“Let’s toast to the completion of our exams and our high school life!” Kayla cheered before bringing her beer mug in the air so her friends could toast to each other.

“Cheers!” everyone exclaimed with a bright smile on their face before gulping down the content in their mug. 

“I can’t believe it’s finally done,” Enrico sighed before leaning his head on his hand. 

“You talk like an old man,” Lesley teased, as she stabbed a fried shrimp. 

“I prefer to call it maturity.” 

Hearing his answer, everyone at the table restrained themselves to not make a snarky remark. Until someone couldn’t hold it anymore and laughed while snorting. Like a trigger, everyone around the table except for Enrico couldn’t contain their laughers anymore. 

“I’m sorry,” Malak said to his friend, as he desperately tried to maintain a neutral expression. 

“I-I’m sorry,” Bella, one of Lesley’s friends, quickly added with a chuckle. 

“I can’t believe you said that!” Kayla mocked Enrico as she slapped him on the back. 

Suddenly, Enrico stood up. “I’m going to the bathroom.” 

The remaining friends who were still sitting around the table fell silent. They all regretted mocking their friend. They feared they had gone too far. 

“Maybe someone should follow him,” Genesis said after a moment of silence. 

“Come on, I’m not a girl,” Enrico exclaimed before sitting while surprising everyone. 

“T-that was fast,” Genesis added with her hand on her heart. 

Enrico raised an eyebrow in confusion. “I just needed to pee?” 

“O-oh, I see. Well then, let’s order more food?” Genesis continued as she grabbed the menu. 

“I have never been here, but the food so far is delicious!” Bella exclaimed in an attempt to bring back the cheerful atmosphere. 

“Yeah, except for the price and the food portions… They are small!” Kayla complained as she ate her nth fried shrimp. 

“Who told you to be such a big eater,” Enrico teased as Kayla glared at him. 

“Haha, well, it’s a tapas bar. Let’s order more shrimp tempura, what do you think?” Bella asked as Kayla nodded enthusiastically. 

“Good idea, while we are at it, let’s also order…” 

As if nothing happened, the cheerful and relaxed atmosphere was back. The soon graduated students all enjoyed the food and alcoholic drinks. They made sure to create memories together since they were not all going to the same universities. As for Malak, this was a bittersweet moment. He was envious of his friends. He wished he could also stay and live a normal life. However, another part of him longed to go back with Kian. He needed to. They needed to. 

As the night went on, plates of food and the empty glasses of various alcoholic drinks accumulated on the table. Everyone took part in the conversation and laughs filled the bar. They were all enjoying their time together. 

“Prom is in a week. Did you all shop for your dresses?” Bella asked excitedly. 

“Of course!” the other girls nodded before fishing out their phones to show each other their dresses. 

All of them had chosen long dresses, but their styles varied from girl to girl. Some chose a princess gown while others were slim fit. As the girls continued to chat about their accessories and shoes, the boys looked at each other with a dead stare. They were at least relieved none of them made them go through the shopping process. 

In the meantime, Malak also grabbed his phone, but to answer the text Kian sent him a while ago. 

“Did you buy your suit?” Enrico asked Malak after a moment. 

“Yeah, you?” Malak replied as he put back his phone in his pant pocket.

“Yup,” the black-haired teenager answered before bringing his glass filled with sake champagne mojito to his lips. “Say, I see you texting a lot. Is it to your girlfriend?” 

Malak stayed silent and only played with the lonely cucumber sushi on his plate.

 “Or… Maybe is it a boyfriend?” Enrico added clearly. 

Malak blushed before quickly sipping at his drink, hoping his friend will not see it. Enrico’s eyes never left his friend.  

“I’m sorry, bad joke. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here,” Enrico added more seriously. 

“Thank you,” Malak answered, happy to have a friend like him. 

Enrico sighed before wrapping his arm around the dark blond-haired companion. “But I still can’t believe you started dating before me!”

“What? Who’s dating?” Lesley asked as she overheard their conversation. 

Stunned, both boys stayed silent. Malak clenched his hands as he started to sweat. He wanted to keep it a secret from his family at all costs. As Malak’s brain raced for a solution, Enrico kept a relaxed attitude. 

“Malak and I, of course!” Enrico joked. 

Malak tensed up and monitored his sister’s reaction. For a moment, Lesley kept staring at Enrico. It was as if she was waiting for him to crack. However, he didn’t and kept his perfect smile while showing his set of white teeth. 

“Haha, very funny,” Lesley laughed before clinking their glasses at each other. 

Lesley set back her focus on the girl’s conversation as Enrico pulled his arms away from Malak’s shoulder. 

“I’m sorry,” Enrico whispered with regret. 

“It’s alright,” Malak closed his eyes as he tried to calm down. “Thank you.” 

Although his sister didn’t push any further, Malak was still feeling uneasy. Lesley was sitting next to Enrico. It was impossible for her to not have heard what he said. 

Lesley half-heartedly listened to her friends talk as she kept hearing Enrico’s words echoing in her ears. Lesley waited and observed Malak for days, but had yet to confront him. However, she was losing her patience. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Nearly midnight, the group of friends decided it was time to go home. A few of the girls were drunk and needed a taxi home. As for the others, they had to hurry to use the subway before they miss the last train. As everyone left at different stops, Lesley and Malak were the only ones left. They sat next to each other in silence.  

“Say…” Lesley started hesitantly as she played with her hands. 

Malak nervously exhaled, waiting for her question. 

“What Enrico said… Is it true?” she asked, finally making eye contact with her twin. 

“We are not dating!” Malak quickly answered in embarrassment. 

“What? No, of course not!” Lesley exclaimed before lowering her voice. She looked around and was relieved to see that they were the only ones in the wagon. “I know you two aren’t dating.”

“Oh, right. Haha,” Malak laughed nervously. “Then, what did he say?” 

Lesley frowned as anger clouded her judgement. “If you’re dating.” 

“Ah, that… You must have misheard or something. I’m not dating. You know how Enrico is. He’s always joking around.” 

Hearing his answer, the anger Lesley felt roared, but it wasn’t the only emotion she was feeling. It also disappointed her that Malak didn’t trust her. Ever since they were children, they had an unspoken rule. It was to never lie to each other since they would know if one of them did. Not only did they share a bond that only twins can understand, they knew each other like the back of their hands. In short, it was pointless. 

“You’re lying,” Lesley mumbled. “I… I saw you the other day with that man. You went into his car after the philosophy exam,” Lesley explained. 

Malak’s heart stopped, but he still had hope. “H-he’s only a friend. He-” 

“Stop lying!” Lesley shouted, with tears in her eyes. “I saw you kiss him!” 

She didn’t understand why she was so frustrated with him. It wasn’t like they never had secrets between them before. She tried to contain her emotions and especially her tears. 

Blood drained from Malak’s complexion as his stomach churned. What he feared came true. His secret wasn’t one anymore. He never wanted to involve his family in this mess. He racked his brain trying to find a believable answer.

“I-I don’t know why I’m acting like this,” Lesley rambled nervously. “But each time I see you with him, I-I feel like I don’t know you anymore!” 

Malak’s mouth dried up. Swallowing became hard as he took multiple deep breaths. “But I’m still me.” 

The train stopped at their station, and they barely got out in time before the door closed. 

“Is it because I’m dating a guy?” Malak asked after a moment of silence while walking up the stairs. 

“I would be lying if I say I wasn’t surprised,” she admitted with a nod as cold air brushed past her hair. She closed her eyes and felt her thoughts get clearer. “But no, it is not.” 

“Then?” 

“Something about you, about him, is strange. I’m not sure what but something is not right,” Lesley rambled before cursing. 

“I will not stop seeing him,” Malak answered without an ounce of hesitation. He loved his family a lot. It would pain him to be separated from them, but it would kill Malak to be part of Kian. 

“Yeah, I thought so.” 

With their home in their sights, Malak stopped walking. After a few steps, Lesley noticed her twin wasn’t next to her anymore. 

“You will not tell them, right?” he asked nervously. 

Although she didn’t show it, it hurt Lesley. She thought they trusted each other a lot more. Before they had a strong bond but right now; she felt it weakening. She brushed this thought away as soon as it came since it was impossible. 

“Of course not!” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe you asked that,” she mumbled before walking toward their home first. 

Suddenly, she stopped before turning around until she was right in front of Malak. 

“You just need to do it,” she smiled. “Bring him over next weekend!”