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*beep*
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*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
What once was all black turned into a rush of blue curtains and shelves of albums. Dia jumped out of bed in sheer panic as she took a second to analyze her surroundings. She was not in Paris and she was definitely not on a surfboard riding a huge wave with Kim Taehyung chasing after her. Dia quickly grabbed her phone and checked the time. She barely had time to process that she woke up forty minutes late before she jumped out of bed, centimeters away from stepping on her pit bull terriers legs as it tried to follow her out. She canʻt be too late on her first day of Uni. Itʻs not her first semester, but Dia believed that the first day set the mood for the rest of the school year.
“Nothing good can come from Mondays” Dia stared down the passer as they judged Dia for what? Talking to herself? Like no one talks to themselves on the street. Dia squints her eyes to avoid the sun and tries not to think about how she forgot her sunglasses, to use the lint roller to take all this damn dog hair off her shirt, and the coffee she didnʻt have time to make.
“I'll just stop by the next coffee shop, I can be a few minutes late”. But to her luck, the next and only coffee shop on her way to class was a Dunkin. No starbucks brown sugar oat milk today. Good thing the line wasnʻt long, not that Dia expected it to be, itʻs a Dunkin. Dia waited on the side for her drink to be called.
“Dia with a custom brown sugar iced coffee with oat milk!”
“That sounds disgusting”
Dia turned to her right where she saw a girl who looked close to her age grabbing napkins by the self serve station. She looked her up and down, then focused on her order details on the cup under the name -Seren-.
“Youʻre saying something so bold for someone who ordered a basic medium caramel iced coffee with whipped cream and caramel drizzle”
The girl, Seren looked stunned only for a second before regaining her composure.
“You wanna talk about basic? Let's talk about that outfit. Did the dog hair come as an accessory?”
Dia didnʻt know what to say as she looked the other girl up and down. She had on light green straight leg jeans, a white long sleeve, a dark green satin hijab, and high top converse all stars with the thick platform like the kpop idols wear.
Should I come for her kpop shoes?, Dia thought to herself. She said something else instead.
“Did you expect that comeback to hit?” It did in fact hit, It shattered the glass actually.
“I guess it was on par for you, very Dunkin behavior” Dia grabbed her drink, ready to walk out.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Seren pushed.
“That it's trashy” Dia turned around and walked out of the establishment. That would have not happened in a Starbucks, Dia thought to herself.
The drink wasnʻt half bad, if she chugged it, she wouldnʻt notice the cinnamon chunks at the bottom. She threw the cup away before entering class. It was half full, so she found a seat to the side, in the middle rows while pulling out her supplies for this class. When everyone entered class, the professor wasted no time in explaining the final project.
“I decided this year that I will be doing a partner final project” Diaʻs sighs mixed with the rest of the classes. She hated group projects, she would rather work on it herself where she only had to rely on her and no one else.
“I assigned partners randomly, so please pair up and spend the rest of class getting to know one another” When the projector showed Diaʻs name next to Serenʻs, she almost thought this was a joke.
Because coincidences can happen, but accidents are purposeful.
Dia looked around for the green thumb before spotting her looking around the classroom. She almost looks.. shy.. Nervous? Dia shrugged it off and began walking to the middle of the class where Seren was sitting and sat down next to her. Those once wandering and quizzical eyes are now staring daggers into Diaʻs side profile.
“Mm mm, no” Seren argued immediately.
“Well, unless you succeed in getting the man known for his stubbornness to choose different partners for us, my name is Dia” Dia sat down next to Seren who kept her arms folded across her chest.
“Seren”
“Well Seren, Iʻm serious about my academic work, so as long as we both contribute, we can make this work”
“I am too”
“Great, so summarizing the instructions, we have to get to know each other deeply, as best as we can for this semester, take everything we learned about each other and create a piece of art using any media”
“How do you wanna start?” Seren asked.
“Wanna play 21 questions?”
“Sureee, whoʻs going first?”
“Iʻll go first. What types of music are you into?” Dia questioned.
“I like all genres except country. I've tried getting into k-pop, but I havenʻt found any songs that I like like yet. What's your favorite movie genre?”
“My fav movie genres would beee fantasy, action, drama, comedy. What are your hobbies?”
“My favorite hobbies are reading, sleeping, and eating”
“Saaaame. I meant to ask but are you into anime or is Ikalgo on your laptop for funsies?” Dia points to the Ikalgo sticker on Serenʻs laptop.
Seren let out a short laugh “Iʻm into anime. Ikalgo is my favorite chimera ant”
They got into a conversation about anime for a while. Also saying things they like and dislike. Dia loved Haikyuu, Seren found it boring. But Seren also thinks Armin is good looking, so Dia had to remember that Seren is deranged. Everyone stopped talking when the professor spoke.
“Since it's the first day of class, class ends early. As in right now. Get out. And donʻt forget, spending as much time as possible with your partner will help your overall grade for your final project. I suggest spending 50 hours minimum.” Dia turned to Seren after the professor's last words.
“You wanna get an early lunch? We could talk about why Kurapika is not better than Chrollo”
Seren rolled her eyes. “As long as Iʻm back in 3 hours for my next class”
Dia smiled. “Sounds good, you pick. Please donʻt let your taste of food be as bad as your taste in men”
“And let's hope your taste in food isnʻt as bland as your taste in men with your no nen having boyfriend” They stared at each other in silence wearing the same expression.
“Pick a food” Dia said.
“Pizza”
They make their way to a pizza parlor not far from campus. When it was time to order they both looked at each other reluctantly. Seren broke the silence.
“We should share a medium, it's cheaper, but what would you get as a topping?” Seren Looked reluctant, as if she was scared of what Dia would say.
“Chicken”
“Oh- okay”
Dia snickered, “What, you thought I was gonna say pineapple?”
“And what's wrong with pineapple hm?”
“You like pineapple on pizza” Dia stated.
“That's not what i said”
“Thats whats being implied”
“And if I do?”
“Let's add it, i like it too”
They found themselves in an awkward silence as they waited for their pizza. The only thing being heard was the bustling of the kitchen and staff and the small talk of the other customers. It felt like they had nothing to say if they werenʻt throwing insults at each other. Gosh, they couldnʻt even make eye contact.
“Soo, how old are you?” Dia asks.
“So youʻre not even sure if youʻre talking to a minor” Seren argued.
“Youʻre in college” Dia deadpanned.
“I could just be really smart and started early”
“I doubt that”
Seren rolls her eyes and Dia couldnʻt help but smile. Itʻs not like she didnʻt enjoy the banter.
“How about I guess first” Seren said
Dia shrugged her shoulders. “sure”
“I'm guessing from your outdated views, you're born somewhere in the early 1900ʻs” Seren had one eyebrow up and a slight smirk on her face. Dia had a blank face on, she almost giggled.
“Wrong” So it doesnʻt seem like Seren is older than Dia. She could be the same age but she definitely seems younger.
“Wait, were you born in 2000 thousand AND?? Like there's more??” Dia questioned flabbergasted.
“So you are old”
“Wrong again. I was born in 2000, just 2000”
“You have tooth decay”
“What”
“You still didnʻt guess when I was born”
“With your horrible taste, 2003”
“You cheated”
“How the fuck am I supposed to do that? I just guessed, kind of like zodiac signs”
“I donʻt believe in that, Iʻm Muslim”
Dia looks at her hijab and looks back at her. “I had no idea”
Another eye roll.
Dia asks another question “What's your zodiac sign?”
“Guess”
“Scorpio”
“Wrong”
“Sag”
“Wrong”
“Gem?”
“Youʻre entering your flop era”
“I'm naming what I hoped it was because now weʻre entering red flags”
“Suree”
“Aries?”
“I donʻt believe in zodiacs but mine is the most sexy”
Oh that's easy.
“Taurus?”
“You finally got it right”
Theres no way. Dia slapped her hand on the table as her eyes got wide.
“YOUʻRE LYING” Dia tilts her head back laughing.
“Now am I April or May?”
“You're May, there's no way youʻd be an April” Dia shakes her head knowingly.
“I know it's hard having to compare yourself with the best zodiac” Sheʻs so cocky.
“Girl we share the same sign”
“You're probably a canc-” Seren looked surprised.
Dia couldnʻt hold back another laugh. This girls a flop, but sheʻs fun.
“This canʻt be.. Don't tell me youʻre a May too”
“Yes ma'am”
“Oh god if we have the same birthday Iʻm going to be sick”
“Oop, what day?”
“Wait this means that youʻre a red flag too” now hold on
“Only taurus men. Double digit?”
“No maʻam”
“Hitting too close to home”
“Iʻm in the first 5 days”
“Mm, is it the first 5?”
They say at the same time.
“Uh-”
“Uh-”
Again, they say at the same time.
“TOO FUCKIN CLOSE” Diaʻs heart is beating fast, and she can tell from Serenʻs wide eyed expression that hers is too.
“Okay what about the first three?” Seren says.
“YES”
“NO”
“I'm the second” Seren blurts out.
“IʻM THE THIRD” Dia exclaims.
They donʻt even realize the few people that are staring at them in the pizza parlor.
“Oh my fuckin god. This is unprecedented. I donʻt believe it” Dia canʻt believe it either.
The world where it's just them breaks when their pizza arrives.
They quiet down after the waiter places it on the table. They both do a quick prayer separately. Dia reciting one in her head and Seren saying a quick “Bismillah”.
They both pick up a slice and Seren takes a bite and chews her food while looking out the big glass window they're seated next to. It's November, the weather is getting colder and the trees are changing color. Seren watches the traffic of people and cars passing by and Dia watches Seren. Dia always found people interesting. And rude. This ones a bit of both. And Dia enjoys it, she hopes the feelings are reciprocated.
“What's your favorite food?” Seren looks at Dia who asked the question.
“Mm shrimp alfredo, yours?” Wow, they really are alike.
“That's mines as well, not kidding”
“Iʻd do unspeakable things for shrimp alfredo”
“I bet you would”
They fall back into silence. Dia didnʻt know what she expected on the first day of getting to know her partner for the semester but Dia wouldnʻt mind continuing to get to know Seren outside of the class project.
They ate in silence with a few comments here and there. Before they knew it, it was time to go. They stood outside the parlor, ready to walk different directions.
“This was fun” DIa Says.
“Yea, it was” Seren agreed.
“I should get your number” Dia extended.
“Why”
“..Weʻre partners”
“We could just email each other. Keep it business casual”
There was a stretch of silence as people walked past them on the sidewalk.
“Get your phone out”
Dia didnʻt hesitate. She saved the number and texted Seren.
“Next time, I pick the restaurant” Dia says.
“Let me know the place so Iʻll know if Iʻll show up”
“Iʻll find a place with good shrimp alfredo”
“I like the sound of that”
“Alright”
“Yea”
“It was nice getting to know you, genuinely”
“Same, I enjoy banter like that”
Dia nods. “I can tell”
“Alright then, we should head to our respective places” Seren says.
“Okay, Iʻll see you next class”
“See you next class”
They both give each other a small smile and make their separate ways.
On the way home, Dia stared at the nature as she walked slowly towards her destination. Her eyes landed on a few daisies growing out of cracked cement. She stared at the tall standing stem and resilient petals that had the sun shining on its white petals, making it glisten. She then hears the sound of a drill and when she looks up she notices a big abandoned building under construction behind the daisies that she handʻt noticed before. Seren popped into her mind immediately. She couldnʻt help the small smile that reached her face. Dia thinks back to the final project instructions. Take everything you get to know about your partner and use it to create the final art piece. Dia pulls out her phone and snaps pictures of the daisies in different angles.
She continues walking and thinks back on her day. From the hectic and frustrating way it started, to the new person she met today. She smiles to herself as a thought comes into her head.
Maybe good things do come out of Mondays.
-End-
Characters:
Seren, full name Serendipity: refers to good luck or happy accidents
Dia, full name Diaphanous: sheer light
Happy Anniversary <3