The next morning came too quickly.
Sunlight slipped through the blinds in Khadija and Maliya's dorm room, landing directly on Maliya's face. She groaned softly, rolling over. Khadija was already awake, brushing her hair in front of the mirror.
"You're up?" Khadija asked, glancing at her reflection.
Maliya hummed softly. Not yes, not no. Just… a hum.
Khadija watched her for a moment before speaking again. "Maliya… are you okay?"
Another quiet hum.
Khadija sighed gently and walked closer. "Is… your sister topic a big thing for you?"
Maliya's hum this time was lower, almost heavy.
Khadija nodded, not pushing. "It's okay. You don't need to explain anything. If you're not ready, no one is forcing you."
That made Maliya look up.
She didn't say anything. She just stepped forward and hugged Khadija tightly.
"Thank you," Maliya whispered into her shoulder. "Really. Thank you for understanding."
"Always," Khadija whispered back.
They finished getting ready for the day in comfortable silence and headed to the cafeteria.
As they walked toward their usual table, they heard Leo's loud voice before they even got close.
"Okay so one thing is clear, right? I am NOT talking about what happened yesterday. And definitely not about the whole stuff about Maliya's sister."
Matteo and Amir nearly choked trying to signal him to shut up, eyebrows raised, heads shaking, eyes practically shouting BRO STOP TALKING.
But Leo… being Leo… didn't get it.
Khadija reached him first and immediately smacked the back of his head.
Leo gasped dramatically. "HEY—"
"So you're literally talking about the princess angel here…" Khadija said, then paused, eyes widening like she just discovered something. "Uhmm… wait a minute… do you like Maliya?"
Silence.
The question hit the table like a bomb. Everybody froze except Khadija, who looked proud of herself.
Leo stared at her like she just announced his funeral. He looked nervous for a second, then pulled himself together.
"Actually… maybe I am?" he said, trying to act casual. "I mean… who wouldn't be?? Maliya is literally beautiful, tall, intelligent, and—bro, ngl—I've heard several guys talking about their love for her. They're just scared of the rejection they'll get."
Everyone stared at him like he was a ghost.
Khadija nodded dramatically. "Who wouldn't have a crush on Maliya? My princess baby is the cutest."
Leo pointed at her quickly. "YOU— don't even think about my crush. Focus on the guy that has a crush on you. He's very close to you.-----"
Amir immediately burst into a coughing fit. "HEY. Hey, Leo, your jokes for today are enough."
But Maliya had already caught something in Amir's reaction. She didn't say anything, though. She just stared at him quietly until he pretended not to notice.
Then Matteo spoke.
"Maliya," he said, voice surprisingly calm, "don't think too much about what happened yesterday. We're all with you. We'll stand by you. That's what friends do. So just… don't worry."
She turned and looked at all of them. And she could tell from their eyes—they meant it. Every word.
Then out of nowhere, Matteo added, "And that man won't disturb us again. I'll take care of him."
They all froze.
His eyes were cold. Angry. Too angry for morning.
Before anyone could respond, Matteo stood up, grabbed his bag, and walked straight to class.
Leaving them stunned.
Leo gulped loudly. "Okay… guys… look, I know Matteo cares about us but— don't you think he's acting a little creepy? And scary? Like horror-movie level scary?"
He immediately clung to Amir's arm, widening his hazel eyes dramatically. "Bro, please protect me. I'm scared."
Amir peeled Leo off him like he was sticky tape. "Stop letting your imagination control your life."
But deep down… all of them felt it. Something in Matteo's tone wasn't normal.
Khadija quickly decided to lighten the mood. "Awwwwww, look at my two babies. Leo, please hold Amir tightly later after class so I can snap a picture and remember your love story."
Maliya burst out laughing, finally smiling for real.
Then she suddenly gasped. "Shoot! It's time for class!"
Chaos.
They all rushed up, throwing away plates, picking up bags, bumping into chairs, arguing about who took whose spoon.
And then they sprinted off to their first class of the day—hearts lighter, laughter lingering, but an unspoken tension following quietly behind them.
As they walked out of the cafeteria toward class, the hallway buzzed with early-morning noise—lockers slamming, people complaining about homework, someone arguing loudly about who stole their cereal from the shared dorm fridge.
Khadija nudged Maliya.
"See? Back to normal chaos."
Maliya nodded, adjusting her backpack. "Honestly… this feels better than that man's office."
"No kidding," Leo added, practically squeezing himself between them. "If today goes smoothly, I swear I'll buy everyone snacks after school. Except Amir. Amir will buy me snacks because he's my emotional support human."
Amir blinked. "When did I sign that contract?"
"When you were born," Leo said dramatically.
They reached class, and people were already inside. As usual, Khadija walked straight to her seat like she owned the place. Leo waved dramatically at two boys staring at Maliya, which made them instantly look away. Hard.
"Bro, they scattered like pigeons," he whispered proudly.
Maliya rolled her eyes but smiled.
Class began, and the teacher—Mrs. Octavia—walked in holding a stack of papers like she was ready to ruin everyone's day.
"Pop quiz," she announced.
Half the class groaned like dying animals.
Leo whispered loudly, "No warning? No mercy? No humanity?"
Khadija kicked his chair lightly. "If you fail this, your ghost will haunt me."
Maliya actually did well. Matteo, though—he finished first, turned in his paper silently, and stared out the window like he was plotting something impossible to stop.
Even the teacher slowed down when she looked at him, unsure whether to be impressed or disturbed.
After class, Maliya caught up with him outside.
"Matteo… about what you said earlier. You don't have to protect me from anything."
He looked at her sharply. "I'm not doing it because I have to."
For some reason, that made her chest tighten.
Before she could reply, Leo crashed between them like a flying squirrel.
"Guys! Emergency. The cafeteria ran out of chicken sandwiches. I repeat—chicken. Gone.Meaning no lunch guys!!!."
Amir dragged him back by the backpack. "This is not an emergency, clown."
But even Matteo's expression softened a little.
They started heading to their next class together. The six of them, a little shaken, a little confused, but still side-by-side the way they always were.
And though no one said it out loud…
Every single one of them knew that the rest of the week would not be normal.
Not after yesterday.
Not after the man.
Not after the secrets.
But for now?
They walked together.
Laughing.
Pretending everything was fine.
Trying to feel normal—
even when the world around them had already changed.
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