The next few weeks passed like scenes in a picture book — soft, warm, unexpectedly beautiful.
Doha wasn't used to being around people.
She wasn't used to someone choosing to be around her.
But Serin?
Serin clung to her like sunshine that refused to leave.
---
1. Study Sessions at Serin's House
"Dohaaa, sit properly," Serin groaned, nudging her with a ruler.
"You're writing like a dying frog."
"I am dying," Doha replied flatly, face smushed against her notebook. "These math problems are killing me."
Serin burst out laughing. "You're dramatic."
"You're bossy."
"You're hopeless."
"And you," Doha pointed at her, "are annoying."
Serin only smiled wider. "Yet you're here."
Doha's cheeks warmed, so she pretended to flip the page aggressively.
Serin's house was clean, quiet, and filled with the smell of vanilla candles. Doha liked it here more than she'd admit. Here, she didn't have to listen for her father's footsteps. She didn't have to hide bruises. She could just… breathe.
Serin sat beside her, explaining formulas in her calm, melodic voice.
"See? If you look at it like this—"
Doha leaned in without realizing, her hair brushing Serin's shoulder.
Serin froze for a second.
"…You're close," she whispered.
"Hmm?" Doha blinked. "Oh. Sorry."
She scooted back awkwardly.
Serin smiled softly. "It's fine."
---
2. Park Afternoons
They often ended up at the small park behind their school — a place Doha had never visited despite living here her whole life.
Serin dragged her onto the swings.
"Push me," she said, giggling.
"No."
"Doha."
"…Fine."
Doha pushed gently. Serin leaned back, golden hair flying like silk in the wind.
"You look happy," Doha muttered.
"I'm with you," Serin replied simply.
Doha pretended not to hear that.
They watched kids play tag, old men play cards, stray cats sunbath on benches.
Doha kicked a pebble. "This place isn't that bad."
Serin smirked. "Amazing. Doha Rin admits the world isn't total trash."
"I didn't say that."
---
3. Quiet Mornings & Routines
Every morning, Serin would wait at the crossroads.
"Good morning!" she'd chirp, waving both hands like a child.
"Stop yelling," Doha said every day.
"I'm not yelling."
"You're basically a walking alarm clock."
"And who doesn't love alarm clocks?"
"Everyone."
But she still walked with her. Every day.
People at school noticed.
"Why's Serin hanging out with her?"
"Doha's scary."
"She saved Serin that one time… maybe they're friends?"
Serin didn't care. She held onto Doha's arm like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Doha let her.
---
4. The Hardest Chapter to Study
One afternoon, Doha's frustration exploded.
"I CAN'T GET THIS!" She tossed her pencil aside. "Why do letters even exist in math?!"
Serin laughed so hard she almost fell off the bed.
"Doha… it's just algebra."
"It's witchcraft!"
Serin crawled over, putting her hands on Doha's cheeks.
"Hey. Look at me."
Doha's heart stopped. "W—What?"
"We'll figure it out. Together. Okay?"
Doha swallowed. "…Okay."
Serin slowly pulled her hands away, her fingers brushing Doha's skin a little too long.
Neither commented on it.
---
5. The Memory Collage — Moments That Build a Bond
Weeks passed.
Then a month.
Then two.
Little memories stacked like dominoes:
Serin braiding Doha's pitch-black hair while humming songs.
Doha grabbing Serin's wrist whenever a cyclist almost ran into them.
Serin giving Doha half her lunch because Doha "forgot" to bring food again.
Doha silently walking Serin home when she looked tired.
Serin placing colorful sticky notes on Doha's textbooks with reminders like You can do it! and Don't nap in class, dummy.
Doha punching a wall because someone insulted Serin's "foreigner face."
Serin patching up Doha's scraped knuckles with tiny kitty-print bandages.
Their days became a slideshow of small happinesses Doha had never experienced.
---
6. The Promise Growing Stronger
One evening, as they walked home under a sky filled with stars, Serin suddenly said:
"Doha… I want to become a special officer too."
Doha stopped walking. "…Why?"
"Because I want to go with you."
Serin's voice was soft, almost shy.
"I want to follow the same path. Same college. Same dream."
Doha's chest tightened.
"You don't have to."
"I want to," Serin insisted. "I'm serious."
Doha stared at her — golden hair glowing in the moonlight, blue eyes full of certainty.
"Are you sure?" Doha whispered.
Serin nodded. "Yeah. We'll leave this place together."
Doha felt her throat sting with emotion she wasn't used to.
"…Okay," she said. "Together."
Serin slid her hand into Doha's.
Doha didn't pull away this time.
That night, Doha realized something terrifying:
She finally had something to lose.