34~Dirty thoughts
"It's already late." Amina said with a small smile. "You should spend the night."
Hanan blinked. "I should?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"It's already past eight, and after everything that's happened today, I think you should stay the night."
Hanan glanced at the wall clock.
She didn't even realize how late it was .
A faint smile curved her lips.
"I guess I have no choice then."
"I'm glad." Amina smiled warmly.
"We have a lot to catch up on before we sleep."
"We do."
Hanan smiled back before her eyes wandered to Najib.
The smile on her face gradually faded.
"I don't think Grandma should know about this." She whispered.
Amina nodded in agreement.
"She's already carrying too much. If she finds out Ya Najib collapsed too, she'll only worry even more."
"Exactly."
Both women instinctively turned towards the bed where Najib lay quietly while the doctor completed his examination.
"I hope it isn't anything serious?" Hanan asked anxiously.
The doctor smiled reassuringly.
"Nothing alarming."
He closed his medical bag.
"He's simply exhausted. Emotional stress, lack of proper rest and poor eating habits have drained his body."
He glanced at Najib.
"He needs plenty of sleep, nutritious meals and, most importantly, peace of mind. If he keeps carrying today's burden alone, recovery will be much slower."
Hanan nodded quietly.
"I understand."
"I've prescribed a few vitamins and supplements."
The doctor handed the prescription to Amina.
"Once he starts taking them and gets enough rest, he should regain his strength."
"Thank you, doctor."
"My pleasure."
"I'll walk you out." Amina offered.
The doctor nodded, and together they quietly left the room.
Silence settled over the bedroom.
Hanan remained standing for a while, simply watching Najib.
His face looked unusually pale.
In just one day...
He had lost both parents.
She knew their relationship had never been perfect.
There had been years of resentment...
Years of silence...
Yet the grief she had witnessed in his eyes earlier could never belong to a son who felt nothing.
He loved his father.
Perhaps more than he ever admitted.
Slowly, she walked to the bedside and lowered herself into the chair beside him.
She gently placed her hand over his.
"Najib..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You can't allow yourself to fall apart."
She looked at him sadly.
"Grandma and Amina need you now more than ever."
She paused.
"Alhaji is gone..."
Her eyes lowered.
"All we can do for him now is pray."
She squeezed his hand lightly.
"You've become the pillar of this family."
"So please..."
"Be strong."
"And stop blaming yourself."
"You didn't kill your father."
Her gaze slowly travelled across his face until it stopped at the small scar above his eyebrow.
The same scar she had noticed the day they reunited.
Back then...
She didn't care enough to ask how he got it.
Now...
She found herself wondering.
Without realizing it, she reached out.
Her fingertips stopped before she touched the scar, then quickly withdrew her hand.
Instead...
She rested her palm lightly against his forehead.
"You're cold."
She frowned.
His skin felt cooler than it should.
She instinctively rubbed his hand between both of hers, hoping to warm it.
"A thicker blanket should help..."
Switching on the room heater, she stood up quietly and reached for the folded blanket resting at the foot of the bed.
Carefully...
She pulled it over him before searching the wardrobe for a warm sweater.
"If you're going to keep worrying everyone..."
A small smile escaped her.
"At least let me make sure you stay warm."
Just as her fingers reached for the handle, a memory flashed across her mind.
"I hate intruders."
His cold glare.
His stern voice.
She could almost picture him standing there, arms folded, glaring at her for invading his space like he did when they were married.
A helpless sigh escaped her lips.
"Maybe I'm overstepping..."
She turned to look at him.
He still lay asleep, his face unusually peaceful.
"I should leave before I end up doing something I'll regret."
She had barely taken a step when a soft cough escaped his lips.
Her heart skipped.
Without thinking twice, she hurried back to him before rushing to the wardrobe.
She pulled out a warm jacket, a fresh pair of socks and another blanket.
"How could I even think of leaving you like this?"
Supporting his shoulders carefully against her, she gently slipped the jacket onto him before lowering him back onto the pillow.
She rubbed a little balm into her palms and began massaging his cold feet until warmth slowly returned to them.
Only then did she help him into the socks and tuck the blanket securely around him.
"There..."
She smiled faintly.
"That's much better."
Her eyes wandered back to his face.
"You still look so pale..."
Almost unconsciously, they drifted to the scar above his eyebrow.
She leaned in.
"How did you get this?"
Her fingertips lightly brushed away the loose curls covering it.
The scar disappeared into his braided hairline.
"It doesn't look like an ordinary scar..."
She frowned thoughtfully.
"It looks like stitches."
She studied it for another moment before realizing just how close she had moved to him.
Oddly enough...
She didn't feel awkward.
She wasn't even uncomfortable.
Instead... She found herself quietly admiring him.
Apart from the scar, very little about him had changed.
His sharp features remained the same.
If anything...
His eyelashes seemed even longer than she remembered.
"They're unfairly long... Longer than mine."
She murmured with a small smile.
She should have looked away.
Instead... She kept staring.
The longer she stared, the more shameless she felt.
Yet she couldn't seem to stop herself.
Slowly, her fingers slipped into his braided hair, brushing a loose strand away from his forehead.
Her hand drifted lower...
Across his face...
Down the bridge of his nose...
Until it paused near his lips.
The instant her fingertip grazed them slowly...
Her breath caught.
Her heartbeat stumbled.
For one fleeting second...
A ridiculous thought crossed her mind.
What would it feel like to kiss him?
Her eyes widened.
"What?!"
She snatched her hand away as though she had been burned.
"Oh God..."
She covered her face in embarrassment.
"What is wrong with me?"
"What was that dirty thought?"
Feeling suddenly flustered, she hurriedly picked up the glass of water beside the bed and emptied it in one single gulp.
"No..."
She groaned, fanning her burning face.
"This is getting out of hand."
She shook her head vigorously.
"I seriously need to leave before my brain embarrasses me any further."
Determined, she turned towards the door.
Suddenly...
A warm hand wrapped firmly around her wrist.
She froze.
Slowly... She turned back.
Najib was awake.
His eyes were fixed on her.
A playful smirk curved the corner of his lips.
Before she could react, he gave her hand a gentle pull.
She stumbled forward, landing against his chest.
Her eyes squeezed shut.
No...
Please tell me I'm dreaming.
She slowly opened one eye.
Unfortunately... She wasn't.
Panic instantly flooded her.
Does this mean...
He wasn't asleep?
Did he hear everything?
A soft chuckle vibrated beneath her cheek.
"I heard you talking."
Hanan wished the earth would kindly open and swallow her whole.
She remained completely still, too embarrassed to even breathe.
As she attempted to pull away, his arm tightened just enough to stop her.
Leaning slightly closer, he lowered his voice.
"You looked like you wanted to kiss me."
Heat rushed straight to her cheeks.
She could feel the tips of her ears burning.
"So..."
His teasing smile widened. "Why don't you?"
"I won't stop you."
"I would actually love that..."
Before he could finish speaking, Hanan wriggled free from his embrace.
She practically jumped to her feet, hurriedly smoothing her dress while avoiding his eyes.
A burst of laughter filled the room.
She frowned. "What's so funny?"
The more he laughed...
The more she fought the urge to smile herself.
"No reason."
He grinned.
"I was just enjoying your reaction."
She folded her arms.
"Whatever you think you heard had nothing to do with you."
"Oh?"
She lifted her chin. "I was thinking about my boyfriend... Faruk."
Najib laughed even harder.
"Did I ever say you mentioned my name?"
Hanan blinked.
"You didn't."
"No."
His grin only widened.
"But judging by how quickly you defended yourself..."
He raised a brow.
"I think you've answered my question."
She let out an awkward laugh.
"You really enjoy embarrassing people, don't you?"
"Only you." He smiled.
"And only because your reactions are priceless."
She sighed dramatically.
"Is there anything I can say that'll convince you that you've misunderstood everything?"
He pretended to think.
"Hmm..."
Then shook his head.
"I don't think so."
Hanan threw her hands up.
"Fine."
She turned towards the door.
"Believe whatever you want."
"I should leave before your imagination gets any worse."
She had barely reached the door when his voice stopped her.
"Habiba Aliyu."
She froze.
It had been ages since he called her by her full name like that.
Something in his voice made her turn around immediately.
The teasing smile had disappeared.
In its place was a calm, unreadable expression.
His gaze remained fixed on her...
Steady.
Serious.
And somehow impossibly gentle.
"Please..."
His voice pleaded.
"Come back to me."
He held her gaze for a long moment before speaking again.
"Give me a second chance."
His expression softened.
"I'm..."
Before he could finish, a knock sounded.
The bedroom door swung open.
Amina stepped in alongside Emma, who carefully carried a tray of food.
"Ya Najib!"
Amina exclaimed happily the moment she saw his eyes open.
"You're awake!"
She hurried over to him before turning to Hanan.
"When did he wake up, Habiba?"