Sophia's P.O.V

"Abi Ana asif, I sorry, I am sorry Abi" I repeated saying as I hugged him tighter. I don't remember the last time I hugged my father. We didn't even hug each other when my mother died. Both Abi and I aren't very expressive people I realized at any moment in time could be my last moments with my father.

"it's okay ibnati, your safe now it's okay, I am sorry too." he consoled me hugging me back. and from that moment on I knew my relationship with my father would be okay for the longest time ever. Who knew that a near death experience would bring two people that barely talk to each other comforable back together?

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The weeks that followed the incident made both my parents and Rayaan's stressful and go to the extreme in their over protectiveness. We both ended up moving out of our little apartment building do to the safety issues and moved back home. It was either that or get a new place with probably five dozen body guards around us. Which honestly I don't think I can deal with that kind of hassle with everything else going on in my life. We still went to our classes even though it was farther than it was before. I decided on getting my driving license, and spend more time with my younger siblings, the more time I spend with them the more I notice little things about them. Before I moved I was detached from everyone in my family not only my father and that is one of my regrets. I used to shut myself in my room lock or spend spend as much time as I can outside of the house taking Islamic Classes anywhere opened or spending time at the bookstore It got to the point that I just felt like a in my own home noticing that I had absolutely no relationship with my own siblings. Ever since my near death experience I started thinking about the consequences of what my decision would do to them and ever since I came back I spend most of my free time with them I noticed Issa is the most peaceful among the three, Ilhan and Ismail seem to always be at odds making Issa the middle man. I sometimes very amusing to watch two five year olds be at war amongst each other while one tries to stay neutral which always makes me wonder how they'll be when they are older.

The weirdest thing that happened to me during break was that when I was going to take my sibling to the amusement park with me after they promised to behave Ray called me up to hang out with her and I told her it was cool with me as long as she was willing to go to the amusement park with me and my sibling and Ray being Ray invited Muhammad, Michael, Zunairah, Hanaan, Mario and Ethan. My feeling about Ethan at point was very conflicting to the point were I started having very long conversation not only with myself but also with Rayaan and Zunairah on our bus rides home after our parents finally gave in, in letting us ride it again. Zunairah had come with a concluding solution with my problem she said that Ethan seems like he really sincerely likes me and that I should stop being blind and notice how he acts around me. Ray suggested I make a pro and con list of all his traits I see and if the pro overrules the con I should realize that I like him as well. I did do that and I accepted that I do like him and that I'm somewhat infatuated by him. I mean come on he is good looking, respectful and has a a really good personality and to top it off he rocks with his beard and most of all he save my life. Which got me wondering how exactly I would approach this situation if there is a big possibility that he doesn't life me.

The amusement park was fun It helped a lot hat I had people helping me watch my siblings Hanaan brought her younger sister Hijriyah along which helped a lot with the issue of Ilhaan and Ismail unfinished war. Ilhan took an instant liking to her and completely forgot she was anger at Ismail for permanently disassembling her favorite doll this morning. which was a big relief to everyone.

After walking around in the scorching heat and going on some of the rides I decided on getting something to drink I told the others I was going to get something to drink and decided on taking Ismail with me not wanting him to cause trouble when I wasn't around and Ethan decided on coming with me. you know the worst thing about your friends knowing who you like is that they poke fun of it using gestures that only you could tell. Zurnairah winked at me as both Hanaan and Rayaan giggled and did the whole pumping fist and mouthed"fighting! Fight!" like in those Korean dramaswhich cause everyone else around them life they drank something they weren't supposed to. anyways Ethan, Ismail and I left and wen to the nearest place that sold Ice Tea and Ethan ordered two Ice teas for both of us and a fruit punch for Ismail we got our orders and were about to leave until someone called Ethan.

"Ethan! Akhi! Salam how have you been?" The guy greeted Ethan with a brotherly hug

"Wa alykumu Salam brother I've been good how about you." Ethan said greeting him back by patting his back and breaking free after

"Good Alhamdulillah. Brother you never told me you were married." the guy assumed after realizing both Ismail and I were standing next to Ethan. Shocking not only me but my little brother

"What the hell is that suppose to mean." Ismail said shocking me further

"Ismail language." I scolded him I mean back when I was his age I used to be afraid of saying hell and he is using it so freely.

"Sorry." Ismail said apologizing with his puppy eyes look making me crack a smile under my niqab. He is adorable and he seems to know it and uses his baby face looks to his advantage.

"No brother we aren't married yet this little kid is her brother we have to go back to our group now it was nice meeting you again Salaam." Ethan correct him making me wonder what he met by not yet. I s he deciding on asking me to marry me or is it just me over thinking things again

"Oh okay salaam to you as well. and tell Michael I said Salaam to him." the guy said as we parted from him and went to find our group and ever since that day I've felt like my mind was going over drive thinking about marriage to the point I one day asked Abi about my mother.

"Very interesting question, both your grandfathers were very close friends and classmates, but when my parents decided to moved to the U.S We kinda lost contact with each other until one day when I went with my father on one of his business trips and we met your mother father and at the time your uncle Issa was already married to your aunt

I remember the first time I proposed it was to her directly and you mother out right rejected me. I've never felt so rejected in my life. I thought about giving up but I really wanted her because she was so righteous so I went on a traditional route I asked my father to ask her father for her hand and you know what? your mother accepted my proposal."

"I Remember that day she came to me and told me about it when I asked her why did she reject you she told me that 'if he was man enough he would have approach my dad first'." Umu Ilhaan said astonishing me as she came inside with some chayhee and biscuits.

"You knew my mother." I asked not really sure if I heard right I never knew that she and my mother were close.

"Your mother was my best friend we grew up together and went to primary and secondary school together. We used to always be together until one day she got married and left to America. Marriage on the hand for me wasn't my top priority. I was too focused on my studies and getting my doctoral in biological and bio chemical science but your mother and I still kept in contact. I remember the time she had you It was one of the happiest days of her life and on that day she had asked me that if ever something happened to her and I was still around that I had to promise to take care of you with the best of my abilities. And I promised her.my promise to her was one of the reasons I agreed to marry your father in all honesty I was the one who proposed to him. Because I see you as my daughter and I can't bare the thought of you being without a mother and your life being invaded by insincere people. I felt it was duty to my dear friend to protect and take care of you."

"Wait you proposed to my dad? And you knew my mom? How come I don't know anything about this?"

"You never asked." Abi answered

"So how did you know my mom was the one for you."

"I just knew, It wasn't love at first sight it more like I knew I would come to love her. like there was something drawing me towards her. I didn't know how she looked like but the way she held on to her Deen was my ultimate attraction. I prayed to Allah for a believer to be the mother of my children and I not only got you but I got a second chance and got the triplets as well." Abi finished off holding Sumayah's hand and looking at her with adoration the same way I used to see him look at my mom when I was younger and I knew right away I wanted that kind of love and adoration so I told abi and Sumayah about Ethan and how he risked his life to save me and everyone during the kidnapping and that he took a bullet for me and saved my life getting hurt in the process. Abi was so intrigued that he told me to invite Ethan over and that he wanted to meet him. It took a while for me to Invite in over because I mean how would it seem if a niqabi when over to you and told you to come over to her house because her daddy wanted to meet you? but I eventually did for my father sake and to my surprise Ethan accepted. when he came over Abi and him wen to his office after having tea in the drawing room. they seemed to be in there for quiet a while before they out and ever since that day Ethan seemed to be a bit distant. when I asked abi what they had talked about he told me it was between him and Ethan and when the time comes I will know making me wonder if my dad did something to scare him off. And you know what It was the same day I admitted out to some one that I liked Ethan. It was to a person I never thought before all this happened I would tell first. Sumayah was happy that it was Ethan and she told me that she approved of him because he seems like a man with good characterand just by talking to him she knows he complements me and that if I liked him why should I wait around for a proposal from him and propose to him myself. If Khadijah did it fourteen hundred years ago why cant I do it now in the 21st century.

The Idea of me proposing to a guy just sounds ridiculous yet intriguing.