Unveiling Meerab [Tere Bin FF]

16. making up

The first sensation that touched Meerab's awareness was a gentle, caressing motion through her hair. The feeling was soft, intimate, and absolutely soothing. It nudged her out of her sleep like a gentle morning breeze, bringing a lazy smile to her lips. She hummed contentedly, still cocooned in that twilight space between sleep and wakefulness where everything felt soft-edged and dreamlike.

For a blissful moment, she allowed herself to bask in the comforting feeling of Murtasim's fingers running through her hair and over her cheek. It felt like the first drop of rain after a drought, a simple touch that she had unknowingly been craving. Her heart swelled as she languidly stretched, arching her back like a cat basking in the sun's glow. She felt as though she could stay in that moment forever.

However, as she drifted closer to full consciousness, the weight of the previous night came rushing back to her. Her eyes snapped open, suddenly alert, the worry and stress from yesterday flooding back into her mind. It was as if a curtain had been lifted, reminding her of the way Murtasim had walked into their room the previous night.

She glanced up at him urgently, eyes flickering over his face. "Are you okay?" She whispered, her voice tinged with the lingering residue of fear and exhaustion.

He nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "Just a little tired." He replied, his voice soft but steady, calming the storm of concerns that had suddenly whipped up inside her.

Despite his reassuring words, she felt compelled to verify for herself. Unconsciously, her hand reached up to his forehead, her fingertips delicately tracing the contours of his skin. She was checking for heat, for any sign of a fever or any other anomaly that she could latch her anxieties onto.

He chuckled, reading her intentions as if she had spoken them aloud. "You know, fevers usually don't come about because of allergic reactions." He said, reassuring her yet again.

"Oh," she muttered, a blush coloring her cheeks. She felt a twinge of embarrassment but was mostly washed over with relief. It seemed like he really was okay, and that assurance filled her with an unspoken joy, a secret sigh of relief that she released deep within herself. For now, the urgency had passed, but the feeling of his fingers through her hair remained—a gentle reminder of their connection, a silent promise that they would navigate whatever challenges lay ahead, just as they had weathered this one.

He looked into her eyes, his own filled with a playful, inviting warmth. "You know, you could help me feel better." He hinted, a trace of mischief coloring his words.

Confused, Meerab furrowed her brows, wondering what he could possibly mean. Her eyes met his as he let his gaze intentionally drift down to her lips, before saying softly, "Like a recharge."

Understanding blossomed within her, along with a shy smile that hovered at the corners of her mouth. "Seems like you're fine, Murtasim." She responded, the weight of her worry lightening with his playfulness. Nonetheless, she leaned in to kiss him gently on one cheek.

As she started to pull away, he turned the other cheek toward her, eyes twinkling with that playful glint she had come to adore. The subtle invitation was impossible to resist, and she obliged, planting a kiss on his other cheek as well. As she did, her heart swelled with an emotion that was hard to name but impossible to ignore.

It felt like relief, like love, like home—all intertwined in that simple, intimate gesture. After that, they fell into a comfortable silence, her hand lingering on his face. Her thumb traced circles on his flushed cheeks; he seemed a bit disoriented still, but the affectionate look in his eyes told her more than any words could.

As she looked at Murtasim, Meerab found herself caught in a quiet study of his face, as if she were seeing it for the first time yet also as if she'd known it all her life. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, but they still held that deep, inexplicable allure that had drawn her in from the beginning.