45~NaHabiba #2
"It's only a suggestion. If you don't like the idea, that's perfectly fine."
"I don't mind." Abdul mumbled.
Everyone turned toward him.
Amira's eyes widened.
At that exact moment, she choked on her pancake and burst into a coughing fit.
"Easy!" Hanan quickly rubbed her back while handing her a mug of tea.
"Sorry." Abdul muttered.
"T... thanks." Amira replied after taking a sip.
Their eyes met for a brief second before she immediately looked away, suddenly finding her pancakes far more interesting than his face.
Her ears had already begun turning pink.
Only moments earlier, she had been helping Nanny Ann prepare breakfast when Abdul invited her to sit with him.
He carefully rolled each pancake, spreading honey exactly the way she liked before placing them neatly onto her plate.
She hadn't been able to stop herself from secretly admiring him since then.
And when their eyes accidentally met... She shyly looked away.
Now, with everyone watching her, she desperately searched for a new topic.
"So..." She said, turning to Hanan.
"Has he replied yet?"
Hanan immediately checked her phone.
Nothing.
She shook her head.
"No."
"Who?" Abdul asked.
"Najib." Hanan sighed. "I've been trying to reach him since last night, but he hasn't replied to a single message."
"He must be busy preparing for today's prayer." Abdul reassured her. "Don't worry. He'll get back to you."
"I hope so." She looked down at her phone again. "I just want to know if he's okay."
"Then why don't you attend the prayer?" Nanny Ann suggested.
Hanan went silent.
"I invited her already." Abdul said. "She refused."
"I... want to go." Hanan admitted quietly. "I just don't feel right about it."
"It would be good if you went." Nanny Ann said gently. "But if you don't want to, it's okay to stay home."
Silence settled around the table.
Only the soft clinking of cutlery could be heard.
Suddenly...
Hanan's phone rang.
Her face lit up instantly.
"It's him!"
She hurried out of the dining room before answering.
"Hello."
"Habibti." Najib's warm voice filled her ear. "How are you?"
"I'm fine... and you?"
"I'm okay."
"I called earlier..."
"I know." He sighed. "And I'm sorry. I saw every message, Habibti... I just didn't know what to say. I buried my cousin yesterday. No matter what he did, he was still family."
"Right..."
A brief silence followed.
"So how is everything going?"
"Good." He paused. "Are you coming today?"
Hanan hesitated.
"Habibti?"
"Yes..."
"You're coming, right? My uncle wants to see you."
Her heart skipped. "He... does?"
"Yes."
His voice softened.
"So please come. I'll be waiting."
"Okay."
"See you soon."
"Okay... bye."
She ended the call slowly, remaining where she stood against the wall.
Why would Faruk's father want to see her?
"Hanan?"
She turned.
Amira was standing behind her.
"I'm heading home now."
Hanan smiled faintly.
"Okay."
"Was that Najib?"
"Yeah."
"What did he say?"
"He wants me to attend today's prayer..."
She swallowed.
"...and Faruk's father wants to see me."
"Oh."
"So I have to go."
"Good." Abdul walked over to them.
"I'm glad you changed your mind. I'm leaving now, so let's go."
"Okay. Let me grab my veil."
"Hurry. I'll be waiting in the car."
He turned to leave before Hanan called after him.
"Abdul?"
He looked back.
"Can you please drop Amira at her house before we head to the prayer?"
"No!" Amira blurted out immediately.
"I've already booked an Uber..."
"Cancel it." Abdul interrupted. "I'll drop you."
Without waiting for another word, he walked outside.
The moment he disappeared, Amira turned sharply to Hanan.
"Hanan!"
"What?"
"Why are you trying so hard to set us up?"
Hanan folded her arms with a teasing smile. "What? You don't like him?"
Amira opened her mouth...
Then closed it again.
Silence.
Hanan laughed.
"I knew it."
She nudged her playfully.
"I think he likes you too. So don't push him away."
She turned toward her room.
"Now go. He's waiting in the car while I grab my purse and veil."
Amira stood there speechless while Hanan walked away wearing the biggest grin.
"She's so good at pretending." Hanan chuckled to herself, remembering everything she witnessed between the two of them just a few hours earlier.
That left her stunned and still smiling.
It was almost midnight when Hanan stirred awake, her throat painfully dry.
Sleeping on an empty stomach had left her stomach grumbling and her mouth parched. She sat up with a sigh, intending to find something to eat before going back to bed.
As she glanced toward her bed side, she frowned.
"Where's Amira?" She mumbled.
Beside her was empty.
She checked the bathroom first, but it was empty.
Curiosity and hunger tugged at her, so she quietly stepped out of the room to find something to eat and check for Amira.
The moment she entered the hallway, faint whispers followed by soft giggles drifting from the living room.
She frowned.
"Who's awake at this hour?"
Following the voices, she tiptoed toward the living room.
The moment she peeped inside, her eyes widened.
"Oh my God..."
She quickly slapped both hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming.
"Eww..." She whispered in disbelief.
There, standing in the middle of the living room, were Amira and Abdul, completely lost in each other as they kissed passionately.
"Amira? Abdul... of all people? Seriously?" She muttered, shaking her head dramatically.
She watched in stunned silence as neither of them noticed her presence.
"They're actually together?" She whispered.
"When did this happen? And how? More importantly... why didn't either of them tell me?"
She folded her arms, still staring at them.
For a brief second, she considered interrupting them.
Then she quickly shook her head.
"No... Let them have their moment."
A teasing smile slowly spread across her face.
"Huh..." She scoffed quietly.
"I've seen enough."
She placed a hand over her stomach.
"I don't even need food anymore. Their scene filled me up."
Suppressing another laugh, she quietly turned around and tiptoed back to her room, a smile lingering on her lips the entire way.
A loud car horn echoed through the compound.
"I'm coming!" Hanan called.
After saying goodbye to Nanny Ann, she hurried outside and sat in Abdul's car.
"What took you so long?" Abdul asked as he started the engine.
"Sorry." She fastened her seat belt. "I was looking for my purse."
"It's fine."
He shifted the car into gear.
"I'll drop you off first before taking Amira home."
"Nice idea." Hanan smiled, stealing a glance at Amira, who sat unusually quiet in the passenger seat.
The drive continued in comfortable silence.
Hanan, however, wasn't paying attention to the road.
Her thoughts wandered back to Faruk's father.
Why would he suddenly want to see her after everything that had happened?
"I just hope it's for a good reason." She murmured.
Soon, they arrived at Faruk's house.
"We're here." Abdul announced.
"Thanks for the ride."
She stepped out before leaning back into the car to face Amira.
"Call me once you get home."
"I will."
"And send my regards to Mama and Baba."
"I will." Amira smiled. "Oh... and your dress..." She sighed glancing down at Hanan's dress still on her body.
"You can keep it." Hanan smiled warmly. "It looks beautiful on you."
She paused, studying Amira with a knowing smile.
"I have a strong feeling we're going to become more than just best friends soon."
She winked. "So... consider it an early welcome gift to the family."
Amira blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Hanan chuckled. "Nothing."
She stepped back from the car.
"Don't forget to send my greetings to Mama and Baba"
Then she turned to Abdul.
"And please come back before the prayers begin."
"I will."
"Bye."
She waved as the car drove away.
The smile on her face slowly disappeared the moment she realized where she was standing.
She was on Faruk's father's premises.
Taking a slow breath, she looked around.
The compound was already bustling with people.
Every parking space was occupied.
Canopies had been erected, with rows of bouquet decorated chairs and tables neatly arranged beneath them.
Guests filled most of the seats while others walked in and out of the house, exchanging quiet greetings.
She looked around uncertainly, hoping to find a familiar face.
No one seemed approachable.
With a sigh, she pulled out her phone and dialed Najib's number.
Before the call could connect, she heard someone call her name.
"Habiba!"
She looked up.
Najib stood a short distance away, waving at her.
A relieved smile instantly appeared on her face as she hurried toward him.
The closer she got, the more she noticed how exhausted and sleep deprived he looked.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes, and despite the smile he wore, fatigue was written all over his face.
"Hi." She greeted softly.
"Hi, you just arrived?" Najib asked.
"Yes." She nodded.
"And Abdul? Didn't he come with you?"
"He'll be here later."
"Okay." He smiled softly. "Let's head inside."
He reached for her hand, but she gently pulled away.
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
She studied his face for a moment.
"Did you even sleep? You look exhausted."
"I did." He smiled faintly. "I'm just a little stressed. Don't worry about me, Habibti."
He reached for her hand again.
This time, she let him hold it, though she let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm scared." She whispered.
He frowned.
"Scared? Why?" He asked with a light chuckle.
She didn't answer. Instead, she stared ahead anxiously.
Seeing the worry clouding her face, he gently squeezed her hand.
"Don't be scared." He smiled reassuringly. "No one will hurt you, I'm here."
She took a deep breath. "Okay... let's go."
For the first time since arriving, she found the courage to step inside.
The moment they entered the house, countless eyes turned toward them.