Hers to Love

Chapter 5

The week flew by in a blur of routine and excitement for Maria. Each day after work, she found herself eagerly heading to the coffee shop, knowing Amir would be there. Their conversations grew deeper, their laughter more frequent, and their connection undeniably stronger. What had started as casual chats over coffee had blossomed into something much more meaningful.

One evening, as they sat at their usual spot near the window, Amir was telling her a story about his younger sister, who had a knack for getting into mischief. Maria listened intently, her heart warming at the way his eyes sparkled when he spoke about his family.

"She's always been the wild one," Amir chuckled, shaking his head fondly. "But she's got the biggest heart. My parents are always saying how she reminds them of my grandmother."

Maria smiled, imagining the scene. She had learned so much about Amir's world in the past week—his culture, his beliefs, his deep respect for his parents, and his love for his siblings. Each detail made her more curious, more eager to know the people who had shaped the man she was growing so fond of.

"I'd love to meet them someday," Maria said, almost without thinking. Her words hung in the air for a moment, and she quickly added, "I mean, if that's not too forward."

Amir looked at her, a mix of surprise and warmth in his eyes. "You'd really want to meet my family?"

Maria nodded, feeling a little shy but also sincere. "You talk about them so much, I feel like I already know them a bit. Plus, family is really important to me too. I'd like to meet the people who are important to you."

Amir's smile widened, a soft expression crossing his face. "That means a lot, Maria. They'd love you, I'm sure of it."

Feeling a surge of affection, Maria reached into her bag and pulled out a small package wrapped in colorful paper. "Actually, I brought something for them," she said, holding it out to him.

Amir blinked in surprise. "For my family?"

"Yeah," Maria said, a little embarrassed but also excited. "These are some sweets from the Philippines. My sister brought them when she visited last month. I thought it would be nice to share something from my culture with yours."

Amir took the package, his expression softening even more. "Maria, this is so thoughtful. I know they'll appreciate it. Thank you."

She shrugged, trying to play it cool, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face. "It's nothing, really. Just a little something."

But Amir shook his head, his gaze locked on hers. "No, it's not nothing. It's really special. I'm lucky to have someone like you in my life."

Maria felt her heart skip a beat at his words. There was something in his tone, something that made her wonder if he was feeling the same way she was. She looked down at her coffee, suddenly feeling shy under his gaze.

"You're not so bad yourself," she said with a small laugh, trying to lighten the moment.

Amir chuckled, but the warmth in his eyes remained. "I'm glad we met, Maria. I really am."

She looked up at him, her nerves slowly melting away. "Me too, Amir."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the world outside the coffee shop moving on without them. In that small, cozy space, everything felt just right.

As the evening wore on, Maria found herself thinking more and more about what it would be like to meet Amir's family. She wondered what they would think of her, if they would see what she saw in Amir, if they would accept her as a part of his life. The thought made her nervous, but also excited.

For now, she was content to take things one step at a time, enjoying the growing bond between her and Amir. Whatever the future held, she knew she was ready to embrace it—sweets from the Philippines and all.