The wonderful song is suggested by SophieQH... Thank you so much, dear Sophie!! I fell in love with it! And it fits perfectly in the story...

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“You sure can cook,” I said, my lips twitching into a smile. “You're right, it's addictive.”

Mixing cereal was really worth it. I'd finished the whole bowl before Akram finished his. Apparently, I'd been starving, but Akram knew exactly what I needed. The perfect combination of sugar, chocolate and cinnamon helped the knot in my stomach to untangle a little.

“Wait till you try my tuna melt sandwiches.” Akram winked. “Have seconds?” He grabbed the cereal boxes and attempted to serve up more into my empty bowl.

I spread my hand over the bowl. “Oh, no. My poor tummy can't handle more.”

“Are you sure? Everyone needs to indulge themselves from time to time.”

“Indulgence is not for me.”

Akram's forehead puckered. He shook his head, exaggerating a pout. “I should've brought ice-cream.”

I bit back a smile. “That could've worked.”

“Hmm! More OJ, then?”

“I'm full to the rim.” I joked

Akram chuckled and got up, swiftly removing the bowls and glasses. I sprang up to help him empty the kitchen table.

We piled the dishes in the sink, and I automatically turned on the water faucet to rinse them, when Akram stopped me with a gentle touch on the back of my hand.

“Just leave everything,” Akram said and turned off the water.

“Sorry.” I shut my eyes and blushed. I froze for a second before I turned around and leaned my back on the kitchen sink. It was a knee-jerk reaction that came out of nowhere, but I knew I had no right to do that in his place. What was I thinking?

Stealing a furtive glance at Akram's face, he stood casually, but there was a visible change in his expression. As if he was deep in thought. He tilted his head and motioned to the table. “Please?”

I bit my lip and walked back to sit on my chair. I didn't mean to overstep my limits, but that couldn't be the reason for the change. The solemn crease of his eyebrows made my insides squirm.

Akram sat across from me. He stared at his interlocked fingers on the marble table. There was no trace of the former humor. His eyebrows were pulled together into a tight knot.

“Mel.” Akram swallowed, bracing his hands tighter. “How are you?”

Biting the tip of my thumb, my stomach matched the clench of his hands.  “Okay! You?”

Oh no! Akram, don't go there. Please, don't go there!

He cleared his throat. “I’m Ok if you are.”

My heartbeat screamed: Red alert! Red alert!

Arms coiled around my body, a shiver ran through my back. “W-what is it ?”

Akram disengaged his hands and pinched the bridge of his nose. He stayed silent for an excruciating moment, and I began to shake internally.

"I'm really sorry, Melody.” He lifted his eyes to mine, tight lines forming on his forehead.

I blinked, my body tensed up.

Why is he sorry? Is it for bringing me here? God, I should've left when he was praying!

“What for?!” I asked.

The sun shone brighter from the window. A car honked somewhere from a distance and I flinched. It wasn't even loud, but my nerves were on a high wire.

Akram reached a hand to remove his beanie hat. He tousled his fine cocoa hair, and stared at the beanie in his hand for a moment before he lifted hooded eyes to meet mine. “I broke my promise again. I didn't mean to.” He had this deep, indecipherable expression that tugged at my heart.

My hands reached up, clinging to my shoulders. I bit my lip until it hurt.

That's not fair. He shouldn't apologize after all he's done for me. I'm the one who should beg for forgiveness.

“Doesn’t matter.” I murmured. “I'm Okay... thanks to you.”

“It matters to me.” Akram's throat moved. He lowered his eyes, and shook his head. “I should've been there sooner, but I wasn't.” His hand slid slowly across the table to my side, palm up. "Forgive me?”

The intensity of his eyes sent a shockwave to my heart. His open hand begged to take mine and I couldn't refuse. I uncrossed my arms and let my hand nestle into his. He pressed it lightly into his palm.

. “Akram I… I'm fine. Sorry for all the--”

“Are you sure?” Akram interrupted, his tone husky. “You didn't look fine las---” He bit his lips shut.

I shuddered. Flashes of the night's terror passed fleetingly inside my head. Akram had been too kind to me. He didn't deserve this. The dark shadows across his eyelids made me want to slap myself.

Oh, Akram! I'm sorry! It's all because of me. And now, on top of everything, I'm guilty of doing this to you.

I gulped, my hand shaking in his grasp.

Akram stroked my knuckles back and forth with his thumb. His lips parted, closed, and he sighed. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before he asked. “Remember when we... went to that Italian restaurant?”

Following the soothing circles his finger branded on my hand, I nodded. The warmth of his touch calmed me a little. How could I forget that dinner? It had been the first time he'd opened up and shared so much about himself. It was our first… real moment.

“I babbled on like a buffoon.” Akram uttered a short chuckle. “But you listened and you didn't judge me.”

My legs began to bounce under the table. The muscles of my face quivered involuntarily, a bad feeling washing over me.

Akram scanned my face, a worried look lingered in his eyes. He rose from his chair. “Hey, would you like some ice water, instead of ice cream?” He asked. A smile perked up on his lips.

I nodded quickly. “OK.”

I thought he was going to say something else. Like demanding the truth? Grilling me with questions?

I relaxed a bit when he marched toward the fridge, opened the freezer, then scratched his head. He turned back, shaking his head and fetched a clean glass from the top cabinet.

“Man, I'm such a chump,” Akram scoffed and slapped his forehead. “I forgot to get a glass to put the ice in.” He rolled his eyes as he shuffled back the freezer, filled the glass with ice cubes and then tap water. He placed the glass in front of me and slumped on his seat, making a funny face.

I simpered, mumbling a low ‘thank you’.

“Please, don't tell my mother I'm a bad host. She might disown me.” Akram held his hands up in a comical plea.

A smile peeked through my awkwardness. “Nobody has to tell her.”

Holding the glass between my hands, I took a slow sip of water. I closed my eyes as the wintry texture of ice touched my lips and slid to cool my mouth. I couldn't resist chewing on the ice, savoring the chill that cooled my nerves.

“You really enjoy this,’’ Akram noted, his voice laced with amusement.

My eyes opened, heat seeping into my cheeks. “Enjoy what?”

“Crunching ice.’’ He scrunched up his nose. “My teeth hurt just thinking about it.’’

“Er! Yeah.”

“How does it feel?” He propped his arm on the table and rested his head on his hand, inspecting my face intently.

“Well, uh!... It's calming.” My blush deepened and I focused on the glass.  “Refreshing, and... Crushing it is somehow... satisfying?”

Are we seriously discussing this? Out of all the things he could've asked me?

“Interesting! That's exactly how I feel about coffee. Except for the crushing part.” Akram chuckled. “Which reminds me… Do you have work today?” He burst out with the question, scratching his brow.

I lowered my eyes, thinking of what to tell him that wouldn't ruin everything more than it already was.

Nope! I'm jobless now. I have no income. I have no place to go. I'm a hopeless mess!

“We’re off duty for a while,” I said in a monotone.

“Oh, no!” Akram's frown returned. The heavy expression came back to paint his face, then it died down shortly, replaced by a playful pout. “I knew it! I've been annoying you guys for a long time, and you decided to shut down to get rid of me. Your employer must hate me.”

My eyes widened. “Gosh, That's not true! Mrs. Charan is the nicest employer. The café is just temporarily closed.”

Not that I know how long ‘temporarily’ is…!

“Oh! You mind if I asked what happened?”

“Family emergency. Asha's mom had an accident.” My chest ached to remember Asha's tearful face. I should've been with her at the airport. “She’s Mrs. Charan’s sister. They had to fly to India.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I crossed my arms on the table and looked away. Memories flooded my head again. I was homeless, unemployed, I lost my friend and every penny I'd saved. It wasn't fair to bug him with that . He would think I wanted his pity, or his money. I'd lost enough dignity so far.

A warm touch caressed my arm. “Hey! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” Akram asked.

I glanced back at him, and my heart skipped a beat. “What… are you thinking?”

“Nobody’s going to make my favorite cappuccino? I think I'm going to cry.” His eyes gloomed, while his words were supposedly playful. Akram gave off mixed messages today. He was joking, right? He couldn't be serious.

Oh, Akram! What's going on in your head? Why aren't you interrogating me already, instead of making my brain implode?

“I can make you some… If you like,” I said, chewing my lips and taking in his handsome features. I would do anything for him, if I could. At least to pay him for his kindness.

“But I don't have a coffee maker.” Akram pursed his lips and stared up, running his hands through his hair.

“Wait!” He leaned in across the table. “I need your help.”

“What do you mean you need my help?” I squinted.

“You're a coffee expert. I need you to be my shopping partner,” Akram said, enthusiasm sparkling in his eyes. “You can pick the right coffee maker and teach me how to use it.”

“You mean now?!” My eyes expanded.

“If you don't mind.” He cocked his head slightly, giving me this irresistible look through his lashes. “Please? I can't survive without coffee. You know that, right?”

“I'm not an expert. I haven't been a year in the job.”

“You're the only one I know. Won't you do this for me? For a friend in need?” Akram spoke with so much fervency that didn't match the topic.

I gaped, stumped for a while. “Alright... Um, let me just get my things.”

“You'll get them when we return.” He jumped up from his seat, a triumphant smile on his lips. “I'll go change in five minutes.”

Akram darted out of the kitchen, leaving me perplexed by his strange attitude.

Staying put, I curled up over the tabletop and cupped my head between my hands.

I didn't mind doing this favor for Akram. He deserved much more than simple gratitude. After all, he'd done more than I could ask for, but I shouldn't impose on him much longer. He'd been through so much trouble because of me.

At this moment, I couldn't help wondering; then what? What would I do next? Where would I go? Asha wasn't here anymore to lean on her for support. The poor girl had her own load to handle.

Tears prickled my eyes again. I blocked them with my hands.

There weren't many options. Renting a room now was out of the question with my limited funds. Churches no longer take strangers in because of all the theft, and I can't blame them.

I vaguely remembered this paper the counselor had handed me before I left the shelter. Was it a recommendation for other shelters? Maybe I should give it a shot. But… what if it was worse? What if there were other Vivians? How would I know that I wouldn't be bullied or abused? There wasn't any guarantee.

My chest tightened and I pressed my cold fingers on my puffy eyelids.

I still need a job… I can't count on the few hundreds Mrs. Charan spared me. They won't last a couple of weeks. God, I wish Asha was still here! I need her daily fix of distraction right now.

A gentle voice whispered. “Hello?”

I quivered, my hands dropped down and eyes shot up. Akram was dressed up in dark jeans and a cream button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up. He was simple and elegant as always.

“I'm ready,” he said. His smile touched the corners of his eyes as he offered me his hand.

*****

Hello dear ones

I know! I know! It's short and nothing much happened. I just didn't want to keep you waiting because of my slow progress. I'm hoping the next update will be longer, but please bear with me until then. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you.

Please vote and Comment if you like it enough.

* So how do you feel about Akram's behavior?

*Do you think Melody has a good reason to be so afraid of confrontation?

*What do you think will happen next?

Stay safe and happy...

Much love

Most_bay