Roses & Bullets ✔️

~46

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AUTHORS POV
[EDITED]

Between Maami and Dadaa, there was silence - thick and palpable, like a physical presence. It was clear they'd been having a tense conversation before the knock on the door interrupted them.

Maami broke the tension, flipping her gaze to the door and calling out, 'Come in!'

Sadiya, Amal and Jamal entered, their smiling faces illuminating the room. Maami's heart swelled with warmth.

''Ah ahn who I'm I see here? I thought you guys already left! Jamal!?'' she exclaimed.

"Where have you been?" Maami added her smile so big while Jamal just smiled shyly

"Maami, how are you doing?" Amal asked, embracing her in a tight hug.

Sadiya joined in, hugging her from the other side. "How are you feeling? How's your health?"

By the bed, Jamal shook hands with Dada.

"I'm feeling much better," Maami replied, smiling warmly.

"How are you girls doing? And Jamal, I haven't seen you in how many years? You just left without a trace!" She teased, playfully glaring at him.

Jamal chuckled. "You know, Maami so many things happened. I had to leave for education and all."

Mommy hummed already knowing what happened, then turned her attention to Sadiya and Amal.

"We're all fine," Sadiya said. "We heard about your heart attack from Ihsan. We were worried. She came to our house and told us you'd woken up."

Amal nodded. "We had to come see you for ourselves."

Maami's eyes welled up with gratitude. "I'm glad you're here. It means so much to me."

Dadaa's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Sadia, look at how chubby you are! I can't believe it. What did UCLA do to you to make you gain weight?"

The room erupted in laughter. Sadyia playfully knocked her head, grinning. "Dadaa, I'll never hear the end of this for the rest of my life!"

Maami chuckled, shaking her head. "stop teasing her."

Maami spoke up, nostalgia in her voice. "It's crazy how you guys went to separate uni after secondary school. I thought you guys would all attend the same university."

"Yes, I know. Life took us on different paths" Dadaa nodded wistfully.

The room fell silent for a moment, filled with memories of what could have been.

Dadaa chuckled a bit, smiling. "I can't believe you actually applied to SNU. I thought you were joking about studying in Korea."

"I never joke about my studies, Dada." Amal grinned.

"You always joke about your studies!" Sadiya playfully smacked Amal's head.

The room erupted in laughter.

Maami turned to Sadiya, teasingly "UCLA really changed you, Sadia. You used to be the quiet, shy, and thin one. I won't stop talking about how you gained weight – it suits you!"

"Remember when Sadia couldn't lift a half-full bucket of water?" Dada joined in, laughing.

He shook his head, chuckling. "Look at her now."

Sadiya blushed, laughing with her second family.

"I know right" Jamal say quietly

"You know I thought Ihsan would choose SNU. I never thought she'd go for MIT! Becoming a neurologist? It's crazy!" Amal exclaimed