Continuation 

It was a cool Saturday morning, and I was home for the weekend. Ummah had sent me to the market with Salim to get some groceries. He wasn’t thrilled about the chore, but he came along nonetheless. As we navigated the crowded market, Salimsuddenly turned to me.

"So, how’s school? And don’t just say ‘fine.’"

"It’s good," I replied cautiously.

"And Ubeid?" he asked, smirking.

My cheeks flushed. "What about him?"

Salim laughed. "You’re not very good at hiding your feelings, Ami. It’s written all over your face whenever he’s around."

I stopped in my tracks, shocked. "Salim, don’t start. He’s like a brother to me—"

"Sure, he is," Salim interrupted, his tone teasing. "But just so you know, Ummah would never allow it. You’ve seen how she reacts to such things."

His words hit me like a bucket of cold water. I knew he was right. Even if I wanted something more with Ubeid, it was an impossible dream. The rest of the trip was spent in silence. Salim didn’t press further, but his words stayed with me. By the time we got home, I had resolved to bury my feelings once and for all. But as I stepped into the house and saw Ubeid sitting in the living room, casually flipping through a magazine, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.