"believe me, your eyes can make a star jealous - hafsa."

Derek had been very nervous about the whole trip . After his mother's death a few months ago , Franklin and him had been very devastated . His mother had been in a coma for two years after the fatal accident his parents encountered . While nobody was expecting such a drastic change , they definitely were hoping for the best . The doctors were very positive and full of hope regarding her situation . Her sudden death had left him and Franklin greatly affected . It had only been a few months , but he had been without her for a few years now . Desperatly he wanted to hear her talk and smile one last time . If at all , he only wanted to see her alive . Breathing .

After being under the control of anti depressants and psychiatrists , he was finally able to breathe . Maybe not very normally , but he was able to manage alive .

He had been slowly started to become an antisocial outcast . Following his mother's death , he had been bullied for becoming the quiet kid from the popular baseball team captain .

It just made him feel even more lonelier . Days passed by and his conditions only got worser . But he had remembered his mother's words .

His mother had given birth to a still born baby girl before Derek . Both her and Franklin were devastated over her death and hardly had the willpower to live . Breathing had become a liability and she had been even admitted into a mental asylum for a whole year before she returned home as a better person .

A few months later , she was pregnant with Derek and the news came through their minds as a small ray of hope .

He smiled , recollecting his mother's words .

"You know sweetheart , I was so badly messed up and shattered when we were told of your sister's death ." She gave him a sad smile , her hands busily pulling out the weeds as he sat across from the lawn , staring at her .

"It took me a whole year to learn to be able to live ." She continued pulling out , swiping the back of her palm against the forehead .

"When we found out that I was pregnant with you , the news nearly knocked me out of breath for a couple of minutes ." She paused and laughed looking in the air ahead her ."I even remember throwing some napkins at your father when he had come back from the doctor with that news , thinking he was joking ."

"That was the only best day of my life . Becoming a mother , was the best day of my life ." Her voice softened as she turned around and kissed his forehead , before smiling at him .

"Later on in your life baby , if at all you loose somebody very precious , know that it is all for the good . Somehow if the person did stay longer , it'd have to face worser hardships than death itself . And because God takes that precious person out of your life , he also makes sure to give you back another one . A somebody who'd teach you how to fetch your lost smile back . How to grasp the reality of life . How to keep moving on . How to live with the memories that are alive within you . In the end , you will always love the person . People die , but love doesn't . Just because you've moved on doesn't mean you won't love the person you once did . It just means you've learnt to accept the harsh reality ."

A small tear escaped a corner of his eye , as he ducked his head quickly to avoid any unwanted attention .

He only wished he could Sarah .

Someone who he thought could fill the void in his heart .

"Okay , maybe we could do this ." Sarah suggested , pulling her legs under her .

All the cousins except for Derek had settled down in the living room , discussing plans to get something started between Derek and Sarah .

"Maybe , we could kidnap Derek and tell Sarah to rescue him ?" Samantha clapped her hands together .

Gabriel frowned ."Mom didn't tell me you were crazy ." He pointed a finger at Samantha who stuck her tongue out at him .

Sarah sighed , rubbing her temples ."Guys , please . I don't need any plans as such . We'll just get along eventually ." She kept tapping her feet impatiently , worriedly glancing at the door .

"Shut up girl ! Who even asked you to open your mouth ? It's a matter of life and death and you're telling us to let it go ?" Afra shrieked , waving a finger at Sarah's direction .

"Maybe , we could just ask Sarah to bake a cake and give it to him ?" Inaya asked , snapping her fingers .

Afra lips turned down into an unpleasant frown ."Inaya , it's not his birthday ."

Gabriel chuckled ."You girls are making a big deal out of this . Just relax ." He was lying down on the largest couch , his legs stretched out .

"Just shut up , nobody even asked you ." Afra fired at him . He sighed and rolled his eyes .

"Guys , maybe we could put Sarah on a cactus bed and have Derek save her ." Afra exclaimed , looking at everyone to see for any reactions .

"It's official . You guys are crazy ." Gabriel threw his hands in the air . "I'm getting out of here ." He shot up from his position and trudged his way out .

"Good for you . I would've thrown you out anyway ." Afra smirked , relaxing herself .

"Girls , maybe we could do this ." Hafsa exclaimed , sitting up straight . "We know Sarah just can't even bear to see him without blushing , let alone pour out any words . I was wondering why not play letter love ?"

"What is letter love ?" Samantha asked , pulling a pillow in her lap .

"Sarah is an introvert . Extremely nervous around him . So instead of going up to him and trying to talk , you can just write letters to each other and we could help you guys pass them along . Basically you'll talk by letters . You guys will start knowing each other pretty comfortably , without having to deal with anxiety . That way , you'll need lesser time to know each other and probably you guys might even come together before leaving for your respective homes ."

Inaya smiled , patting Hafsa's back . "Ooooh ! I like that idea ."

Afra frowned , huffing loudly and crossing her arms against her chest tightly ."I still liked the cactus idea more ."

Inaya gaped at her with a shocked expression .

"Let's ask Sarah . It's her choice ." Hafsa pointed out , and everyone's heads were in her direction , anxiously waiting for her answer .

After a couple of strained seconds , Sarah nodded . "I.....think that will work ."

Afra jumped from her seat , standing in the middle of the living room , hands on her hips and her head held high .

"Mission "Get-Sarah-to-talk-to-Derek-and-him-to-fall-in-love-with-her-through-letter-love." She shouted , a hand outstretched towards the air .