Mahir woke up to the sound of laughter. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up slowly.
From the living room, he could hear Anabiya and Zaki laughing so hard they could barely breathe. Between their giggles, Urhaan's dramatic voice kept popping up, clearly the target of their jokes.
They laugh at everything, Mahir thought, shaking his head. How do they even have this much energy in the morning?
He washed up and stepped out. To his surprise, Dado, Dada, Anabiya, and Zaki were all seated together, sharing stories and laughing so loudly that even the walls seemed to echo with joy.
For a moment, Mahir just stood there, watching. His chest tightened in a strange way — he wasn't used to mornings filled with this kind of warmth.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Zaki jumped up. When he opened the door, Mishal stood there, slightly out of breath. For a second, Zaki just froze, staring. His heart did a little flip — but Mishal didn't even glance at him. Instead, she brushed past, walked straight to Anabiya, and hugged her tightly.
"Biya! I was so worried. Are you okay now?"
Anabiya smiled, hugging her back. "I'm fine now, Mishii."
Mishal pulled away, scanning her from head to toe. "Do you even know how tense I was? I couldn't sleep all night!". "Liar," Urhaan interrupted, smirking. "I called you, Madam. You didn't even pick up." Mishal flicked her hair and muttered, "Well… I was so tense I accidentally fell asleep." Everyone burst out laughing.
Mahir, leaning against his bedroom doorframe, had been watching quietly. But the second Mishal's eyes landed on him, she froze. Shock flickered across her face.
Anabiya caught the look and immediately grinned. She patted the sofa beside her. "Miss Mishal, meet… Chotoo."
Mishal's jaw dropped. "This is Chotoo?" She looked from Mahir to Anabiya, then to Urhaan, who nodded with a grin. Confirmation sealed it — Mishal burst out laughing until tears came to her eyes.
Mahir groaned and dropped onto a chair. "Seriously, Dado? What childhood stories have you been telling them? They laugh at me like it's a sport."
Zaki, still sulking from being ignored, quickly sat beside Mahir in silent solidarity.
Dado chuckled. "I just told them the truth — how my little Chotoo used to be."
Mahir frowned. "Great. Now they think I'm still that soft, cute, smiley kid. Do I look like that to you?"
Anabiya tilted her head, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Honestly? Not at all. The Chotoo from the stories sounded like a sweet, innocent little angel. You… don't exactly fit that image."
Zaki added, grinning, "Exactly. Chotoo was always smiling. This one looks like he's allergic to happiness."
Mahir shot him a glare. "At least I'm not stupid enough to laugh all day at nothing like you people."
Urhaan leaned forward, eyebrows raised. "Excuse me? Did you just call us stupid?"
"Yes." Mahir leaned closer, refusing to back down. "I did."
Before the tension could rise, Anabiya quickly placed a hand on Urhaan's arm. She gave him a small look: It's okay. Leave it.
Urhaan sighed, leaning back. Mahir noticed the silent exchange, something in him twisting. She can calm him down just like that? He rolled his eyes and pretended to be busy with his phone, though his chest felt oddly restless.
Breakfast was served, laughter filled the table again, and eventually, everyone dispersed to their own homes.
⸻
The next morning at 7 a.m., Mahir stepped out of his apartment, school bag slung over his shoulder.He froze.
Leaning against the wall, her ponytail tied with a ribbon, stood Anabiya. Bright-eyed, smiling, as if the world had conspired to make mornings beautiful just for her.
The second she spotted him, she beamed. "Good morning! Hello!"
Without realizing it, Mahir's hand lifted in a faint wave.
When he walked closer, Anabiya chirped, "From now on, we're going to school together, okay?"
Mahir pressed the elevator button without replying. She pouted. "Didn't even answer me."Finally, he glanced at her. "Do you ever… shut up? You talk way too much."
Anabiya gasped dramatically. "And you never talk at all! What happened, lost your voice? Cat got your tongue? She pulled a silly face at him, eyes wide, lips puckered.
Mahir rolled his eyes and stepped into the lift.
Of course, she followed, still chattering the whole way down. He stayed silent, but her energy buzzed around him like stubborn sunlight refusing to leave.
⸻
Later, in chemistry class, the teacher's words struck like a bomb for anabiya
"Reminder: Tomorrow you all have a test. Three chapters."
Anabiya froze. Her eyes widened, and she whipped around to glare at Urhaan.
"Three chapters? When did this happen?! Last time you said it was only one!"
Urhaan leaned on his desk lazily. "My jaan, when you were daydreaming in class, madam clearly said three. Not my fault."
Anabiya groaned, her face twisting. "How am I supposed to manage this!?"
Mishal leaned over and whispered, "You can do it, Biya. I believe in you."
From the next desk, Mahir, who was sitting with Urhaan, finally spoke up. "It's just three chapters. Not a big deal. Don't overreact."
Anabiya shot him a look. "Of course you would say that, Mister Genius. For you, nothing is hard. But for us ordinary mortals, this is torture."
Zaki chuckled. Urhaan smirked. Anabiya sighed dramatically. "Fine. After class, café. Group study. All of us."
Everyone nodded.
When school ended, they packed up. Anabiya looked at Mahir hopefully. "You're coming too."
Urhaan frowned. "Why would he come? What's he going to do there?"
Before Mahir could refuse, Anabiya clasped her hands. "Please! Don't say no. It'll be fun. Promise."
Mahir wanted to say no. He wanted to escape. But something in her wide-eyed, innocent face made his throat tighten.
"Fine," he muttered.
Anabiya lit up instantly. "Yesss! Okay, let's go soldiers. Time to prove ourselves!"
Mahir sighed. What madness have I just signed up for…