3~Welcome home #3
Lucy.
Amira.
Abdul.
A smile crept onto her lips.
She opened Amira's chat first.
Hanan chuckled before replying.
Next came Lucy's messages.
Almost every single one contained crying emojis.
Hanan laughed softly.
Finally...
She opened Abdul's message.
The smile on her face faded instantly.
A flicker of irritation crossed her eyes.
"Why does he always pretends he knows nothing about my plans?" She muttered under her breath.
His message read:
She inhaled deeply before typing.
She pressed send.
"You type loudly."
The sleepy voice startled her.
She turned.
Faruk was awake.
"Oh."
She looked embarrassed.
"Sorry... I forgot my keyboard sound was on."
He stretched lazily. "I'm starving."
"So am I."
Faruk raised his hand, calling over a flight attendant.
"Good evening, sir."
"What meals are available?"
The attendant smiled professionally.
"We have protein salad, vegetarian soup, non vegetarian soup, sandwiches, steak, yogurt, coffee, tea..."
"I'll have the steak." Hanan interrupted. "And protein salad... with yogurt."
Faruk nodded. "I'll have the same."
"Certainly. Your meals will be served shortly."
After she walked away, Faruk looked at Hanan.
"You fell asleep pretty quickly.".
He grinned. "Was my company really that boring?"
She laughed. "No."
"I barely slept last night."
"Then I woke up with the mother of all hangovers."
"I was simply catching up on sleep."
He nodded. "Fair enough."
A moment later, he asked casually,
"By the way... Who exactly is Najib?"
Her smile quickly disappeared.
"You kept calling his name that night."
"You even said it in your sleep."
She stared at him for a long moment before answering.
"Najib?" She forced a shrug over her shoulders. "He's no one."
"I thought maybe he was your boyfriend." Faruk sighed. "Or your ex?"
"Faruk." She cut him off immediately.
"Have you watched All of Us Are Dead?"
He blinked. "What?"
"It's a Kdrama." She reached for her laptop.
"It's amazing, I think you'll love it."
"I don't watch Korean dramas." He replied uninterested.
"You will after this one."
She placed one AirPod in his hand before he could protest.
"I promise."
Faruk smiled knowing she used the movie to change the topic.
He decided not to push.
Whatever memories were attached to the name Najib...
They clearly weren't pleasant.
A few minutes later, their meals arrived.
Neither of them wasted any time.
Conversation paused as they happily devoured their food.
The rest of the journey passed quietly.
Occasionally they gasped at scenes from the series...
Though before long, Faruk had fallen asleep again.
Apparently... Zombie Kdramas weren't his thing.
"We're here."
Hanan gently nudged his shoulder.
"We've landed."
Faruk blinked awake.
Outside the windows, the plane was already running across the runway.
Passengers began unbuckling their seat belts with visible relief.
After thirteen uninterrupted hours in the air, everyone looked eager to stretch their legs.
"My back is officially broken." Hanan groaned, standing carefully.
Faruk laughed. "Need help?"
Before she could answer, he already reached into the overhead compartment and pulled down both of their suitcases.
"Thanks."
"My pleasure."
Within minutes, they joined the queue of passengers making their way through the arrival terminal.
Families rushed toward loved ones.
Children squealed.
Parents embraced their returning sons and daughters.
The airport buzzed with joyful reunions.
Hanan's phone rang.
It was Abdul.
"Where are you?" He asked immediately.
"I can't see you."
"I'm walking toward the exit."
She looked up...
Then broke into a huge smile.
"Abdul!"
He turned at the sound of her voice.
The next second, they were wrapped tightly in each other's arms.
"I've missed you so much."
"So have I."
Abdul held her for a moment longer before pulling back to look at her.
"You've changed."
"You've grown."
"And you've become even more beautiful."
Before Hanan could respond...
"Ahem." Nanny Ann folded her arms dramatically.
"Can I hug my daughter too?"
Hanan laughed through teary eyes.
"Nanny Ann!"
She immediately threw herself into the older woman's embrace.
"I missed you!"
"I missed you more, my child."
Watching the reunion, Faruk smiled warmly.
He stepped forward.
"Hi! I'm Faruk."
He extended his hand toward Abdul.
"Hanan's friend."
Abdul accepted the handshake politely. "Nice meeting you."
As their hands met, Abdul studied him carefully.
Why does he look so familiar?
He was certain he had seen this young man somewhere before.
He simply couldn't remember where.
Faruk released the handshake.
"My ride is here."
He looked at Hanan.
"Don't forget to call me."
"I won't." She smiled.
"Drive safely." "I will, bye."
With one last wave, Faruk turned and walked toward the waiting car.
Hanan watched him leave before turning back to Abdul and Nanny Ann.
Nanny Ann smiled lovingly as she cupped Hanan's face.
"Welcome home, dear."
.
.
.
***