“Letters? You’ve received letters?” Harrison exclaimed, his words hanging in the air like a reproachful reminder. His gaze was fixed squarely on Ilyas, and the question resonated with unspoken expectations that were inherent to their social circle. Ilyas couldn’t deny the truth of Harrison’s inquiry. His correspondence had been lacking, particularly in the meticulous art of written communication. He knew he should have penned more, extended more invitations, and diligently nurtured the vital connections within his small close kinships. In truth, he had become somewhat negligent, with his sister being the primary recipient of his letters, while the bonds with his closest friends had grown somewhat dormant.
The realization of his dwindling circle of friends weighed heavily on Ilyas. He understood that this was largely his own doing, a result of his choices and priorities. Yet, the thought of reconnecting with anything from his life back home only deepened his disdain for the place. It was a reminder of the suffocating expectations and rigid traditions that had driven him away, causing him to resent it all the more.
Ilyas was brought back to the present as Corin began recounting the story of their first meeting, a tale that had unfolded during a particularly eventful, if somewhat inebriated, night. It was a memory that still elicited a chuckle from him, despite the passage of time. As Corin narrated the escapades of that fateful second day at school, Ilyas couldn’t help but smile at the nostalgia. Or what he could remember. It had been a daring act to sneak out, a bold move that had led to an unexpected friendship.
Corin’s role in that escapade had been nothing short of heroic. He had taken charge, practically assuming a maternal role, ensuring that Ilyas made it through the night safely despite his inebriated state. The memories of that morning after were a mix of haze and embarrassment for Ilyas. The pounding headache served as a harsh reminder of the previous night’s excesses. He recalled waking up to the strange markings on his neck, a mystery he couldn’t quite unravel. There had been a faint recollection of a blurry encounter, a mistaken identity, and the absurd notion that Corin was a girl attempting to sneak into his bed. It was all a jumbled mess, compounded by his disoriented state.
In his sober confusion, Ilyas had acted according to his usual rule – never allowing his flings to spend the night. He remembered pushing Corin away, utterly convinced that he was thwarting the advances of an unknown woman. It was a humorous and rather humiliating memory, one that had solidified their friendship in the most unconventional of ways.
Harrison’s words about the eldest daughter of the Ellis family echoed in Ilyas’s mind, and they carried a weight. “I must take my leave,” Ilyas announced to his friends, not meeting their gazes as he patted Harrison’s shoulder. “We shall continue our reunion later. Feel free to discuss my exceptional looks once I depart, but please don’t linger too long on my backside.” He added a touch of humor to lighten the mood, but his eyes were already scanning the room, drawn to the dark-haired figure with a petite frame that his his mind racing.
Ilyas approached the woman from behind, a sense of déjà vu washing over him. There was something oddly familiar about this encounter, reminiscent of a earlier encounter that had not ended well. “Lia?” he whispered, his hand gently wrapping around her wrist. “Shrimpy?” Ilyas couldn’t help but chuckle softly as his eyes roamed over her form. Not in a way of checking her out but more so confused why she was here. Shocked. “What are you doing here? I thought… you aren’t dea—clearly— here you are, small as ever but here…” His voice was a mix of surprise and amusement as he addressed the woman before him, a hint of affection in his gaze. “Did you actually shrink?” He added with a playful glint in his eye, teasing her as if they had never been apart.
@Kristi Harrison
@DandelionKate Corin
@benitz786 shrimpy
@Jass sorta mentioned
