Muslim Love Story (Under Major Editing)

Chapter 23 - HUGS

Edited. ✅

x HIRA x

I stirred in my sleep as I heard my alarm. I looked at the time on my phone through half closed eyes and groaned.

There was also a good morning message from Amir, but I didn't reply to it. I'd see him anyway. My eyes felt puffy and I didn't want to go to school today, but I had a maths test that there were no repeats for. 'If you're on your death bed you better bring your coffin to class because should there be a miracle and you end up surviving, you still aren't allowed to sit this test on another day' was what Ms Elliot had said to us. The scary part was that if that had actually happened to someone, we all knew that she meant what she said 100%.

I rolled over and got out of bed, walking to the bathroom to wash my face. My eyes were puffy, yes, but I was in no mood to try concealing it so without bothering with any form of make up, I put on my hijab and a long shirt with a plain skirt and left my room with my phone and backpack. I saw my mum and dad having breakfast with Hassan, hearing noises from the kitchen. I assumed it was Waleed preparing himself a healthier breakfast option than what was on the table.

"Sabahal khayr." I said as I sat in my usual seat. My mum's face changed immediately from a smile of enthusiasm to a look of concern. "Honey, have you been crying?" She asked, features etched in worry.

I shook my head no with a small smile. "I'm fine, mama." I said simply and my dad gave me a sad smile, knowing what was up as he simply nodded at my mum, silently telling her that he'd explain later.

She looked at him in concern but he grasped her hand to comfort her and she sighed before turning to Hassan and putting Nutella on his toasted slice of bread, then placing it on his plate.

I smiled at Hassan as I watched him peel off the crust before biting the toast. I hadn't been spending a lot of time with Hassan lately and after some thought, I decided I'd take him to the park today after school. "Hassan?" I said.

"What?" He answered.

"Do you want to go to the park with me today?" I asked him with a smile on my face as I took a toast and two boiled eggs from the middle and put them on my plate.

His eyes lit up in excitement as he gasped in happiness. "Really!?" He asked enthusiastically.

"Yeah, really! If you want I'll buy you ice cream too." I said to him, wiggling my brows.

He clapped his hands and laughed before cheering. "Can Waleed come as well!?" He asked right as Waleed walked in and sat down next to me, the bowl of oats and fruit being placed onto the table with a loud bang.

The smile fell off my face as I watched him shove a spoonful into his mouth, not even bothering to look at Hassan or me. I cleared my throat and turned back to Hassan. "If he wants to, but he might be busy." I smiled, trying not to make Hassan feel bad that he was on the receiving end of Waleed's sourness.

"Waleed, do you want to come to the park with me and Hira?! We're going to get ice cream too!" He said enthusiastically, trying to get our brother to join as well.

"I have work, buddy. I can't make it. Sorry." He mumbled.

I shut my eyes as all the excitement drained from Hassan's face in an instant. "You can't call in sick?" I asked with a scoff, getting mad at him for ruining Hassan's happiness just because he was angry at me.  He didn't even have to call in sick and I knew that he could make it if he really wanted to.