Layla

Almost there.

Ya Malik's message caught my attention as I gathered my iPad and textbooks, and stuffed them into my bag, ready to leave for the day. Whenever Ya Malik finished early with work, I'd force him to pick me up instead of the driver. Now, it was a routine he did intentionally as much as he could. Today was one of those days. The class had just ended. Professor Fahad had just wrapped up his lecture, and the buzz of students leaving the hall filled the air. I was halfway to the door alongside Rahina when I heard his voice, calm but assertive.

"Layla, could you stay behind for a moment? I need to talk to you."

I paused. His tone didn't seem casual. It never did with me as of late.

I turned slowly, catching his eyes on me as he leaned against his desk, his usual calm demeanor accompanied by a slight, almost too personal, smile. This wasn't the first time I'd noticed it, he'd been more obvious lately. More... suggestive, if I'd say. There were the texts that had started with academic inquiries but slowly turned into something else. And now, this.

I walked back toward the front of the room, my pulse quickening. He was always professional, and respectful in his approach, but there was no mistaking the undertone in his actions and words recently.

"Yes, Professor?" I asked as I kept my voice steady.

He gave me that smile again. The one that made half the girls in the school swoon. Once upon a time, it had the same effect on me too, but lately, I'd found myself increasingly indifferent.

"I wanted to talk to you about that case you were asking about a few minutes ago, the one involving the murder." He said, his voice low and rich, almost like he was talking to me alone in the room. Well, he technically was.  "It's an interesting one, a bit more complex than it seemed at first."

I blinked and tried to focus. I had brought it up in class because it had been all over the news, a high-profile case involving a prominent figure. The case was handled by the law firm Professor Fahad was a partner of, which was knowledge to everyone. "Yes, I saw that," I replied curiously but cautiously, as I took a step closer. "It seemed pretty straightforward at first, but it's spiraled into something much bigger."

To stay updated with the materials I studied in class, I made it a mission for myself to look into and stay updated with the crime world. I took a lot of interest and Professor Fahad's firm did a good job when it came to handling high-profile and most sought-after crimes.

He nodded, his gaze intensifying. "Exactly. There are layers to it, especially with new evidence that's been brought forward. I've been working closely with my firm on this one."

I leaned in slightly, my curiosity piqued despite the tension in the air. "What kind of evidence?" I asked. I didn't see the new development in the news.

"Forensics, mainly." He smiled a little wider this time. "Something that is pointing toward a potential second suspect, but I can't disclose much yet. It's all under wraps for now."

I slowly absorbed his words, becoming more intrigued. I couldn't help but feel drawn into the case, it seemed much more than the media had presented. For a brief moment, I forgot about the undertone of the conversation.

"You've always had a sharp eye for detail, Layla." His tone softened now. "It's why I wanted to offer you something... an internship at my firm. We could use someone with your intuition and academic excellence."

I blinked. And then, I blinked again. "An internship?" I couldn't believe it. His law firm only happened to be one of the best and most sought out by everyone, whether to represent them or to work there. We've talked about the possibility of trying out an internship there with a few other students in the class, the one class he lectured, but it was albeit unproductive when we found out they hardly take in interns. The offer came out of nowhere, and it was hard not to feel flattered, but somewhere in my mind, at the same time, a knot formed in my stomach.

He stepped forward, a little closer while watching me intently. "Yes, you'd be perfect for it. Think about it. It's a great opportunity."

If this was a few weeks ago, I'd not even think twice. But I hesitated, unsure what to say. This was no small offer. The firm was well-respected, and the experience could do wonders for my career. But his smile, the way he was looking at me, it felt too personal, too... loaded. Respectful but still.

"I... Thank you. I'll definitely think about it." I replied as I forced a polite smile and shifted my weight a little.

His eyes stayed locked on mine, his smile lingering. "Good. I think you'd make a wonderful addition to the team. And of course, I'd be there to help you along the way."

There it was again, that suggestiveness, lingering just beneath the surface. I knew it wasn't in my head. It wasn't obvious enough to call out, but it was there, nonetheless. His smile, the one that used to make me feel giddy and nervous, wasn't anymore.

But as he smiled at me now, his teeth gleaming under the classroom lights, all I thought about was Asad.

There was no comparison, really. Where Fahad was all about appearance, carefully curated, and obviously aware of his effect on people—Asad was... different. His appeal was quieter, but more overawing regardless. He didn't rely on charm or smiles to draw someone in. He was steady, reserved, and thoughtful in ways that I never noticed Professor Fahad's. But those eyes, his mismatched, intriguing eyes, had been on my mind more often than I cared to admit.

I wasn't one to focus on the physical features of a man, not usually. But something about Asad's presence, his quiet strength, had started to occupy my thoughts more than I cared to admit. Even as Professor Fahad stood in front of me now, offering something as significant as an internship, my mind was elsewhere.

"I appreciate it a lot, Professor," I repeated as I tried to pull myself back into the moment.

I saw the flicker of satisfaction for a brief moment as his smile broadened. "I'm glad to hear that, Layla. Just let me know when you've made your decision."

I nodded as I tried to suppress the strange feeling creeping up my spine.

I headed to meet Ya Malik parked in front of the building. Out of all his cars, he decided it would be a good day to drive the Audi R8 I damaged last time. Maybe a little exaggerated but I did damage his side mirror and I knew exactly who told him about it. There's no way he noticed and didn't ask me what happened except if someone had told him exactly what happened and only one person knew every detail, and it wasn't Lulwa. I slipped into the passenger seat.

"Done on time today?" Ya Malik asked, turning to give me a mocking smirk. I knew he was referring to the other day when I kept him waiting and I overacted. I didn't entertain it because I didn't want to talk about how the events took a turn, changing some course of my life.

"Yep, survived another one," I said while rolling my eyes dramatically as I clicked on my seatbelt.

He shifted the car into gear. "You always make it sound like a warzone."

"Studying law is a warzone."  I grinned. "But I'm heading to Pilates after this, so that's my reward." My law course schedule was intense, and moments like these, where I could unwind even slightly, were precious. And besides, I love rewards.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "You went back to Pilates? What happened to the whole gym thing with your friends?" He asked amused. "Thought you were lifting weights now." He mocked as I remembered how I was very adamant about starting the gym with the girls because we were "strong enough". Safe to say, we weren't. Pilates activities were still hard, but the gym was more physically demanding than, and as a hobby, I didn't see myself doing that. I gave up the remaining membership fee I had paid the gym, it's only a matter of time before the girls did too, I knew.

I nervously laughed before replying to him. "Yeah, about that... I tried the gym, but it just wasn't for me. Maybe it's the intensity or the whole vibe, I don't know. I felt like a fish out of water. But Pilates? Pilates is my thing. It's tough but graceful, and it just makes sense to me. Plus, it's such a good break from school madness."

He shook his head, amused. "So, what am I then? Your personal driver now?"

"You did offer to pick me up, and I was already planning to go to Pilates after class." I shot him a playful look. "Might as well drop me there, right?"

He groaned dramatically, his attention divided between the road and his phone.

I valued my hobbies and despite how crazy busy school made me, I tried to carve out time for things I loved like cooking with Ummi, Pilates, body care at Aunty Yamaniya's, painting, etc. Working out wasn't just about staying in shape, it was part of my self-care. I cared about self-card and maintenance as much as I did about my studies, as much as I loved learning. I had periods where I would give more time to one hobby than the other and vice versa. Right now, Pilates had long become a favorite, a perfect balance of strength, relaxation, and elegance.

"What time are you going out?" Ya Malik asked without taking his eyes off the road.

"I will probably be out in an hour." I mindlessly replied. There was a beat of silence before he hummed in curiosity. I looked up at him again and questioning was written all over his face as if he was confused. And then it clicked, he was confused because I didn't reply to what he was asking, there was a detour.

My brother was asking about my dinner date with Asad later and my heart flipped uncomfortably while my insides rolled. I didn't know where to anticipate the conversation to go. It was a date with a guy who had unofficially asked for my hand but still, it wasn't like I was allowed to as much as talk to boys in any romantic way. Ya Malik didn't allow me after endless of strict and stern warnings. I never bothered to even though my friends did respectfully encourage me to give chances to some.

"Oh, that." I started. "I think it's 8 pm." I finished with a small smile.

"You think?" He raised an eyebrow. "If you are not sure, you are not going anywhere." He said sternly, but I knew deep down he was pretending to be.

"I mean... I know but I don't know where."

"It's a dinner." He said casually as if I didn't know. But he didn't. I knew I didn't tell him. He probably heard from Ummi, but I didn't inform her that it was also a dinner date. So except if...

"You know?" I asked my eyes bulging out. "He told you. You spoke to him." I said knowing fully well I was right. I noticed how I omitted his name.

"Yes, of course, I do. You didn't think you were stepping out of the house without my permission, did you?"

No, I didn't.

Especially not a dinner date with a man. I had discussed it with Ummi after Asad informed me about it a few days ago knowing she was going to think about it and tell my brother about it. My family was comfortable and relaxed with the idea of Asad as if they've known him for a long time, I knew the reply from both wasn't going to be a no but maybe a maybe, and compromise. We were a traditional family rooted in two rich cultures but very modern regardless. We did untraditional things that'd be looked another way but as long as it's not wrong, my family didn't bother worrying about it.

I knew most of the cautious efforts that were put around me when it came to relationships were more Islamic than family values, and one reason they were probably relaxed with Asad was because of his projected values. His family's values background was no secret and his actions from the beginning showed how much he was into the religion and culture.

"No, of course not." I let out a nervous laugh. "Do you know where it's going to be though?" I asked suddenly more curious about the location. Asad had refused to tell me and I didn't press, mostly because I didn't want to look pushy and wanted to remain composed in his sight. But lowkey, I was dying to know.

"Yes. I do." He replied absentmindedly.

"Where's it?" I asked, suddenly excited.

"What, he didn't tell you?"

"Nope, he didn't. So tell me."

"No, then. You will see when we get there."

"We?" I asked a little more loudly than I intended. "You are coming too?"

"What are you on about?" He asked amused. "You thought you were going alone? With no chaperone?" He laughed.

I rolled my eyes.

"Hm, you know too much." I mocked. "You shouldn't."

"I do because I am your older brother."

I squeezed my face and then smiled.

"With that said, his elders are coming for the introduction." Ya Malik made eye contact with me before turning back to the road.  "Soon."

A beat passed and, then another.

"What?"

As the weight of Malik's words settled, I felt a rush of thoughts filling my mind, taking me back to the conversation we had a few nights ago. The memory felt vivid as if it had just happened. I had argued with him, insisting that it was too soon, that Asad and I hadn't had nearly enough time to get to know each other. I remember the way Ya Malik sighed, his tone gentle yet firm, as he reminded me that this was simply how things were done in our family.

"We don't drag things out, Layla," He had said, watching me with that familiar mixture of patience and big-brother authority. "None of our cousins had long courtships, and that's just the tradition. Our family—and his—believe in moving things along once there's an interest. There's less room for rumors that way."

He'd explained how coming from the same Fulani background, Asad's family shared similar values. They didn't entertain prolonged talking periods between potential partners, either. The elder generation was set in their ways, preferring formalities over anything else. Ya Malik had even admitted, in a moment of sympathy, that he would have preferred to wait another month or two before taking Asad's family's request for an introduction to our own elders. That was the most he'd have done from his side as well.

"But..." He'd paused, frustration flickering in his eyes. "Uncle Jo walked in on you two talking earlier, and well, he came straight to me after and insisted we speed up the formalities. You know how he is, he's always worried about what people might say. He doesn't want anyone thinking you're 'courting' for too long without an official step." He said using the name we used to refer to our uncle behind his back.

I had felt a pang of irritation then, a sharp awareness of how the wheels of tradition had begun to turn faster the moment Uncle Jo laid eyes on us. He wasn't the type to meddle often, but he took our family's reputation seriously, and it was obvious he'd been caught off guard seeing Asad and me alone—even in the comfort of our own home. Though he wasn't too strict about potentials spending time together, the way he'd looked at us told me he would have preferred walking into the room under different circumstances, with our intentions already announced.

His expression hadn't been harsh, but he hadn't exactly been smiling, either. He had politely shaken Asad's hand, nodding approvingly when Asad mentioned his father, the retired businessman. Uncle Jo had responded with a hint of nostalgia, telling Asad that he would have loved to work with his father before he retired, mentioning how he'd heard good things about him from colleagues in their line of work, but was glad their kids were getting to work together now referring to Asad and Ya Malik. But behind his words, I could sense his discomfort, a silent message that he wasn't pleased about this unsupervised encounter. It was only after Asad left that I learned Uncle Jo had immediately gone to Malik and delegated him to move things along, clearly hoping to avoid any possible talk among our extended family.

And yet, I couldn't blame him. Not really. In our world, the introduction wasn't just an introduction; it was an announcement, a way of signaling to everyone that the families were aware, that the courtship was now public knowledge and, therefore, less open to scrutiny. There was a sense of security in that, a feeling that once the elders had given their approval, the whispers would stop. It would be a statement to the world that this potential union was respected by both families.

I glanced over at Ya Malik as he drove now, watching the road with a steady gaze. His words floated through my mind, the reassurance that this was just a formality. I knew he'd done his best to balance our family's traditions with my need for time. He had been as patient as he could, but the moment Uncle Jo stepped in, I understood that our timeline had shifted.

"Does he know about tonight?" I couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

Ya Malik scoffed and chuckled. "If he did, he won't spare either of us."

I laughed at the scene as I imagined it, it wouldn't have been a funny sight knowing her uncle.

Thinking about Asad, I felt a softness within me. Despite everything, our time together so far had felt right, natural in a way I hadn't anticipated. He had a calming presence that made me smile just thinking about him, a warmth that had slowly begun to melt away my initial reservations. In my heart, I was certain that I would grow to like him more deeply. And maybe, just maybe, someday, even love him.

The introduction was simply the next step. It didn't mean we'd be married tomorrow. It was just a way of formalizing our intentions, of letting our families witness this new beginning. But there was still that subtle hint of uncertainty, a whisper of fear about what lay ahead. A small voice in the back of my mind wondered if I was truly prepared for everything that came with this choice.

I took a slow breath, trying to shake off the feeling. This was my path now, and I had chosen it willingly. Even with the fear, there was a sense of hope, a belief that everything would unfold as it should. And for now, that would be enough. I sighed at the boring elders' thoughts.

_________

Hello readers,

Did we like this long chapter?🤭 I want to know your predictions for the date we've coming up in the next chapter. The more comments and reviews, the faster an update (the next chapter is ready).

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