"you say it's destined and there's no use trying to change it?

what if it's destined if i try and work harder to earn it?

you never know. and that's why never lose hope - inaya.

The elders had gathered up in the living room for a quick snack and to catch up with their lives . Even as days passed by , they just didn't seem to have enough time to talk about all that they had missed .

Especially Valerie and Elsa . That sister duo got excited over everything and often squealed almost every second when they would recall a new memory .

All the girls would occupy the room upstairs while the boys enjoyed their time soaking up the sun or drenching themselves on a beach .

Hafsa had long since seen Gabriel's message on her phone . It came out a Surprise to her that he got her number . But if wasn't something to be too shocked about when he had sisters who had her contact information .

She had decided to give the matter some serious thinking because she had never any males number . Not that it was a serious issue , but she could not just ignore that teachings of her religion . It was strictly prohibited to interact with non mahrams . Besides , she was very uncomfortable with talking to the opposing gender anyway . Faaris happened to be with them for long enough to have been trustable enough and she barely talked to him . Not to mention , he was her brother in law and she had a familial sort of relationship with him .

"Inaya , can you come out with me for a while ?" Hafsa nudged Inaya in the ribs , as she turned away from the laptop screen .

They had been in their room for the last few hours watching some movie that Hafsa just could not enjoy with whatever was on her mind .

Inaya regarded a little confusingly before excusing herself to join Hafsa who had already moved out .

"What's wrong ? Is everything okay ?" Inaya questioned , helping a very jumpy Hafsa to sit down on a stair .

Inaya occupied one right below her and placed a hand reassuringly at hers . "Hafsa , what's wrong sweetie ? You've been spaced out for quite a while ." Inaya softly asked , as Hafsa sighed loudly in response .

"It's just that , Gabriel messaged me on WhatsApp and I'm not sure if I want to add him as a friend ." Hafsa grunted , running a hand down her face .

Inaya stared at Hafsa , thinking about it deeply . Hafsa was a little uncomfortable of her sister's way of thinking because she often stared in the air , her mind sorting out through her train of thoughts while balancing between haraam and halaal . It felt like she was staring at something in the air .

After what seemed like a few minutes , Inaya sighed loudly . Which was not a good thing . It only showed that Inaya was confused about the situation .

"Okay , so Hafsa ," She straightened her back and looked at Hafsa with an encouraging nod of her head . "From what I've noticed about him for the last few days , he's not a bad person . Plus he seems to somehow respect Islam indirectly . Remember that day we went to the mall and stopped at a mosque to pray ? We saw him enter the men's side of mosque didn't we ?"

Hafsa recalled very clearly . Because it was something he had done for her . That day , he had removed his shoes and placed them in a rack outside the entrance . He had walked up to Hafsa who was busy chatting with Mariam on her phone , winked at her and mouthed I'm trying . After that she stood staring at him , until he disappeared along with the crowd of people moving through the large brass doors . The words and actions hadn't sunk into her completely so she still was stuck to the same spot watching the doors to see if he was just kidding and would walk back out . But then , she was interrupted with Inaya along with Samantha and Sarah who had decided to sit quietly in a corner of the mosque while the Imaam lead the prayer .

"Yeah , I remember very well ." Hafsa involuntarily smiled , his wink making her heart skip a beat .

"That I can see ." Inaya smirked , crossing her arms tightly across her chest .

Hafsa's eyes widened and she quickly replaced her smile with a frown . "What ?"

Inaya shrugged ."I sort of could trace a faint glow in your cheeks ."

Hafsa rolled her eyes , finding her heart swelling with happiness .

Gabriel had gone to a mosque for her .

"But just know that , your friendship can't be taken any further . You can very well talk to him and maybe be stay in contact . But strictly nothing else than that ." Inaya sternly ordered and Hafsa frowned deeper .

"We're not friends !" She protested , glaring at Inaya .

Inaya raised an eyebrow elegantly ."It seems like you are ."

The cousins had all occupied the living room , after greeting Alexander who was going away for a day or two for a new project .

While the elders were greeting him and sending him off , the horror movie had finished halfway through . The girls had ducked down into their seats and were covered in large blankets laying across the floor in

"Guys , I'm going to get some popcorn . Anyone coming with me ?" Derek nearly shouted over the loud volume of the movie , shocking all the girls as they resorted to screaming .

"SHUT UP ! YOU ALL WILL SCARE THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD ." Gabriel shouted over the noise , as the girls faintly started to calm down .

"Who the hell shouts like that ?! Especially when you're watching a horror movie ." Afra shot up from her position , shouting like a mad woman at Derek .

"I just shouted because I was telling that for the last five minutes and nobody was - " Derek replied slowly , very stunned at Afra's reaction while Gabriel stepped in .

"Why the hell are you guys even watching it ? It's not a movie for pipsqueaks like you ." Gabriel huffed , pointing a finger at Afra .

Hafsa and Inaya gulped at what would be coming next in the exclusive horror movie they were watching . Afra's hands were shivering as she clenched and unclenched them beside her . Samantha and Sarah were just glaring at Gabriel who was having a good laugh .

Without a warning , Afra slid a slipper out of her foot and shooting a small smile at the girls , advanced forward at Gabriel who ducked an attack very narrowly .

"What are you doing ?!" He snapped at her , while still escaping her attacks .

Everyone chuckled as she raced him out of the room . He sought refuge within the backs of the elders who very confusingly tried to bring Afra under control .

"Afra ! Stop it honey !" Valerie shouted , grabbing her arms and trying to calm her down .

Elsa , on the other hand was shielding Afra , while the rest of the cousin gang watched them from the doorway of the living room , knowing that only the elders and most experienced people could bring them under control .

"Gabriel what happened ? Why were you guys shouting ?" Victor demanded , staring sternly at him .

"He called us pipsqueaks !" Afra answered , trying to lurge at Gabriel who was being hidden by Elsa .

"Gabriel , apologize !" Valerie demanded strictly , narrowing her eyes at Gabriel who sighed and slumped .

"Fine ." He pursed his lips . "Sorry ." He muttered softly while Afra rolled her eyes .

"Let me just beat him once ! Just once !" Afra pleased , holding up a finger .

Elsa rolled her eyes ."Afra , sweetie , he apologized already ."

"Ma , he didn't even mean it . Did you see the way he apologized !" Afra yelled in disbelief , while Gabriel stuck his tongue out at her .

"Ma , please . Just once , I promise ." Afra kept hopping from a foot to another , almost shooting daggers in his direction every time the adults tried to subside her anger down .

"Fine ." She huffed and stomped to the living room , sitting along with the girls as they all silently watched the movie .

Somewhere along the time they were engrossed in it , Gabriel had silently trudged into the room and occupied a seat , without letting his presence be known .

Afra smirked as she saw him out of a corner of her eyes seated and very disturbed about being attacked again as he kept shooting furtive glances at her .

Once the movie had ended and the lights were switched on , taking advantage of the disturbance going around , Afra cleverly pulled her slipper out and aimed it at his head . A couple of seconds later , when he had stopped moving around she cross checked her aim and threw the slipper . To Afra's Surprise , it landed right on his head .

"Bull's eye !" She exclaimed , dancing as she heard Gabriel flinch and instinctively rub the spot over his head . When his eyes landed on a very confident Afra , with her head held high and hands on hips , Gabriel broke into an amazed chuckle .

"That girl , really is something ." He muttered to himself .