Aya

Chapter 27- Mischief

Aya's POV:

When I turned to go back inside, I nearly jumped.

Hammah was standing by the door arms folded, expression unreadable, eyes locked on me like he'd been waiting.

My heart plummeted to my stomach.

Nashiga uku.

Heat crawled up my neck as I quickly looked down. If he saw what happened outside... I'm dead.

"Hammah Jammandu," I whispered, hoping to slip past him. But before I could even take two steps, his voice stopped me.

"Aya... warr hado; Come here."

His tone was calm but firm enough to freeze me in place.

I swallowed and walked back to him, my pulse thudding loudly in my ears. He didn't scold me or ask any questions. He simply turned and started walking inside, and I followed behind like a child about to get lectured.

When we reached the small living room before Baba's main sitting room, he sat heavily on the couch.
I stayed standing back straight, fingers twisting anxiously.

"Jo do: Sit down."
He tapped the seat next to him.

For some reason, that made me even more nervous. I sat quickly, my hands on my laps, trying to still their trembling.

He didn't speak immediately. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands interlocked under his chin. The silence stretched and stretched until it wrapped around my throat.

Finally he said my name.
"Aya."

"Na'am, Hammah," I replied, my voice softer than I intended.

His eyes lifted to mine, steady, probing, older-brother serious.

"Are you okay?"

I blinked. Of all the things he could've asked... I didn't expect concern.

"I'm okay, Hammah."

"You know you can tell me if you're not, ko?" he said quietly. "If Zahid is... doing something that makes you uncomfortable."

My stomach twisted.
He definitely saw.

My face warmed instantly. "I'm fine, wallahi. Zahid will never do anything I'm not comfortable with."

"You're sure?" he pressed gently.
"You're not scared when he comes close to you?"

This time, the question stopped me completely and I realized why he was worried.

And it forced me to actually think.

Because fear was the one thing I never felt around Zahid. Even from the very beginning, when he touched my hand, when he leaned in close, when he hugged me earlier today, my heart always reacted, but never out of fear.

His presence didn't suffocate me.
It steadied me.
It felt... familiar, in a way I couldn't explain.

Like something inside me recognized him long before I ever did.

I exhaled softly.
"No, Hammah... he makes me feel safe. Never fear."

He stared at me, a deep searching look, like he was scanning every inch of my expression for even a trace of a lie. When he didn't find one, a slow grin took over his serious face.

"Lallai, Aya... ko kunya na ma baki ji; you're not even shy of me"
He teased.

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Goodbye, Hammah."

I jumped to my feet and made a run for it, his laughter echoing behind me, warm, full, relieved. The kind of laugh that told me his worry eased.

I headed upstairs to my room, the paper bag still clutched in my hand. My curiosity kept itching, and before I reached the door I gave in and peeked inside.