The last semester exam had ended, and the cafeteria buzzed with the kind of chaos that only freedom after exams could bring. Simran slid onto the bench with her friends, bag still slung over her shoulder. The group chat on their phones was already blowing up.
"Okay," Alzan started, leaning back with that infuriating grin, "so… where are we going for the holiday? And don't say boring."
"I vote Goa," Zain said flatly, arms crossed, steel-grey eyes cool as ever. "Easy to get to. Not complicated."
"Boring!" Alzan barked, throwing his hands in the air. "Goa is crowded, overhyped, and where's the adventure?"
Junaid, leaning against the table with that low, dangerous smirk, added, "We need privacy. Somewhere we can actually… enjoy ourselves without every tourist watching." His gaze flicked to Simran, and she felt her stomach flutter.
"Thailand is perfect," Rahil said quietly, shifting in his seat. "Beaches, resorts… tropical." He looked at Simran, cheeks pink.
"Too crowded. Too mainstream," Junaid interrupted, voice low but firm. "We need cinematic. Private. Paradise."
Simran groaned, rubbing her temples. "Can you all just "
"Pull out your phones," Mira cut in, loud and practical. "Search for the best tropical islands. Compare, and decide. Stat."
The table erupted into chaos. Tabs and apps were opened. Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Fiji… endless scrolling. Alzan waved his phone around. "None of these scream us! We need something epic. Something "
"Something like…" Simran waited, breath caught.
"BALI!" Alzan yelled, slamming his palm on the table. "Waterfalls, cliffs, beaches, nightlife, villas, photogenic as hell. End of discussion. Boom. Bali."
The group froze for a moment. Then, one by one:
"Fine," Junaid said, voice low, dangerous, but approving. "Bali it is."
Zain's grey eyes flicked to Simran, unspoken acknowledgment. "Efficient choice."
Rahil gave a small, relieved smile. "Yeah… perfect."
Simran felt her chest tighten, excitement and tension twisting together. Bali. Between Alzan's chaotic grin, Junaid's smoldering approval, and Zain's quiet intensity, she knew this holiday wasn't going to be just a vacation, it was going to be them.