<p>In a husky voice filled with laziness, he slowly said, <strong>"My Cutie, you haven’t grown up yet, or have you forgotten that we're in front of people?"</strong></p><p>He spoke as if he wasn’t the one who just said that. She smiled and let go of him, saying, <strong>"Sorry, Yaya. I was just so happy to see you that I forgot about everyone else around us."</strong></p><p><strong>"You’re a princess; you’re not at fault, my Cutie."</strong></p><p><strong>"Uhm, My Yaya, but honestly, you really surprised me. I never imagined you’d come."</strong></p><p><strong>"It’s my Cutie’s graduation day—how could I not show up? That wouldn’t be right. Anyway, come on, let’s go home. We’ll talk more on the way."</strong></p><p><strong>"Okay, My Yaya. Let me just go call someone."</strong></p><p>As soon as she left, he walked around and got into the car.</p><hr><p>When Aira returned, Khady laughed at her and said, <strong>"Ummm, so love has already started, huh? Should we start preparing? You’ll be the first to get married among us, mate."</strong></p><p>Aira rolled her eyes and said, <strong>"Shut up! He’s just my Yaya."</strong> Then she added, <strong>"I’m leaving now. We’ll meet online."</strong></p><p>They hugged before parting ways—Aira walking ahead while Khady trailed behind.</p><p>On the way, Arman kept stealing glances at her, but neither of them said a word until they reached the gate of Inna’s house.</p><p>Just as they arrived, they saw Abba’s car driving out of their compound. Aira’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head to avoid being seen. But what she didn’t know was that Abba had already spotted her.</p><p>She only dared to lift her head after the car had passed, letting out a sigh of relief.</p><p>Arman just shook his head, then parked the car properly outside. As she was about to get out, she heard the car lock.</p><p>She turned back to look at him, smiled, and he returned her smile before saying, <strong>"Where did you keep your phone yesterday? I kept calling, but it was switched off."</strong></p><p><strong>"Uhm, Yaya, you know I always hide my phone. I don’t carry it around, even inside the house, so no one sees it. I kept it in my locker since yesterday. I only took it out today because we wanted to take pictures at school."</strong></p><p>He let out a deep breath and said, <strong>"I thought you weren’t feeling well. That’s why I came all the way here. When I arrived, I asked Haidar at Inna’s place, and he told me you were at school for your last paper."</strong></p><p><strong>"Oh, Yaya, just because you couldn’t reach me on the phone, you came all this way? I’m so sorry."</strong> She pouted.</p><p><strong>"Shhh, you’re not at fault. Whatever you do is right, my Cutie."</strong></p><p>Then, he pulled out a small phone from a box. When she saw it, he inserted a new SIM card, turned it on, and said, <strong>"Take this. It’s a small phone. Keep it with you all the time so I can always reach you whenever I call."</strong></p><p>She smiled happily and said, <strong>"Thanks, My Yaya."</strong></p><p><strong>"I don’t want any thanks. You didn’t even tell me today was your graduation."</strong></p><p><strong>"Uhm, Yaya, I forgot."</strong></p><p><strong>"May Allah bless your results with success."</strong></p><p>Then he asked, <strong>"Do you need anything before I go?"</strong></p><p><strong>"No, Yaya. I don’t need anything. Just seeing you brightened my day. Won’t you come inside and greet Inna?"</strong></p><p><strong>"We already greeted earlier. I need to get some rest before I leave tomorrow."</strong></p><p>With a sad expression, she said, <strong>"Yaya, tomorrow is so soon."</strong></p><p><strong>"I’ll be back soon. I just have some work to take care of. If I don’t catch the early flight, I’ll stop by to say goodbye. But if I do, I’ll just leave."</strong></p><p>Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, <strong>"Alright, Yaya. May Allah keep you safe and protect you for me."</strong></p><p>He pulled out a handkerchief, wiped her tears, and said, <strong>"If you cry every time I visit or leave, I might stop coming often. You don’t know how much it hurts me to see you cry."</strong></p><p>She quickly swallowed her tears and said, <strong>"Sorry, Yaya. I won’t do it again. I just don’t like when you’re far away. When will you come back?"</strong></p><p>Feeling emotional himself, he replied, <strong>"I need you close to me more than anyone else, but I have no choice. Insha’Allah, I’ll be back next week for a few days."</strong></p><p><strong>"Okay, My Yaya. May Allah bring you back safely."</strong></p><p><strong>"Take care of yourself, my Cutie."</strong></p><p>She smiled and said, <strong>"You too, take care of yourself."</strong></p><p>They chatted a little more before he bid her farewell and left. Neither of them wanted to part ways.</p><hr><p>When Aira got inside the house, she found only Ummy, Haidar, and Amma, who had just returned.</p><p><strong>"Ya Ummy, where is everyone? The house seems empty, even Inna’s place."</strong></p><p><strong>"They went to take Mamy to the hospital,"</strong> Ummy replied.</p><p>Aira’s eyes widened. <strong>"The hospital? What happened to her?"</strong></p><p><strong>"She’s in labor."</strong></p><p>Aira gasped. <strong>"Oh Allah, please grant her a safe delivery!"</strong></p><p>That night, she stayed by her mother’s side in prayer until she finally fell asleep.</p><hr><p>Arman went straight to his guest house instead of home, knowing that if he went home, Mummy would demand an explanation for his visit. And he couldn’t exactly tell them he came because of Aira.</p><p>After taking a shower, he wore only a t-shirt and shorts, drank a glass of fresh milk, and lay down, exhausted but happy because he had seen his Aira.</p><p>As he lay there, he whispered, <strong>"I love her so much because she’s beautiful."</strong></p><p>He kept picturing her in her school uniform, her radiant face, and the way she smiled at him.</p><p>When he recalled how she had hugged him, he felt a strange shiver run down his spine, as if someone had touched him. He shut his eyes tightly before reopening them.</p><p>Then, he picked up one of her pictures—it was a recent one of her in a black hijab. She looked stunning.</p><p>He stared at it without blinking, then gently ran his fingers over it, smiling to himself.</p><p><strong>"I love you, my Aira. I love you so much. Please love me back, even if it’s just a little,"</strong> he murmured, pouting.</p><p>(???? At this point, I’d say, "Arman, don’t go crazy!")</p><p>He hugged her picture tightly and, just like that, fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, dreaming about his Aira.</p><hr><p>The next morning, while Aira and the others were still asleep, Ummy woke them up excitedly.</p><p><strong>"Wake up! Mamy just called—she has given birth!"</strong></p><p>Aira sprang up as if someone had pricked her. <strong>"Really, Ya Ummy? What did she have?"</strong></p><p><strong>"I didn’t ask, but Mama called to inform us. We should clean the house quickly before they return."</strong></p><p>Filled with excitement, Aira jumped up and joined the others in cleaning.</p><p>By noon, Mamy and the baby arrived home. Inna was holding the newborn, while Mamy looked exhausted.</p><p>Aira was overjoyed to see her little brother—he was fair and beautiful, just like their mother. Among Mamy’s three children, only Haidar didn’t inherit her fair complexion.</p><p>As relatives and well-wishers started arriving to congratulate them, Aira snuck off behind the flowerpots to call Arman.</p><p>She wanted to know if he had already left or if he would come over.</p><p>She carefully brought out the small phone he had given her. She had memorized his number, so she just dialed it.</p><p>When she saw that he had saved his name as <strong>"My Yaya,"</strong> she smiled, feeling warmth spread through her heart.</p><p>She called once, but the line disconnected.</p><p>Just as she was about to call again, her phone started ringing—it was Arman.</p><p>Smiling brightly, she kissed the phone and whispered, <strong>"I love you, My Yaya."</strong></p><p>Then, she picked up the call.</p>
