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Months later

The wedding is getting closer, just a few months away. Sometimes, I can't believe it. Muhammad, of all people. I never expected this. He and I got pretty close when I was in the UK. He said we should at least be friends, but honestly? Being "friends" with him is... ugh. I don't even know when those heart emojis started flying back and forth, but now they're normal. Maybe I'm just getting used to it. Maybe he's being extra sweet. I don't know.

Anyway, Alhamdulillah, I graduated with first-class honors two months ago. It feels like a weight has been lifted, and I'm grateful that we pushed the wedding back three months. I've needed time to catch my breath.

I was deep in thought when Norah burst into my room, banging on the door. "Ya Layla, Baban seni çağırıyor (Daddy's calling you)," she said.

"Geliyorum (I'm coming)," I responded, rolling my eyes. She had that excited tone, as always.

I was still in my sweatpants and sweatshirt, hair tied up in a messy bun, but I grabbed my phone and left the room to see what Daddy wanted. When I walked into the living room, I saw him on a call, Nabeel engrossed in his phone, and Norah... being Norah. I silently walked over and sat on the one-seater next to Nabeel, scrolling through my own phone. Then, Dad cleared his throat, drawing my attention.

"Layla, why are you alone in your room when everyone is sitting here having a good time with the family?" he asked, typing something on his phone.

"Daddy, I had a massive headache," I replied. He raised an eyebrow.

"Subahanallah, how's it now?"

"Better, Alhamdulillah. I took something for it," I said, giving him a smile.

"Good, good," he said, smiling back. Typical Dad, always checking in.

Norah started talking about school and her upcoming graduation day, and I was kind of zoning out when my phone buzzed. It was a message from Muhammad.

Mr Moh: Hey! Are you free today?

Me: Hey there, yeah I am. What's up?

Mr Moh: Okay, coming to see you.

Me: But I wanted to go to Ibty's.

Mr Moh: Okay, I'll take you, what time are you going?

Me: Really? Around 3:30, inshallah.

Mr Moh: Okay, I'll be there, inshallah. Bye❤️

Me: Bye💕

I smiled a little to myself, even though I wasn't sure when these heart emojis became a thing between us. But, okay. They felt nice.

"Abla!!" Norah's voice brought me back to reality.

"Ne?" I asked, a little annoyed.

"Please tell Ağabey to take us out for ice cream." She pouted, and I shot a look at Nabeel.

"Please Ağabey, take her out for ice cream," I said, teasing him.

"Norah, I told you I have somewhere to go," he said, not looking up.

"What do you mean 'her'? What about you?" she asked, looking confused.

"I'm going out," I said, giving her the look.

She nodded, continuing to disturb Nabeel until he finally agreed. I checked the time: 2:30. Time to get ready.

Up in my room, I went straight to the bathroom to perform ablution and pray. Afterward, I stared at my closet. Ugh! I never know what to wear. Finally, I spotted a brown abaya I'd gotten from my friend Hindu's vintage collection. I paired it with a matching veil and my beige YSL shoulder bag.

I went to the mirror, applied my kohl, mascara, and a little lip gloss. As I reached for my beige YSL sandals, my phone buzzed. It was Muhammad.

Muhammad: I'm here.

I went to Anne's room to tell her I was heading out, but she wasn't there. I found Daddy and Anne laughing about something, and I joined them.

"Bu kadar güzel giyinip nereye gidiyorsun? (Where are you going dressed up like this?)" Anne asked, a teasing smile on her face.

"Muhammad'le çıkıyorum (I'm going out with Muhammad)," I said, looking down.

"Tamam, Allah ikinizden de razı olsun, yolun açık olsun. (Okay, may Allah bless you both, have a nice trip.)," she said, her smile warm.

I smiled back and went downstairs. There he was, talking to Norah, his back to me. I just smiled at the sight of him.

"Hey," I said.

He turned, and that smile of his... I swear it still gets to me. "Hey babe," he whispered. Shivers. He's got no idea, does he?

"You ready?" he asked, and I nodded. But then, of course, Norah piped up.

"Please can you guys drop me at my friend's house?" she asked, fluttering her lashes.

"Hayir (No)... yes," Muhammad and I said at the same time.

I looked at him, confused. Why would he say yes? I wanted some alone time with him, and now she's tagging along?

"I thought you, Ya Nabeel, were taking her out for ice cream?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That slimey guy! He ditched me!" Norah said, and I couldn't help but laugh.

I sighed, but Norah seemed so happy Muhammad said yes. Whatever. I just wanted to get to Ibty's, anyway. So I went upstairs to get ready.

I slipped into my usual routine, freshened up, grabbed my phone, and went downstairs. We were ready to leave when I noticed what Muhammad was wearing. A grey pair of jeans, a white button-up shirt, and—wait—was that a black Hermes bracelet?

"Hadi gidelim (Let's go)," Norah said, and jumped into the passenger seat of the black Mercedes.

The ride wasn't long, maybe ten minutes. Norah got dropped off at her friend's house, and then it was just me and Muhammad in the car.

We fell into silence, but I decided to break it.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To pick up Ibty," he said, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Okay," I said, pulling out my phone and logging into Snapchat. I snapped a few pictures, added the flower filter, and posted a couple of them.

"Why do you girls like that flower filter?" he asked.

"It makes you look beautiful," I said, glancing at him.

"But you're beautiful just the way you are," he murmured, making my heart flutter.

I smiled and put on the filter, flipping the camera to take a picture of him. He looked so handsome. He didn't even notice until I giggled. "What did you do?" he asked, but I was quick to show him the picture.

He snatched my phone, and I reached for it. "Hey, give me back my phone!"

"And why would I do that?" he said, laughing.

"Because it's mine!" I replied, laughing too.

Before I could say anything else, his phone rang.

"Hey Salma, I'm fine, and you?" he answered.

"Why won't I go out with her? She's my fiancée," he said, and I felt my heart skip. Fiancée?

I looked at him. "Who's Salma?"

"She's a friend, a family friend," he said, looking at me.

I nodded, though I still felt uneasy.

We finally got to Ibty's house, and after all the jokes and back-and-forth with him and Ibty, I started to feel pain in my stomach.

"What's wrong, Layla?" Ibty asked.

"Just some abdominal pain," I replied, trying to brush it off.

Muhammad insisted we go home right away. I was secretly relieved.

He dropped off Ibty and then me, and as I got out of the car, I smiled. "Thanks for today," I said.

"You should go rest," he said. "Make sure you take your medicine, okay?"

I nodded and went straight to my room. My stomach still hurt, but now I had time to rest—and think. About everything, really.

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