Unexpected But Mine

chapter-19

The days leading up to their trip flew by faster than they realized. Finally, it was the morning they'd been waiting for.

At the airport, Emira clutched her boarding pass and passport, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the corner of the paper.

Her suitcase, slightly heavier than necessary because she had overpacked out of excitement, dragged clumsily behind her. She looked around the terminal with wide, curious eyes, absorbing every tiny detail - the soft announcements, the subtle buzz of people bustling past, the glossy floors that reflected the overhead lights.

Shaheer, walking a step behind her, watched her quietly, his lips tugging up into a fond smile. Her nervousness was almost tangible.

When he saw her struggling with her suitcase, he stepped in effortlessly, taking the handle from her hand.

"I'll carry it," he said with an easy smile, his voice low and reassuring.

Emira blinked up at him, her cheeks flushing slightly at her helplessness, but she nodded, her heart feeling lighter already. With him around, even the scariest of firsts didn't seem so scary anymore.

Boarding the plane felt like stepping into a whole new world for her. In the luxurious business class,

Emira sat stiffly in her seat, hands pressed flat on her lap, unsure of how anything worked. She glanced at the fancy seat controls, the remote, the different buttons, feeling a little overwhelmed.
Shaheer noticed immediately.

Without making a big deal out of it, he leaned over, showing her quietly how to recline her seat, where the remote was hidden, how to adjust the reading light. His fingers brushed hers lightly, and every time she glanced at him in silent gratitude, he would just offer her a reassuring nod, pretending it was all the most normal thing in the world.

"You're doing better than most first-timers," he teased under his breath once, making her let out a soft laugh, her nervousness easing bit by bit.

The flight was smooth. From her window seat, Emira leaned against the glass, staring out into the endless sea of clouds painted orange by the sinking sun. She whispered little exclamations of wonder now and then, and Shaheer - pretending to read a file - kept sneaking glances at her like she was more fascinating than anything outside the window.

Their trip was planned to cover a few neighboring countries before reaching Malaysia, where Emira would meet her foster father. It was going to be a long adventure, and Shaheer wanted to make every part of it special for her.

When they landed in indonesia. Bali,after a few hours, the evening air was warm and thick with the scent of the ocean. Their hotel by the beach was straight out of a dream - white walls, cozy balconies, the soft murmur of waves in the distance.

Emira couldn't stop smiling. She twirled slowly in the grand lobby, head tilted up, taking it all in.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, almost to herself.
Shaheer carried their bags to the check-in desk, his heart impossibly full at the sight of her so happy, so alive.

Their room was even better - a large window opened directly to the beach, sheer curtains fluttering in the salty breeze.

Emira gasped and immediately pulled out her phone. She started recording a video tour for Alize, even though Alize hadn't asked her to.

"This is the door... here's the cute little coffee bar... and the view!God, Alize, look at this view!" she narrated softly, spinning the camera around.

Shaheer leaned by the door watching her quietly - the way she marveled at every tiny detail like it was treasure, the way her laugh echoed lightly in the room.