Dylan (grinning): "Anyway, the name Silver Dust is official now. People are spreading it like wildfire. Guess we're turning into celebrities, without even asking for it."
Sneha (arching an eyebrow): "Since when do people ask permission to make someone famous? Newsflash, Dylan-they don't."
Soha (laughing): "For real. A girl literally asked me for my autograph this morning. I thought she was joking, but nope-dead serious."
Ami (eyes widening): "Wait-what? Damn… we're actually famous."
Dylan (leaning back, folding his arms): "Careful, though. Too much attention in high school? Never ends well. Rumors spread faster than colds in winter."
Sneha (grinning): "Pfft. Let them talk. We only have one year left here, might as well enjoy being the hot topic while it lasts."
Soha (resting her chin on her hand, thoughtful): "Speaking of leaving… where do you guys want to apply after graduation? Ami and I are aiming for International XY University."
Saad (perking up immediately, smirking at Ami): "Oh-hooo. The same place Dio went? Interesting… Ami, huh?"
Sneha (frowning, leaning forward): "Who's Dio? Someone better give me the full story."
Soha (dramatic cough, teasing tone): "Ahem… our one and only future brother-in-law. Ami and Dio have a little… history."
Dylan (nodding): "Yeah, he's a good senior of mine. Helped me out a bunch of times."
Saad (grinning wider): "Don't know the details, but I do know our little Ami liked him a lot."
Ami (flustered, face turning red): "Who are you people?! Sneha, it's nothing like that...And there's no future there-end of discussion."
Sneha (narrowing her eyes, leaning back with seriousness): "Mhm. I don't buy it. I smell something fishy here. Actually, scratch that-I smell… heartbreak."
Soha (soft voice, almost defending Ami): "She's not wrong. Ami let him go, all because she thought his future was more important than… well, her own feelings. Ami being Ami..."
Ami (snapping, frustrated): "I did not. Ugh...stop twisting it. I just… don't wanna talk about this anymore."
Sneha (raising both hands, playful smile): "Okay, okay. We'll stop. No interrogation zone-promise."
Dylan (teasing): "For now."
Saad (grinning mischievously): "But admit it, Ami, it's fun watching you turn tomato-red whenever we bring him up."
Ami (groaning, burying her face in her hands): " I hate you all."
Sneha (patting her shoulder): "Nah, you love us. Don't worry, we'll get the full Dio story one day."
Saad (groaning): "No fun… it was just getting good. Anyway, guess what?"
Soha (side-eyeing him): "What now? Don't tell me you're bringing another tsunami into our lives."
Saad (dramatically pulling out five tickets from his pocket): "Tadaaa! New adventure unlocked. Swimming pool-VIP access!"
Dylan (jaw dropping): "No freaking way. That's the VIP area. How the heck did you score those?"
Saad (smug): "Easy. My uncle's one of the head chefs there. Handed them over for free. Connections, baby."
Sneha (grinning mischievously at the girls): "Ladies, do you realize what Saad just declared?"
Ami (half-dreading): "…What? Water war??"
Soha (giggling): "Nah, bestie. He declared we need a new wardrobe of swimsuits."
Sneha (snapping her fingers): "Exactly! That's my girl. Today, 7 PM sharp,we're hitting GG Mart. Closest mall, biggest swimsuit section."
Ami (facepalming): "What the-won't the school swimsuit work?"
Sneha (rolling her eyes hard): "Please. We're not in middle school anymore. No lame uniform swimsuits. This time, we pick our own. Stylish, bold, free."
[Across the table, Saad shoots Dylan a disappointed look.]
Saad (mock sighing, deadpan): "Elegant ladies planning wardrobe upgrades… and here I was, hyped about bringing my most powerful water gun."
Dylan (leaning closer to Saad, whispering, unable to hide his grin): "Bro… golden chance. Finally get to see Soha in a whole different light."
Saad (smirking, whispering back): "Damn, you evil saint. Already plotting indecent thoughts? Truly… a man of culture."
Sneha (squinting, catching their smirks): "Oi, oi! Look at these two monkeys giggling like idiots. What are you plotting?!"
Ami (shaking her head, muttering to herself): "Better not know. I need to mentally prepare for tonight's tornado…"
[The table erupts again in laughter and chatter, the promise of the evening's chaos hanging in the air.]
[After school, Ami goes straight home. She drops her bag near the couch and sees her stepmother, Celeste, waiting in the living room.]
Celeste (smiling, but farm): "Ah, Ami. Perfect timing. I was just about to call you. You should visit your sister, Alia has been admitted to the hospital. Her treatment starts tomorrow."
Ami (dropping her bag, tone flat): "No. I'll pass. I have more important things to do."
[Celeste sets her teacup down carefully, her smile tightening.]
Celeste: "More important than your sister's health? Don't be absurd. Get dressed, we're leaving in fifteen minutes."
Ami (arching a brow, sarcasm in her voice): "Mrs. Celeste, as you can see, I also have a life. Just like you do."
[The room chills. Celeste narrows her eyes, her voice sharpening.]
Celeste: "And what is that supposed to mean? What's wrong with you, young lady?"
Ami (taking a step closer, gaze unflinching): "What's wrong with me? You should ask yourself that question, don't you think?"
Celeste (voice raising, defensive): "Excuse me? You will not speak to me in this manner. I am still your mother."
Ami (cutting in coldly): "No. You're his wife. Not my mother. Stop pretending otherwise."
[Celeste flinches,just slightly but quickly regains composure, her tone dripping with condescension.]
Celeste: "Such arrogance… You think this attitude will get you anywhere? One day, you'll regret treating your family like this."
Ami (mocking laugh): "Family? You mean your definition of family, the one where you steal money from the living room and hope no one notices?"
[Celeste's teacup rattles in her saucer. Her perfectly composed mask cracks, eyes flashing with panic before she forces a brittle smile.]
Celeste (low, hissing): "You don't know what you're talking about."
Ami (leaning in, whispering like a blade against skin): "Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about. And if Father or Aron knew too… imagine how quickly that perfect mask of yours would shatter."
[Celeste stiffens. Silence lingers heavy in the air. She looks Ami over, searching for weakness, but Ami's calm defiance leaves no room to attack.]
Celeste (finally, voice trembling with controlled rage): "You… ungrateful child .After all I've done for this family-"
Ami (cutting her off, stepping closer): "Done? You mean like sneaking money from the living room cabinet and praying no one finds out?"
Ami (straightening, voice steady, final blow): "I'm just done playing the obedient one. You live your life,Mrs. Celeste. I'll live mine. Stay out of my way."
[Ami picks up her bag again and walks toward the stairs. Celeste remains frozen, clutching her cup so tightly her knuckles whiten, the smile on her lips finally gone.]