One serene morning, Tahir, Xender, Alicia, and Ramad gathered by the school fountain. Alicia and Ramad were immersed in their books, sharing quiet conversation, while Xender reclined on his back, his gaze drifting lazily towards the sky. Meanwhile, Tahir idly skimmed stones across the surface of the fountain, creating ripples that danced in the morning light.
In the midst of their tranquil scene, a figure caught Tahir's attention—a young girl with blonde hair, elegantly dressed and clutching her books tightly. She moved gracefully on the other side of the fountain, her handbag slung over her shoulder. Despite her unfamiliarity, there was a striking familiarity about her presence, stirring a sense of intrigue within Tahir. He found himself unable to look away, a nagging feeling tugging at the corners of his mind, as if he had encountered her before, yet the memory remained just out of reach.
As she passed by, Tahir's gaze lingered, his thoughts swirling with unanswered questions. Though she offered no acknowledgment, her presence left an indelible impression, leaving Tahir pondering the mysteries of her identity and the inexplicable connection he felt towards her.
Xender's playful observation broke the tranquil silence, drawing the attention of both Ramad and Alicia. Tahir's gaze flickered from the girl to his friends, confusion etched across his features.
"What do you mean?" Alicia inquired, her curiosity piqued by Xender's remark.
Xender grinned mischievously, gesturing towards Tahir. "I'm talking about Mr. Good Eyes over here," he quipped, earning a quizzical look from Tahir.
Ramad joined in, his interest piqued. "What's going on?" he asked, scanning the surroundings for clues.
With a theatrical flourish, Xender pointed towards the girl seated on a bench nearby, her presence adding a touch of elegance to the tranquil scene beneath the tree.
Alicia's gaze followed Xender's gesture, settling on the girl by the bench. Recognition flashed in her eyes before she spoke.
"That's Lucia, Lucia Raw," she identified, her voice carrying a hint of familiarity.
Ramad nodded in agreement, his memory catching up. "Oh right, that is her," he confirmed, his tone reflecting a sense of acknowledgment.
Tahir observed Lucia with a newfound curiosity, pondering the significance of her family background
"She's also from a big family isn't she?"
Ramad's assertion about the Raw family's prominence piqued his interest, prompting him to inquire further,
"Well, of course, if not the biggest," Ramad started before Xender intervened.
"Oh, please, the Raw family is indeed a big family, but not the biggest," Xender countered.
Alicia then chimed in, "Xender, the Raw family is renowned for their extensive wealth, political influence, and magical prowess."
Xender's playful banter drew Tahir's attention away from Lucia, but Alicia's skepticism lingered in the air.
"Yes, I know, but..." Xender began before noticing Tahir's lingering gaze on Lucia. "Hey!" Xender called out to Tahir.
"What?" Tahir responded, torn from his thoughts.
"Don't tell me you're thinking of talking to her," Alicia interjected, her tone tinged with disbelief.
"What if he is?" Xender countered, offering Tahir a supportive pat on the shoulder and a clenched fist for encouragement. "Go for it, man."
Tahir chuckled softly at Xender's enthusiasm, but Alicia remained unconvinced. "You're not serious, Xender," she remarked.
"What do you mean?" Xender retorted with a grin. "My friend wants the girl, he goes and gets the girl."
"What girl?" Benedict's sudden appearance interrupted the conversation, startling everyone.
"Jeez, Benedict, don't pop in like that; you'll scare the ladies around here," Xender teased with a grin, gesturing towards Alicia.
"Xender is trying to get Tahir to talk to Lucia over there," Alicia explained, her expression skeptical.
Benedict glanced at Lucia before turning his attention back to Tahir. "Alright, here's how you're going to do it," he began, squatting down to deliver his strategy to Tahir.
"What are you doing?" Alicia interrupted, her tone bordering on annoyance.
"What do you mean?" Benedict replied innocently. "I'm just helping a man out. I don't know what you're talking about."
Alicia sighed in exasperation and walked away, leaving the group behind.
"Ladies, I'm right," Xender quipped with a smirk, enjoying the playful banter.
Ramad sat nearby, a smile playing on his lips, observing the scene with mild amusement, neither fully invested nor disinterested.
"Oh, guys, she's leaving," Ramad alerted them, noticing Lucia's departure.
"Quick, remember what I told you, my friend," Xender urged, a hint of urgency in his voice.
"Good luck, my man," Benedict added, giving Tahir an encouraging pat on the back before nudging him forward.
Tahir took a few steps forward before hesitating and walking back to the group.
"What are you doing? She's leaving!" Benedict exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yeah, about that, I... um... I forgot all what you guys said," Tahir admitted sheepishly.
Ramad burst into laughter, his amusement ringing out loud enough for Lucia to hear from where she stood. Lifting her head, she made an eye contact with Tahir, startled she seemed, she gasped and hastily gathered her books before hurrying away.
Tahir and his friends watched her departure, a mix of amusement and chagrin evident on their faces.
"Great, now she left," Xender remarked, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
"Well, she'll be around the school eventually. You guys will meet sometime," Ramad reassured, injecting a note of optimism into the conversation.
"Look who became interested," Xender teased, nodding towards Ramad, who had been uncharacteristically quiet before.
As Lucia departed, Tahir couldn't tear his gaze away from her retreating figure. He observed how startled she appeared when their eyes met and how quickly she departed thereafter. A sense of intrigue stirred within him, convinced that there was more to their brief encounter than met the eye.