The intimate pasta party went smoothly. They opted to share a massive plate of the chef's special, seafood fusilli along with cheesy baked red potatoes and the house salad.

"Now I have someone else to bounce ideas with besides The Balls," Micah said to Agamemnon as they polished off their plates with gusto.

Ecstatic, Aga smiled and got everyone refills for their bottomless fruit drink. Even Ballqis who was skimping on expenditure thought the new pasta place was worth the money. The food was spectacular, the portions were massive and the drinks went well with everything. Plus, the place was very near to their side of campus.

Maybe I'll ask Iqball to hang out here next time, she thought idly, then shivered.

Who am I kidding? He wouldn't even talk to me if it wasn't for Calculus or the talking fish, she told herself.

On the other side of the table Iqball was noticing how much Ballqis was eating.

She likes the potato dish. I should order that the next time we... Hold on. Am I thinking about asking her out? Like on a date? Here? He couldn't stop those questions from dancing in his head.

Self doubt crept into his brain faster than he could process.

Ballqis was giving me the cold shoulder up until T7 jolted his thoughts into our brains. She wouldn't even glance your way if it hadn't been for that, his fear reminded him.

"Hey I need to get a blazer, one that looks formal enough for final projects presentation. My old one has a rip on one arm, and my Glow Worm project presentation is right before Anzac. Do you guys know how to shop for one?" Micah suddenly asked.

"My grandad and father are tailors. I could lend you a few tips. There's a shop nearby the pier that always remind me of grandad's shop," Agamemnon said.

"Would you mind helping me out? I'll sport your bus fare," Micah promised.

"No problem," Aga said.

"I can stop by the lab and shut the stats machine down for you, Micah," offered Ballqis.

"Really? I was thinking I'd have to run back to the lab for a bit before going to the pier. Thanks Ballqis. Just be sure to put the generated report on Mr Evans' desk please," Micah requested.

"Sure thing, I'll keep Ballqis company," Iqball said, gaining smirks from both Aga and Micah.

Is my crush on Ballqis that obvious? Iqball wondered.

They split ways after finishing their brunch.

The walk back to campus was filled with good reviews on the pasta place.

"I'd definitely go again," Ballqis said as they entered campus grounds. The lab was just a stone's throw away from the 24-hours convenience shop they were passing.

"Me too. Would you like to..."

"Guys! The fish recognised me! Babyfish made his signature move! Did you two see it? You saw it right, Iqball? Ballqis?"

A sudden burst of excitement came out from a pretty red head.

"Hi Mirna!" Ballqis greeted her.

Iqball simply waved.

"So Babyfish is not going to be transferred next Monday. I'm so glad. I'm so relived," Mirna went on as she linked arms with the duo.

The trio approached the lab.

"Micah isn't up there, right? Let me come up with you," pleaded the older student.

"Mirna, there are security cameras there. I can video call you again if you want to see Babyfish," Ballqis offered.

"No, I want to see him in person. I'm sure he misses me," Mirna argued.

"But it is not safe, we can figure some other ways to get you there soon," Iqball reminded.

"No, I'm coming," Mirna insisted.

Ballqis was about to signal Iqball but the boy at her side suddenly spoke.

"No, Mirna, and that's final. Ballqis and I have a code of ethics to follow and bringing mates into the lab to hang out or infringing access will only get us in trouble," he said.

His icy tone shocked the girls.

Ballqis had heard the tone only once before. It was during a school assembly when a few boys were saying Iqball did well during the trial exam because his mom's sickness was a trivial matter.

"Alright, alright. Ballqis, video call me, please?" Mirna said, backing off.

***

Iqball placed the report on Mr Evan's small desk within the lab's office.

The cruncher computer hummed down as Ballqis put it into shut down sequence.

No wonder Micah wants the crunching duty. Apart from switching on the machine and feeding the numbers using the customised program, he only needs to sweep the lab floor as well as feed and record the fish. Easy money. Compared to daily duties, Iqball, Ballqis and Agamemnon also mopped the entire lab, wiped all desks and tanks, clean the two toilets as well as organised the feed store room.

"Iqball, is it me or are you still apprehensive about letting Mirna in?" Ballqis said as they walk out of the lab.

Earlier, Mirna was so happy to see T7 again, and the fish seemed equally excited at the sight of her on Ballqis' phone.

Mirna tried talking to the fish but the creature would simply dance in reply. But Mirna laughed appreciatively each time, as if each dance had a special meaning for her.

Maybe they talk in codes too, Ballqis thought.

"She can't be trusted just yet," Iqball's quiet answer pulled Ballqis back into the present.

They descended the stairs.

"What do you mean? You heard what T7 said before we left for brunch. He called her a friend. I'm sure we can..."

Iqball stopped in his tracks.

"I heard that. But we still haven't figured out who else is Mirna working with. How did she plant the receipt? She may have had a way of getting into the lab, but if she is seen with us the second time she enters, we'd automatically be labeled as her partners in crime," Iqball reasoned.

Ballqis gulped. That did not occurred to her. She was just too happy to find an ally of T7.

"We could just ask," she suggested.

"I doubt she'd tell us," Iqball countered.

"That sounds a little presumptuous."

"It's a deduction."

"Base on what?"

"You haven't forgotten our first encounter with her, have you?"

Ballqis cringed.

"I supposed it is easier to assume people would react they way you think they would, right? Now I know why we never talked in school. You must have assumed I was as snobbish as how the girls had described me," Ballqis retorted before storming off.

Dumbfounded, Iqball sat on the stairs for a long time staring at Ballqis' rushed steps leaving him.

When she reached her apartment unit, Ballqis felt like kicking her own butt.

Why did I mentioned school? I was a loser then, but an even bigger loser now! She berated herself mercilessly.

Iqball reached his room with his heart as heavy as a rock.

That's it. I blew it. She will never give me another chance, he thought sadly.

He tried cleaning his room and even did his small mount of laundry with his bare hands.

We were barely friends, and now we're almost enemies. Why did I let this happen? You're an idiot, Iqball. An idiot.

Inside her room, Ballqis poured her heart into her final paper for Biology 311. She even finished the lengthy task, which had another solid month before its submission date arrives.

She could not forget how childish her reaction was.

Then all of a sudden, her phone pinged.

It was a message from Mr Evans.

We are going to catch The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.

The second message contains the details of their tickets for the show, which was in two week's time and that they would be sitting next to their CTC partner.

I'm doomed! Ballqis almost wailed.

Iqball was nervous. Would she talk to me then? Wait, how will we even get through two weeks plus the Anzac fish trip without talking. She'd have to talk to me, right? He mused, worried.

What if she wouldn't? For the first time since entering university, Iqball felt so disappointed with himself.