Milan scowled as he watched Danish and Niam painstakingly solve the maths assignment questions. Piled around them on Danish's carpeted floor, were the books Milan had been assigned to bring from the library. In his two years at the university, he had never set foot in the library so when he asked the librarian for help in locating the list of books he had been handed, the librarian had first asked to check his university ID. That had been an embarrassing experience he was not keen to repeat soon, though Niam and Danish had just laughed off his discomfort.

"Friends, they called them themselves," he scoffed.

Niam looked up from his book. His long hair pulled back in the usual ponytail, he greatly resembled a poet. "What is it, Milan?"

"If you are bored then go fetch some drinks and snacks," instructed Danish, his grey eyes glued to his notebook.

Milan huffed, "Must I run all the errands?"

Niam lifted a brow, "Fine, stay here and solve these last few questions, I'll go and get the snacks from the supermarket around the corner."

Milan groaned, "You know I can't."

"Then shut up and allow us to complete the assignment. Without Monica and Rachel, it is taking twice as long," admonished Danish.

"Also, Marisa will have my head if I don't submit this assignment," reminded Niam.

Milan sighed, "Fine, I'll get going."

"Take the money from my wallet," replied Danish.

"No, it's fine. The treats on me."

As soon as the door swung closed behind him, Danish closed the book. Fetching a few cans of chilled beer, he returned to his seat on the floor.

Niam stared at him in surprise. "You're done?"

Danish opened a beer can and passed it to Niam. "Yeah, 15 minutes ago. I knew Milan would be too bored to just watch us work and would accept any reason to step out for a while."

Niam was mystified. "Why were you waiting for Milan to leave?"

Danish looked at Niam sternly, his grey eyes glittering. "To ask you if you are, okay? I can't take your long face anymore; I want to know what's going on?"

Niam took a swig of his beer, "Took you long enough to corner me."

Danish merely stared in response.

Niam huffed, "Fine. Stop with your staring. You know it flusters me. I broke up with Iris a few weeks back."

"I figured as much," replied Danish. "You took on karate coaching and also joined OPG Technology's internship program."

Niam smiled bitterly even as a tremor raced through his hands causing his beer can to shake. "Lately Iris had been too busy to meet up with me. Whenever I asked her out on a date, she declined. Finally, I went over to her apartment unannounced to surprise her. Guess I was the one surprised when I found her in bed with another boyfriend."

Danish took a sip of his beer. "Shit!"

"Instead of apologizing, she blamed me for everything. For not having enough time for her, for never being available, for never buying her enough gifts, for being too soft so she couldn't even break up decently. All the while her boyfriend of two years stood smirking at me". Niam chugged his beer down and wiped his face.

Danish rubbed his face with his free hand, "And it gets worse".

Niam frowned, "Did you ever suspect that she had been two-timing me?"

Resigned, Danish shook his head. "You know the answer to that. Even Milan had been vocal about his suspicions."

"To think Milan had better sense than me," laughed Niam as he helped himself to another can.

"When are you going to tell Milan? He deserves to know."

"Soon. After I finish getting over being fooled."

Danish opened his second can. "Not that you were in love with her!"

Startled, Niam involuntarily crushed the can in his hand soaking his denim jeans. "Why do you say so?"

"You seem more upset over being fooled than losing her."

Niam smiled wryly. "Milan was right. I fell out of love a long time back."

"Then have you found someone you like?"

Niam took a sip of his beer, avoiding Danish's eyes. "Maybe. What about you? Do you have any confessions to make?"

"What about?" questioned Danish as he took another swig.

"Rachel," replied Niam

Danish choked. Sputtering he began to thump his chest. Unbothered by his friend's condition, Niam picked up another can and opened it.

"What?" croaked Danish.

"You tell me. Do you still hate Rachel or is she only a friend now? Or do you have special feelings for her?"

Danish opened his mouth and closed it. "Frankly, even I am not sure as yet. But her pain tugs at my heart, her smile makes me smile and her anger scares me. When I don't see her, I miss her and when I see her, I can't look away. She does things to my heart that I fail to understand. All I know is that I don't hate her anymore."

Niam raised his can in a toast, "Progress, even though it's darn slow." Taking another sip he set aside his beer, "Do yourself a favor. Till you figure out what it is that you feel towards Rachel, behave carefully around her friends. They have the nose of a hellhound where Rachel is concerned."

Danish grinned and chugged down his beer. Suddenly, Danish's phone began to ring. He put aside his can and checked the caller ID. It was Rachel. He showed Niam his phone and gestured for him to remain silent. Niam drunkenly nodded and lay down on the carpet.

Danish went to his bedroom and closed the door, before answering his phone.

"Hi," said Rachel breathlessly.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Rachel nodded in agreement even though he couldn't see her.

"Rachel," called Danish concerned.

.............................................................................

Rachel stood hyperventilating in her green room. Outside she could hear the roar of the massive crowd as her father gave his speech.

A master orator and an expert manipulator, her father no doubt was a talented man. With only a few grandiose gestures, he had the crowd eating out of his hands. In short, he had skills; that had somehow been lost in translation when God had created her, a disappointment of a daughter.

Rachel clutched the back of her chair as she struggled to breathe, fighting to control her tears lest they mess up her makeup.

Feeling confident after their victory in the debate competition held earlier that day, she had brushed aside Monica and Marisa's legitimate concerns and sent them to their first-row seats. She had even sneaked in backstage to wave at them from the stage. Big mistake on her part. The massive crowd that had met her sight, had brought back the familiar panic attacks. She needed a distraction to get herself under control before the overwhelming waves of anxiety pulled her under. With shaking hands, she unlocked her phone and looked up Danish's number. When he picked up on the second ring, she thanked God profusely.

"Hello," said Danish in a husky voice.

Rachel squeezed her eyes shut, his voice pouring warmth into her cold heart.

"Hi," she responded.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Perhaps, her voice wasn't as controlled as she had assumed it to be. Nevertheless, she nodded in agreement even though he couldn't see her.

"Rachel," called Danish concerned.

"I am fine," she replied swallowing. "What are you doing?"

Danish laughed, "Maths assignment, can you believe it? Milan was so bored he took a walk."

Rachel smiled imagining the grin on his handsome face. "You can WhatsApp it to me. I can help."

"No, it's done. Courtesy of the list of books you sent me. Milan collected the books from the library. The librarian even checked his ID to assure herself that he studied at the same university. Man, you should have seen his pissed-off face."

Rachel felt laughter bubble up at Danish's exasperated voice. "The librarian herself must have been quite shocked not to mention the regular students there."

"So how was your competition today?"

Soothed by his voice, she finally calmed down. "We won"

"Wow, good!" exclaimed Danish.

There was a polite knock on the door. "Rachel it's your turn now. Time to go," yelled Davis.

"I'll talk to you later. Bye," said Rachel softly.

"Bye," replied Danish cutting the line reluctantly.

Rachel took a deep breath staring at her reflection in the harsh makeup lights. Then nodding at herself, she strode out of the room determinedly.

Standing at the podium, in a shimmering pale blue gown and side-swept hair, Rachel Daniel looked classic and timeless.

"Good evening," she began with practiced ease. "To all those who have gathered here in support of my father, Augustus Daniel- a warm welcome."

The crowd roared and hooted as Rachel went on to effortlessly describe her father's political career and generous personality. She paused effectively when required; her voice light and humorous, expertly playing to the crowd. In all, it was a worthy performance on her part.

............................................................................

Jay Zacharia was glued to his TV screen as he watched the live telecast of Augustus Daniel's campaign event. To his utter surprise and confusion, Rachel had taken the stage right after his archenemy. He was stunned to note she was the daughter of his rival, Augustus Daniel. That meant she was also the daughter of his childhood love, Pamela Yoopasuk. Pamela, his mind wandered off to the past of its own accord.

Not many were aware of Jay's humble origins. His father had been a mere driver of the renowned industrialist, Mr Yoopasuk and he had been their teenage servant.

When the kind-hearted Mr. Yoopasuk learned of his love for knowledge, he enrolled him in the same school as Pamela. Thereafter, as he kept watch over Pamela and her best friend Salena, he found himself falling in love with her. Unable to confess due to his poor financial status, he had pushed himself to excel in his studies. Later he followed her to the same university, qualifying for engineering whilst Pamela and Salena had studied communication arts.

Much to his bewilderment in his sophomore year, Mr Yoopasuk insisted he begin his internship at Yoopasuk Industries. His life began to revolve around university classes and office projects, slowly drawing him away from Pamela's orbit. When he graduated with distinction, he joined Yoopasuk Industries full-time.

Meanwhile, Pamela had fallen in love with her senior mentor, Augustus Daniel. The well-bred Daniel had won over Mr. Yoopasuk with his easy charm and eloquent speech. When Pamela graduated a year before Jay, an enamored Mr Yoopasuk gladly gave her hand in marriage to Daniel along with a majority stake in Yoopasuk Industries.

Daniel's takeover of Yoopasuk Industries had been subtle. Gradually, he had won over the loyal aides of Mr. Yoopasuk and learned how to handle the day-to-day operations before replacing them with his men. While the other majority stakeholder, his wife Pamela had remained at home, blissfully unaware. Jay had frequently warned Mr Yoopasuk and Pamela of Daniel's sinister intentions but alas, nobody believed him. Till at last he and his father were dishonourably dismissed by Mr Yoopasuk.

Looking for better opportunities, Jay moved to Bangkok, leaving behind his first love and old life. A few years later, a chance meeting with his old friend Salena led to a new chapter in his life. Salena had been concerningly bitter about the way Pamela had turned her back on their friendship after marriage to Daniel, whilst Jay held a grudge for the way he had been unfairly treated. The two bonded over their common grievances and before Jay realized it, he had ended up proposing.

While life had improved for Jay in Bangkok, things had taken a turn for the worse for the Yoopasuks. When Mr. Yoopasuk died of a sudden heart attack, Daniel convinced Pamela to sell Yoopasuk Industries and shift to Bangkok with him. Pocketing the entire profits from the sale, Daniel now had enough money to buy himself a toehold in the ever-changing political landscape of Thailand.

Daniel's meteoric rise in the powerful Independent Labour Party was accompanied by whispers of his underhand dealings. When Daniel was finally elected to stand as the District Representative from his party, his myriad affairs were brought to light by a few enterprising journalists. A heavy sum exchanged hands and the matter was swiftly silenced. But not before it reached the ears of his loyal wife.

A few days later, the world learned of the unfortunate demise of the young Pamela Daniel. Augustus Daniel cleverly played up the image of a grieving widower and a single father, dragging his nine-year-old daughter along for press meets to secure an easy victory in the upcoming elections.

Moved by her childhood friend's sudden death, Salena had rushed over to Daniel's house, demanding to meet Pamela's only child. Instead, she had been threatened and brutally beaten by Daniel's men.

Jay returned from an overseas trip to find his traumatized wife in hospital and his old love dead. He was convinced that Pamela had been murdered by Daniel just as her father, Mr Yoopasuk had been. Salena begged him to let the matter go for the sake of their children. Jay vowed to take revenge but he yielded to Salena's wishes and kept away from directly baiting Daniel. As for Salena, time had turned her fear of Daniel, into a deep hatred for everything related to him. She even hated his hapless daughter.

"Jay," called Salena. "It's time for bed, close the TV."

Jay snapped out of his memories. Shutting off the TV, he made a quick call. After giving terse instructions in a low voice, he returned to his bedroom deep in thought. Somehow, he had to ensure that his wife never learned of Rachel's true identity while he kept his children away from Rachel and her deadly father.