Unexpected Love [GXG]

Chapter 28: Room 4B

POV:ENID

The air smelled like fried plantain and cocoa butter. Fatima had kicked off her shoes hours ago, curled on the rug like she owned the place, her braids fanned out over one of Hamida’s pink princess pillows. Hamida was sitting cross-legged at the coffee table, chewing the edge of her pencil as she stared at her math homework like it personally offended her.

I was on the couch, one leg tucked under me, flipping through my old sketchpad and pretending not to watch them. Watching them made me feel soft. Safe. Almost like nothing had changed.

"Seven times four, Hamida," Fatima sang, leaning forward and poking her gently with the pencil. "C’mon, I know you know it. You’re literally the smartest person here."

"Then you do it," Hamida mumbled, eyes narrowed.

Fatima grinned, full teeth and trouble. "I already passed primary school, ma’am."

I couldn’t help it—I laughed. Not one of those forced, polite ones. It was real, bubbling out before I could stop it. God, I missed this.

Fatima’s eyes flicked up to me, softening. "You’re smiling," she said, teasing, but there was a quiet kind of pride behind her voice.

I shrugged and bit down a grin, returning to my sketchpad.

That’s when my phone buzzed.

I picked it up lazily, expecting some random school broadcast. But no. It was a message from Mia.

Mia🧘🏼‍♀️

Enid don’t forget to pack. Field trip is tomorrow, 6am at school! Bus leaves 6:30. Pls don’t be late cos ik you forget all about it.

I blinked at the message, stomach dipping.

"Shit," I whispered.

Fatima looked up from helping Hamida. "What?"

"The food trip—uh, field trip," I corrected. "Tomorrow."

Her brows rose. "You forgot?"

I nodded slowly, thumb frozen over my phone screen. "Yeah. I didn’t even pack."

Fatima snorted, standing. "Well, it’s not like you have much to take anyway. Pack some jeans, your hoodie, and that ugly ass water bottle you love so much. You’ll survive."

"Wow. Comforting."

"I try."

✿⁠ 

The sky was still wearing sleep when I stepped out of the house, hoodie drawn over my head, duffel bag slung across my shoulder. The school lot was already alive with noise and half-packed energy—kids waving goodbye to parents, teachers checking names off a clipboard, and students pretending they weren’t fully asleep.

I spotted Mia first. Her hair was up in a messy bun, glasses fogged from her coffee cup. She waved me over, and I quickened my pace, grateful I wasn’t the last one.

"Leo’s and Ally are at the back," she said, "But they're saving us seats."

I nodded, eyes scanning the crowd. And like some twisted fate, that’s when I saw her.