Better Late Than Never

41

The plane came to a slow stop on the runway and Ayra kept staring out of the window she sat by, watching as it drizzled. The weather matched her mood and the only thing she was grateful for was the quietness of her mind, no matter how temporary it was going to be.

Sighing softly, she looked away from the window when the safety lights of the plane went off, and focused on unbuckling her seatbelt while trying to not pay much attention to the man who sat beside her. It was easier said than done. His perfume – a mix of the scent she was used to and also one that was new – was in her every inhale, and every move he made was caught in her peripheral vision.

Ayman closed the book he'd been reading and put it in his bag before unbuckling his seatbelt just the way she did. Like her, he was trying hard to not pay her much attention but it was impossible. He couldn't do it, no matter how much effort he was putting into it.

It was the first trip they'd barely said a word to each other and it hurt the both of them deeply. On the flight from Madrid to Paris, they'd sat on different rows, with people they didn't know, so it was easy to pretend that all was well and not think about the awkwardness. In Paris, they found out they were to seat next to each other, and while Ayman had told himself he'd be able to manage, Ayra had known she wouldn't be strong enough to do it and she'd wanted to change.

Unfortunately, Ibtihaj spent a long time throwing up in the restroom and they'd spent even longer changing hers and Adil's seats so they were closer to the restroom on the plane. Once the changes had been confirmed and attention was given to the switch Ayra wanted, she (Ayra) told the attendant to not bother.

She told herself it was just for a few hours and it wouldn't be that bad. She'd known it'd hurt but nothing had braced her for how much it did, and how she painfully missed and longed for their usual conversations where it was always to get him to laugh each time they talked on such trips.

Ayman rose from his seat and got their carry-ons from the overhead compartment. He handed her the backpack she'd carried along; a backpack he'd seen her get nearly two hours before they left Madrid. "Here."

Ayra forced a grateful smile on her face while her chest tightened. She stood before taking the bag from him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome...Let's go?"

She nodded, taking her eyes away from his. "Yeah, let's go."

He put on his backpack, his chest tight as well, and then forced himself to turn away from her so he could lead the way. It was easy to find the others and Ayra asked Ibtihaj if she was okay.

Ibtihaj sighed weakly. "I just want to go to the house abeg. I already sent Mummy a message."

Adil told Bisan and Naila that Ibtihaj was dropping at Plum Boulevard with Ayra and they told him it was okay. No one minded the arrangement. They got off the plane and proceeded to the conveyor belt to claim their luggage. While they prayed, Ayra used the restroom and then got a cup of coffee from one of the cafes, exhausted in more ways than one but knowing that she'll need to gather strength to act as though all was well in front of her family and the Adeolas until she was settled in enough to let the act drop.

A little while passed before they got on the chartered bus. Ayman was one of the last ones in and he walked to the back, taking the seat behind Ayra's because he wanted to be close to her, not knowing when he'd get the opportunity again.

They'd already agreed – before everything that happened – that when they got back to Aomi, they'd take about three days to rest before returning to the office. However, he kept his mind open to the fact that she might need some more time and he was willing to give it to her whether she asked or not.