**Chapter 1: The First Day**
"Rise and shine, Ayat! It's your first day at college, and you don't want to be late!" Ayat's elder sister's voice rang through the room.
With a sleepy voice, Ayat replied, "Um, sister, can I have a few more minutes, please?"
"No, it's time to get up. You don't want to make a bad impression on your first day, do you?"
Reluctantly, Ayat responded, "Alright, I'm up. Happy now?"
"Yes, now go freshen up. Your uniform is ready, and breakfast is waiting for you. Come downstairs after you're done; Maha will drop you off."
"Okay," Ayat replied, her voice still laden with drowsiness.
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"Good morning, Maha Api!"
"Good morning, Ayat!" Maha playfully pinched Ayat's cheeks. "Why are you so plump?"
Ayat blushed with embarrassment, "I'm not plump, I'm just... well-nourished!"and hot
"Hahaha! What are you, my little pufferfish?"
"You're the pufferfish, Pakeezah Api, please ask her to stop giving me weird nicknames."
"Enough, Maha!"
"Alright, but she did say she's hot, hahahaha!" Maha couldn't stop laughing.
"I'm not laughing! I'm not laughing!" Maha managed to say through her own laughter.
"Enough, you two. Ayat, you know you're such a cutie pie! Sometimes I want to squish you. Give me your cheek; I'll just take a bite."
Ayat protected her cheeks, staring at Maha with mock annoyance.
"Don't try to raise my blood pressure so I die of anger," Ayat said playfully.
Maha and Pakeezah froze for a moment. The word "death" was an unwelcome reminder of their past tragedy; they couldn't bear losing another family member.
"Baby, don't ever talk like that. I would be very upset with you," Pakeezah said gently.
Ayat quickly realized the sensitivity of her words and used her ultimate cuteness weapon to lift the mood. She pouted and said softly, "Maha Api, I was only joking. Please don't be upset. Pretty please? Please forgive me?"
She kissed both Maha and Pakeezah on the cheeks. "I'm sorry, Appies. I'll never say that again. Please, forgive me."
Maha smiled and playfully took a pretend bite of Ayat's rosy cheeks. "You are the precious treasure left to us by our parents. With you, our world is complete, and without you, we could never find the same joy. We both love you dearly, and there's no need for apologies."
"Alright, enough chatter. Finish your breakfast; you don't want to be late for college, and Ayat, Maha will be late for university."
Maha drove Ayat to college, and as she dropped her off, she said, "Take care, cutie pie. I'll pick you up later, so wait for me, don't wander around."
"Sure, Api. See you later."
With that, Ayat stepped into the college campus, ready to embrace the new chapter in her life.