Her Awakening

Chapter 18: The Gentleman

I woke up early, the soft glow of dawn filtering through my curtains. I turned my head and smiled, seeing Melissa still asleep beside me. Her face was relaxed for the first time in days, her lashes fluttering slightly as she dreamed. Without makeup or her wig, she was just Melissa—raw and real—and she took my breath away.

Carefully, I slipped out of bed, not wanting to disturb her. I wandered into the kitchen, feeling a rare desire to do something thoughtful. Breakfast. Maybe it wasn't much, but I wanted her to feel cared for, even in the smallest way. A full English breakfast seemed like a good idea.

Except I didn't cook. Like, at all. But how hard could frying some eggs and sausages be?

Turns out, a lot harder than I thought. Five minutes in, I was glaring at the stove as if it had personally offended me. By the time I managed to burn my first batch of sausages and create something resembling scrambled ashes, I knew I was out of my depth. I didn't even have all the ingredients.

Resigned, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I landed on Nadine. She was the only person who wouldn't roast me too much for calling this early.

"Jalal?" she answered groggily after a few rings. "Do you know what time it is? I have lectures in three hours."

"Good morning to you too," I said, already regretting this. "I need a favor."

Her tone immediately shifted to one of intrigue. "Oh, this has to be good. What kind of favor?"

"I need you to get me some groceries. Breakfast stuff... and, uh, a few essentials for a guest."

There was silence on the other end, followed by an audible gasp. "A guest? As in... a lady guest?!"

"Nadine—"

"Oh my God!" she squealed. "Who is she? Is she pretty? Wait—obviously she's pretty if you're making breakfast for her—"

"Can you just do this without making it a thing?" I interrupted, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Hmm," she mused. "What's in it for me?"

"Fine. Dinner at that sushi place you've been pestering me about. And I'll cover your Uber."

"Done!" she said far too quickly. "But I'm doubling my sushi order. And I want dessert."

"Fine. Just hurry up."

Before hanging up, she let out a dramatic cackle. "This is so going in the family group chat."

I eventually managed to salvage two plates of breakfast after what felt like a battlefield of burnt pans and broken eggs. They weren't perfect, but they were edible. Feeling accomplished, I decided to sneak out for a quick jog while waiting for Nadine. On the way back, I spotted a flower shop and picked up a bouquet of sunflowers, daisies, and yellow roses. Cheerful and warm, just like Melissa.

When I got home, Nadine was perched on my counter, scrolling on her phone with a mischievous grin. Several grocery bags sat next to her.

"Nadine," I warned as I walked in.

She waved her phone at me. "Too late. Mom already knows about your 'mystery woman.' You're welcome."

"You are the worst," I muttered, grabbing the bags