"Sizhui, are you alright? You look quite pale." Yichen, my Chinese friend from the same class, asks me when we are walking out of the classroom.

"I'm fine. Just a lack of sleep, I guess." I answer back.

"Jet-legged?" he asked.

"A little."

"Or is it because you study too hard? Please, it's just the start of the semester. Don't take things too seriously, okay?"

I only smile at his comment. The fact is, my lack of sleep isn't caused by my study schedule. It because of a dream I have been having ever since that night before I leave for America. Every night when I drift off, that man's eyes keep flashing before my closed eyelids.

Those piercing silver eyes that I can never shake its picture off. There is something about them that I simply can't put my hands on.

"Well, any plan this evening?"

"No, I think I'm going back to the dorm."

"Nonsense. You are going with me then." He swings his arm around my shoulder as if preventing me from running away.

"Why? Are you going somewhere?"

"I just make some new friends this morning and they invited me to have dinner with them tonight at the Japanese restaurant not far from here."

"They invite you, so why do you tag me along? They don't even know me." I try shaking his hand off but he is just too strong.

"Friends begin from stranger Sizhui. Besides, you are going to manage a big conglomerate in the future so you should get to know lots of people. It benefits you to start building up connection."

He has a point. In the future, I am going to have to meet lots of strangers for business purposes. I should really get to know people and familiar with how to make conversation. "Alright then," I reply and we both hop on a cab to the restaurant.

We are the first to arrive. Picking a table at the corner, we sit down and wait. Half an hour later, a group of young people walk in and turn their head sideways as if they are looking for someone.

"Oy! Over here." Yichen stands up and waves his hands at the group to which they nod back in return.

The four newcomers filled up the table quickly. The waiter comes and leaves them the menu before going back to the kitchen to bring glasses and a jar of water. When everything is set, he politely asks. "Are you ready to order?"

"Yes, please." I smile at him and scroll my eyes at the menu. "Well, I'd like this black garlic ramen please."

The waiter nods in understanding before turning to Yichen.

"I want this spicy ramen. But I want to add one more egg yolk. Oh, and give me this combo set as well." He turns the menu to the waiter and points at the picture.

After everyone places the order, the waiter collects the menu and says, "Thanks for your orders. Please wait patiently for your dishes. They will take ten to fifteen minutes." With a polite bow, he walks away.

"Okay, everyone. Let me introduce it. This is my friend, Sizhui. He's Chinese, just like me and Steven here. He comes to pursue a business management degree for he will become the future heir of the well-known conglomerate one day."

"Yichen..." I tug at his shirt to stop him from blabbering too much.

"Oh, the L conglomerate which has subsidiaries all across Asia?" the guy with black hair whom I assume to be Steven asks. "Oh, forgive my rudeness. I was just overjoyed to be able to share the table with such an opulent person. My name is Steven." He reaches out his hand to shake mine and I do the same.

"Nice to meet you," I reply back.

"Hello. I am Kiro, from Japan. Happy to make an acquaintance." The boy names Kiro stands up to shake my hand and bows. I return the gesture.

"Hi. I'm Lina, and this is my boyfriend Ronald. He is local. You must have it figured since he's somehow standing out amongst us. As for me, I'm from Cambodia. Though you may not have heard of the name." she tries to hide her sad smile.

How hard it must be to introduce yourself when you know where you are from isn't really known to anyone.

"Oh no, of course, I've heard of that country. It's a country between Thailand and Vietnam that is well-known for the prestigious Angkor Wat Temple, right?"

"Yes." Her face lightens up immediately. Then she turns to her boyfriend "See Ronald? Finally, someone besides you who've heard of my country." Her boyfriend pats her head and smiles at her.

Thanks to all the books I have read, now I am able to make people happy using that knowledge. I think to myself.

"Sizhui, if you don't mind what I'm asking, your conglomerate just open its first European branch at Italy right?" Kiro asks politely.

I nod my head and explain. "Yes, my adoptive uncle wants to open a branch in Europe but he isn't sure where. My adoptive parents suggest Milan to which he agrees. So right now, my adoptive father is managing the branch in Italy whereas my adoptive uncle is managing the main branch in China."

"Your adoptive uncle is Mr. Xichen, the CEO right?"

"That is right."

"He's one of my well-respected businessmen. Talented and gentlemanly."

I smile at those words. Surely, uncle has that kind of aura that draws people in. Contradict to my father's cold demeanor which drives people away. 

"Does your uncle have any plan of expanding into other countries?" Kiro continues to ask.

"Not sure yet. I haven't participated in their business so I have limited knowledge regarding the matter."

"I see."

Steven sighs which make the whole table go silent and look at him. He rubs his temples and says. "This is what happens when business major students meet. Always business talk saying that time is everything. We come here to relax, okay? Can we not talk about the business please?"

"Sorry." Both Kiro and I apologize at the same time.

"Then, let's find a new topic to discuss." Yichen steps in. "But what can it be?"

"Something leisure of course. My computer science class is killing me already. Please don't bring up anything that involves more complications." Lina says.

"How about something relaxing? Like sports, outdoor activities?" Ronald speaks for the first time.

"That's great Ronald." Steven flicks his fingers. "Since you mention outdoor activities, it just comes to me. Let's go hiking this week."

"What?" everyone asks in surprise at the sudden invitation.

"We just get to know one another, so I suggest having a bonfire and talking our heart out. What do you think?"

"I don't think it's a bad idea. Will you be available?" Lina asks her boyfriend. He takes out his phone and checks his schedule.

"Yes, I will be available this week," Ronald replies.

"Perfect. Then, both of us are in." Lina gives the first result.

"I will be free at the end of this week too, so I don't think there is any harm to join." Says Kiro.

Yichen raised his arms up to his shoulder's level vertically to mimic one voice in a vote. "I am without a doubt in." then he turns to me. "Sizhui?"

I nod my head affirmatively. "Yes. Count me in."

"I just found the perfect place while surfing the internet this afternoon." He fishes out his cellphone from the pocket. Let me show you the picture. It's called..."

The waiter arrives with the tray of food before Steven can finish his sentence. He places food on the table accordingly. "May I help you with anything else?"

"No, thank you, sir," I reply. 

"I hope you enjoy your dinner." He says with a slight bow and leaves to take an order at another table.

"So..." I turn to Steven and ask him to finish what he has left unfinished. "What's the name of the place?"

He shows his phone screen to me. It has a picture of mountains, valleys, and greenery. Enthusiastically, he replies, "Yosemite."