40~I never hated you #3
Grandma slowly turned to face him.
"Yes."
She gave him a suspicious look.
"Or were you planning to share one before you get married?"
"No!" Hanan answered so quickly that everyone laughed.
Grandma smiled proudly.
"I trust you, Habiba."
Then she looked at Najib.
"But I don't trust this grandson of mine."
Najib sighed dramatically. "Grandma..."
"So let me make myself clear." She pointed a warning finger at him.
"I don't want any child out of wedlock."
"Grandma!"
Najib laughed in defeat.
"Please... Just go to bed."
Still smiling, he wheeled her toward her room.
Grandma waved at Hanan. "Goodnight, my dear."
"Goodnight, Grandma." Hanan waved back.
As soon as they disappeared down the hallway, Amina turned to Emma.
"Don't bother preparing another room."
She slipped an arm around Hanan's shoulders.
"Habiba will sleep in my room tonight."
Emma beamed. "Alright, ma."
She took a few steps away before suddenly turning back.
Without warning, she ran straight to Hanan and hugged her tightly.
"So this is real..."
She whispered emotionally.
Then she quickly stepped back, unable to hide her smile.
"Welcome back home, Ma'am Habiba!"
Before Hanan could even respond, Emma hurried away, grinning from ear to ear.
Hanan and Amina looked at each other... and burst into laughter.
"Ever since you returned home, everyone's been smiling." Amina said warmly as they walked toward her room. "I'm so glad you're home. We've all missed you."
Hanan smiled apologetically. "I've missed all of you even more."
She sighed. "And honestly... I feel embarrassed looking you in the eye after how cold I was to you yesterday."
Amina gently nudged her shoulder.
"Oh, forget yesterday."
She smiled reassuringly.
"I was just as embarrassed after finding out the truth about my Mom... especially when I remembered how I treated you back then."
She shrugged. "We're human, Habiba. We make mistakes."
"So let's leave the past where it belongs."
Her face lit up with excitement.
"Now come on."
"Do you remember how we stay awake half the night talking about everything and nothing?"
A grin spread across her face.
"Let's do that again tonight."
The two of them walked into Amina's room.
Hanan paused just at the doorway, her eyes wandering around the familiar space.
A nostalgic smile tugged at her lips.
"Nothing has really changed here." Hanan smiled.
Amina looked around before nodding.
"Yep." She laughed softly.
"Everything's exactly the same, still obsessed with pink."
"Forever." Amina chuckled.
Just then, her eyes landed on Hanan's left hand.
She frowned.
"Wait..."
She pointed at the ring on her finger.
"You're still wearing that?"
Hanan glanced down before letting out a quiet laugh.
"I guess... not anymore."
Without hesitation, she slipped off Faruk's proposal ring and tucked it safely into her pocket.
Amina watched her carefully.
"Have you told him yet?"
Hanan slowly shook her head.
"Not yet."
Silence settled between them for a brief moment.
"The wedding is supposed to be the day after tomorrow, isn't it?"
"Yes." Hanan nodded.
Amina sighed. "Everyone is going to be shocked."
Then she smiled... "But it's for the best."
"It is." Hanan agreed softly, though guilt still lingered in her heart.
She couldn't help imagining Faruk's face when she finally tells him she is calling off the wedding.
Would he be angry?
Heartbroken?
Or would he quietly accept it?
Whatever his reaction would be... This was the right decision.
A small smile found its way onto her lips.
Amina clapped her hands excitedly, instantly changing the mood.
"Enough of that."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Tell me everything!"
"What was America like?"
Hanan laughed.
"Hmm..."
She leaned back thoughtfully.
"Most of my adventures were with Lucy and Amira."
Amina smiled knowingly. "Amira used to tell me bits and pieces of everything."
She chuckled. "It was obvious how much she missed you."
Hanan pouted. "I missed her too."
Her smile slowly faded. "And I regret ruining our friendship."
She sighed. "I need to make things right with her as soon as possible."
"You definitely should."
Amina nodded. "Besides..."
She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously.
"You're going to need her standing beside you as one of your bridesmaids."
Hanan's cheeks instantly blushed.
Amina stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter.
"Look at you!"
She pointed teasingly.
"You're blushing!"
Hanan covered her face, laughing shyly as Amina continued to tease her.
That night, sleep became the least important thing on their minds.
Instead, they stayed awake for hours, laughing until their stomachs hurt, reminiscing about old memories, sharing stories of everything they had missed in each other's lives, and quietly making up for the years they had lost apart.
"Habiba..."
Fast asleep, Hanan heard someone calling her name.
She frowned and pulled the blanket tighter.
Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, so she squeezed them shut and drifted back to sleep.
A gentle pat on her arm pulled her back.
"Nanny Ann..." She mumbled drowsily. "Please... just five more minutes. We slept really late."
"Habibti..."
The familiar voice made her freeze.
"It's me."
The moment she heard Habibti, every trace of sleep vanished.
Her eyes flew open as she hurriedly sat upright.
She blinked in surprise.
Najib sat on one side of the bed, while Grandma and Emma stood on the other, all three smiling as though they had been quietly watching her sleep.
"What..." She mumbled, still trying to wake up.
Her gaze drifted to the wall clock.
The moment she read the time, her eyes widened. "It's noon?!"
Najib chuckled. "You've been asleep for hours."
"Oh my God."
She covered her face in embarrassment.
"Good morning, everyone."
Grandma laughed softly. "It's already afternoon, dear."
Hanan groaned. "Oh..."
She smiled sheepishly.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
Grandma shook her head with amusement.
"Amina must have kept you awake all night talking."
Hanan nodded. "She did."
Only then did she notice Amina wasn't in the room.
"Where's Amina?"
"She went back home not long ago." Emma replied.
"Oh..."
Hanan nodded.
Grandma smiled warmly.
"Go and freshen up."
"There are still a few of Amina's dresses in her wardrobe."
"Wear whichever one you like and come downstairs."
"We'll have lunch together."
"Okay, Grandma."
Hanan smiled obediently.
As Grandma and Emma left the room, Najib quietly closed the door behind them.
The moment they were alone and even before Hanan could speak... He wrapped an arm around her waist and gently drew her onto his lap as though that was where she naturally belonged.
Sitting on his lap, she wrapped her hands around his neck while he held her close, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"How did you sleep, Habibti?"
The question instantly warmed her cheeks.
She was about to answer when she suddenly covered her mouth with both hands.
Najib raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?"
She hesitated before leaning closer, lowering her voice as though confessing a terrible secret.
"I... haven't brushed yet."
A laugh escaped him.
"Oh, Habibti..."
He gently lowered her hands from her face.
"You're adorable and I love everything about you right now." He smiled.
"Even my morning breath?" She whispered.
"Especially that." He nodded.
His eyes searching her sleepy face, he muttered.
"And your sleepy face..."
"Those lazy eyes..."
He leaned in slightly.
"Your messy hair... Even that little smudge at the corner of your lips."
Her eyes widened.
"Najib!" She squealed, horrified.
He burst into laughter.
Her cheeks burned as she scrambled off his lap hurrying toward the bathroom.
Behind her, Najib laughed even harder.
Watching her flustered over something so small made his heart feel impossibly light.