The next day arrived with an air of excitement as the group found themselves standing in front of the movie theater, ready for the evening show. They bustled with anticipation, the glow of neon lights casting colorful reflections on their eager faces.
"The movie starts in 15 minutes," Paul announced, checking his watch. "If anyone needs to use the restroom, now's the time."
"I'll go," Sameer said, stepping forward.
"I'm fine," Suzein replied. "Alya, you?"
Alya shook her head with a small smile. "No, I'm good too."
While Alya and Suzein waited near the entrance, Sameer, Tom, and Paul headed off toward the restrooms.
Inside the restroom, the boys were washing their hands when Paul spoke, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Sameer, you're gonna love the seating arrangement I set up."
Sameer raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
Paul leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Okay, here's the plan: Tom will sit at the corner, then you, then Alya, then Suzein, and I'll be at the end. Brilliant, right?"
Sameer's face turned pink. "So… Alya will sit beside me?"
Paul smirked. "Exactly. And remember, it's a romantic movie. When the moment feels right, you should kiss her."
Sameer's eyes widened. "Oh, come on. Stop it. That would be so inappropriate."
Paul laughed, patting him on the back. "No way! She'd probably be thrilled."
"Stop giving me ridiculous ideas. That's never happening," Sameer shot back, his tone exasperated.
Paul grinned wider. "Dude, you're totally blushing."
Sameer groaned. "Enough. Let's get back before the movie starts."
Inside the movie hall, the group made their way to their seats in the sixth row.
"Tom, take the corner," Paul directed. "Then Sameer, Alya, Suzein, and I'll take the end."
Everyone settled into their seats, the dim lighting adding to the cozy atmosphere.
"Alya, are you comfortable?" Sameer asked nervously.
Alya smiled warmly. "Yes, I am. What about you?"
"Yeah, me too," Sameer replied, trying to keep his composure.
The hall lights dimmed, and the movie began. As the screen flickered to life, Alya leaned toward Sameer. "So, you watched the first part? How was it?"
"Yeah, it was awesome," he said, excitement in his voice. "But it was frustrating how part one ended without revealing the mystery about that girl."
"True," Alya agreed. "But now we'll finally get the answers, right?"
Sameer nodded, smiling. "Yeah."
As he responded, his eyes inadvertently flicked downward, catching sight of Alya's chest for a brief moment. Realizing what he'd done, he quickly turned away, his face flushing crimson.
Alya noticed his flustered state and tilted her head. "What happened?"
"N-nothing. Nothing at all," Sameer stammered, trying to sound casual.
Suspicious, Alya glanced down at herself. Her cheeks turned pink as she realized what had happened. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Did you just…?"
"No!" Sameer exclaimed, panicking. "What are you talking about?"
"Stop lying," Alya said, a mix of annoyance and playfulness in her tone. "I know you did."
"I'm sorry—it was an accident," he admitted, his voice filled with genuine regret. Unfortunately, in his flustered state, he accidentally glanced again.
"Again?!" Alya's voice rose, a blend of amusement and exasperation.
"I'm sorry! That was also an accident. I swear!" Sameer turned forward quickly, his embarrassment palpable.
Alya's lips twitched into a smile, though she tried to maintain a stern expression. "Sameer, you're such a pervert."
"No, it all happened by mistake!" he insisted. "I'm really sorry."
"Pervert," she teased, leaning back into her seat.
Sameer groaned. "Come on, cut it out!"
After the movie, the group exited the theater, buzzing with conversation about the film. They found a nearby restaurant, ordered dinner, and sipped on cold coffee as they relived their favorite moments.
"Man, the movie was so good," Suzein said, wiping away imaginary tears. "Who would've thought her boyfriend was the heart surgeon? That last scene was so emotional—I couldn't stop crying."
"Yeah," Tom quipped, "if you'd cried for five more minutes, the theater might've flooded."
The table erupted in laughter, except for Suzein, who glared at Tom.
"Shut up, Tom!" she yelled, though the corners of her mouth twitched.
Paul nodded in agreement. "For real, though, the movie was incredible. So emotional."
"Yeah," Sameer added. "After watching part one, I never imagined the sequel would hit so hard."
Alya smiled softly. "Same here."
As they walked toward the exit, Paul's eyes lit up with an idea. "You know, the ice fishing scene in the movie really inspired me. What do you guys think about going ice fishing?"
"That sounds amazing!" Suzein exclaimed.
"Isn't ice fishing only available in winter?" Tom asked, his brows furrowing. "We're in the middle of summer."
"It used to be a winter activity," Paul explained, "but now it's available year-round."
Sameer turned to Alya, his eyes hopeful. "You're coming too, right?"
Alya hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a small smile. "Y-yeah… I am."
Sameer's face lit up. "That's awesome! It's going to be so much fun."
The group buzzed with excitement as they discussed their upcoming adventure. However, Alya's smile faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of unease crossing her face as if something weighed heavily on her mind.
In Alya's flat, her bedroom was dimly lit, with faint light filtering through the glass windows. Alya sat on her bed, her silhouette visible against the faint glow. Her phone was pressed to her ear, and her tone carried a mix of nervousness and sadness.
The voice on the other end of the call was distinctly female—sharp yet laced with concern.
"Why did you leave so early yesterday and not come here?" the person demanded, her voice raised in frustration.
"I'm sorry," Alya said softly. "I went out to hang out with my friends."
"Friends?" the woman scoffed. "I thought you didn't have any."
"I've managed to make a few," Alya replied, her voice tinged with a quiet defiance.
There was a pause before the other woman responded, her tone slightly less harsh. "That's good news, I suppose. But you know you need to be here regularly."
"I know. I'm sorry," Alya sighed, her regret evident.
"Fine, then. Come tomorrow."
Alya hesitated. "Ahh… I… can't come tomorrow."
"What?!" the woman yelled, her frustration returning. "Do you even know what you're saying?"
"I know," Alya said firmly but sadly. "But listen… I've never had friends before. Now that I do, I just want to spend some time with them."
The woman's tone softened slightly, though it remained serious. "I understand, Alya, but you need to understand too."
"Just for tomorrow, please," Alya pleaded. "Let me have this one day."
The voice on the other end sighed, sounding both sympathetic and resigned. "Oh, Alya… fine. Just for tomorrow. But you must promise me that the day after, there will be no more delays. If there are, there will be consequences."
Alya's relief was audible in her next words. "Thank you. I promise I won't delay it again." She smiled faintly, the weight on her shoulders temporarily lifted.