***
Ariya and Saleh couldn't even touch the food on their plates, since their chatter and laughter seemed to fill their stomachs instead.
Haider watched them with a scowl forming on his face, his slim frames hiding his glower.
His heart ached as he watched the two bond over a past he knew nothing about. It was as if Saleh filled in the pieces of her fond memories, walking her through a path of "nostalgia" he had never been a part of.
"Wow, this is good, brother! Did you make it?" Joyah spoke from beside him as he fidgeted with the spoon in his grip.
"لا، لقد صنعناه معاً"
(No, we made it together.)
He replied unconsciously, his stare never leaving her.
Joyah ate another mouthful, her cheerful eyes shifting into a frown due to confusion.
"Why aren't you eating?"
She asked to confirm something.
"لستُ جائعاً..."
(Not hungry...)
He let the Arabic slipped out quite naturally and then Joyah's frowned deepened. She nudged Arwa who was struggling with Sarah on her lap, trying to feed the child something before she could take a bite herself.
"You know, my brother has a habit of speaking in Arabic when he is annoyed."
Arwa relentlessly moved Sarah away from her, giving her to her husband and turning to see what Joyah was on about.
Unlike Joyah, Arwa was quick witted. One glance at the situation and a slight amused smirk was already playing at her lips.
"Let's try your theory once more."
She whispered, oddly entertained.
"Haider, what do you think of Saleh?"
"أمر مزعج للغاية. أريده أن يرحل في أسرع وقت"
(Seriously annoying, I want him gone already.)
Joyah and Arwa giggled at his response and watched him bend his spoon whenever Ariya tapped Saleh's arm to show him something.
Those were her little habits that only he knew. Tapping someone before speaking, even in the middle of a conversation. Scrunching up her nose when she wanted something. Squinting her eyes unnecessarily.
All those small habits he had memorised were being used on someone else.
His blood boiled at the sight of it. He gritted his teeth until they made a faint cracking sound, his fingers digging into his thighs as he fought to hold himself back.
"يا الله، ارزقني الصبر"
(Ya Allah, give me patience.)
He repeated it in a whisper until he could feel his روح (essence) settle in his chest.
"You haven't changed at all," Saleh remarked with a chuckle, folding his sleeves up to his elbows.
"Wha- what do you mean?" Ariya replied in a silly tone.
"I mean..." He locked eyes with Haider. "You still suck at hiding your emotions."
"Eh-"
She gulped, feeling confronted.
Her stare met Haider's for a split second before she quickly brought it back to Saleh.
She awkwardly scoffed, but her breath caught before she could find the words.
"What... do you know?"
"Hmm..."
He brought a finger to his chin, staring up at the ceiling as though he were seriously contemplating the answer.
He tilted his head from side to side, his eyes squeezed shut in exaggerated concentration, before suddenly opening them wide.
"I know that you're probably still scared of love."
Ariya's eyes widened.
"And that's probably what's making things difficult between you two."
Ariya gasped, immediately covering her mouth. She wasn't speechless because of his precision; she felt unveiled.
"Ariya, you won't be committing a crime if you fall in love, so don't hold yourself back."
Saleh uttered the words with a goofy smile that slowly turned into a concerned one as he tilted his head, waiting for her answer.
He knew her better than she thought. Though Ariya was good at hiding her emotions, they were still crystal clear to someone who had known her from the earliest forms of her personality.
"You were always scared that this might be the wrong one, and then, when you were already so deeply in love, they'd leave you. You couldn't bear that thought, so you refrained from it entirely."
Ariya listened, every word reflecting back what she had felt all this time. Saleh was gentle while speaking, taking great care to make sure others wouldn't notice the shift in her expression.
The guilt, along with the fear of the unknown, was what had been holding her back.
And then Saleh said those words.
Maybe it was alright.
Because this was Haider.
No one else but Haider.
A man desired by many, yet a man so upright.
"Remove those guards you've built around yourself. It must be hard enough for him. I really want you to think about him right now. Because imagine how hurt he must be, thinking that he'll never earn the affection of the woman he loves so much."
Ariya licked her lips, countless thoughts swimming through the abyss of her mind.
Her eyes drifted to his side once more, but he wasn't there. He was long gone, perhaps off to bring out the desserts. Yet that empty seat shook something within her.
One day, the seat would truly be empty.
One day, he wouldn't be there anymore.
Because how long could he wait? It was only a matter of time. And then, all she would be left with was regret.