Chapter 18
The university bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture.
Students slowly poured out of their classrooms, filling the hallways with laughter and conversation.
Mimi—who was now living as Naiiyraa—and Lerah, now living as Mimica, walked side by side, each wearing the other's identity card.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Lerah finally broke the silence.
"You know what..." she said quietly. "I bumped into him today. That's why I was late."
She still looked slightly shocked, as if she hadn't completely processed what had happened.
Mimi turned toward her.
"Him?" she asked, confused. "Who are you talking about?"
Lerah looked at her as if the answer was obvious.
"Obviously... Nehan."
Mimi stopped walking.
"W-What!? Are you serious?" she blurted out. "And why are you saying it so calmly?"
Lerah immediately glanced around.
"You didn't have to say it that loudly," she whispered. "Speak a little more gently."
"But still—"
Before Mimi could finish, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Hey, you two. I hope you're both doing well."
Both girls turned around.
"Genya?" Mimi smiled politely. "Oh, hi."
Genya walked toward them with her usual confident smile.
"Hi, Naiiyraa," she said, looking directly at Mimi with a teasing expression. "Nice to meet you again."
Mimi sighed.
"You really enjoy calling me that, don't you?"
Genya simply smiled.
While the two of them talked, Lerah slowly drifted into her own thoughts.
"It was nice meeting you."
Those words echoed through her mind once again.
She couldn't understand why such a simple sentence kept replaying over and over.
"Lerah?"
Genya's voice pulled her back to reality.
She looked at Lerah with a curious expression.
"Hi, Mimica. Aren't you going to greet me too? Why are you so quiet?"
Lerah smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry... I was just thinking about something."
Genya nodded understandingly.
"It's okay."
After a brief pause, she smiled warmly.
"Actually, I came here for a reason."
Both girls looked at her.
"My birthday is coming up," Genya said. "I'm planning a small celebration in my hostel room."
She rubbed the back of her neck shyly.
"It won't be anything special... just a small gathering."
Then she smiled again.
"But I think it'll be worth celebrating if both of you come."
"Yeah! Why not?" Mimi answered immediately, her excitement obvious.
Lerah remained silent.
She was still lost somewhere between the present... and the memory of meeting Nehan.
Genya noticed her silence but chose not to ask about it.
"Alright then," she said cheerfully. "Come with me. I'll show you my room."
Mimi nodded enthusiastically.
Lerah quietly followed behind them, her thoughts still lingering on the strange conversation she had shared with Nehan only a short while ago.
End of Chapter 18