After leaving yall hanging for a year, you deserve updates up and down🌚

Sabrina shook her head, sitting on a couch in the living room of her house. Sighing, she massaged her temples, "I just don't get it Hanif. Dad loves Zayn more than all of us, despite all the circumstances, so why is he so adamant on keeping Zayn away?"

Hanif who sat beside her shrugged. "You know your father, he does everything for a reason"

"Exactly!" She exclaimed, "Is it because he doesn't want Zayn to find out the truth? It wouldn't make any difference considering the situation we're in"

Hanif nodded. "Yes but..." He sighed lowly, "Do you really think it won't make a difference? It'll change Zayn's perspective on all of you. You all know that"

Sabrina placed her arms on her thighs, then buried her face between her palms as she exhaled. "He's already drifted away from us and we're his family" Her voice came out low.

"Can you blame him?" Hanif asked, making her lift her head up to look at him. "Consider the circumstances you're all in now and think of him, not just yourself. For once Sabrina, think of him as your brother"

"That's why I'm doing this Hanif" She felt offended. How can he ask her to think as Zayn's sister? Wasn't she already acting as his sister. "I am thinking from his sister's perspective. I am thinking as his sister"

"Are you really?"

"Of course!"

Hanif shrugged. He knows his wife; she is too caught up in her beliefs that she wouldn't agree with anything he'll say. But, it won't change the fact that despite everything she's saying, whatever she's doing to Zayn is for her sake and that of her family's. She's that kind of person. "Don't be in denial for long Sabrina. Zayn's wouldn't consider you all as family anymore if he finds out the truth. For him to attend the family dinner after everything that happened meant a part of him, even though it's a small part, still considers you all as family. Trust me, it'll be better to let him know yourself before he finds out on his own, he'll drift father away from you and nothing can mend that relationship"

Sabrina blinked, fighting back the tears that want to well up in her eyes. "I just don't want to lose another sibling Hanif, can't you see that?"

Hanif rose a single brow. "Another sibling? Aren't you happy that Kulsum is gone? You got everything she ever had, right?" His voice came out cold. Speaking of his wife's late sister has always been a sore topic for him, especially since he knowsthat Sabrina hasn't regretted anything.

She claims to regret it but her actions prove otherwise.

Then again, old habits do die hard.

Sabrina swallowed thickly, eyes narrowed at her husband. Gritting her teeth, she spoke. "You know that's not what I mean"

"Whatever it is you mean; it won't change the outcome of how Zayn will react. The earlier you accept that, the better it is for everyone"

Sabrina clenched her fists, eyes still narrowed in slits at her husband. She parted her lips to reply, only for soft footsteps to put a halt to their exchange. It made them both look up, their gaze falling on their eldest child.

"Ammi, Abbi, are you okay?" The little boy asked, gazing moving from his mother to his father.

Sabrina's scowl immediately turned into a smile. She opened her arms for the boy to come towards her, "We're fine, don't worry" She wrapped her arms around the boy, hugging him tight, her hand patting the back of his head lightly.

Though she didn't give birth to him, she still loves and considers him a son to her. And to her, nothing would ever change that. Sure enough, she had made a lot of bad decisions in her life. However, one decision she doesn't and will never regret is adopting the child, because for him, and her other child that she actually gave birth to, she wants to become a better person.

Judging from the look she got from Hanif, he thinks so too.

"Your Ammi is right" Hanif patted the boy's head, his lips curling into a smile. "We're fine"

He lied to keep the boy from being burdened by his parent's worries. The boy had already gone through enough.

However, Hanif knows that they aren't fine. For the first time since he married Sabrina, he's wondering whether he made the right decision or not. For all he knows, her actions will be the downfall of their marriage if she continues.

To her, it's not a big deal. But it's always the smallest things we do which we don't think matter that piles up to become one big problem for us all.

And in Sabrina's case, Hanif could tell that it is what's going to happen.

~*~

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" She muttered, mentally smacking herself on the head for saying something that stupid.

Of all the things she could've said, that is all her lips could utter? She wanted to apologize for what happened to his car, she really did. But the fear choking her up made her utter the stupidest thing in the world. His car looked expensive, how would pay for it? It's not like she has all the money.

"What?" Zayn asked, his brows drawn in and lips curled into a deep frown. Is the woman nuts? He wondered. Who trashes another person's car and then ask them out for coffee? She has to mentally unstable. That has to be it.

She flinched at his tone. Any person could see the anger painted on his face and the one lacing his tone. "Is he a soldier or something?" She muttered, taking a few steps back for safety reasons. He gave off the type of chilly ambiance that soldiers give off when they're irritated.

If he really is a soldier, then I'm done for. She thought, gulping as she glanced at the broken window. She wasn't the one that broke it, but she is responsible for the person that did. Hence, she has to take the blame. "I...I mean..." She chuckled nervously, "I'm so sorry, I'll pay for the window?"

Zayn glanced at the broken window, then back at her. "Why did you break it in the first place?" That question bothers him the most because something about her seems oddly familiar. Her face...he's sure he has seen it somewhere before, but where? Was that all just in his head or did he really see her before?

She fiddled with her fingers, how would she explain now? She didn't do it. Truth be told, it was an accident and if she explains everything in details, she's sure he might let it go but she couldn't do that in case things doesn't go as planned. She didn't want to risk the real culprit being in trouble. "It was an accident" She opted for telling the truth...partially.

Zayn rose a brow, not convinced one bit. The broken window didn't see like one you'd do as an accident, it seemed intended. And if he's certain about his thought of her face being familiar then there has to be a reason why it was done. "I don't think so" He said, his voice oddly calm. He's quietly observing her, trying to joggle his memory and remember where he had seen her before.

"I'm being honest...I swear!" She said, her words coming out a bit jumbled as she rushed the words out. The soldier-looking man looks extremely intimidating with how calm and composed he looks. For all she knows, he's thinking of ways to make her suffer for ruining his car. But what if he's really not a soldier? Then there's a chance she won't suffer, right? "It was an accident"

Zayn shook his head after a couple of seconds, he couldn't remember nay scenario where they met, it's probably all in his head. It's been a whole decade since he's been here, so it's understandable if he forgets her and he's sure they didn't meet in America, he wouldn't have forgotten her if that was the case. "It's okay" He turned around, placing his hand in his pocket to call Kamal.

"Huh?" She rose a brow, mouth hung ajar. "It's okay?" That's it? He won't throw a tantrum or ask her to pay back for what happened? He's just letting her off the hook? Why?

She had so many questions running through her head that a part of her wondered whether it's a trick. She waited for the sick turn where he'd say he's joking, and that she must pay.

But, he didn't. He simply ignored her and remained on the call with whoever he called. From what she overheard, he didn't mention anything about sending people over to catch her or something related.

'I'm probably being ridiculous' She thought in her head.

When he was done with the call, she was quick to speak up. "You're not angry?" She asked.

This made Zayn turn, lips set into a tight line. "I'm not" He replied simply. If he could get angry and all sort of emotions, then he wouldn't be there to begin with. There are certain feelings he feels every now and then, but it wasn't normal for him.

"How is that possible?" Her subconciousness is screaming at her to shut up, and simply go with the flow. The sensible part of her warned her to just say thank you and run away, but her mouth didn't get the memo and just kept spewing pointless question out.

Zayn ignored her. He's waiting for Kamal who told him he's near the hospital and would be there as soon as he can. He doesn't get why she won't just walk away. Does she have to be so inquisitive? Normal people would say thank you and leave, right?

"In case you change your mind, I'll pay, I promise I would--" She did not shut up. Then again, she always has a thing for rambling when she's nervous. And at the moment, she is beyond queasy. "I work here, I'm Dr. Batoulah—"

"I never asked" He cut her off, successfully shutting her up.

She folded her lips immediately, internally smacking herself on the head for being an idiot. Why did she have to ramble like that? Now she's no longer nervous but embarrassed, big time. She parted her lips to apologize, but before she could he walked way no longer wanting to hear anything from her.

She'll soon damage his ear drums with her excusive. He hasn't met anyone that talks as much as she did since he returned, and he couldn't take it. Luckily for him, he spotted Kamal's car parking and so went towards him.

Kamal turned off the car, then stepped out. "Hey man!"

Zayn only offered him a curt nod, then snatched his car key, "I'm taking your car, look for another drive home after you find someone to fix mine" He didn't turn around as he made his way over to the driver's side.

"Wait—what?!" Kamal's eyes widened as he watched his friend walk past him, and got into his car.

Zayn offered Kamal a fake wide grin, "Thank you for being a great friend" Before Kamal could protest, Zayn closed the door and revved the car to life before driving off and leaving him there, stranded.

Kamal shook his head. He then muttered "How am I friends with someone like him?"