Author's remark/content warning: this chapter is dedicated to my sister who gave me ideas about the university's geography and to my mother who had been through thick and thin throughout my puberty. It is longer than my normal length and might be triggering for survivors of abusive relationships. Just know that there's a happy scene at the very end, though! 

The mood board/aesthetics for Johan is the work of @abihaatif22 and shouldn't be used without the artist's permission. 

After dinner with the tasteless burritos, Nardho had wanted to ask Moira to listen to his latest song on his guitar while Vannie and Nardhia played basketball with his roommates, who were actually nicer than their meeting would led one to believe, but Moira politely declined because she had promised to video chat Neesa. However, she said Nardho could join in as her friends would also be Neesa's friends and vice versa, only that Neesa never brought a friend home and Moira was too much of a wallflower to develop a friendship circle and shut herself in the chemistry laboratory, until now. Nardho hummed and waited in the dormitory's common lounge as Moira fetched her laptop. He thought about how nice it must be to live with a cousin, both of his parents did not have any siblings so he and Nardhia did not grow up with cousins or relatives.

Moira returned and dialed home. Neesa's face popped up on the screen after a moment.

"Hey, girl! How's the university treating you? How's the dining hall? How's the dormitory?"

"The university is very quaint yet pleasant while the dormitory is a nice place to take respite from a long flight. The dining hall doesn't impress me much, I had an awful burrito but Nardho here said he'd feed me if absolutely necessary. Wanna talk to him?"

"Hey, dude! Aw, aren't you the cutest? Thanks for taking care of my fussy cousin!"

"Cute? C'mon Neesa, I'm not a golden retriever. But yeah, Moira's safe and sound with me."

"Good to know, I'll personally come and give you hell if you ever hurt Moira. Oh, by the way, cousin, I figure out what to do once I finish high school. I'm not gonna follow your footsteps but I told my parents I wanna attend the local community college," Neesa announced.

"Well, that's good that you've found your direction, but what gives?"

"Well, ever since I developed an infatuation on Kenta I could never push him out of my mind and he seemed to notice that from the way I always texted him before I go to bed. We've been talking, not in a flirty way of course 'cause he's a loyal guy to Johan, but he said he feels flattered that I look up to him. So, he's been sending me tutorial videos on various desserts, there's one I really like called honey Castella, followed by a video on melon bread. One night Kenta asked me if I'm anything like you and I told him no, but that I do begin to consider a major in culinary arts. I want to be a pastry chef like him, he's my new role model even though he's an amateur and busy with his dissertation until now! So he sent me an article about our local college's pastry arts program." Neesa sounded even more energetic than usual, Moira noted.

"Kenta really is the best! I'm so glad you're now friends with him despite your crush not blossoming into anything more. How's Aunt Zoe and Uncle Martin?"

"Dad has a fever right now and mom's tending to him, but it's nothing serious, the doctor said it's just the weather. He forgot his umbrella yesterday and came home soaked."

"Oh my, typical forgetful uncle! Tell him to get well soon. I gottta hang up now."

Moira closed her laptop and asked Nardho what he wanted to do next, but the boy just shrugged and mumbled about seeing Tony and Wyatt again, so they went to the basketball court just behind the dorm. There was a man Moira recognized from Nardho's vacation picture. The man approached the two and hugged Nardho. It must be Johan, the older brother and resident advisor.

"Hey lil' bro, nice to know you're not being broody with that guitar of yours. Oh, and you brought Moira! Hey, I'm your RA, that's short for someone you can trust with petty stuff like roommate cat fight and your door knob breaking and alcohol poisoning. Okay, maybe not that last one. Definitely not that last one! I'll call ambulance if that happens, but just so you know our floor is a dry floor, remember that. Not that I think you are a drinker," smirked Johan as he winked at the wide-eyed teenage girl. Nardho sighed, Johan was always terribly uncool he had no idea what Kenta saw in him. Moira, however, liked him immediately for coming off as a stern yet caring RA and she made a mental note about checking her door knob for any looseness. Johan said something about having to check on other residents and left the group, waving bye.

"Do forgive our brother for the unfunny mention of alcohol, he has a twisted sense of humor." A sweaty Nardhia said with a basketball in her hands and Wyatt's arm slung on her. Vannie made a fake vomiting voice and Moira wondered if Nardhia just found a hook up partner. Nardho seemed uninterested in her sister's business and was instead staring at Moira's curls. His gaze lasted longer than intended and Moira blushed, not knowing why she was being stared at. Tony shook his head, he couldn't believe how dense Moira appeared to be but did think she was cute.

"Now that everyone's here, let's see if any of us share the same class schedule." Vannie wheeled closer to the group and took out her planner from her bag. Moira gave her an approving look, noting that this friend was someone with an industrious attitude. "Okay, so I have Honors Brave Explorers first thing at nine thirty with Moira and Nardhia while Nardho has to go to Fundamentals of Academic Essays. What about you, Tony? Wyatt?"

Wyatt took his arm off Nardhia and checked his phone. "Free time, but I heard the good thing about this university is that you can sit in any class as an auditor just to chill and stuff, so maybe I'll check yours and the ladies' class. Fine with y'all lovely babes?" The girls nodded in unison.

"I'm free too, maybe I'll roam around and find where the athletic center is," Tony said as he masterfully dribbled a basketball with one hand. "Wyatt, you need to stop calling all the girls babes, that's demeaning, and for fuck's sake, you jerk, tone down that PDA with Nardhia."

"Whoa, take a breather you social justice warrior. You jealous because you've got no one giving you attention? Loser!" Wyatt stuck a tongue out and kissed Nardhia on the cheek. She kissed back, Vannie gave them a repulsed look. Tony just scoffed and said he would get his textbooks.

Nardho said he would go with Tony, so the girls were now left to their own devices with Wyatt still smooching Nardhia. Vannie coughed and Nardhia laughed, pushing Wyatt aside and telling him to save more kisses for tomorrow. Moira just watched bewildered, she planned to ask Neesa on their next video chat what the rules of engagement was when it came to college dating scenes. She knew Johan said everyone could come to him with questions, but this felt embarrassing.

The next morning Moira and her roommates, with Wyatt tagging along, headed off to their Honors class, still sleepy but eager to see Lee and another professor whose name they knew but had never met in person. The classroom was already full of the sounds of students pulling their chairs when they arrived and Lee walked in a few minutes later with a woman who looked like to be in her thirties. Moira thought she looked intimidating and clung to Vannie, who squeezed her hand and mouthed "she can't be that bad." Moira bit her lower lips and tapped on her desk.

"Hey, who's that shrinking violet? Moira? No need to be afraid, my colleague here doesn't bark orders, we're not in the military." Lee came to the girls' seat. Moira gave him a nervous laugh.

"Young man, I don't recognize you. You're not in my roster. Wrong classroom?" Lee greeted Wyatt. The guy laughed sarcastically, telling Lee that he was just here to sample the class. "Okay, that's alright, but if you cause a ruckus I'll kick you out. In the meantime, let me introduce you to the guest lecturer. Ayumi, if you would?" Lee bowed to the middle-aged woman, who bowed back. Moira thought that was a nice custom to have between colleagues.

"My name's Ayumi Rivera-Sakamoto, I've been working with Lee to organize your upcoming trip to Golden Valley. I'm from there! Yeah, I don't look like it, I'm a quarter Japanese and a quarter Mexican from my mom's side of ancestors back on Earth, and I thanked heavens for my ancestry for giving me a youthful glow in my forties, but my dad's native to the land. In this class I will teach you more about Golden Valley's drivers of tourism, the fabled Gaburs. Now, who can tell me what they already know about the Gaburs? Moira?"

Moira's jaws tensed and she opened her mouth but she was still speechless. After a few seconds passed with Moira still wordless, Vannie raised her hand. "Sakamoto-san, was it? From what I've read it seems that the Gaburs weren't originally from Golden Valley. More specifically, they were created by scientists and yes they were born in that village of yours, but they aren't natural. The scientists had somehow pulled a Jurassic Park and extracted the DNA of elephants to combine that with the  DNA of various birds because they needed a fast and easy way to trample down the forests for conversion into residential areas. The Gaburs have super strength but also super speed as they can fly faster than a cheetah can run."

"Thank you for the wonderful answer, Vannie, and well done. It's okay to call me by my first name, though, I do like traditions, and hence my bowing earlier, but here the professors just want to be your equal. Now, I will give the class back to Lee."

Lee turned on the projector in front of the classroom and a hologram appeared. The students were taken aback as a life-sized Gabur stood there, making a trumpeting noise and holding two feet in the air like a horse. Moira dug her nails to her thighs, her face pale. Nardhia let out a scream and Vannie patted her hand. Wyatt turned his phone on and walked to the hologram to take a selfie, asking Lee if he wanted to be in the picture too, but the man said no.

"Ha, figured y'all babes are actually pussies. Except you, Ayumi, you're not a wuss and you're smoking hot!" Wyatt yelled and Nardhia ran off the classroom crying. Ayumi was fuming but tried to keep her composure while Lee told Wyatt to sit down and stay after the class' conclusion. Wyatt rolled his eyes. Moira had never seen such insolence and smacked her forehead. Vannie pretended to read her planner, not wanting to interfere in this shit show.

"Wyatt, what you just said to me and the rest of the class was beyond ridiculous, not to mention disruptive. This is unacceptable and you shall henceforth be banned from coming to my lecture. Now, apologize to everyone. Lee would give you detention later. What? You thought detention belongs only in high school? Wrong again, mister. Our class, our rules." Ayumi placed one hand on her hip. Wyatt said nothing but seemed relieved that he wasn't suspended yet.

Lee excused everyone from the lecture and the girls caught up to Nardhia in the biochemistry department's green roof. Their friend gave them a weak smile, wiping her tears.

"How are you feeling now? Sorry about that asshole, he only has a quarter of a quarter of brain cells. Should I tell Johan about this or should I let Nardho deal with him?" Vannie asked.

"Why, oh why, did I always fall for the bad boys? I should have known better than this!" Nardhia began to cry again. "In high school everyone thought I was easy and would try to sleep with me. I never let them. I'm still a virgin, by the way. Those guys in high school I can handle. But this? This is not okay. Vannie, could you go ahead and tell Johan? I need to talk to Moira privately. Please," Nardhia gave Vannie a doe-eyed look. The girl nodded and wheeled away.

"Moira, could you pinky promise, cross your heart and hope to die, that you're not going to tell Nardho? I know he's my twin and twins don't keep secret, but if he hears about this he's gonna wrestle Wyatt to the ground mercilessly and I don't need that. Nardho is scary when he's in beast mode." Nardhia shuddered and Moira tried to imagine the boys involved in a serious brawl.

"If that's what you want. But will you tell him yourself eventually? He deserves to know the truth about his roommate. Can I at least tell Tony? He's the nicer of the two roomies. He defended us when Wyatt kept calling us flirty nicknames." Moira had remembered his action.

"You can, after I tell Nardho on my own, I get a feeling if I explain calmly he'd not beat Wyatt to a pulp and just have a mano-a-mano talk personally. You're a good friend, Moira. If Nardho asked what's wrong with me, just tell him it's the time of the month and he will shut up."

No longer crying, Nardhia grabbed Moira's hands and the two headed to the dining hall. Fridays meant there would be fish and chips, which Moira could tolerate. She took a spoonful of some creamed spinach too because she didn't want to let Neesa down when her cousin had been kind enough to make her promise to eat her vegetables daily. When they were done eating, Nardhia said she would make an appointment with the Health Center so Moira returned to the dorm.

The door to her room was unlocked and Vannie was inside, sitting at her table with a highlighter in hand, seemingly reviewing this morning's lecture (although there was not much to memorize) and preparing for tomorrow's lecture. For unknown reasons, she did not seem to like just using her tablet. Moira tapped her shoulder and Vannie turned around, putting her highlighter down.

"Hi Moira, I talked to Johan and he said he would give Nardho a new roommate within a week. He wouldn't tell Nardho the reason, if that's what you're concerned about, he would just say Wyatt has decided to move out to an all-boys dorm. Johan would also check in with Nardhia periodically to make sure she will be mentally okay. What are you gonna be up to?"

"Is Tony around? I want to hear what he might have to say if I tell him about the incident."

"I think he's still in the athletic center, but if you need company I am here although I'd be a boring one because I'm organizing my files. Yeah, I'm old school." Vannie said proudly.

"Well, where's Nardho? His class should be finished by now, I'm guessing?"

Vannie did not have to answer because the boy appeared at their door step, then sat in Nardhia's empty bed. "Hey, my sister's being weird today. She ignored my texts and calls. Is she fighting with you two or maybe had an argument with Wyatt? This is unlike her!" Nardho vented.

"She's not fighting with us but she's unhappy today, something happened in our class earlier but you would have to wait until she's ready to tell you herself." Moira said. Nardho would insist on knowing, but his phone rang. It was the twin sister. "Well, speak of the angel."

"Hey, sis, are you hurt or something? Anything I can do? Talk to me, oh my goodness."

"May I use your debit card? I am at the Health Center." Nardhia's voice echoed through the speaker. Nardho's face turned white and he reached for his wallet. "Why? You feel sick?"

"Someone whose name I'd rather not say verbally harassed me today and I was crying my eyes out in the counselor's office and now I'm prescribed eye drops and some melatonin in case I have insomnia tonight. I'm a train wreck and I need my space."

"Oh my god. Did Johan know?" Nardho gasped audibly. Vannie nodded to him.

"Right now I just feel like a piece of garbage. Is it true that I'm easy, Nardho? That I thirst for the thrill of having someone tells me I'm sexy? That my mascara makes me a cheap bitch?"

"Oh sis, who called you that? No, your looks shouldn't define who you are. I love you."

Nardhia said she loved her brother back and then hanged up. The room fell silent.

"Gaburs dung! First day of class and there's already a conflict? Poor Nardhia." Vannie cursed.

"You could say that again. Oh man, I have failed to protect her as a brother." Nardho grumbled.

"No, you have not. You couldn't have known. You're still a good bro." Moira spoke up.

"Thanks, but I still feel like a failure. Moira, come with me so that I can clear my head."

"Yeah, of course! Where to? The athletic center? You need to punch something?"

"What, do I seem that violent to you? Nah. I want to visit this creek I stumbled on my way to class. It's pretty. I'd go change but meet me at the outskirt of campus in fifteen?"

Exactly fifteen minutes later, Moira met Nardho who had waited for her with a lantern in his hand. That is odd, Moira thought. "What's the lantern for? It's still daylight hours."

"You'll see. Now, let me hold your hand. Steady. I don't want you to slip on the stairs."

The stairs that Nardho mentioned were leading to a trail of dogwood trees. When the trail ended, Moira could hear the sound of water in the distance. Nardho pushed back some low hanging branches that blocked their path and revealed a body of sparkling creek. There was also a second trail that led to a river and in the distance Moira could see people rowing rafts.

"Do you feel comfortable enough rafting with me, Moira?" Nardho asked and sounded hopeful.

"I don't know how to swim. What if I drown?"

"I am not gonna let you fall to the water, but if you want we can just stroll along the creek and talk. Anything but Nardhia. Let's talk about your favorite movies."

Moira felt more at ease and skipped along as Nardho walked by her side, listening as the girl lectured him on a movie set in the old Earth about a team of safari ranger who encountered a group of lion poachers and brought them to trial and was not believed by the judges but then more poaching kept happening and eventually there was no lion left and the judges realized their mistake so the rangers won settlement money, which they used to establish a foundation aimed to raise awareness about the welfare of lions. Nardho smiled, relieved that it ended in a just way.

The creek came to an end and Moira could see a cave nearby. Is this what Nardho brought me here for? What's inside? she thought. "This is why I bring a lantern!" Nardho chuckled.

Once inside, Moira noticed that the cave was actually a sort of a hidden temple. There was an altar and a statue of a woman she did not remember from any of her history book.

"People on Earth back in the 2000s used to pay respect to a statue like this one. This cave was designed to look like the one in Bethlehem. This statue is of Mother Mary." Nardho kneeled and put his hands in a prayer. "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. I come to you because you are the protector of women and a young woman I know is hurting. Please give her strength. I do not know what to do, Mother, but give her peace. Amen."

Moira knelt too and bowed her head, just to respect Nardho. She never saw anyone prayed like Nardho did, in fact she had no idea what a prayer was, but she knew it wouldn't be nice to interrupt. Nardho stood up, his eyes were wet but he smiled softly at Moira, grateful.

"Moira, I have a confession. I know that we haven't been friends for a long time but I can already tell that I am head over heel about you. When I talked to Mother Mary, I actually also thought about you and asked for Mother's blessings secretly and I think She wants me to tell you this. You are so innocent and yet so courageous and passionate, so full of all the good qualities that amaze me. If you would forgive my frankness, would you accept me as your boyfriend?"

"Nardho, I haven't actually given much thought about dating, but since it's you, then I wouldn't mind. But let's not rush into things, okay? I do not know what it means to have a boyfriend, so you have to teach me. Can you do that?"

"Yes, with all my heart. I promise, and Mother Mary can frown on me if I break this promise, that I'm not going to behave in a toxic way. I adore you, Moira."

Nardho reached for Moira's hand, kissing it and bringing her hand to his chest. Moira blushed, she wasn't sure yet if she liked Nardho back in a romantic way , but she leaned in closer and hugged Nardho. This afternoon felt strange, but Moira knew she was safe with Nardho.