Paths To Forever

Dinner or Doom

Another bang on the door.

"We're coming in whether you're alive or not!" Haiza yelled.

Of course.

Seconds later, the girls invaded my room like a chaotic army. Mahi had coffee. Haiza had croissants. Amira wore sunglasses indoors like she was hiding from paparazzi or a bad decision.

"Why do you look like you fought death and lost?" Haiza said, immediately flopping onto my bed like she owned it.

"Because I did," I replied, grabbing the coffee like it was salvation. "I died at the farmhouse. This is my ghost. Welcome."

Mahi tossed my hoodie at me. "You missed breakfast. Dadajaan asked for you."

"Did he, though?"

"He said-and I quote-'Where's the quiet one who judges everyone silently?'"

I blinked. "...that tracks."

"You've been claimed," Mahi grinned.

"I don't want to be claimed," I muttered, sipping the coffee. "I want to sleep for twelve years and wake up with a degree in my hand and no memory of Faraz's emotional meltdown."

Amira, who had dramatically collapsed onto the carpet, groaned. "I'm dropping out."

"You say that every Monday," Haiza replied without missing a beat.

"This time it's real."

"What happened?" I asked, watching her a little too closely.

"Life."

Ugh.

Mahi chucked a pillow at her. "That's not an answer, you drama queen."

I watched them, half-smiling as they started arguing over whether university was a scam and if we should all just become social media managers. But beneath the noise, I kept my eyes on Amira. Something about her was...off. Even more than usual. She was quieter. Withdrawn.

Which, okay, maybe fair. Fainting in front of everyone and waking up to silence will do that to you. But it wasn't just embarrassment. It was something deeper. Heavier.
Like she was carrying around a secret and trying really hard not to drop it.

But prying in front of everyone would be a mistake. Amira didn't like cracks. She liked control.

So I filed it away for later.

Instead, I set my coffee down and stretched like I was preparing to stir the pot.

"So..." Mahi started, drawing out the word like she was preparing a thesis. "We're not gonna talk about it?"

There it was.

"What?" Amira replied flatly. Too fast. Too casual.

Zing.

I looked up from my croissant just in time to watch Haiza and Mahi exchange a glance that said here we go.

"You know what," Haiza said, nudging her playfully. "Next weekend. Big event. Fancy clothes. Rings. Dramatic declarations of love. Ringing any bells?"

Amira didn't move. Her sunglasses hid her eyes, but I could feel the flicker behind them.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, and even I flinched at how deadpan it came out.

Haiza blinked. "Babe. Your engagement."

Silence.

The kind of silence that shouldn't exist in a room full of four girls with high-pitched voices and caffeine addictions.