Is it a prank?

★ Asif's POV ★

The bell finally rang, screaming freedom across the halls. Students exploded out of classrooms like prisoners escaping a cell. Laughter, shouting, running—it was chaos.

Perfect.

If I was ever going to sneak up to the rooftop unseen, now was the time. I gripped my bag tighter, head low, trying to disappear into the crowd like a secret agent in a spy flick.

But just as I reached the staircase—

"Oi, Asif!"

Crap.

Sajim.

Like a hawk spotting its prey.

He yanked me by the arm before I could even argue, and two seconds later, Rimon appeared out of nowhere.

"There you are, Loverboy," Rimon chuckled. "We thought you were going to vanish again. Planning to text Ayesha from a tree or something?"

"N-no! I wasn't— I mean I wasn't going anywhere…" I mumbled, panicking.

And just like that, I was dragged off to the cafeteria like a kid to the principal's office.

My master plan?

Shattered.

No rooftop. No mystery. Just more teasing and more embarrassment.

---

The cafeteria was a battlefield today. Students were scrambling for food like it was the last meal before the apocalypse.

"There's no way we're finding a seat here," Sajim said, scanning the crowd.

"Balcony?" Rimon suggested.

I blinked.

Balcony.

That might work.

I wasn't giving up just yet.

"Yeah, sounds good," I said quickly, hoping the universe was on my side this time.

We grabbed our food—simple stuff.

I took a butter bun, Rimon went with a juicy-looking burger… and Sajim?

A caramel-drenched sandwich.

"What the actual—?"

My face said it all.

"Yup," Rimon sighed, nodding solemnly. "Just a Sajim thing to do."

We found our usual spot—at the balcony stairs near the ground floor. The sky was clear, sun a little too bright, but the breeze helped. We sat, feet dangling over the steps, and began munching.

Well, I was trying to enjoy mine… until—

"So…" Sajim said with a smirk, mouth half full, "when are you asking Ayesha out?"

I nearly choked on my bun.

Eyes wide.

Face red.

Heart dead.

"W-what are you saying!?" I coughed out, nearly flinging the rest of my bun across the railing.

Rimon froze mid-bite.

"Wait, you contacted Ayesha?" he asked, stunned.

"…Y-yeah," I mumbled.

Then came the barrage of teasing. Again.

Rimon gasped dramatically. "My boy's growing up."

"You gonna bring flowers on the first date?" Sajim winked.

"I swear, I'll push you both off this balcony—" I threatened, only half joking.

They laughed it off, but then Sajim's voice shifted.

He turned toward me, more serious this time.

"Asif," he said, looking right at me. "Like I said—ask her out. Doesn't matter if she says yes or no. Just do it. You'll learn something either way."

I paused.

His words… echoed what Dad said.

About youth. About love. About taking chances.

I nodded slowly.

"…Yeah. I'll try."

They both smiled.

And that was my cue.

"Uh—I need to use the washroom," I said quickly, standing up before they could trap me in more teasing.

"Don't fall in," Rimon called out.

"Take your time, Romeo!" Sajim added.

I waved without turning back, walking fast—straight to the rooftop staircase.

The climb felt longer than usual.

Every step echoed louder.

That note—was it really just a prank? Or was someone really waiting?

I opened the door and was immediately hit by the sun.

It stung my eyes for a second.

I looked around.

No one.

The rooftop was empty.

No footsteps. No shadows. Not even a hint of someone watching.

I checked near the water tank—the spot where I once met Sara.

Still nothing.

I waited. For a minute. Then two. But no one came.

And then—

Brrriinngg!

The bell rang, slicing the silence like a blade. Lunch was over.

"…Was it a joke?" I murmured to myself.

I felt a bit… stupid. Standing here like a character in a drama waiting for a plot twist.

With a sigh, I turned back toward the stairs.

As I walked, something clicked inside me.

Whoever wrote the note—they didn't show. Maybe they chickened out. Maybe it was a prank. Or maybe… it wasn't meant to be.

But there's one thing I could control now.

I'll message her.

Ayesha.

Maybe even ask her out.

Not now. But soon.

As I re-entered the building, my mind was clearer than it had been all day.

One mystery left unsolved, but another waiting just beyond the screen of my phone.