CONNECTED HEARTS

15: Texting

After dropping Amani off at her house, Kaltoom and Farouk headed home. She was drained,not just physically but emotionally. She couldn't quite put a finger on it, but Adyan was definitely getting under her skin. It felt like he was slowly sneaking into her heart, building some kind of connection she couldn't explain.

She kicked off her pink loafers the second she got inside, tossing them aside before collapsing onto her bed. It was like withdrawal, like she'd gotten used to his presence and now she had to detox. No, she argued with herself, I'm just getting to know him. That's all.

Still, her chest felt heavy.

She reached for her phone and lazily scrolled through Snapchat. That's when she found it, a short video she'd taken of Adyan at the ice cream shop earlier, paying the cashier. She'd called his name and he'd turned with a smile that could probably melt polar ice caps.

Kaltoom caught herself smiling like an idiot at the clip. Adyan really was a dream man. And the resemblance between him and Laila? Uncanny.

On impulse, she forwarded the video to him on WhatsApp. She didn't even wait for a reply switched her data off and let herself drift into sleep.

⸻

"Laila! Stop being a baby and come eat, your breakfast is getting cold," Khairiya yelled up the stairs for what felt like the millionth time.

Since last night, Laila had been sulking in her room, refusing to come down.

"Laila, Dad is calling you now," Khairiya added after a few more minutes before giving up.

Eventually, Laila shuffled downstairs in pajamas, her face puffy from tears, from sleep, or maybe both.

Khairiya raised a brow. "Have you been crying? Ew.. and is that drool on your face?"

"No! I'm just... starving. Where's Dad? Wait did you trick me into coming down?" Laila squinted suspiciously.

Khairiya giggled, dragging her toward the dining table. "Relax. Mom went to see a sick friend. Dad's already at work. He made me promise to take good care of you."

"Of course he did," Laila muttered, rolling her eyes. But her mood shifted the second Khairiya added, "Adyan wants to FaceTime."

Just like that, her eyes lit up. She dug into the omelette and tea Khairiya had set out for her her sister really knew how to fix her moods.

When Adyan's face filled the laptop screen, Laila nearly melted. "Yaya! I missed you so much," she pouted.

"I miss you more," he said warmly. "Khairiya, you good?"

Khairiya smiled. "I'm fine, Yaya."

Then his gaze returned to Laila. "So... I heard someone's been moody since yesterday."

Laila fiddled with her fork, avoiding eye contact. Tears pricked her lashes. "I just miss you already. And I'll be all alone when Khair goes back to Egypt. Dad's hardly home. And Mom... is Mom."

"Don't let her hear you say that," Khairiya scolded.

Adyan chuckled. "It's just four months, Laila. It'll be over before you know it. Spend time with Khairiya while she's here. Play my PS5—"

Her head shot up. "Your PS5?!"

He smirked. "Yes, but don't break it. You've got school, your best friend Kaltoom... you'll be fine. And you're still Mom's baby, even when she annoys you."

That earned him a reluctant smile. His words clearly worked their magic.

"And listen," he added softly. "Whenever you need me, I'm one call away. We'll text all day, FaceTime all the time. Deal?"