A day later afternoon, the living room of Paul's house buzzed with lazy activity. Sameer lounged on the couch, flipping channels on the TV. Meanwhile, Tom lay bundled up on another sofa, shivering under a thick blanket. His face was flushed, and his occasional cough broke the quiet.
"Bro," Tom groaned, his voice weak, "turn off the fan. It's freezing!"
"No way," Sameer shot back. "It's boiling in here. Just use another blanket."
Without waiting for a reply, Sameer grabbed an extra blanket from the back of the couch and threw it onto Tom.
Tom grumbled as he pulled the blanket over himself. "See?" Sameer continued. "I told you to wear your jacket, but no—you just had to tie it around your waist to look cool."
"Oh, come on," Tom said through a bout of coughing. "That's not why…"
Before the conversation could go further, Suzein walked into the room, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. "Hey guys," she called, "where's Paul?"
"He's rummaging around in the storeroom for something," Sameer replied, not looking away from the screen.
"Got it. If he asks, tell him I went shopping," she said briskly.
"Okay," Sameer said with a casual wave, as Suzein grabbed her bag and left the house.
On her way to the mall, Suzein glanced at the bustling street and suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized Alya walking out of a hospital building. Without hesitation, she broke into a quick jog, catching up to her.
"Alya!" Suzein called out brightly. "Good afternoon!"
Alya turned, her expression softening when she saw her friend. "Afternoon."
"Why are you coming out of the hospital?" Suzein asked, concern lacing her voice. "Did you catch a fever too?"
"No, nothing like that," Alya replied. "I just needed to pick up some medicine."
"Ah, I see." Suzein nodded thoughtfully. "What about you? What brings you here?" Alya asked.
"Shopping for dinner," Suzein explained. Then, her face lit up with an idea. "By the way, do you have plans right now?"
Alya shook her head lightly. "No, I was just heading home."
"Great!" Suzein said with a grin. "Mind coming shopping with me?"
Alya hesitated briefly before smiling. "I don't see any problem with that."
"That's my Alya!" Suzein cheered, grabbing her hand and pulling her along toward the mall.
Inside the mall, the two friends strolled through the aisles, their shopping baskets slowly filling with items. The quiet hum of other shoppers surrounded them as they chatted.
"So," Alya began, glancing at Suzein, "you guys didn't go anywhere today?"
"Nope," Suzein replied. "After that day, we decided to take a break."
"But why?" Alya asked, her brows knitting together in mild curiosity.
"Well," Suzein explained, "the next day, Tom caught a cold. And when Sameer found out you weren't joining us, he refused to go anywhere. He said, 'Let's wait until Alya finishes her work, then we'll go out together.'"
Alya blinked, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "Really? Sameer said that?"
"Yup!" Suzein said with a playful smirk. "And Paul and I agreed. We figured it'd be more fun to take a break and plan something later."
"I see," Alya murmured, her voice soft as she turned her attention back to the shelves.
Nearby, Suzein held up two bottles of oil, her face scrunched in mock seriousness. "Hey, Alya," she said, "which one's better—avocado oil or mustard oil?"
"Avocado," Alya said without hesitation. "It's healthier, and I use it for cooking too."
"Got it," Suzein said with a decisive nod. "From today, I'm switching to avocado oil!"
"What did you use before?" Alya asked.
"Safflower oil," Suzein replied casually.
"That's good too," Alya said with a small smile. "Healthy and light."
With their shopping bags in hand, the two stepped out of the mall into the cool evening air. Suzein glanced at her phone's notepad. "All done!" she declared. "I don't think I missed anything. Thanks for shopping with me, Alya."
Alya tilted her head with a teasing smile. "Didn't you say 'no sorry, no thank you'? Breaking your own rules, huh?"
Suzein giggled sheepishly. "Oops! Totally forgot."
They began walking together, the warm glow of the setting sun giving way to the evening's deepening blue.
"We lost track of time while shopping," Alya noted, looking at the sky. "It's already dark."
"Yeah," Suzein agreed, smiling. "And it's dinnertime too."
"Oh," Alya said suddenly. "I just remembered—I need to make dinner. I'll head home now. Bye, Suzein!"
"Wait up, Alya!" Suzein called, grabbing her friend's arm. "Why don't you join us for dinner at my place tonight?"
Alya hesitated, her expression uncertain. "No… I-I mean, are you sure? Won't it be a problem?"
"Problem? Not at all!" Suzein said with a wide grin. "Come on, let's go."
Before Alya could protest further, Suzein took her hand again, pulling her toward her house with unwavering enthusiasm.
The living room was chaos, with empty chip bags and juice cans scattered across every surface. Sameer, Tom, and Paul sat on the couch, engrossed in an intense PlayStation game. The only light came from the glow of the TV, which flickered as their avatars moved on the screen.
"Damn you, Paul!" Sameer yelled, his voice rising above the sounds of the game. "Why'd you hit the pause button on my controller?!"
"Me?!" Paul shot back indignantly. "I didn't touch it. But seriously, how did Tom manage to beat both of us?"
Tom leaned back, laughing smugly. "I told you, you two can't beat me at this game."
"Oh, really?" Sameer said, narrowing his eyes. "How about one more game?"
"I was going to say that," Paul added, ready to challenge their self-proclaimed champion.
Tom smirked confidently, gripping his controller. "Get ready to lose again."
The sound of the door opening made all three of them look up. Suzein entered, stopping abruptly as her eyes scanned the disastrous state of the room. Her expression darkened.
"What have you guys done to my house?!" she bellowed, her voice echoing in the small space.
The boys jumped in panic. Tom immediately dove onto the sofa, pulling a blanket over himself to feign illness, while Sameer and Paul sprang into action, frantically cleaning up the mess at lightning speed.
"Oh, hi, babe!" Paul said nervously, flashing an innocent smile. "Welcome back!"
"Oh yeah?" Suzein retorted, raising an eyebrow. "Well, someone else is here with me too."
Before anyone could respond, Alya stepped into the room, her warm smile lighting up the space. Sameer froze, his heartbeat quickening as he stared at her.
"Hello, everyone," Alya greeted cheerfully.
"Hey, Alya!" Paul replied with a wave.
"H-Hi, Alya," Sameer stammered, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.
Alya walked over to Tom, who still lay sprawled on the sofa under his blanket. "So, Tom," she asked with a teasing smile, "how are you feeling?"
"Oh, don't even ask," Tom groaned dramatically. "It's awful."
"Uhh, Sameer told you to wear a jacket, but you wouldn't listen," Alya reminded him.
Tom let out a defeated sigh. "Ugh, don't remind me. I've been hearing that nonstop since yesterday."
Everyone burst into laughter—everyone except Tom, who sulked under his blanket.
Suzein clapped her hands together, reclaiming everyone's attention. "I'll go prepare dinner," she announced.
"Let me help you with it," Alya offered immediately.
"No, Alya, it's fine," Suzein insisted. "You can just relax."
"Oh, come on," Alya said with a laugh, nudging her lightly. "Don't be so formal with me."
"Wait…" Sameer suddenly realized, looking between the two women. "Alya's having dinner with us?"
"Why?" Alya asked, smiling playfully. "You don't want me to?"
"No, no, I don't mean that," Sameer said quickly, his words tumbling over each other. "I-I'm really happy. I'm glad you're here."
Alya blushed at his words, her cheeks growing warm. She quickly grabbed Suzein's arm and began pushing her toward the kitchen. "Let's go," she said, her voice flustered. "We have to prepare dinner."
Why am I blushing? Alya wondered, her thoughts a jumble as she avoided looking back at Sameer.
The two women disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the boys to continue their game.
"Shall we start?" Tom asked, grabbing his controller.
In the kitchen, Suzein opened the fridge and placed the shopping bags on the counter. Alya stood beside her, scanning the shelves.
"So, what are you going to make for dinner?" Alya asked.
"Honestly, I don't have a plan," Suzein admitted, scratching her head.
"I see. Show me what you bought," Alya said, rolling up her sleeves.
After inspecting the items, Alya smiled confidently. "I have an idea."
Back in the living room, Sameer and Paul focused intensely on the game.
"You can do this, Sameer," Paul encouraged, his voice filled with excitement. "You can win!"
Sameer grinned, determination shining in his eyes. "Yeah… and I will."
The screen flashed "Winner!" and Sameer jumped up, his fist punching the air.
"Oh yeah, boy!" he shouted. "I won!"
"You did it!" Paul cheered, matching Sameer's enthusiasm.
Tom stared at the screen in disbelief. "This can't be… how did I lose?"
"You lost, bro, and I won," Sameer said with a teasing grin.
Tom grumbled, picking up his controller again. "Yeah, yeah… looks like you got lucky this time. Let's play again."
Before they could start, Suzein reentered the room, wiping her hands on a towel. "No more games," she announced. "Dinner's ready. Let's go."
"Okay, then," Tom said, putting his controller down. "Next time."
"Yeah," Sameer agreed with a nod. "Sounds good."
At the dining table, the group settled in, the aroma of a delicious meal filling the air. Sameer made sure to sit beside Alya, stealing quick glances at her as the others dug in.
"Wow," Tom said, his eyes wide as he looked at the spread. "Looks like we've got a feast tonight! That's great."
As the others ate, Sameer noticed Alya hadn't touched her food. She was smiling quietly, her eyes taking in the lively atmosphere.
"What's wrong, Alya?" he asked gently. "You're not eating?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Alya said softly, her smile growing. "It's just been a long time since I've had dinner like this. Seeing you all enjoy the food makes me happy."
Suzein reached over and patted her hand. "If that's the case, Alya, you're welcome here anytime. You can join us for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—really, anytime."
"She's right," Sameer added with a warm smile. "Consider this your home."
Alya's eyes shimmered with gratitude. "You guys… thank you so much."
"Oh, and everyone," Suzein said, raising her fork, "you have to try the meat Alya cooked."
One by one, they all tasted it.
"Alya, this is amazing!" Sameer exclaimed, his face lighting up. "The meat is so tender and juicy—it melts in my mouth."
"I'm glad you like it," Alya said, her voice tinged with pride.
"Seriously, Alya," Paul added, "it's incredible. I've never had anything like this before."
Tom leaned back with a smirk. "Bro was right about you."
Alya tilted her head, confused. "Huh? Right about me? What do you mean?"
Tom grinned mischievously. "He's always complimenting you and your cooking."
Sameer and Alya both blushed furiously.
"Enough, bro!" Sameer yelled, his voice panicked. "Don't say that in front of her!"
Suzein chimed in with a teasing grin. "Now that you mention it, he does."
"Yeah," Paul agreed. "He really does."
Sameer stammered, his words coming out in a jumble.
Alya looked at him, her cheeks still pink. "Is that true?" she asked softly.
"Well… yeah," Sameer admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, the truth is the truth. Your cooking is amazing. Even though I've only had your food twice, I can tell you're incredibly skilled. And I… I love it."
Alya's blush deepened as she ducked her head. "Uhh… thank you very much."
Suzein grabbed an egg from Paul's plate. "So, Paul, you're not eating your egg, right? I'll take it."
"Nooo!" Paul cried out, pulling his plate away. "Not again! I didn't even get to eat an egg today!"
The room erupted into laughter, except for Paul, who groaned dramatically.
After dinner, Alya stood by the doorway. She smiled at everyone as she prepared to leave.
"Okay, guys, I'm leaving," she announced.
Suzein quickly interjected, "Wait! Hey, Sameer, walk Alya to her building."
Alya's smile faltered as she waved her hands nervously. "Oh, there's no need. I can go by myself."
Sameer stepped forward, shaking his head. "No, let me walk you home. Besides, I need to take my nightly walk anyway."
With that settled, they exited.
The streets were quiet and dimly lit, the faint glow of streetlights creating long shadows on the pavement. Sameer walked beside Alya, his hands tucked into his pockets.
I need to start a conversation, he thought, feeling the awkward silence growing heavier with each step. Or Alya might feel bored. But what should I talk about? Oh, man, why am I so bad at making conversation?
He cleared his throat, forcing himself to speak. "Alya… the food was really tasty. I liked it so much… uh, so, so much."
Alya giggled softly, her laughter light and infectious. "I know. I'm glad you liked it."
Sameer nodded awkwardly, then fell silent again.
Oh no… why did I stop talking?
Sensing his unease, Alya gave him a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Sameer. You don't have to force yourself to talk. Don't worry—I'm not bored. I'm enjoying walking with you."
His shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thanks, Alya. And… I'm sorry. I'm just so bad at making conversation. I really am an idiot."
She stopped for a moment, turning to face him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Who said you're an idiot? You're not. You're… a pervert."
"What?!" Sameer exclaimed, his face a mixture of shock and amusement. "A pervert?!"
"Yes, you are," she teased, her voice laced with playful accusation.
Sameer sighed dramatically. "Yeah… for you, I guess."
Alya burst out laughing, her laughter echoing through the quiet street. "You're so funny."
Her laughter made him grin, and he couldn't help but laugh along with her.
By the time they reached Alya's building 8th floor, the moon was high in the sky, casting a soft silver light over the entrance.
"Thanks for walking me to my doorstep," she said, her voice warm and sincere.
"You're welcome."
They stood there, gazing at each other. The silence stretched between them, no longer awkward but filled with an unspoken connection. Both of them blushed, quickly looking away.
"I… I should go now," Sameer stammered. "B-Bye, Alya."
"Y-Yeah… bye," she replied, her voice just as shaky.
As he turned and walked toward the elevator, Alya opened her door and stepped inside. She had barely taken a few steps toward her bedroom when the doorbell rang.
Who could that be? She wondered, opening the door.
"Sameer?!" she exclaimed, surprised to see him standing there, laughing sheepishly.
"I'm sorry… I just wanted to say, once my bro feels better, we'll start going out. Do you think you could join us again?"
Alya smiled, her cheeks faintly pink. "Yeah, sure. I'll try."
His face lit up. "You will? That makes me so happy! Okay, bye, Alya… and this time, for real."
He started walking back to the elevator, but Alya called after him.
"Hey, pervert!"
He stopped and turned around, confused. "Uh, yes?"
"Come here," she said, motioning for him to return.
Puzzled, Sameer walked back to her. "Did I forget something?"
"Give me your phone," she said simply.
"My phone? Here," he said, pulling it out and handing it to her.
Alya typed something into his phone before handing it back to him. "Here, I saved my number on your phone."
Sameer stared at the screen, his mouth slightly open. "W-What?! Y-Your number?"
"Yeah, so you can contact me."
"A-Ah… okay…"
What just happened?! He thought, still reeling. She gave me her number… for real?!
"Oh, by the way," Alya added casually, "I heard there's going to be a big fair with fireworks the day after tomorrow."
"I see."
"Wanna come with me?"
"With you?" he repeated, his surprise evident. Then he smiled, his heart racing. "Sure!"
"Great! Tell your friends about it too."
"I will."
"Okay then. Goodnight, pervert. Bye! And don't forget—call or text me when you get home, okay?"
"Yeah… bye. Goodnight. Sweet dreams. And… thanks for your number."
Alya gave him a cute smile before closing the door.
Back at home, Sameer quietly slipped into his room. Tom was already asleep, snoring softly, while Sameer set up his mattress on the floor.
Lying down, he stared at his phone, his mind racing. Should I call or text her? Calling would be so awkward… but she did say to call or text. Hmm, texting is better. Yes, I'll text her.
He quickly typed a message.
Sameer:
"Hey Alya, I reached home."
The reply came almost instantly.
Alya:
"That's good, pervert. Now sleep tight."
Sameer stared at the screen, a smile spreading across his face. What?! I didn't think she'd reply so fast. Man, she's really different from others. She's awesome.
With that thought, he placed his phone on the side and closed his eyes, Alya's cute smile still pictures in his mind.