The city of Kuala Lumpur was quieter at 2 a.m.
Not silent.
...Just… honest....
That’s where Liza Mehmood found herself lately alone with thoughts she couldn’t bury under work anymore.
Because here’s the truth she didn’t want to admit:
She didn’t just lose a husband.
She lost someone who understood her too well.
No Contact… Didn’t Last
She lasted exactly 19 days without seeing Saadi
Not because she missed him.
Don’t lie to yourself she did.
But that’s not why she broke it.
It was a business meeting.
Neutral ground.
Professional.
Safe.
That’s what she told herself.
He walked in late.
Of course he did.
Still calm. Still irritatingly composed.
Still
him.
“Miss Mehmood,” he said smoothly.
“Mr. Yosuf,” she replied, equally cold.
The room felt smaller instantly.
The Small, Stupid Things
The meeting dragged.
Numbers. Contracts. Voices.
None of it mattered.
Because both of them were hyper-aware of the same thing
Each other.
At one point, she reached for a pen.
So did he.
Their hands brushed.
A second.
Nothing more.
But her brain went:
danger.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
A slight smirk.
Not mocking.
Familiar.
“You’re distracted,” he said quietly.
She didn’t even look at him.
“You’re not that important.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
The First Crack (Again)
After the meeting, rain started pouring.
Classic Kuala Lumpur weather.
Liza didn’t bring an umbrella.
Because she plans everything
except emotions.
She stepped outside anyway.
And then—
A shadow beside her.
Saadi.
Holding an umbrella.
“I didn’t ask,” she said.
“I didn’t offer,” he replied.
He just… stood there.
Covering both of them.
Silence.
Close.
Too close.
“You always do this,” she muttered.
“Do what?”
“Act like nothing happened.”
He looked at her then.
Not joking.
Not teasing.
“I remember everything,” he said quietly.
That hit harder than any argument.
The Almost Moment
They started walking.
Same umbrella.
Same rhythm.
Like before.
“You’re still angry,” he said.
“Obviously.”
“You should be.”
She stopped walking.
Turned to him.
“Then why are you acting like this?” she demanded.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then
“Because I don’t regret all of it.”
Her chest tightened.
“Which part?” she asked.
His eyes didn’t leave hers.
“You.”
That was the problem.
That was always the problem.
Cute Moment (But Not Soft)
A few days later
She got sick.
Again.
Overworked. Underslept.
She woke up on her couch.
Blanket over her.
Water on the table.
Medicine beside it.
No message.
No note.
But the brand of medicine?
Exactly the one he used to bring.
She sighed.
Annoyed.
Not because he came
Because he still knew her.
Later that night, her phone buzzed.
One message.
Saadi:
“Don’t skip meals. You’re bad at functioning when you do.”
She stared at it.
Then replied
Liza:
“Don’t break contracts. You’re worse at honesty.”
Pause.
Then
Saadi:
“Fair.”
That made her smile.
She hated that.
They Tried Distance Again… Failed Again
They kept running into each other.
Events.
Meetings.
Coincidences that weren’t really coincidences.
And every time
Less anger.
More tension.
One night, it snapped.
The Real Moment
“You’re exhausting,” Liza said.
“You keep showing up like this what do you want?”
Saadi didn’t joke this time.
Didn’t deflect.
Didn’t manipulate.
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Careful.
Like she might walk away.
“I want,” he said quietly,
“to know if there’s anything left… that isn’t hate.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Honest.
Liza looked at him.
Really looked.
And here’s the truth she couldn’t avoid anymore—
If she still hated him this much…
It meant she still felt something.
But that didn’t mean she was stupid enough to trust him again.
Her Answer
“There is,” she said finally.
His eyes shifted slightly.
Hope?
Dangerous.
Then she added
“But it’s not enough.”
That landed.
Hard.
He nodded.
No argument.
No pushing.
“Then I’ll earn more,” he said.
And this time
...He walked away first....
^^^Ending??^^^
nhaa
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