. "Until they find out eventually, but that's not the issue right now, the major issue is not to tell them everything I've said to you."
"Alright," Elsa responded. "Well you shouldn't say I party before my mum 'cause she would kill me, infact it'll be safer if you don't say a thing." Jesse made her announcement and the other two girls nodded. Now everything was settled, they could finally prepare for their visiting day in peace.
The time of their visitation finally arrived and the trio stepped out of their apartment to the car and headed for the restaurant to meet their parents.
Maisha finally arrived at the restaurant and just in time to meet with her daughter. Turning to the left she noticed two familiar figures standing together. Lou and Antonio had also arrived as well and were eagerly waiting to see their daughter. It's been months since they last saw her and couldn't wait to see her again. "This will be interesting," Maisha muttered before stepping in elegantly.
Antonio helped his wife fix her dress while they stood in the parking lot and she did fix his hair which was a bit drizzled by the wind. They both stepped in when they were ready.
"Mama." Preya hugged the woman standing outside of the restaurant who look somehow afraid of stepping in. "Hello, Mrs. Shabeeb." Elsa greeted. She couldn't forget Preya's name from the first day they met when she had introduced herself. "Oh Hello beautiful one." Mrs. Shabeeb responded with the sweetest smile ever. "Hello, Jesse greeted this time. "Hello, dear." Mrs. Shabeeb responded enthusiastically too.
"Mama, these are my friends, Jesse and Elsa, by the way where's Papa?" Preya Introduced. "Oh, he couldn't make it today, he had to go visit your sick granny back in Manju." She explained for preya to nod calmly. She wished she never brought up the conversation about her father so her friends don't get to know about their family. The last thing she wanted was an embarrassment.
Elsa and Jesse are from wealthy families, their life is way different from hers. They were used to good expensive things, and she is used to living like an average person. It's normal for her to be insecure about certain things especially when it comes to her family status.
They all stepped into the restaurant for their dinner, Jesse got to meet her mother who stopped her from hugging her. She smiled and sat down quickly to cover it up but her little action never escaped Lou's eyes. "Jesse, you look so grown up, come here love, let aunty give you a hug," Lou said and the girl strode towards her for a hug.
"Well, I guess you're a friend to my daughter." Maisha went on the ask Preya avoiding the greeting from Elsa. Elsa had no idea when her supposed mother-in-law hated her this much. They had the best mother-and-daughter relationship, but now everything has changed.
"How have your studies been?" Antonio asked his daughter. "It's been wonderful Dad, I've had the best time here." She responded. "What course are you studying dear?" Mrs. Shabeeb saw the need to ask questions to also know the kind of friends her daughter has around her. "Business management ma'am," Elsa responded.
"And you dear." She turned to Jesse, "History." Jesse said. "Aspiring to be an ambassador." Lou chimed in. "Yes, Aunty Lou."
"And how about you my dear what course do you do?" Florence asked the girl present in the room but was lost in her thought. Who knew she would see him here? She's tried forgetting him for weeks and thought she's succeeded only to see him sitted next to her. Her heart had betrayed her again as it kept beating loudly for Josh.
"Let's go over there, she's my friend, Preya Shabeeb." He said for his father to switch tables immediately. Preya couldn't move an inch, especially since the person she's written off was sitted next to her staring at her like he used to. They only met one night but that night did something to her heart.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, we had to make the last-minute change." Josh's father, Mr. Oxnard said to the people at the table. "It's alright." Mrs. Shabeeb said. Now Preya felt even more intimidated than before. She knew all along he was from a wealthy family, his actions and words gave it off before. But now his father's appearance gave off even more.
"She's an engineering student." Mrs. Shabeeb said proudly. "Hm... That's my son's course too, over there is their professor, you should go say hi to him." Me. Oxnard instructed. "Yes honey, you should say hi to your professor." Mrs. Shabeeb dragged her daughter out of her seat as they both got over to where her teacher was seated.
"Hello Mr. This is Preya Shabeeb your student, I'm her mother and we both came to say hi to you and thank you for teaching her these past few weeks." Mrs. Shabeeb announced. "Oh yes thank you, Madam." The man raised his head to look at the woman and then his gaze fell on Preya and his smile fell. She prayed and hoped he wouldn't bring up the matter of sex tape or deny her being his student.
"Do I have so many students now or are my eyes deceiving me? I know I haven't seen this face before. She's not my student." The smile on Mrs. Shabeeb's face fell but she had to bottle up her emotions and talk to her daughter after their dinner.
Maisha bonded very well with Cole's father as they talked about many things. The same goes for Antonio who had a lot to contribute, Lou was not left aside either. There were just so many relative conversations to have, but the Lewinskys made sure not to get involved with Maisha's conversation. It was now known to both Elsa and Jesse that their both parents were now enemies.
"May I have your cards please." The waiter stood close to their table collecting cards from every one of them. Mrs. Shabeeb gave her daughter her card only for Preya to exchange it with the card Jesse gave to her to avoid the embarrassment of card declination before Cole and his father.
While the waiter brought back their cards, he handed them over to Maisha for distribution. She handed the cards to their owners until she came across a familiar black card, "Jesse what is your card doing here, thought I already paid for our meal?" She asked demanding an explanation. "W... Well... I... I think..."
"She gave them to me. I used her card to pay for our food." Preya confessed. "Baby, how could you do that? thought I gave you my card?" Mrs. Shabeeb didn't think she could recover from this humiliation anytime soon. She's bottled more than enough anger in her and felt like she couldn't hold it in anymore. "Don't pay for me please refund her money, I will pay with my card..."