Just when he thought he had lost hope, he found friends who always helped and cherished him when he needed them most. Two months had passed. Time really goes fast, doesn't it? Every day with them was a lot more fun. But Jenne—he hadn't met her since. He didn't know why, but it was bothering him all of a sudden.
"Huhhh…"
Noor lay in his bed.
Is it because I'm living in her father's house? Or is she just disgusted by me? Or am I just overthinking?
"Ohhh, I don't really get it."
He jumped out of bed.
Hmm, the hallway is empty. I just had my dinner a while ago, so I should take a walk. I heard it's good for digestion, hehe.
He closed the door.
The moon was especially bright that night.
He started walking through the hallway.
Gurrp… the food was pretty tasty. I really love the pickles. But I wonder… why doesn't everybody have dinner together? Mr. Kevin is always out for work, but Jenne… I've never seen her out either.
Suddenly, he felt someone beside him.
"So, you've finally come out of your rat hole."
"Huh? Wh… who's there?" Noor asked, frightened.
"You were thinking about me, weren't you?" Jenne asked with a smile.
"Wahhh—oh my god… a ghost… no, a Jenne… wahhh, whatever…"
He tried to run but slipped, slamming onto the ground.
Smoosh!
"Ouch… ow… ow… my nose…"
"Oh, you're so funny," Jenne laughed elegantly.
Noor got up silently, holding his nose, and started walking away.
"Mr. Noor, you are quite shameless, aren't you? You're living in our house, and now you're avoiding me without even greeting me. That's pretty rude," Jenne said.
"Nooo, no, miss. I just thought you hated me—no, I was just scared, that's all," Noor said, shaking violently, sweating.
"Scared of me? Do you think I'm some kind of monster?" Jenne asked.
"No, miss, that's not it. It's just… I thought you didn't like having me around, that's why I kept my distance. I'm really sorry." Noor's eyes were teary.
"Ohh, poor boy," Jenne said sarcastically.
(I don't really understand what she's thinking, but she's mysterious, and that scares me more. The fact she's half a foot taller than me… I thought she was a ghost or something.)
"Don't mix me up with Ria. She's bad-tempered. She saw you coming to school in our car—that's why she hates you."
"But miss, why would she do that for such a small reason?" Noor asked.
"Because she's been a rival of mine for so long, and she can't beat me in anything. That's why she's taking her anger out like this, you see."
(Oh, that makes sense… Guess I have to be careful. I can't drag Ashraf and Suvro into my problem.)
"Well, see you later then, boy. And be careful at school. Also, you shouldn't be walking alone this late."
Jenne walked away.
Sigh… "That was suffocating… but I've gotta admit, she's suspicious. Still, she doesn't seem like a bad person to me. Maybe I overreacted. I've got to apologize properly next time… maybe."
The next day.
Suvro, Ashraf, and Noor were sitting in front of a river.
"Guys, I have to tell you something," Noor said.
"What?" Suvro and Ashraf looked curious.
"Well… I think I've gotten myself into trouble because Ria knows I'm living with Jenne's family."
"Woah, seriously?" Suvro said.
"What? You don't seem surprised at all?" Noor asked.
"Because Ria might be short-tempered and angry, but she isn't the type to do something behind someone's back. She's an honest person. But her fan club might be a problem," Ashraf said, unpacking snacks.
"So what should we do then?" Noor asked.
"Just don't do anything dumb or bad, and study well. That's it," Suvro said.
"But we're already cutting class…" Noor cringed.
"Don't worry, our hidden genius Ashraf is here to help," Suvro said.
"Mhm, I'll help you. Don't worry about grades. Want some chocolate?"
Sigh… "Okay, man," Noor said.
The three of them sat there, looking at the beautiful blue sky.
Some time later, in the classroom.
Suvro opened the door. The class rep, Jamil, rushed up to him.
"Suvro, I told you I can't cover for you cutting class!"
"Shut up, class rep. Do what you want."
"Wahhh, so careless…" Jamil said, annoyed.
"Oh, I'm sorry. We won't do it again," Noor said, scratching his head.
"Hm, hm," Ashraf added.
Some time later, the teacher arrived in class.
"Attention students, I have an announcement to make."
Everyone's gaze shifted.
"For the upcoming sports festival, we have chosen our hosts and management team members."
"Wah, what sports festival?" Suvro asked curiously.
"Oh, Suvro, where did you come from?"
"Miss, I was here from the moment you came," Suvro said, frustrated.
"Now you've even got a new teammate… also, I thought it would be rare for you to attend my class, ho ho."
"Man, she's roasting us," Ashraf whispered.
"Hm," Noor added.
"So, the management team leaders chosen for the sports festival are… Noor, Ashraf, and Suvro."
"Wait, what? Why are their names written there?" The teacher looked confused.
"Huh?" The sound Noor made echoed in the classroom.
"Don't worry, miss. They were chosen by us. We think they're the best for this job," the class said.
"Oh no, what's happening?" Class rep Jamil was confused.
Meanwhile, Ria clenched her fist, whispering, "Why?"
Ashraf froze in shock while Noor tried to slap him back to his senses.
"Ashraf, say something!" Noor said.
"Bro, I don't like attention. I don't wanna do this," Ashraf replied.
"Suvro, what's happening?" Noor asked.
"Like I would know," Suvro said.
The class started chanting the trio's names.
"Suvro! Suvro! Suvro!"
"Ashraf! Ashraf! Ashraf!"
"Noor! Noor! Noor!"
They repeated Noor's name even louder, but Noor could tell they weren't cheering for him—the hatred in their eyes was clear.
Some time after class ended.
Noor, Ashraf, and Suvro stood in the empty school hallway.
"So, they've found a new way to humiliate us," Suvro said.
"And their main target is Noor," he added.
Noor stayed silent. A sad feeling was crawling into his heart.
"Oh, there you are! Huff… huff…" Class rep Jamil came running.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you with them?" Ashraf asked.
"Huh? With who?" Jamil looked confused.
"With those students," Suvro said.
Birds chirping…
"No! Absolutely not!" Jamil yelled.
"But why?" Noor asked.
"Why should I? They were really up to something while you were gone, but I didn't know it would be this big. They're crazy," Jamil said, frightened.
"But how did they manage to get the majority of students to vote for us?" Ashraf asked.
"For the past week, the students in our class formed a team silently. They were cleaning, fixing things, and helping students all over the school. The shocking part? They used Noor's name as their leader. I really wondered back then why they suddenly grew fond of Noor, but now I understand," Jamil said.
"But why?" Suvro asked.
"To get the votes," Noor said.
"Yes, you got it. Now what are you going to do?" Jamil asked.
"What can we do?" Ashraf said.
(Silence…)
"We'll do as they wish," Suvro said, excited.
"What?" Ashraf, Noor, and Jamil asked together.
"Yes! We'll take matters into our own hands and manage the sports festival perfectly," Suvro said.
"But we'll need a plan," Ashraf added.
"A plan?" Noor asked.
"Yes, but we all have to work together," Ashraf said.
"So, Jamil, are you in?" Suvro asked.
"Like I have a choice," Jamil replied.
"Don't worry, Noor. We're with you. You're not alone—we'll make this happen," Ashraf said, smiling.
Noor smiled. The pain in his heart was gone.
"Let's go," Noor said.