As evening approached, a set of new customers walked into the shop, we'll dressed, soft spoken, and trailing a scent of jasmine. Yara, noticing them enter, immediately recognized that they weren't regular customers.
She stood up and welcomed them into the shop as they browsed through the clothing. Within a few minutes, they had made their selections. Without bargaining, they asked for the prices, and Yara gave them a quote. They paid in full and walked out of the shop.
Across the street, Egen sat with his friends. One of them tapped his shoulder and pointed toward the customers leaving.
"They look like big spenders. You might've just made a big sale," one murmured, their eyes following the cart that drove the customers away.
Egen pressed his lips together and smirked slightly.
"Let me just go have a look. She might've sold those things at a loss or no profit at all."
He stood up and walked toward the shop. Just as he reached the entrance, he saw Yara in the corner slipping cash into her inner purse. She turned and saw him at the counter, but she remained unfazed. Walking back calmly, she asked him to move aside so she could get better light from outside.
Opening the drawer, she picked out her lipstick and applied it, then dabbed some scented oil onto her wrists.
Egen stared at her. He bit his tongue, picked up the sales book, and flipped through it.
"Why are you stealing from the shop? You could just ask Zera for pocket money," he said.
Yara, checking her face in the mirror, forced a smile.
"Did I say I was lacking money? Or did the price of these clothes change in the last five seconds?" she replied. She blinked a few times to settle the mascara on her lashes.
She picked up a piece of chewing gum and started chewing, casually waving at customers and familiar faces passing by the shop.
"What about the money you just kept in your bag?" Egen asked, glancing at it, then back at her.
"My boyfriend just sent it," Yara answered, tapping her freshly done nails on the counter.
Egen curled his lips inward and walked out of the store, heading back to his friends.
As night fell, Zayun noticed that most students were preparing for supper. Quietly, he slipped out of school through a hole in the back fence behind the dormitory and made his way to his usual place of solitude.
It was dark, but he knew the path by heart. A lemony scent filled the air, and as he walked, thoughts of his mother, Asha, drifted into his mind. He paused and looked up, the stars were beginning to appear.
A few meters ahead stood a familiar tree. Zayun walked to it and sat on the curve at its base. His face remained expressionless, his eyes scanning his surroundings.
"You must be happy wherever you are, Asha," he murmured, a small smile flickering on his lips followed by a soft sigh.
"Egen…" he whispered.
"You can inherit everything, but I'll never live under your shadow. I'll climb to the top by myself."
He narrowed one side of his nose, eyes resting on a fallen branch nearby. Zayun lingered there for several minutes before standing and heading back to the dormitory.
By the time he arrived, Moze was waiting by his bed.
Zayun glanced at him. "Why are you here? It's late. We should rest early. "
"Nothing serious," Moze said. "Just join us for a small party in the hall. There'll be drinks."
He pulled out a small hip flask and handed it to Zayun.
Zayun accepted it, looked at it, and thanked him. "I'll come another time. I'm feeling really tired."
"Playing holy again?" Moze teased, pointing at him before closing his fist.
"No," Zayun replied with a laugh. "It's exam season. I need to stay focused."
"Drink it now you might end up spilling it. I know you," Moze said, sniffing the air. "You smell so good. You sure you're not meeting a girl out in the bush?"
Zayun giggled. "You love gossip. I don't have a girlfriend. Now get out of here."
Moze grinned. "Alright, alright. It's late anyway. Goodnight. And hey introduce me to her next time!"
Zayun laughed as Moze walked off. With a soft sigh through his nose, he opened his cabinet and pulled out a bottle of juice he had bought earlier. He poured in the wine, mixed it, and took a few sips. Then, he picked up a tiny bottle of scented oil and rubbed it onto his bedsheets, pillow, and blanket. After changing into his nightwear, he lay on his bed, stared at the ceiling, and counted black sheep until he drifted off to sleep.