THE couple sat down next to each other at the dinner table, chatting and laughing with Mal's family members. Felix tried to concentrate on their names, as he knew that he couldn't memorize them right away.

On his left, Mal's two brothers, Rajwan and Adam, who attend the same school as them, sat down and spoke with their three sisters. The two sisters, Maya and Luna were also in the same school. Maya was a year younger whatsoever.

The two adults on the table were Ahlam and Nawal, who were both talking to Mal in Arabic and admiring Felix. He knew that they preferred him over Griffin.

"So, how did you guys meet?" Nawal asked curiously, taking a bite of her french fries.

Mal turned to look at her boyfriend as if she wanted him to speak.

"We met at school. I transferred here from South Korea about two months ago, and I didn't know anyone. Mal was kind enough to give me a tour, and I think it started from there."

Mal giggled a little as she remembered the moment. "Yeah, it did."

"And which college do you two want to apply for? You know, wherever it is, we can pay for your tuition."

"Um, we haven't thought about it yet, mum, but I and Felix were planning on researching what's best for us," Mal explained, then reached for Felix's hand from under the table. He gladly took it.

"Do you have anything in mind?" Rajwan asked, tearing his eyes away from his plate.

"No, not really. Do you?"

"Yeah, we were thinking about the university of Chicago," Adam spoke, turning to his brother.

"Chicago? Don't you think it's a little far away, though?" Ahlam asked.

"You said 'wherever it is' just now."

Ahlam and Nawal glanced at each other, rolled their eyes in defeat, then glanced at their sons again.

"Sure, sweetie. Wherever you want. Just promise to visit."

That made the two boys smile in satisfaction.

"Of course."

"And you, Luna?"

Luna avoided eye contact nervously. "I was thinking about Princeton University in New Jersey."

"That's a good choice, sweetie!" Nawal told her, making her nod happily along with the others.

Felix turned to the mother, then back at his girlfriend. "Thanks a lot for this offer, Mrs. and Mrs. Mohamed. I just think we need to decide what's best for us before we make you pay for anything."

Mal nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, mum and mommy. I think we're going to decide by the end of the week, two weeks at most."

"Okay, good."

The conversation ended at that, as the family finished their dinner. They all took turns and put their dishes in the wide sink in the kitchen. Felix approached Mal after washing his hands, then whispered something in her ear.

"Hey, do you think I can leave right now? I still have some homework to do."

Mal nodded. "Do you need help with it?"

"Er- I mean, yeah. But I don't have the book right now."

She held his hand and pulled him towards the family room, where the family began to take their seats. She walked over to Nawal and whispered something Felix couldn't hear. He could only see the mother nodding in agreement and ordering her to do something.

After a few minutes, Mal turned back to him and led him out of the room.

"Come on, sunshine. I'll give you a ride."

"I... Thanks, that's kind of you."

Mal stopped in her tracks and glanced at him. She admired his beauty for a moment, then smiled and let out a giggle, grabbing the keys from a nearby counter.

"You're too polite. Now, let's go."

As she led him towards the back of the house, he stopped in front of a garage that had two fancy cars parked. The first one was a black Mercedes C-Class, and the second one was a white Audi A4. He saw Mal approach the second, white car, and unlock its doors with the keys attached to her hand.

"Oh." he muttered in awestruck, "I didn't know your family had two cars."

"Oh no, this one is mine. My mum bought it for my eighteenth birthday. This one over there is Luna's." She explained.

"Come, baby. Let's go home."

☂︎

About thirty minutes later the fancy car pulled up in front of the building. The couple got out and Mal was sure she locked the car with the button located on the keys in her hand. They then held each other's hand as they walked through the gate.

Felix led Mal inside the familiar hallway, still holding her hand, then arrived at the second floor, where his apartment was. Mal took notice of the two other apartments on the same floor, causing her to turn to Felix.

"Does somebody else live here, babe? It seems so quiet."

"Yes. I keep hearing loud voices coming from the apartment next to mine, but I never met them before. I don't think somebody lives here though." he pointed at the apartment across from his. Mal nodded, staring at him as he let out the keys from his pocket.

To their surprise, the door to the neighbor's apartment was opened a few seconds later, causing them to jump a step back. Mal glanced at the neighbor's face as they let out a big, black garbage bag through the door, and let out a small gasp of surprise.

"Griffin?!"

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