"Honest to God, I had very low expectations for Elijah today," said Nicholas in a light-hearted gesture.

"Hey!" exclaimed Elijah, placing a spoonful of rice into his mouth. 

Humaid's dark eyes twinkled. "I gotta say that I am a hundred percent with Nick."

Elijah merely glared at the bunch, huffing. "Of course I would take him out to eat at the finest dining!"

At this, Humaid raised a questionable brow. "At a Kabob store?" he asked, biting back a smile. 

"Okay, I have like a hundred bucks on me. If you wanted rich restaurant food, you'd be starving," retorted Elijah. "Have you seen those five star restaurants? They give you twigs to eat. Twigs!"

"Those are called vegetables, Elijah," corrected Nicholas in a mocking tone. "Vegetables."

"Disgusting!"

The group erupted into a fit of laughter at the twisted look of revulsion painted across his best friend's visage. A feeling of ease swept their table, erasing the previous grief that etched the Younes twins' hearts and the disappointment from Nicholas's. With one call, Elijah saved the day.

Instead of allowing his friends to wallow in their bittersweet night, he took matters into his own hands. Elijah led them to a popular Kabob store near the university, a store renowned for its famous dishes ranging from gyro sandwiches, salmon platters, variety of kabobs, baklava, and spices. Although many Muslims lived in the area, not every store had halal meat available to the Muslims.

Fortunately for them, this particular store did, hence its popularity among Muslim residents and non-Muslims with a diverse taste in foods.

"Jokes aside, I can't imagine a better way to spend a bachelor night than hanging out with friends," said Nicholas, cerulean eyes softening as he gazed at his friends. "Thank you all for everything. I'm forever indebted to you guys."

Elijah groaned. "Nick, I love you, but for the love of God, stop with the sentiments."

He narrowed his eyes distastefully at his friend. 

"However, I do have one request before you're married," grinned Elijah, a mischievous glint touching the edge of his pupils and displaying the coy smile of a fox. "As my best friend, you're compelled to grant it."

"Oh, boy," chuckled Humaid, leaning back against his seat as if he was watching a cinema. "This should be good."

Haroon sipped his drink, tilting his head in agreement. 

Nicholas rolled his eyes, swirling the water in his cup. "What do you want?"

"A Nemo plush toy."

Nicholas instantly reddened in embarrassment, flush with the intimate memory of his secret gift to Dina, a token of their inside joke, one that he regretfully cued Elijah in. 

"Y-You're crazy," stuttered Nicholas. "Why the hell would you want that?"

His best friend gave him puppy dog eyes, pouting. "Because I'm going to be so lonely," he whined. "I'm like a goldfish. I forget things when I don't see it often."

"Glad to know that I'm reduced to an 'it' instead of a him," Nicholas said dryly. 

"Ah," interrupted Haroon, stroking his chin. "So, that plush toy you gave Dina had a meaning to it."

Elijah and Nicholas both paled, which Nicholas didn't think was possible for a man as confident and troublesome as Elijah. Sure, Elijah was humble with humility on the days that mattered, but in the comfort of his friends he was as average as any other guy, a student of law and a friend of games. 

Yet here they were, both terrified at the subtle realization of Nicholas and Dina's whirlwind romance. So I might be a groom with a black eye. Sounds fun, he thought in sarcastic humor.

"I can ex-"

Haroon shook his head, still smiling as widely as before. "Don't worry about it. We knew all along."

"Wait a minute," interrupted Nicholas, blinking once, twice, three times to clarify his vision as much as his hearing. "You two knew all along?"

"Of course," chuckled Humaid, clapping a hand on Nicholas's shoulder. He squeezed it in reassurance. "You got to be a lot slicker, sport."

Elijah stifled his laughter, but he stopped when he noticed Nicholas's cold glare, foreboding and frigid enough to freeze him.

Haroon sighed. "We knew how you felt about Dina because it was pretty obvious when you two were in a room together. You are absolutely smitten with her."

His cheeks heated to a greater degree, a wisp of bashfulness circling him as a flurry of embers coated his skin like a blaze. He felt hot like he was burning in the feelings of love, in adoration without realizing it. Perhaps he was smitten with her, or perhaps he was enthralled by her beauty, her personality. 

The twins exchanged knowing looks, and Nicholas wanted to shrink away from existence. They knew all along. His efforts to hide their secret confessions was futile. They knew, and he was a fool to think otherwise. 

"I-If you knew, why didn't you say anything?" he asked quietly.

Haroon smiled, voice soft with fondness. "Because I trusted both of you. Dina is strong in her faith, regardless of temptation, and you're a gentleman."

"Hell yeah he is," cut in Elijah before everyone gave him a blank stare. He awkwardly smiled, apologetic. "Oh, sorry. I forgot y'all were having a moment."

"Moment is ruined, Elijah," stated Nicholas, pursuing his lips. 

"No, it's not!" he protested. "Haroon was talking about your love story, so just carry on as if I'm not here. I swear, I'll be quiet."

"No, I think we're good," said Haroon, reaching for a tray of food. "More potatoes?"

"Don't you dare act like you don't have more to say, Mr. Chemical Engineer. You engineer yourself back into that conversation or so help me-"

Haroon irked a brow, smiling to himself. "Mr. Chemical Engineer? That's a new one."

Elijah scowled.

"Oh, come on," Humaid chuckled deeply, coming to aid his brother. "You can't tell me that it wasn't obvious that Nick fell in love."

"I was hoping it wasn't," he muttered under his breath, which only earned Nicholas knowing looks. "What?"

Humaid shrugged,  a coy smile playing on his lips. "I can't blame you though. The Younes siblings are a charismatic bunch," he winked.

Nicholas groaned. "You guys are the worst."

The group erupted into another fit of laughter, where Nicholas soon joined them, voice becoming hoarse from the enjoyment their presence brought, the elevating smiles their jokes brought to him. No longer did a darkness loom over Nicholas, nor did dangerous thoughts echo his skull. 

All he thought was the light of his relationships, the light of those who brought him to his real home.

"So, about that Nemo plush toy?" 

----

Oh, Elijah. You silly, silly man.

So, a lot happened since my last update, especially in the Muslim community. Honestly, I understand when people struggle with their faith. When living in a Western country, it's rough to look different and to have people judge you for it. I just want to tell the Muslims struggling with their faith, especially in times when the NZ shooting is still recent, that part of faith is struggle.

This is a test from Allah, so don't abandon Islam when you should be defending it. If you're struggling with hijab or with your daily prayers, then reevaluate why you do these things, turn back to Allah in times of hardships because He knows you better than you know yourself.

Embrace Islam, guys. Don't run away from it just because you're different. Being different is good.

Next chapter is the Nikkah, so the colors I'm thinking are beige, lavender, red, gold, or sea green. Vote your colors!

Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow!