29

Tahti was just walking into the campus premises the next morning, when she heard someone call her from behind and she smiled, on turning to see Jennie walking towards her.

"Why are you dressed so nicely today? Are you going on a date?"

"I look nice?" She asked as she took another look at the gown Demir had bought for her the previous day.

Truly, the mirror in her room had told her she looked good before she had left. She had also accessorized with the stary crescent moon bracelet he had gifted her and had left her hair hanging over her left shoulder, which had made her face stand out.

"It looks good on you."

"Thanks...I haven't seen you in school lately, though."

"I was a little sick..." She paused to pull away from her, a bit. "Don't you think I have lost some weight?"

Tahti took a closer look and discovered she was right. Jennie had slimmed down a little and she guessed the sickness had probably gotten into her.

"It looks like it. Are you okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine...How was your birthday? I'm sorry I couldn't contact you to wish you a happy birthday." She said and Tahti raised a hand to cup her shoulder.

"You don't need to be sorry...And by the way, have you talked to Sol? I heard she's been pretty worried about you these days." She said and Jennie took her hand to led her towards the studio, with a change of subject.

"The weather's really nice today, isn't it?"

"There's something going on between Tahti and Demir." Jasmine was saying that morning in the studio and April tore her eyes off Sol, who was working tirelessly to crack a part of her piece. They were supposed to have a meeting but she was yet to start because they were waiting for Demir, who was running late.

"Why did you say so?" Herley asked.

"My friend said she has seen Demir, leaving Tahti's street, several times at dawn."

"Come on, Tahti lives near the school."

"It makes sense that Tahti is the only person in the department who lives near the school, but does it make sense that Demir is always found leaving her street at dawn?" She asked and Chris, who was seated next to her sighed.

"Sweetie, I never knew you know s much about Demir."

Jasmine leaned towards him, with a smile as she cupped her face in her hands. "Did you just call me Sweetie?"

"Come to think of it..." Ramiel started and April rolled her eyes, being in no mood to gossip lately. Derek had started giving her the cold shoulder and she couldn't help but wonder how long he was going to keep that up.

"They were giving each other looks, the other day before they disappeared."

"Are they dating, then?"

"Demir doesn't date." April said to herself, and gnawed on her lip on hearing she had said that aloud.

"Then, are they just sleeping with each other?" Jasmine asked.

Everyone flinched when Derek slammed his hand against the book he was holding. "You guys can gossip among yourself later. Weren't we supposed to discuss the venue and get the budget of our workshop an hour ago?" He asked and Ramiel raised a hand to pat his back.

"Hey Derek, why are you suddenly being serious?"

April bit her lip, deciding she had finally had it up to her neck. ",I guess he's in a hurry to go on a date." She replied and Derek's expression turned sour as he turned to look at her, when she rose.

The door opened and everyone's head whipped round to see Demir walk in, in his usual majestic manner.

"Sorry, I'm late." He said as he waltzed over to have a sit.

"It's okay. Professor Tamil wants us to check the venue in person beforehand. We should go this weekend then." She said and turned to look round. "Who can't make it?"

No one looked like he was going to object and April was about to go to the next agenda when a hand slowly went up and her eyes darted to see who wasn't going.

"You can't make it, Demir?"

"I can't." He said and April frowned as it was the first time Demir would object to going to a place with them.

"Why?"

"I have plans."

"You have plans?" She blinked, a scowl playing on her lips, curious to know what kind of plans he had that could make him cancel their annual workshop, but she knew better than to ask.

"Yeah."

April was about to say something else when her eyes fell on Tahti, who was just walking in with Jennie and the scowl on her face faded into a smile.

"Woah, Tahti... you're looking pretty today." She said and everyone's head including Demir's, whipped round to have a look.

"Oh my gosh, you really look pretty, Tahti." Ramiel smiled and Jasmine nodded.

"He's right. What's the occasion?"

"Both girls looked pretty."

"What are you guys doing?" Tahti asked, finally noticing their seat formation.

"We're just having a short meeting." April replied and Tahti's eyes met with Demir's, who was surveying her with his usual cool style and she noticed a slight hint of smugness in his eyes.

He surely knew what looked best on her.

"Okay, go on." She replied, resisting the urge not to show how pleased she was, as she walked over to her table.

"What about me? Did no one miss me?" Jennie whined as Tahti was dropping her bag on her table.

"It's been a while, Jennie." Herley replied and Sol, who seemed to have heard Jennie's voice from underneath her working headphone, which had been on her ears, turned to her as she took them off.

"Why did you suddenly go off the grid? Did something happen?"

"I was a little sick." She replied, raising her eyes to meet Sol's, who had a worried look on her face and so was Herley, who rose up to touch her shoulders.

"What were you sick with?"

Jennie raised a hand to lower Herley's hand before she turned to the guys. "It was nothing much. Don't worry about it." She replied and she threw a glance at Sol's way before she walked out.

"What's with her?" Herley asked as he returned to his seat and Tahti sighed, wondering how long the two would keep up their current attitude, towards each other.

"Well, Demir can't come with us because he has plans. Is there anyone else who can't make it?" April asked and when no one said anything in objection, she turned to Tahti. "Tahti, we're going to check the venue of our workshop. Wanna come?"

"Well..." Her voice faded as she considered going with them for a minute but that changed when her eyes met with Demir's for confirmation.

It was still a surprise to her, how finely attuned they were in such a short period of time, as he only had to look at her in a certain way for her t understand what he meant.

"I have plans." She replied and April sighed her disappointment as she tore her eyes off her. "Then I guess that's a no."

April was bringing the meeting to a close when her phone rang, just as she was about to take out her sketchpad to begin the day's work. She looked down at the ID with surprise to realize it was her cousin and she answered the call.

"Hey."

"Hi, Tahti."

"What's up?"

"I'm good...I'm at the front of your school studio right now. Care to come out?" He asked, and that sent her sitting up straight with a frown, wondering what could possibly have brought her cousin to her school.

"My school...Why?"

"Aunt Freya told me to deliver something to you. She said it was for missing out on your birthday yesterday."

"Aunt Freya?" She beamed, rising to her feet to hurry out of the class, with her course mates eyes fixed on her.