SUCH IS LIFE

GROWTH

"How are you? How's school? How's Hani?" Izz asked nervously.

Haziq took his glass, and finished his drink in one go, leaving Izz in awkward silence. He licked his lips and put the glass down. Leaning back, he responded.

"Good, good, and good," Haziq said.

Izz nodded, twiddling with his fingers, thinking of what to say. He didn't really have a plan. All he knew, was that he wanted to see his old friend. Izz looked around the room, trying to find something to inspire him. He then snatched the glass in front of him and drank his juice. "It's good juice," Izz commented.

Haziq then leaned forward, closing the distance between the boys. "So, why are you here?" he asked, scanning Izz head to toe. "Do you need help?" Haziq asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

Izz couldn't help but frown, tears forming in his eyes. "I... I'm sorry. I wish we didn't fall out like that. It was stupid," Izz said.

Surprisingly, Haziq started laughing. He slapped his thigh as his laughter grew louder. Haziq rose from his seat and took a seat beside Izz. He draped his arm over Izz's shoulder and squeezed it. He looked directly into Izz's eyes and spoke. "We were stupid. But we've grown now, haven't we? I was wondering if I could ever get my friend back. Come on now, cheer up," Haziq said, patting Izz's back perhaps a little too hard.

Izz nodded, thanking his friend. "Friends again?" he asked, bringing out a hand for Haziq to shake.

Haziq scoffed, and grabbed the hand, converting it into a bro handshake, where the hands locked together as if the boys were about to arm-wrestle. "We never stopped being friends, bro," Haziq clarified.

Finally at ease, Izz relaxed his posture, and nudged Haziq with his elbow. "So, how's it going with Hani?" Izz teased.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Haziq laughed heartily. "Never change, bro," he said, pouring them both more juice. He turned to look at Izz again, looking serious. "But do visit more often, okay? I'll visit your place, too," he said sternly.

Izz put his hands up as if in surrender and nodded. "It's just that..." Izz began, not finishing his sentence, but looking out the window, deep in thought. "You have other friends as well. I did make new friends, but I lost them too. The point is, I'm just one name in the long list of companions you have. You're all I have," Izz explained.

Haziq snapped his fingers to get Izz's attention. Looking angry, he declared firmly. "You were the first person I befriended here. It may be a long list, but you were on top of it, okay," Haziq said, holding out a finger that was mere centimetres from Izz's forehead.

Izz sighed and smiled wide. "Back to the question, though. How are things with Hani?" he asked, a smug look on his face. Haziq gave a wry smile in response. He then proceeded to explain what had happened ever since the boys had their fight. Afterwards, Izz explained what had happened with Aleesya, and Farhah. The boys sat there just talking for the entire evening.

Back to Jill, she and Izz never confessed to each other but they both knew that they had strong affections for one another. The girl was undeniably pretty, and Izz's heart would skip a beat whenever he saw her. After the realization she in fact was Izz's classmate this entire time, Izz would frequently talk to her.

They also communicated via phone but tried their best to not make it apparent that they liked each other. It was a mutual understanding of sorts. Both parties were actually secretly hoping that the other would make the first move. Regardless of who did start first, the other party would then gladly accept.

Previously, Jill got together with someone else but another student, who for some reason was envious of Jill reported it to her teacher. The teacher then reported this to Jill's parents and Jill's mom in particular made sure that the boy got a piece of her mind. She insulted the boy with everything she had and made fun of him for his less-than-fortunate financial status. The mother was also highly racist and couldn't accept that her daughter would date someone from a different race. When Izz first heard this story, Izz got chills. Seeing Izz so frightened, Jill gave him puppy eyes, hoping that he wouldn't suffer the same fate.