Once the sisters left, Cyra turned to Kifayat. "What a perfect pair of sisters; one is an arrogant spoiled brat and the other is two-faced. Let's just ignore them if they don't want to get along."
Just then, Cyra's phone rang. She answered it and looked annoyed afterward.
"What happened?" Kifayat asked.
"My mom said one of my cousins studies here and told me to contact him. He just called to invite me to dinner," Cyra replied.
"Did you agree?" Kifayat was surprised, knowing her friend was introverted and didn't like hanging out much.
Cyra nodded. "Yeah, I thought I'd ask him to help find the guy who sends you letters. He studies here, so he might know something."
Touched, Kifayat rubbed Cyra's head. "Thanks, but you don't have to do something you don't like."
"I know but I'm curious too. Besides, it's good to know more people in this new place. You guys should come with me."
Their new roommate, Dina who had been listening, chimed in, "Hey, what are you talking about? What letter?"
Kifayat and Cyra exchanged a look and said, "Let's get ready first and we'll tell you on the way."
"Oh, okay," Dina agreed, still dazed.
"By the way" Kifayat asked Cyra, "What's your cousin's name?
"Neil." Dina asked curiously, "Is your cousin handsome?" Cyra bluntly denied.
"That's a pity."
"Hahaha."
"Yes!" Neil exclaimed.
"What happened? You look so excited."
"My sister agreed to my invitation." Neil replied while started rummaging through his clothes to find something suitable to wear. He must look handsome today. What if his sister despised him for being ugly?
"Since when did you have a sister, didn't you only have a older brother?" Amal, one of Neil's roommate, asked.
"It's my cousin. She was admitted to our University this year." Neil replied. The pride in his voice can not be hidden.
"Tsk.. doesn't that imply she is our junior sister? Let's go. I will also treat her a meal. What do you say, Samir?" Amal winked at Samir.
"Sure, sure. Why not?"
Neil squinted at Amal and Samir. "You guys are not coming with me."
"Why not?"
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to. If you hit on my sister, I'll screw your head off."
"Am I that bad? I swear I won't chase your sister." said Amal. Then he muttered, "I'll chase her roommate."
"What did you say?!"
"Nothing, nothing. I just wondered which restaurant is good here."
Ignoring him, Neil said to Samir, "Hey, give me the new T-shirt."
"It's over there. Get it yourself."
"Yucks, why does it smell so bad? When did you last wash it?"
"I bought it last month."
"And?"
"I haven't washed it since."
"You're disgusting."
The three roommates quarreled; and Arbaz grew more annoyed. "Can you guys just shut up? I have a headache."
"What's wrong with him?" one roommate whispered to another. "Couldn't see his beloved, so he's depressed."
Samir gloated. "Why be upset? She's here now. You can see her anytime."
"You single dogs won't understand."
"If we're single dogs, then what are you? Your girl hasn't agreed to be with you."
Arbaz couldn't refute.
Later, when his friends were about to leave for dinner, they asked him to join.
"Come on, let's eat. There's no point sulking in bed. "The roommates started urging Arbaz.
Touched by their concern, Arbaz softened his tone. "You guys go. I'm not in the mood. I'll just sleep."
"I'll stay with him. I can pass tissues if he cries." Samir joked.
Arbaz kicked him. "Don't be so cringe. Go flirt with your junior sister and leave me alone."
Before they left, Arbaz shouted, "Don't forget to bring me some takeout."
His friends gestured an okay.
Kifayat and her friends also left for the restaurant, checking its location beforehand. They decided to walk as it was close. When they arrived, the cousin hadn't shown up yet. Kifayat and Dina went inside while Cyra waited at the gate and called her cousin.
"We're here. Where are you?"
"I'm at the gate."
Cyra looked around and saw him. "Look behind you."
Neil turned and, seeing her, his face lit up. He patted her head. "You've grown so much. You used to only reach my knees."
Annoyed, she slapped his hand away. "I was a child then."
Neil laughed, delighted she hadn't changed.
"Hey, aren't you going to introduce us?" Amal interrupted the siblings interaction.
"Go away. My sister doesn't need to know you."
Listening to their bickering, Cyra impatiently said, "Let's go. My friends are waiting inside."
As they walked in, Kifayat saw her friend and waved, calling her name. Meanwhile, both Amal and Samir stood petrified upon seeing Kifayat. Neil noticed his friends weren't moving. "Why are you standing there like statues?"
Samir didn't reply to his questions; but instead asked, "Did your cousin went to No.7 high School?
"Well, it seems like she did. Oh I remember you are also from that school. So you should be her alumni."
"Why did you not tell me before, idiot? No, I need to make a call."
Perplexed, Neil watched Samir hurry outside, while Amal said to him, "I'll explain later."
Samir, who stepped outside, immediately called Arbaz
"Hello? What's up?" Arbaz answered.
"Dude, you are really destined to meet her. You've been searching for her so long but couldn't find her, and now she's come to us on her own."
"What nonsense are you talking about now?" Arbaz replied, irritated.
Teasingly, Samir said, "Nothing, I just wanted to ask again if you're coming to have dinner with us."
"I already said no. Hang up now."
"Okay then, what can I do? We'll just have dinner with Kifayat."
Arbaz, who was about to hang up, paused. "Wait! What did you say? Who are you having dinner with?"
"What's the point of telling you? You're not coming. Let's hang up."
Desperately, Arbaz raised his voice, "Don't hang up. Make it clear first."
Seeing Arbaz's desperation, the friend decided to have some fun. "I was thinking, my assignment hasn't been completed yet."
"I'll do it," Arbaz hurriedly said.
"I've been stuck on the same level in a game for a while."
"I'll help you clear it."
"Since you're so sincere, I'll tell you. Neil's cousin is Kifayat's friend. She's with them."
"I'm coming immediately," Arbaz said, hanging up before Samir could say anything more.
A few moments later, Arbaz called back to ask for the address. "Why are you so impatient?" his friend teased before giving the address. The male lead immediately prepared to leave.
The friend who went outside to call rejoined the group and heard his cousin asking for help.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Actually, brother, I need your help." Cyra said.
"Sure, what do you need?" Neil replied.
"We're looking for someone who studies here."
"No problem. What's his name?"
"That... we don't know. If I knew the name, would I still ask you?" Cyra replied being a little embarrassed.
"Oh, right. Do you know anything about him? Like his department or year?"
Kifayat and Cyra hesitated. "We can't say for sure." Kifayat said. "But he's from the same city as us and may be from our school."
"Oh, that's not hard. We just need to find all the people from your school who got admitted here."
"No, actually we already checked the alumni list. But we're not sure which one he is
, so we want to approach them to find out."
At that moment, Arbaz burst into the restaurant, panting heavily from running.
"I'm here," he announced breathlessly.
Everyone turned to look at him. Kifayat's eyes met his, and for a moment, it felt as if sparks flew between them.