The next morning, Alya woke up to the soft rays of sunlight streaming through her window. She stretched lazily and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up. Afterward, she brewed a cup of coffee and stepped onto her balcony, savoring the cool morning air. As she took a sip, her gaze fell on something—someone—below, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"What… is that… Sameer?" she murmured to herself.
Indeed, down on the road stood Sameer, waving enthusiastically up at her. Alya squinted to make sure she wasn't imagining things.
"No doubt it's him. But what's he doing here? I'd better check," she said, setting her coffee cup aside and heading downstairs.
When she reached him, Sameer's face lit up. "Good morning!" he greeted warmly.
"Morning… What's up?" Alya asked, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.
"So, what did you decide?" he asked eagerly.
"Decide?" Alya looked puzzled for a moment before realization dawned on her. "Oh, right. I'm sorry, I can't go."
"What? Why not?" Sameer's expression fell.
"I—I just can't," she stammered.
"But why?" he pressed, concern evident in his voice.
"I have some work," Alya replied hesitantly.
"Work? You told me yesterday you work online," Sameer pointed out.
"Yeah, and I have deadlines to meet," she said with a nervous laugh.
"Come on," Sameer said gently. "You can do that later. Your job isn't real-time, is it?"
"Honestly… you're right, but—" Alya's sentence was interrupted by a sudden voice.
"No buts! You're coming with us, and that's that," declared Suzein as she appeared with Paul and Tom behind her.
Alya looked startled. "Wait, who are these guys?"
Sameer sighed. "What are you guys doing here? I told you all to wait."
"We couldn't help ourselves," Paul said with a grin.
Alya's confusion deepened. "Sorry, I don't recognize you all."
"Oh, they're my friends," Sameer said quickly. "Yesterday, I mentioned them." He pointed to Suzein. "This is—"
"We can introduce ourselves," Paul interrupted. "Hey, I'm Paul. Paul Allen."
"Hi, Alya! I'm Suzein Hill. Nice to meet you!" Suzein chimed in cheerfully.
"Hey there. Hope you remember—I'm Tom Green," Tom added with a smile.
Alya's expression softened. "Pleasure to meet you all. I'm Alya Rose."
Inside, Sameer couldn't help but blush. Oh man, she really does look like a rose, he thought.
Suzein wasted no time. "So, Alya, what are you thinking? Go get ready! Time is running out."
Alya hesitated. "Umm… guys…"
"Oh, please, Alya!" Paul and Suzein chorused. "Come with us. Please, please!"
"Yeah, come along. It's going to be fun!" Tom added encouragingly.
Alya's gaze shifted to Sameer, who spoke gently. "Alya, I—I mean, we really want you to join us, but if you're busy, we can understand."
Alya's smile brightened. "Hey, cheer up. You know what? I'm coming."
"For real?!" Sameer's excitement was palpable.
She nodded. "Yes, I will. Let me change first."
True to her word, Alya reappeared from the building just two minutes later, stunning everyone with her efficiency.
"What… she's so fast!" Tom exclaimed, looking at Sameer in disbelief.
Sameer smiled proudly. "That's Alya for ya. I knew she's not like ordinary girls."
Alya caught his comment and stared at him playfully. "Are you saying something about me?"
"No, no," Sameer said nervously. "I was just saying it's time to head out."
"Ooh, you look adorable in this outfit. You're such a cutie," Suzein gushed.
"Oh, stop it," Alya said, shyly brushing off the compliment. "It's embarrassing. Besides, you look cute too."
Paul clapped his hands. "Alright, team, it's time to move out!"
The group of friends finally arrived at their destination—a large, shimmering aquarium. Sameer's eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked around at the colorful fish tanks.
"I've never visited an aquarium before. This is my first time!" Sameer exclaimed, practically bouncing on his feet. "Oh man, there are so many fish!"
Paul grinned, patting Sameer on the back. "Wait until you see the underground aquarium tunnel. You can see all kinds of fish, even sharks."
"For real?" Sameer's face lit up. "I can't wait to see that!"
"That's why we're here," Paul replied with a chuckle. "Hold on, let me grab the tickets."
While Paul headed to the ticket counter, the rest of the group lingered nearby. Tom pulled Sameer aside for a private chat, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"Hey bro, listen up," Tom began.
Sameer tilted his head, curious. "Yes? What?"
"This is your chance to impress Alya," Tom said, grinning mischievously.
Sameer blinked in surprise. "How?"
"Look, girls like intelligent guys. If you talk about the fish and their abilities, she'll definitely be impressed."
Sameer hesitated. "That's true, but I don't know much about fish."
"You're wrong," Tom insisted. "Remember when your PC was in repair a few months ago? You spent that week reading manga and books, including one on marine life. That's when you got curious about the ocean, right?"
Sameer nodded slowly. "Yeah, but I only remember a few fish names and facts."
"That's enough!" Tom encouraged. "You don't have to sound like an expert. Just share a few interesting facts casually, and you're good."
Sameer gave Tom an appreciative look. "You've got a big brain, bro."
Just then, Paul returned with the tickets, looking slightly flustered. "Oh man, the line was so long. Sorry for the wait. Now, let's go to the underground tunnel."
The group followed Paul into the stunning underground tunnel, surrounded on all sides by marine life. The vibrant fish swam gracefully overhead, and the group began taking pictures excitedly.
Tom leaned over to Sameer and whispered, "Hey bro, this is your chance. Go talk to her."
Sameer nodded. "Roger that."
Taking a deep breath, Sameer approached Alya. "So, this aquarium is pretty amazing, right?" he said, clearing his throat.
Alya smiled warmly. "Yeah, it is. Hey, look! The fish are staring at us. They're so cute, aren't they?"
Internally, Sameer thought, The fish are also mesmerized by your cuteness. But aloud, he said, "Yeah, they are. But I think they're looking at you, not me."
Alya pointed at a striking fish. "Look at that one! It's so beautiful."
"You mean the blue and orange one?" Sameer asked.
"Yes," Alya replied.
"Oh, that's a parrotfish," Sameer said, seizing the opportunity. "They're also called 'beach builders' because they feed on coral rocks, breaking them down as they eat. The rocks pass through their digestive system and turn into freshly made sand. Parrotfish are believed to help create beaches."
Alya's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow, that's fascinating. You know a lot about fish, huh?"
Sameer rubbed the back of his neck shyly. "Uh, yeah. I read a book about them once."
As they continued walking through the tunnel, Tom sidled up to Sameer and whispered again. "Great job, bro. You're doing better than I expected."
"Really? I did?" Sameer whispered back.
"Totally. I can tell she's impressed. Keep going."
"Yes, sir," Sameer whispered, grinning.
Alya noticed them whispering and asked playfully, "What are you two whispering about?"
Before they could answer, Suzein chimed in. "Oh, Alya, let them be. They'll never tell. Only God and they know what secrets they're sharing."
Tom smirked. "That's right. Bros take their secrets to the grave."
The group stopped to admire a peculiar fish. Paul's voice cut through their chatter. "Guys, look! The surface is moving!"
They all turned to see what Paul was pointing at.
"Oh, that's a stonefish," Sameer guessed.
"No, it's not," Alya interjected, surprising everyone.
The group turned to Alya, intrigued.
"It's a peacock flounder," she explained. "They're masters of camouflage, using cryptic coloration to avoid predators and prey. Instead of swimming, they crawl along the ocean floor on their fins while constantly changing colors and patterns. They can even change colors in just eight seconds. Isn't that amazing?"
The group stared at Alya, impressed.
"You know so much about fish!" Sameer said, shocked.
Suzein smiled. "Wow, Alya, you're a genius. Beauty with brains, huh?"
Alya laughed modestly. "Oh, come on, guys. It's just book knowledge. I'm kind of a bookworm."
Paul nodded in agreement. "Even so, you're a genius. Whenever I read a book, I forget what I read on the last page!"
They all burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Sameer and Tom stood a little apart, whispering to each other.
"Bro, I'm no match for her," Sameer admitted.
Tom sighed. "Yeah, I didn't expect Alya to know so much about this stuff."
"How could I forget? Her flat is full of books, and she actually reads them!" Sameer said, shaking his head. "Man, she's really a beauty with brains."
Tom nodded. "Couldn't agree more. Beauty with brains, for real."
Alya's voice broke their conversation. "You two again?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sameer and Tom laughed nervously, avoiding her gaze. At that moment, a shark swam past them, its sleek body gliding gracefully through the water.
"Hey, look! A shark!" Sameer exclaimed, his jaw dropping.
The group turned to admire the magnificent creature.
"Fascinating," Alya murmured.
"Wow, beautiful," Suzein added.
"Damn," Sameer said, still awestruck. "That's a real shark."
Paul pulled out his phone. "Should we take a picture with it?"
"Definitely," Suzein agreed.
They posed together and clicked a photo. Suzein reviewed it on her phone. "This picture looks amazing!"
"Yeah, for real," Alya said, nodding.
Sameer hesitated before turning to Alya. "Hey, Alya…"
"Yes?" she asked, looking at him curiously.
"I… I was wondering if you'd like to walk around with me and maybe tell me more about the fish?" he asked, stammering slightly.
Alya's smile was soft and inviting. "I'd love to."
Before Sameer could respond, Paul interjected. "Not so fast! We're all roaming together, remember?"
Suzein nodded. "Yeah, we want to learn about the fish too."
Inside, Sameer groaned. Ugh, these two lovebirds! He thought.
The group walked through the tunnel as Alya enthusiastically explained facts about the fish. Later, Sameer, Alya, and Tom stopped at a corner, realizing Paul and Suzein had disappeared.
"Ugh, those two lovebirds! They insisted we roam together, and now they've vanished. What a pain!" Sameer complained.
Alya burst into laughter. "It seems like they do this often."
"Yeah, they do," Sameer agreed.
Tom chuckled. "Let me tell you what happened once. Paul suddenly suggested we visit a graveyard at midnight. Suzein backed him up, saying it would be fun. So, Sameer and I showed up at the graveyard gate at 12 AM, waiting for them. We waited for an hour and a half, but they never showed up. When we called Paul, his mom answered and said he was fast asleep!"
Sameer shook his head. "Exactly! They've been like this from the beginning."
Alya smiled. "Sounds like you guys had so much fun back then."
"Yeah, kind of… but somehow, I'm always the topic of their fun. It sucks," Sameer said.
Then, Sameer noticed a peculiar fish. "Hey, guys, check out that weird fish with the scary teeth."
"That's an orange-dotted tuskfish," Alya said. "They use their sharp teeth to feed on hard-shelled creatures like mollusks. They smash the shells against rocks repeatedly until they break open to reveal the meat inside. So yeah, they are scary indeed."
"Whoa, that's incredible," Sameer said, impressed.
Just then, Paul and Suzein reappeared, walking toward them.
"Hey, guys! What's up?" Paul greeted.
"Where have you two been?" Tom demanded.
"Oh, we just went upstairs for a bit," Paul said nonchalantly.
"Didn't someone say we'd roam together?" Sameer grumbled.
Paul raised his hands defensively. "Okay, okay, I get it! Don't make a fuss about it."
Tom pointed at some swimming turtles. "Hey Suzein, what are your brothers doing here?"
"Huh?" Suzein looked confused. "I don't have any brothers or sisters."
"Then who are they?" Tom teased, pointing again.
Sameer and Tom burst into laughter while Suzein glared at them.
"Man, I can't stop laughing!" Sameer said, clutching his sides.
"Me neither!" Tom added, laughing uncontrollably.
Suzein raised her fist. "This will help you two stop laughing!"
She playfully punched both of them on the head, and the group erupted into laughter once again, their bond growing stronger with every moment.
After roaming the aquarium. The group sat together in a cozy restaurant, the warm lighting and gentle clinking of utensils creating a relaxed atmosphere. As they ate, their chatter filled the space with laughter and curiosity.
"So, Alya," Paul began, leaning forward with interest, "have you been in Greenland long, or were you born here?"
Alya shook her head and smiled. "It's been about a month since I moved here."
Paul nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So where are you originally from?"
"I'm from the U.S.," Alya replied.
Paul's eyes lit up. "For real? We're from the U.S. too! It's been 8-9 months since Suzein and I settled here."
Tom grinned and waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, but now you two don't count as U.S. citizens anymore—you belong to Greenland now."
Sameer, who had been listening intently, suddenly sat up straighter. "Guys, hold on for a sec," he interrupted. "Alya, you said you're from the U.S. Did you live in California?"
Alya's brows furrowed in surprise. "Yes, but how did you know?"
"And you said your name is Alya Rose, right?" Sameer pressed on.
Alya nodded, her curiosity growing. "Yes… but why?"
Sameer's jaw dropped. "Oh my God."
Tom blinked, confused. "What's so shocking, bro?"
Sameer turned to his friends, his voice almost a whisper but full of disbelief. "Bro, she's from the Rose family in California."
Tom's eyes widened. "Wait, what? The Rose family? Like the super-rich family?"
Paul leaned forward, equally stunned. "No way. Is that for real?"
Even Suzein looked taken aback. "Alya, are you really from the Rose family?"
Alya shifted uncomfortably under their gazes, her tone modest. "Um… yes, but what's the big deal?"
Sameer's voice rose in amazement. "Alya, you're part of the Rose family! That makes you royalty!" He jumped up, pointing dramatically. "Technically, you're a queen!"
Paul's face lit up with a mix of awe and humor. "Wow, it's an honor that she even accepted our friend request."
Suzein smirked and playfully nudged Alya. "Shut up, all of you! I'm the most honored person here because I'm sitting next to Queen Alya."
Sameer scoffed, grinning. "Oh really? But I'm the one who had dinner at Alya's place—just the two of us. So compared to all of you, I'm the honored one."
Alya blushed, smiling shyly. "It's my honor that you all made me your friend."
Suzein clapped her hands together. "Alya, I can see you blushing. Oh, you're such a sweetheart! Let's take a selfie, just the two of us."
The two leaned in, and Suzein snapped a selfie with a triumphant grin.
"This pic is amazing!" Suzein declared. "I'm making it my WhatsApp profile picture right now."
As she opened her WhatsApp, Alya's eyes fell on Suzein's previous profile picture. Her face lit up with excitement.
"You've seen Frosted Desire!" Alya exclaimed.
Suzein's eyes sparkled. "I have! It's my favorite movie."
Alya practically bounced in her seat. "Really? Are you excited for the second part releasing tomorrow?"
Suzein gasped. "Oh, I totally forgot! I watched the first part on my phone, but I definitely wanna watch the second part in theaters."
"Me too!" Alya added eagerly.
Sameer, grinning, leaned in. "That settles it—tomorrow we're all going to watch the movie."
Suzein raised an eyebrow. "Wait, have you three even seen the first part?"
Paul, Sameer, and Tom exchanged sheepish looks. "Nope," they admitted in unison.
Suzein crossed her arms. "Then you won't understand the second part! The first one's important."
Paul waved off her concern. "No problem. Tonight, the three of us will watch the first part, and tomorrow we'll all go for the second. I'll book the tickets now. What's the best time? Morning, evening, or night?"
Suzein tapped her chin. "Morning is too early… night would be ideal."
Alya hesitated, her voice soft. "Um, night might be tricky for me. Evening would be better."
Sameer nodded. "That's fine, Alya. Evening works best."
Paul's fingers flew across his phone screen. "Alright, tickets are booked for the evening show—6 PM. Let's leave at 5 PM, okay?"
Everyone agreed, the excitement for the movie plan bubbling among them as they continued their meal, the night filled with laughter and camaraderie.