Chap 3

The relief Sana had felt a few days ago now seemed like a cruel joke played by fate. Her aunt’s words—"It was just a casual mention, don't worry about it"—had been the safety net that let Sana sleep at night. She had truly believed the universe wouldn't be so twisted as to bridge the gap between her best friend's obsession and her own life.

But the universe was about to prove her wrong.

The evening air was heavy, the kind of humid heat that clings to your skin after a long day of teaching. Sana stepped onto her porch, her mind occupied with half-finished lesson plans and the quiet hum of her own exhaustion. She had seen the missed calls from her mother, but in her tiredness, she had brushed them off.

I'm home, Ma, she thought, pushing the door open. "Ma? I'm back. Is there tea? I’m exhausted—"

The words died in her throat.

The living room, usually a sanctuary of mismatched cushions and familiar scents, felt like a stage set. Sana froze. Her heart didn't just thud; it felt like it stopped entirely.

There, sitting on the sofa, was Maria. Her teacher looked up and offered a warm, almost sisterly smile. Next to her was Aria, looking as composed and regal as ever. Their parents—the elderly couple Sana had seen at the get-together—were deep in conversation with her own father.

Her aunt stood by the kitchen door, clutching a tray, her eyes darting toward Sana with an expression that was half-guilt, half-apology.

"No," Sana whispered to herself. Please, let this be a coincidence. Let them just be visiting.

Then, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. The air behind her shifted, growing cold and sharp. A presence—heavy and commanding—loomed at her back.

"She’s here," Aria said, her voice bright with approval. "And she looks even lovelier in person, doesn't she, Yaziel?"

Sana spun around, her breath catching.

Yaziel.

He was standing in the doorway, framed by the fading twilight. He looked taller than he had in the hallway at the academy, his shoulders broad, his expression unreadable—a mask of granite. He didn't smile. He didn't even acknowledge the shock on her face. He just stood there like a storm cloud waiting to break.

Sana took a panicked step back, her heel catching on the rug. Before she could spiral, her aunt was there, firmly gripping her elbow and nudging her toward the hallway.

"Come inside for a moment, Sana," her aunt whispered.

As they retreated, Sana heard Aria’s voice trailing behind them, sounding triumphant: "See? I told you. They are perfectly matched. They even look right together."

The bedroom door clicked shut, but the silence offered no comfort. Sana turned on her aunt, her voice a frantic hiss.

"Auntie! You said they wouldn't! You told me it was just talk!"

"I’m sorry, Sana," her aunt sighed, looking down at the floor. "Your mother... she was adamant. She said if we showed you a picture, you’d find a reason to say no before even trying. She wanted this to be a surprise because she thinks he’s the one."

"But Kadi!" Sana’s voice cracked. "My friend! How can I even look at her? I told you about her situation!"

"Sana, listen to me," her aunt said, taking her hands. "It’s a respectable family. A golden proposal. And as for your friend... you said it yourself, it was years ago. A crush. You cannot throw away your future for someone else’s old fantasy."

"It’s not just a fantasy to her," Sana whispered, but the protest felt weak.

"No 'buts'. They are waiting. Your mother has already laid out the emerald dress. Just get ready. Don't disgrace your father in front of such people."

Twenty minutes later, Sana emerged. She felt like a doll—dressed in silk she didn't choose, walking into a life she hadn't asked for.

She entered the living room and greeted the elders, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. The conversation flowed around her like a river. Her parents were beaming; Aria was already talking about wedding dates and family traditions.

In all the chaos, Yaziel remained a ghost. He sat in the armchair, eyes fixed on his phone or the floor, never once looking at her. It was as if he were a prisoner serving a sentence, his silence a wall that no one could climb.

When the moment finally came for the "decision," the room went quiet. All eyes turned to Sana.

She looked at her mother’s hopeful face, then at the floor. She took a deep breath, drawing on every ounce of courage she had as a teacher used to controlling a classroom.

"I..." she started, her voice clearer than she expected. "I would like some time. I think... I need to talk to him. Properly. Before anything is decided."

She expected a lecture. She expected her father to frown. But instead, a wave of relief seemed to wash over the room.

"Of course!" Aria said, smiling. "That is only fair. Yaziel?"

Yaziel finally looked up. His dark eyes met Sana’s for the first time that night. There was no warmth there, but there was a flicker of something—recognition, perhaps? Or a warning?

"I have urgent work at the lab," he said, his voice deep and clipped. "I wasn't told this would take so long."

The elders laughed it off, attributing his coldness to his "busy professional life." A formal meeting for just the two of them was scheduled for the following week.

When the door finally closed and the cars pulled away, the house felt cavernous. Sana didn't wait for her mother’s questions or her aunt’s praise. She walked straight to her room, stripped off the silk dress, and collapsed into bed.

She was too exhausted to cry. She was too tired to even think of Kadi. As sleep finally pulled her under, only one thought remained: The boy from the lobby is gone. The man in my living room is a stranger. And I am trapped between them.

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