chap 2

The weeks that followed were a blur of "maybes" and "not quites." For Sana, the marriage market felt like a slow-motion revolving door. Every weekend, there was a new photo to look at, a new biodata to read, and the same hollow feeling in her chest.

"He's a nice boy, Sana. An engineer," her mother would say.

"I'm sure he is, Ma," Sana would reply, her mind already drifting to her lesson plans. She wasn't looking for a hero; she just wasn't ready to be "settled" like a piece of furniture.

Meanwhile, in the stone-quiet halls of the ICT Academy, a different kind of pressure was mounting. Yaziel moved through the labs like a shadow, his mind strictly on code and curriculum. But Aria, the eldest and the undisputed pillar of the family, had other plans.

With Maria’s wedding only three months away, the family was in a state of transition.

"You're too detached, Yaziel," Aria had told him over dinner, her voice calm but firm. "Maria is leaving the house soon. I am managing the business alone. You need an anchor. Someone to ground you so you don't spend your nights buried in servers and silence. It’s time."

Yaziel hadn't argued. He knew better. But the silence he gave her in return was louder than any protest.

The Academy Get-Together

The hall was filled with the hum of old school songs and the scent of expensive catering. Sana felt a bit like a ghost of her former self, walking through the corridors where she used to be a student.

She spotted Maria near the stage, looking radiant.

"Teacher Maria! Congratulations," Sana said, offering a genuine smile. "I heard the news. Three months, right?"

Maria laughed, a sound of pure relief. "Yes, Sana! Thank you. It’s a lot of work, but I’m happy. And look at you—a teacher yourself now! History, wasn't it? My sister Aria was saying we need more humanities perspectives in the academic circles."

"It's a lot of grading," Sana joked, before excusing herself to find Kadi.

She found her friend tucked away in a corner, nursing a glass of punch. Kadi looked older, more tired, but her eyes still scanned the room with a familiar hunger.

"You're looking for him, aren't you?" Sana whispered, leaning against the wall.

Kadi sighed, a small, sad smile touching her lips. "I’m twenty-three, Sana. I know the difference between a crush and a fantasy now. But... habits die hard. I keep expecting that boy from the lobby to come around the corner and yell at me again."

"He's a man now, Kadi. People change."

"Do they?" Kadi gestured toward the far end of the hall.

Sana followed her gaze. Yaziel was standing by the equipment booth, talking to an assistant. He looked like a statue carved from obsidian. No longer the shouting boy, he was something far more intimidating: a man who knew exactly how much power he held.

Later, as Sana navigated the crowd to leave, the "brush up" happened.

The hallway was narrow. She stepped aside to let someone pass, and her shoulder grazed his. The contact was brief, but the static was undeniable. The scent of cedarwood and cold air hit her—a sharp contrast to the flowery perfumes in the room.

Sana looked up. For a split second, Yaziel’s eyes met hers. They weren't cold; they were just... deep. Like a well with no bottom. He didn't speak. He just gave a curt, almost imperceptible nod and kept walking.

"He didn't even recognize me," Sana muttered to herself, her heart racing for a reason she couldn't explain.

The Aunt's Gathering

A few days later, Sana was in her aunt’s kitchen, helping arrange appetizers on a silver platter. The house was full of the rhythmic chatter of older women.

"Aria is here," her aunt whispered, nudging Sana. "Go take the tea out."

Sana walked into the living room, her movements practiced and graceful. She saw Aria sitting in the armchair—the woman was the definition of "strict elegance." Her hijab was pinned perfectly, and she carried herself with the authority of someone who had built an empire from scratch.

"Aria, this is my niece, Sana," the aunt said proudly. "She’s teaching History at the secondary school."

Aria turned her gaze toward Sana. It wasn't the judgmental look Sana expected. It was a keen, observant look—as if Aria were reading a book and had just found a very interesting chapter.

"Sana," Aria said, her voice like velvet. "I’ve heard your name. Maria speaks highly of your discipline."

"Thank you, Ma'am," Sana replied, offering a polite smile before moving to the next guest.

As she retreated toward the kitchen, the voices behind her dropped into a confidential hum.

"She’s very composed," Sana heard Aria say to her aunt. "Not like the girls today who are all noise and no substance. And she’s already working..."

"She’s a jewel," her aunt replied. "But her mother is worried. They haven't found the right match yet. Everyone is either too arrogant or too flighty."

"Is that so?" Aria’s voice was thoughtful. "My Yaziel is the same. He needs someone with a bit of fire, but enough grace to handle his silence."

Sana froze by the doorway, her hand trembling slightly on the tray. She didn't stay to hear the rest. She hurried into the kitchen, the image of Yaziel’s dark eyes in the hallway flashing in her mind.

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