(Jasmine’s POV)
The next few days passed in a way that looked calm from the outside, but did not feel calm at all to me.
Classes went on like normal. People laughed, assignments piled up, and the campus looked exactly the same as it always did. But for us, things had changed.
Arham had officially become part of our daily life in Balshim. And that meant suffering.
I rested my chin on my palm during one of his lectures, staring at the board while he explained something in that calm, controlled voice of his. The kind of voice that made everyone pay attention whether they wanted to or not.
I did not even fully understand what he was saying at that moment. I was too busy thinking about how our life had taken such a dramatic turn.
First, Arham.
Second, our family suddenly deciding that we needed “discipline.”
Which meant no more unlimited spending. No more random shopping. No more wasting money just because we could.
Now we had a fixed allowance. A fixed allowance. A limit. Can you believe it? I swear our family does not love us at all.
“This is torture,” I whispered under my breath, shifting slightly in my seat.
Inu, who was sitting beside me, did not even react. She kept writing her notes like a model student.
I leaned slightly toward her. “You do realize we are victims, right?”
She sighed quietly. “Focus on the lecture.”
“I am focusing on my ruined life,” I replied.
She ignored me again. How rude.
After class, as we stepped out into the hallway, I stretched my arms slightly and let out a breath.
“At least it is over,” I muttered. But even outside class, something felt off.
Sarah and Rizwan had not caused any trouble since that incident. No comments. No sarcastic remarks. No attempts to provoke us.
At first, I thought maybe they had finally understood their place. Then I immediately dismissed that idea. People like them do not change overnight. They either wait, or they plan, or they hide until they find the right moment.
I crossed my arms as we walked. “Do you not think it is weird?”
Inu glanced at me. “What is?”
“Sarah. Rizwan. All of them. They have been quiet.”
“That does not mean anything,” she replied calmly.
“Exactly,” I said. “That is what makes it worse.”
Still, I could not figure out what they were doing. But I did notice something else. Something much more entertaining.
Sarah had taken a very obvious interest in Arham. And I mean obvious.
She attended every single one of his classes. Not just attended, but participated more than necessary. Asking questions, speaking up, trying to draw his attention again and again.
One time, I caught her adjusting her posture the moment he looked in her direction.
I had to look away and cover my mouth to stop myself from laughing.
Despite all this, there was one thing that actually felt good.
Ezra.
We had been spending more time with her. Visiting the orphanage again and again, getting to know the kids, getting to know her properly.
And the more we learned, the more confused I became.
She worked multiple part-time jobs. Not one. Not two. Multiple. I did not understand how she even managed her time, let alone her energy.
At one point, I tried to bring it up.
“You know you can let us help, right?” I said as we walked out of the orphanage one evening.
She shook her head immediately. “It is fine.”
“It is not fine,” I insisted. “You are doing too much.”
“I am okay,” she replied calmly.
She always said it like that. Calm, simple, and final. We tried more than once. Every single time, she refused.
And it was not just about her.
Whenever we tried to buy something for the kids, she stopped us. Not rudely, but firmly.
“No,” she would say. “Do not make them depend on things like that.”
At first, I thought she was just being overly strict, which did not match how soft she usually was. But the way she held her ground every single time made it clear that this meant something deeper to her.
So eventually, I stopped pushing. For now.
Now it was lunch break, and Ezra had gone to pray.
So it was just me and Inu sitting outside on one of the benches. I leaned back slightly, crossing my legs, watching people pass by.
Students walking in groups. Some laughing loudly. Some rushing to classes. And of course, couples. Everywhere.
Which was honestly disgusting. I should tell Arham to ban couples. That feels necessary.
I narrowed my eyes slightly as I watched one pair standing near the corridor.
“They are definitely breaking up,” I said.
Inu did not even look. “You say that about everyone.”
“Because I am always right,” I replied confidently. She shook her head slightly, clearly not interested.
I glanced around again. “Where is Juvain?”
Inu shrugged. “No idea.”
“That man disappears like he has a secret life,” I muttered.
Just as I was about to continue judging innocent people, I noticed movement from the side.
Sarah. And her group.
They were laughing about something as they walked, completely at ease, like nothing had ever happened.
I immediately looked away before she noticed us. I was not in the mood to deal with her.
But of course, she noticed us. She slowed down, then stopped.
God. Why. Is it really that hard for her to mind her own business?
“She saw us,” Inu said quietly.
“I know,” I muttered.
A few seconds later, she was standing right in front of us. I looked up slowly, my expression already flat.
“Look at this,” she said lightly. “You both look so serious.”
I did not respond. Inu did not either.
She tilted her head slightly. “Still upset about what happened?”
“What do you want?” I asked directly.
She laughed softly. “Relax. I am just trying to talk.”
“Then talk somewhere else,” I replied.
For a moment, her smile tightened, but she quickly covered it. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out a card.
“There is a party this week,” she said, holding it out. “Everyone is going to be there.”
She extended her hand toward us.
“As classmates, it would be rude not to invite you.”
Neither of us moved. I did not even look at the card. The silence stretched.
Does she really expect us to accept that after everything?. Then her expression changed slightly.
“Oh wait,” she said, her tone turning sharper. “I forgot.” She looked at us with a small, mocking smile.
“Your strict but very rich royal family probably will not allow it, right?”
I felt something tighten inside me. I will tolerate a lot of things. But not that.
“Such a shame,” she added. “All that money, and still no freedom.”
That was it. Before Inu could stop me, I reached forward and took the card from her hand.
“We will be there,” I said firmly.
Inu turned to me immediately. “Jasmine—”
I ignored her. Sarah’s smile widened, just a little.
“Oh,” she said softly. “That is interesting.” Then she tilted her head slightly.
“And your little friend,” she added. “Ezra.”
My grip on the card tightened. I already knew where this was going.
“She does not seem like the type for parties,” Sarah continued casually. “Too quiet.” Her eyes stayed on mine.
“Or maybe she is just scared,” she added. “Or maybe she cannot afford to fit in.”
My jaw tightened. I stood up slowly, my eyes fixed on her.
“She will be there,” I said.
Sarah’s expression sharpened slightly, like she had been waiting for that.
“Are you sure?” she asked. “Because from where I am standing, she knows her place.”
I took a small step forward.
“She will be there,” I repeated. “Just like us.”
For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other. Then she smiled. Not casually. Not lightly.
It was the kind of smile that made it clear she got exactly what she wanted.
And at that moment, I knew this was not just about a party. But I did not care.
If anything, I was more determined now. The way she talked about Ezra did not sit right with me. I wanted to change that. I wanted to make sure no one looked at her like that again.
For that, she had to be with us.
“Alright,” she said. “I will be waiting.”
She turned and walked away with her group, their laughter blending back into the noise around us.
The moment she was gone, Inu grabbed my arm.
“What was that?” she asked, her voice low but sharp.
I pulled my arm back. “Did you not hear her?”
“That is not the point,” Inu said. “You just agreed to something without thinking.”
“It is a challenge,” I replied.
“It is a trap,” she corrected immediately.
“I know,” I said. “But I do not care. We will face whatever is waiting for us.”
“Jasmine—”
“No,” I cut her off. “Even if we refused, they would try something else. Do you really think they would just sit quietly?” Inu went silent.
“And did you hear the way she talked about Ezra?” I added. She let out a quiet sigh.
“I am not letting that slide,” I said.
She looked at me carefully. “And how exactly are you planning to convince Ezra to come?”
I opened my mouth. Then stopped.
For a moment, I had nothing. No plan. No idea. Just determination.
Because I knew it would not be easy. Convincing Ezra would be the hardest part. But I had to do it.
“I do not know,” I admitted. Inu raised a brow.
“But I will,” I said firmly.
Because now, it was not just about a party. It was about proving something. And I was not backing down.
---
By the time we ended up back in class, the energy from earlier had not faded at all. If anything, it had only turned into something worse. Determination mixed with irritation.
There was no teacher in the room yet. The class was half loud, half lazy, people talking in groups, some scrolling through their phones, some pretending to study.
We were sitting together. Ezra sat between me and Inu, completely unaware of the silent war happening on both sides of her.
She had her notebook open, her glasses resting neatly on her nose, and she was writing with full focus like the rest of the world did not exist. Her posture was straight, her movements calm, every word written carefully.
Meanwhile, I turned slightly toward Inu and nudged her with my elbow. I gave her a look. Say it.
Inu did not even look at me properly. She just shook her head once and nudged me back, harder this time.
You say it.
I frowned and shook my head immediately. No.
She raised a brow at me, clearly not impressed. Yes.
I glared at her. Absolutely not.
We went back and forth like that for a few seconds, nudging, glaring, silently arguing like two idiots sitting on either side of a completely unaware victim.
Then suddenly, Ezra paused. Her pen stopped moving. She looked up.
Both me and Inu instantly straightened, our expressions switching so fast it was almost impressive. I put on the most innocent face I could manage, while Inu sat perfectly still like she had never done anything wrong in her entire life.
Ezra looked at both of us for a second.
Then she gave a small, soft smile.
She shook her head slightly, like she knew something was going on but chose not to question it.
Then she looked back down and continued writing.
The moment her attention returned to her notes, I exhaled quietly. I turned to Inu again. She was already looking at me. Her expression clearly said she had won.
I looked away in annoyance. Fine.
I took a small breath, then leaned slightly toward Ezra.
I cleared my throat softly. “Ahem…”
My voice came out quieter than I expected.
“Ezra…” She hummed in response, not even looking up this time, still focused on her notes.
“There is… an event this week,” I said carefully.
I made sure not to use the word party.
She paused when I mentioned the event.
For a second, I thought she might actually consider it. Her pen slowed down, and she lifted her eyes from the notebook to look at me. There was curiosity there, quiet and genuine.
“What event?” she asked.
Her voice was soft, and something about how simply, almost innocently she asked made me hesitate for just a moment. But I pushed forward anyway.
“It is just something at college,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual. “Everyone is going to be there. It is not a big deal.”
The moment I finished, I saw the change. It was small, but it was there.
Her expression shifted, the curiosity fading into something more uncertain. She looked at me for another second, then lowered her gaze again and gave a slight shake of her head.
“No,” she said quietly. I blinked, not expecting her to shut it down that fast.
“That was fast,” I muttered, leaning a little closer. “You did not even think about it.”
She let out a small breath, still not looking at me. “I do not go to things like that.”
Her tone was not harsh. It was not defensive either. It sounded more like she was trying to end the topic gently before it even started.
I was not letting that happen.
“Come on,” I insisted, shifting in my seat so I was facing her more properly. “It is just one event. You do not even have to stay long.”
She shook her head again, this time a little more firmly, and adjusted her notebook like she was trying to focus on anything else.
“I have work,” she said. “And I need to go back early.”
“We will manage that,” I replied immediately. “We will drop you. You do not have to worry about anything.”
She glanced at me again, just for a second, then looked away.
“No,” she repeated. Inu stepped in then, her tone softer, more careful.
“Ezra,” she said gently, “it could be good for you. Just once. You do not always have to say no.”
Ezra’s fingers tightened slightly around her pen.
“It is not that,” she said quietly. “I just… I am not comfortable.”
That made me pause for half a second.
But then I leaned forward again anyway.
“Then come for a little while and leave,” I said. “You do not even have to talk to anyone.”
She let out a small, almost helpless breath and shook her head again.
“Please do not force me,” she said, her voice still soft but more strained now.
I frowned.
“I am not forcing you. I am convincing you.”
“It feels the same,” she replied. For a moment, that actually made Inu look at me. But I still did not back down.
“Ezra,” I tried again, lowering my voice slightly, “just say yes once.”
She did not answer.
“Ezra.”
She kept her eyes on the page, but I could tell she was not writing anything anymore.
“Ezra,” I repeated, dragging her name out this time.
She finally closed her eyes for a brief second, like she was trying to stay patient.
“No,” she said again, a little more firmly than before, but still quiet. “Please, Jasmine. Let it go.”
That should have been the point where I stopped. It was not.
I dropped back in my chair with a groan and pressed my forehead against the desk.
“This is painful,” I muttered.
Inu let out a quiet sigh beside me, but she did not say anything else.
The class slowly filled up around us, the noise rising, people settling into their seats, but I had completely lost interest in everything else.
The moment the lecture ended, Ezra closed her notebook and started packing her things without wasting a second.
Like she was escaping. I straightened up immediately.
“Wait,” I said. She stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
“No,” she said again, already turning to leave.
I grabbed my bag and followed her without thinking. Inu followed right after me.
“Ezra, listen,” I said, trying to match her pace as she walked down the corridor. She did not stop.
“Please,” I added.
“No,” she replied, her voice still soft but a little more urgent now.
“Inu, say something,” I muttered.
“I already did,” Inu said calmly. “She is not comfortable.”
“That is not the point,” I whispered back.
Behind us, I heard footsteps. I turned slightly and saw Juvain following at a relaxed pace, like he already knew how this was going to end.
He shook his head once when our eyes met. That annoyed me more than anything.
I walked faster and stepped right in front of Ezra, forcing her to stop. She did. She looked at me, a little startled this time.
“I said no, jasmine please” she repeated, her voice quieter now, almost like she was asking me to understand.
For a second, I just looked at her. Then I did the only thing that came to my mind. I sat down. Right there. In the middle of the corridor.
Ezra blinked, completely caught off guard. Inu froze beside me. Juvain stopped a few steps behind us.
“What are you doing?” Inu asked under her breath, clearly not impressed.
“I am not moving,” I said, crossing my arms.
Ezra looked around immediately. Students were already noticing. A few slowed down. Some stared openly.
“This is not the place for this,” she said softly, her voice lowering even more.
“I am not moving,” I repeated.
“Jasmine…” Inu warned.
“No.” Ezra looked back at me, and this time there was clear discomfort on her face.
“Please stand up,” she said, her voice gentle but strained. “People are looking.”
“I do not care.”
“I do,” she replied quickly.
“Then say yes.”
She pressed her lips together, clearly torn. For a few seconds, she did not speak. People kept walking past us, whispering, glancing back.
Ezra shifted slightly, clearly uncomfortable being the center of attention.
“Jasmine,” she said again, softer this time, almost pleading, “please… do not do this.”
I stayed exactly where I was. “I am not moving.”
Inu rubbed her forehead, clearly done with both of us. Juvain let out a quiet breath behind us, like he was trying not to laugh.
A few more seconds passed. Then Ezra closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, she looked at me properly.
“Fine,” she said.
I blinked. “Fine?” I repeated, just to be sure. She nodded once, a little reluctantly.
“I will come,” she said. “Just… please stand up.”
For a second, I just stared at her. Then I jumped up so fast I almost lost my balance.
“Yes!” I shouted without thinking. Inu laughed under her breath. Before Ezra could react, both of us stepped forward and hugged her at the same time. She let out a small, surprised sound, clearly not expecting that.
“You will not regret this,” I said quickly.
“You might,” Inu added, but she was smiling.
Ezra stood there between us, a little stiff at first, clearly overwhelmed. Then slowly, she relaxed just a little.
And that was en
ough. I pulled back with a grin.
“Done,” I said proudly.
Behind us, Juvain shook his head again. But this time, there was a faint smile on his face. And just like that, it was settled.
We are going.
Whatever was waiting for us in North Balshim...
We were going to face it head on...
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