Complete book available on both Okadabooks and Selar. Link in my bio.

"I got you this. Take it, I owe you this much since it's my fault yours had a problem."

That was what Aahil said when he handed Amina a black box wrapped neatly with a silk bowtie that he'd fetched from the backseat of his car upon dropping her home. They spent a little while longer at the Namsan Tower after their dialogue, before they decided to call it a night.

Weirdly enough, the drive back home wasn't awkward though neither of them spoke to the other throughout the drive. It was peaceful though each had a lot they wanted to stay to each other only to hold back. One believed there's enough time to say it all, and the other believed the right time will come. No need to rush.

Regardless, Aahil eventually pulled up in the underground parking lot of their building, where they both got off. While she made a move to pick her belongings, he picked out the box and rounded the car to reach where she stood.

Amina hesitantly took it from him, eying the box warily. "What is this?" She inquired. It felt light in her arms, she couldn't imagine what he could've possibly gotten for her there.

He dropped his hands by his sides, one of it rubbing the nape of his neck for a split second before his voice came. "Open it when you get home." His lips slanted into a small, soft smile. "You'll love it, I promise." He affirmed, sounding so certain though he was anything but internally.

He can never be sure with women. He could only hope she likes it.

She eyed the box again, seeming as though she was hesitating to take it because she really is. She wasn't sure if they're at the point of giving each other gifts, more like him giving her gifts just like that. Just a few hours earlier, he gave her a new pair of shoes. And now this? Whatever it is.

It's going too fast; they weren't close enough for that. Besides, she'll feel bad to always be on the receiving end.

He must've seen the hesitation across her features, so, he was quick to add in a light tone. "Keep it." He encouraged. "Can we call it truce?"

"Truce?" Her brows drew in, as she stared at him in confusion. She thought they'd already done that.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he took a step closer to her, seeming more serious than she'd ever seen him before. He nodded, to confirm his earlier statement. "Yes, truce." He looked down for a brief second, looking for the right words to use before he met her gaze again, this time more determined. "I'm truly sorry for everything I'd done up to you up to this point. I honestly had no intention of making your life hard. I was just childish, and failed to realize how I've made your life hard in the process. I know an apology won't be enough, but I hope it'll be the beginning. So, I hope, we can call it truce with this. That we'd be good."

He had been meaning to apologize for a while, and though he knew apologies were simply just words, he still wanted to say them, earnestly. Perhaps, she would see the sincerity behind his words and recent actions.

Even if she doesn't forgive him, an apology seems to be the first step down the right path. They haven't spoken of it at all, simply pretending it didn't happen. He felt it wasn't right. Since he's at fault, it's better he started to rectify it by apologizing.

Amina blinked, caught up by the sudden apology. Truth be told, she wasn't expecting that from him at all. Given, she'd seen the clear difference between the Aahil she knew before and the one standing right in front of her, she didn't think he changed that much. She liked this Aahil more. Quite a lot it happens.

Still, she pressed her lips together and then shrugged. "I'm not sure if I can accept your apology now." She feigned a serious expression. "You should give me a while first. I can only accept it if I'm sure you're not going back to your old ways."

His lips slanted into a small smile, which he tried to hide. "So, you'll vet my actions?"

"Yes. Are you afraid?" She quirked a brow.

"A bit." He confessed, knowing it wouldn't be easy. "But, I'm sure I'll make it in shaa Allah."

She nodded slowly in agreement to his words. "Wait for my answer then." She held up her serious expression, though deep down she didn't mean it. "You'll get it soon."

Aahil blinked, hesitating for a split second before he nodded, meeting her gaze again. "Soon, then." There seemed to be an underlying meaning to his words, but she didn't pick it up. He didn't give her the chance to.

His lips slanted into a small smile, one that didn't reach his eyes as he took a step back. "You should head up and rest. It's getting late." His voice was low, and soft—his expression not as bright as it was earlier.

Her brows drew in, her lips slanted into a slight frown. "Aren't you coming up as well?" He was right, it is late as they just came back from their little date at the Namsan Tower. They could just head up together, why is he letting her go alone?

He suspired, his smile widening slightly though it still didn't reach his eyes. "Head up first. There's something I still need to take care of." He took in a discreet, sharp breath. Then, he added in a low voice. "I'll be back before you know it."

She could sense something amiss, but choose to not give much thought to it. She was exhausted. It's been a long day for her. All she wants to do is head upstairs and sleep in the comfort of her bed. That's all she needs at that moment. She didn't have the energy to keep chatting with him. They could continue the next day.

"Okay," She nodded, offering him a wide smile before she took a few steps back, waving at him. "I'll see you later. Bye!"

Instead of giving her a reply, he simply nodded and offered a warm smile, waving back. "Look where you're going, don't trip." He warned in concern, seeing how she was walking backwards.

She rolled her eyes. "Alright, boss." She shook her head.

"Take care!"

"Always." She offered him one final wave before she turned around and headed to the elevator, stepping in. Before the doors closed, she could still spot him in the same spot she left him. She offered him a wide grin, and all she got in his response was him gesturing with his fingers for her to get going.

She nodded, the door closing and his face disappearing behind it. She sighed, staring at the beautiful box in her hand and then to the shoes she still had on—all courtesy of him. Who would've thought? That she would one day be on good terms with Aahil like this.

Surely, things happen when one least expects it.

Before she realized it, the elevator soon came to a halt on their floor. She stepped out, making a beeline to her room where she punched in the code and stepped in. She was welcomed by the sight of a familiar pair of shoes—Benazir's. She took off hers, despite not wanting to and slipped into her flops with a heavy heart; not before dropping the other box that now held the shoes she had on earlier by the side.

On reaching her room, she spotted the sight of Benazir already asleep under the heaps of blanket. Amina's lips slanted into a small smile seeing how carefree the woman was. It made sense she was that sleepy seeing it was past twelve already, even she was at the brink of sleeping. What more of Benazir whom had to travel?

She dropped the box aside on the vanity table, making her way towards the bed where she fixed the blanket for Benazir whom had kicked it aside, unbothered in her sleep. However, upon Amina fixing it for her, she was quick to hug her pillow closer and cuddle it, continuing with her deep slumber.

Amina could only smile softly, shaking her head in the process. She eventually decided to get out of her outfit—taking a quick shower as well before changing into a pair of pajamas. She intended to check the gift he'd gotten for her before she slept—however after the shower, all she could think about was getting in bed and dozing off.

She dismissed it, putting it in the back of her mind to check it first thing in the morning. With that thought in mind, she got into the bed as it was big enough to occupy them both, turning off the light before disappearing under the heaps of blanket as well; sleep holding her in its warm embrace almost immediately.

***

When Amina woke up the next day, Benazir was nowhere in sight. She got out of the bed, her hand reaching out to cover her mouth as a yawn escaped. Rubbing a hand down her face afterwards, she slipped into the nearest pair of flip flops and made her way out, in attempt to look for the woman.

However, upon reaching the kitchen, she was instantly met with the sight of breakfast already prepared for her, along with a note attached to it. Amina's lips slanted into a small smile, as he picked up the note and read what was written on it.

I'm off for work, you sleepyhead. Left you breakfast.

Let's have a real sleepover tonight. Will be back before 4.

XX, Benazir.

Amina placed the note aside, sparing the breakfast a glance, her mouth salivating at the sight. Weirdly enough, she woke up hungry so in a desperate attempt to satisfy her hunger, she hastily headed to the ensuite to brush and take a quick shower, changing into a comfortable outfit that consisted of a hoodie and joggers as she had the day free—courtesy of her dearest boss Ae Ra for her success of handling the project.

She got a week worth break, and she couldn't wait to indulge in it. Perhaps, she might even involve a certain someone into her free week—it'll be the perfect chance to bond more. The thought took place in her mind as she was eating breakfast, which also reminded her of a particular gift she'd gotten that's still unopened.

Being reminded that instantly had her chugging down the rest of her milk tea, wiping her mouth with the nearest tissue paper in sight before hastily disappearing off to her room to check it out. She settled on the vanity stool, with the box resting right in front of her.

Her finger carefully took a hold of the silk bow, and for a second she hesitated to ruin the perfect bow but the excitement to see what lay within was more, so she undid it hastily. With the bow now out of place, she carefully took a hold of the box and pulled the top open, to reveal the present that lay in it.

Her eyes widened almost instantly, her heart melting at the sight of a brand new MacBook laying there. There was a card beside it, which she picked out and flicked open to reveal the note on it.

To our writer.

May you write best sellers with it.

Aahil.

Amina found herself chuckling slightly, her heart swelling despite the note not saying much. Those two sentences meant the world to her though, they were the exact words even she didn't know she needed to hear.

She placed the note aside and carefully picked out the MacBook, dropping the now empty box aside while she rested the device on the vanity table. She muttered a 'bismillah' and then turned it on, it instantly coming to life.

It seemed he had already programmed it for her, because even the lockscreen was the aesthete of a writer. It was a cute picture that said 'Don't disturb me, I'm writing'. The wallpaper wasn't any less. Yet again, it was an aesthetic picture, this time around, with the saying being 'Remember to write today'. She wasn't sure where he got the idea to make those pictures a part of it, but he did well.

It might just be the motivation she needs to get some work done on days she didn't feel like it.

While revering how it all looked, and admiring it, her eyes fell on something on the screen. It seemed like a video clip, and it was named, 'PLAY ME'. Her brows drew in, lips slanted into a slight frown as she blinked. What could he possibly be onto like that? Because the thumbnail didn't give anything away—it was just a blank picture so it did nothing to satisfy her curiosity.

She wanted to ignore it, leaving it as a mistake or something but the name pretty much showed it was meant so that she would see it. Aahil leaving something for her to watch? She wasn't sure if she should anticipate it or be scared knowing him?

She weighed her options for a while, before she quickly chased out the part of her that tends to overthink everything. There was no need for her to think that much.

So, she kept those thoughts aside and moved the cursor to where the video is, before clicking on it. Almost instantly, the video file open, revealing something she never expected to see—or more like, something that changed the course of everything she'd known up until that point.