Adventures of Sinbad and Layla

Growing Up

Esra paced her bedroom. The nerves were at an all-time high and she didn't know how she was going to tell her parents. She promised she was going to tell them the news today but she had no idea how they were going to take it. And what were they going to do to the other one involved? It was stressing her out...

But she had to tell them.

"Okay, Esra. It's now or never," she said to motivate herself.

It was 8pm meaning that her father was resting after a long day's work and her mother was probably massaging his head. Taking a deep breath, she left her room and made her way to theirs. She reluctantly knocked on the door.

"Come in," Layla called.

Esra entered the room and low and behold, Sinbad rested on Layla's lap as she massaged his head. She closed the door behind her and sat on the bed.

"Is dad asleep?"
"No," he answered himself but keeping his eyes closed. "Are you okay, princess?"
"Yes."
Layla raised a brow as she noticed the nervous expression on her daughter's face. "Are you sure?"
Esra sighed. "No..."

Sinbad instantly sat up. The tone of his daughter's voice showed that she was under some sort of stress.

"What is it?" he asked worriedly.
Esra gulped as she glanced between her parents' awaiting eyes. "I...need to tell you something..."
"You know you can tell us anything, Esra," Layla said softly.
Esra instantly felt more relaxed. "I like someone."

Sinbad and Layla went quiet as they tried to process what she had told them. Layla tilted her head slightly at her vague confession and Sinbad looked more serious as his brows furrowed a little.

"You like someone as in a friend? Or you like like someone?" he asked.
"I like like someone," she clarified.
"And how long have you liked this someone?" Layla asked.
"Um... A few months. But he only asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday."
Sinbad quickly shook his head. "Wait. Yesterday? You didn't leave the palace yesterday."
Esra suddenly felt more nervous again. "Yeah, about that... He's a guard in the palace."
Layla gasped as she was hit with realisation. "Omar?! I knew it!"

Sinbad's eyes were wide with shock. Not only did his daughter fancy one of the guards in the palace, but his wife knew about it.

"Hold on a second," he said with an annoyed glare at his wife. "You knew?!"
"Well, I didn't know. But I was getting vibes that Omar and Esra liked one another."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't want to jump to any assumptions," she shrugged.
"But this is the kind of thing you usually tell me about!"
She rolled her eyes. "When was the last time we spoke about this kind of thing?!"
"That's not the point!"
"I thought if Esra wanted to tell us, then she would."
Esra sighed loudly. "I didn't tell you guys so you could start arguing!"
"You're right," Layla said calmly. "We're sorry."
"I'm not!" Sinbad yelled.
Layla whacked his arm. "Stop it, Sin."
He rubbed his arm and pouted. "Sorry..."
She breathed out and turned to Esra. "Now, tell us. How did this all come about?"
"First dad has to promise not to get angry," Esra said.

Sinbad pretended not to hear her and looked around the room. Layla whacked his arm again making him hiss from the pain.

"Okay, fine! I promise I won't get mad."
Esra breathed out calmly. "Well, I noticed him when he first began working here when you recruited extra guards about six months ago. He was so handsome and he had the most charming smile."
"He's not going to be smiling much longer," Sinbad commented.
Esra ignored him. "He was later assigned as part of the team assembled to escort me to my trip to Estia when I went with mom."
He looked at Layla. "You didn't spot this?"
She glared at him. "Shut up, you idiot."
"Anyway," Esra continued, "I plucked up the courage to start a conversation with him," she told them before laughing softly. "He said he was on duty and couldn't speak freely but I had to insist. Things began developing from there and I realised that I would long to see him. And he would always steal glances at me around the palace."