Layla’s head shot up. She glared at Nerdy. “I’m not crying!
What do you think I am man?’
Nerdyy blinked. ‘Err, I think you’re a wonderful, sweet,
triple chocolate raspberry scone with a heart of gold.’
Layla stared at him suspiciously then finally ceded. ‘Yes, I
know. I’m 100% sweet.’
‘Everyone knows it. You’re too sweet to die, Lulu.’
‘What do you mean? That man
poisoned us! You heard him! He is an ass…assa…assassin. I should have known it the first time I saw him, I had a
feeling when I saw him outside that door!’
‘Yes, but the…Wait. What do you mean, saw him outside the door? There’s no way you could have seen him
Diyah. We didn’t even know there was a door. Remember, you were even on the
phone describing this place as...’ He didn’t finish his sentence as she
suddenly lashed out at him and he lost his balance, falling back on the sand.
‘Er, ow? What was that for now?’ He rubbed his arm where she
had punched him.
‘You’re not listening to meh! I meant that door at
school! Remember? We were trying to
escape and that man was standing outside the door?’
Nerdyy racked his brain. ‘Ye…s. I think I remember. You will
have to forgive me though, I wasn’t really paying attention, after, ahem, being
shot at.’
‘Stop bringing that up, making me feel bad. If you say it
one more time, I’ll...ahm…I’ll…shoot you.’
Nerdyy burst out laughing.
‘What’s so funny now?’ Layla started giggling also.
‘Oh, Diyah.’ He
calmed himself. ‘So you saw this man at the campus.’ He scratched the back of
his head thoughtfully.
‘Yup. And that’s why I should have known it was him the next
time I saw him! I’m so daft. I knew I saw him somewhere before and I couldn’t
figure it out.’
‘You’re losing me now. What, when?’
‘Oh. You fell of the table. The DJ! In the club. This man
has been following us, am 100% sure!’
‘Hmm.’ Nerdyy was a bit bewildered. ‘But why?’
‘Oh come on. He must be after my Beedi company! It’s so
obvious!’
Nerdyy stared at Layla to see if she was serious. She stared
back resolutely. She was serious.
‘Then why is he asking about IQ?’ Nerdyy asked.
‘He must be after her too! He’s going to kidnap all of us
and hold us for ransom!’
‘But Diyah. Ransom for what? Ransom from who? Noone is going
to pay money to free all of us..’ Nerdy stopped as Layla shook her head.
‘My bro will.’
‘Your brother?’ Nerdy blinked again. ‘Sure, I can understand
why he’d want to get you out. But why on earth would your brother care about me
or IQ?’
‘My bro!’
‘Your bro…’
‘Rinka!’
