Morning Light

Omar stirred on the couch, the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains and casting a soft glow across the room. His eyelids fluttered as he slowly woke up, blinking in the brightness. The warmth of the light contrasted the cool, quiet atmosphere of the flat. Beside him, Ammarah sat on a chair, watching him with a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Omar... How are you feeling?" Her voice was soft.

Omar’s brows furrowed in confusion as he slowly sat up. He glanced around the room as though it were unfamiliar, his eyes eventually settling on her. "Who are you?" he asked, his tone laced with disorientation. "Where am I?"

Ammarah’s smile faltered as she narrowed her eyes, trying to decipher if he was serious. "What? I’m Ammarah... your fairy. Don’t you remember me?" Her voice was more urgent now, a thread of concern weaving through her calm demeanor.

Omar’s gaze darkened as he stared at her. "Fairy? What is fairy?" His confusion seemed genuine, his words slow and deliberate.

Ammarah closed her eyes for a brief second, pressing her fingers to her temple as if a headache was forming. "Oh my God," she murmured under her breath, "It can’t happen... not like this." She opened her eyes and leaned closer, her voice trembling slightly. "Please tell me you remember everything."

Omar tilted his head, nodding casually. "Okay, I remember everything." He paused, watching her expectantly. "But who are you?"

Ammarah let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her forehead with worry. Her hands fell to her lap as she murmured to herself, "What have I done..."

Suddenly, Omar’s serious expression broke, and a grin spread across his face. A burst of laughter escaped his lips, startling Ammarah. "You should’ve seen your face!" he said between fits of laughter. His shoulders shook as he struggled to contain himself.

Ammarah’s eyes widened, a mixture of relief and annoyance flooding her face. She took a deep breath and slapped his arm. "Oh God. You scared me!"

Omar stretched, arms over his head as he stood up. "Okay, okay. Don’t overreact," he said with a teasing smirk, shaking off the moment.

Ammarah shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Now I’m sure the Omar you wanted to be is back," she muttered, her voice tinged with affection.

Omar ran a hand through his hair, a relaxed smile on his face. "I slept well," he admitted. "How about you prepare me a perfect breakfast?"

Ammarah raised an eyebrow and stood up, turning away. "I’m not your maid." Her voice was sharp, but the softness in her tone betrayed her fondness for him.

Omar chuckled. "As you wish. I was bringing another cake for you today, you know."

Ammarah paused mid-step and turned her head, intrigued. "Really?"

Omar nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yes. But I don’t think you want to eat cake anymore."

Ammarah tried to act indifferent, but a hint of excitement broke through her composed exterior. "I want to. But... Okay, fine. Freshen up. I’ll make something."

Later

The aroma of freshly made breakfast filled the small kitchen as Omar and Ammarah sat at the table. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm shadows across their faces. Omar downed the last of his orange juice, the empty glass clinking softly as he placed it back on the table.

He glanced at the plate in front of him, now devoid of food, and looked at her with a nod of appreciation. "Thanks for the breakfast. It was perfect."

Ammarah shrugged, though her smile remained. "Don’t get used to it."

Omar stood up, grabbing his bag from the couch. "You’ll get your cake sooner than later." He slung the strap over his shoulder, taking a step toward the door. "I’ll be out for most of the day. You stay home. If I need you, I’ll call." He paused for a moment, as if remembering something. Turning halfway, he added, "A parcel will be delivered here. Pick that up for me."

Ammarah nodded, her voice soft as she watched him leave. "Sure. I’ll take care of it."

With that, Omar walked out of the flat. Ammarah sat there for a moment longer, staring at the door with a thoughtful expression before getting up.

Noor’s Drive

Noor drove her car down the long, silent road, flanked on either side by towering pine trees. The woods seemed to stretch endlessly, their shadows creating a serene, almost eerie, canopy over the road. Her mind drifted as she glanced at the empty passenger seat beside her, a sudden realization dawning on her. She slowed the car, her brows furrowing in frustration.

"Ugh…" she groaned, hitting the steering wheel. "I forgot my bag."

Shaking her head, she quickly turned the car around, steering it back toward the Mersendise Complex. The frustration simmered in her chest as the quiet road echoed with the hum of the engine. As she drove, her phone buzzed in her coat pocket. Without thinking, she pulled it out, glancing at the screen. It was a message from Anum: "Why are you taking so long? I’m waiting at Square Park."

Noor sighed and began typing her reply, her attention slipping from the road. She didn’t notice her car slowly veering into the opposite lane.

At the same time, Omar was heading in the opposite direction, driving steadily toward college. As their cars approached each other, he narrowed his eyes, noticing Noor’s vehicle drifting dangerously into his lane.

"What’s she doing?" Omar muttered under his breath, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel.

The gap between their cars closed rapidly. Realizing the danger, Omar honked loudly. Noor’s eyes shot up from her phone, panic flooding her expression. With a gasp, she yanked the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision. Their side mirrors scraped with a sharp sound, the impact slight but jarring.

Omar glared into his rearview mirror, watching Noor’s car in disbelief. "Is she crazy?" he muttered, shaking his head.

Noor, shaken, pulled over a short distance away, resting her head against the steering wheel. She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "What’s happening today?" she whispered, her heart still racing from the near miss.

Omar, meanwhile, fished his phone from the passenger seat, his irritation evident as he dialed her number, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Noor’s phone buzzed in her lap. She glanced at it, seeing Omar’s name flash on the screen. With a sigh, she rubbed her forehead, reluctantly answering. "Hello…" she said softly, closing her eyes as if bracing herself for his response.

"You’re too young to die," Omar’s voice came through, sharp and cutting. "But if you really want to, maybe hit a tree or a wall. Don’t take me with you next time."

Noor inhaled deeply, her temper flaring. "Sorry, but you deserve this," she snapped, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Before he could respond, she hung up the phone, tossing it aside.

Omar glanced at his phone, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What?" He stared at the screen, before placing it down beside him. His voice dropped to a murmur, his words laced with cold determination. "What I deserve is your submission, Hira."

Later, At Omar's Flat 

Ammarah sat comfortably on the couch, her fingers gliding across her phone’s screen as she scrolled through information about the Ekzels. The search was interrupted by the sudden ring of the doorbell. She lowered her phone, glancing at the door.

“It can’t be Omar,” she murmured. “Must be the parcel.”

Rising to her feet, she walked toward the door, her movements quiet and graceful. She glanced at the small door camera and saw a delivery man holding a box. Ammarah sighed, closing her eyes briefly. Her purple hooded robe shimmered and transformed into a loose black sweater and slacks. Her veil vanished, revealing her face—ethereal and captivating, radiating a beauty not quite of this world.

She opened the door. "It’s a cake for Om..." the delivery man’s voice trailed off as his eyes locked onto Ammarah, wide with awe. His breath hitched, and he stood frozen, staring at her, his mouth slightly agape.

Ammarah raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" she said, her voice calm but firm.

The delivery man blinked, still staring, his body stiff as if he were in a trance.

Ammarah’s expression hardened, her vibrant purple eyes flashing with irritation. "Hello?" she said louder, waving her hand in front of his face. "Are you still with me?"

The man flinched, shaking his head as if waking from a dream. "Ah... uh... sorry," he stammered, cheeks flushing. "It’s just... um... here." He quickly extended the cake box toward her.

Ammarah took it, her expression softening just a little. "Thanks," she said curtly, turning to head back inside.

But just as she was about to close the door, the man’s trembling voice called out, "Wait!"

Ammarah paused, narrowing her eyes slightly before turning back. The man’s hand shook as he fumbled with a pen and pad. "You need to sign here... please."

She sighed, took the pen, and quickly signed her name, her fingers brushing the pad for the briefest moment. His gaze followed her movements, mesmerized again by her presence.

As she handed the pad back, the door clicked shut with a soft finality.

The delivery man rubbed his face, still dazed. "What just happened? Was she a Fairy?" he muttered to himself, walking away in a daze.

Inside, Ammarah placed the cake box on the counter and let out a small laugh. "Humans," she whispered, amused. Her eyes twinkled with excitement as she rushed to the kitchen. She opened the box with childlike glee, revealing a neatly frosted chocolate cake.

Without even sitting down, Ammarah grabbed a knife, cut a generous slice, and took a bite. Her face lit up with delight as the sweetness of the cake melted in her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, savoring each bite.

At College

Omar walked along the edge of the college grounds, his steps steady as he headed toward the cafeteria. The morning air was cool, filled with the quiet buzz of students scattered around. As he moved, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He retrieved it and glanced at the screen. A message from Ammarah: "Thanks for the cake."

A small smile tugged at his lips. He typed a quick reply, his fingers moving with a certain playfulness. "Don’t get used to it."

As he approached the cafeteria, Omar spotted Zain and Anum seated at a table by the window, deep in conversation. He raised an eyebrow and strode over to them, his smile growing wider. "Wow," he said, dropping his bag on the chair beside them, "you two are getting close."

Anum blushed slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her scarf. "No, it's not like that," she mumbled.

Zain, on the other hand, smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, it's definitely like that."

Omar chuckled softly, shaking his head. His gaze flicked toward Anum. "By the way, where’s your friend?"

Before Anum could respond, Noor walked in, her presence commanding as always. Omar's eyes narrowed slightly, tracking her every movement. He glanced back at Zain with a slight smile. "Someone tried to kill me today."

Noor, rolling her eyes, turned toward them, her expression sharp. "If I wanted to kill you," she said, her voice laced with irritation, "you wouldn’t be here right now." She grabbed Anum's hand. "Anum, let’s go."

Anum nodded, standing quickly from her chair as if eager to escape the tension. Omar, still smiling but with a more serious edge in his eyes, couldn’t resist adding, "You know, anger makes you more beautiful."

Noor shot him a furious glance, her eyes like daggers, before walking away, pulling Anum with her.

Zain and Omar exchanged a look as they followed them. Omar leaned in toward Zain, his voice low but teasing. "You’re getting close to Hira’s friend. I hope you remember what that means."

Zain smirked, patting Omar on the back. "Do you really think I’d forget? Don’t worry about me."

Omar’s smile faded slightly as his tone grew more serious. "You’d better not. Love makes you weak."

Zain chuckled, but there was a shadow behind his eyes. "So, what? You don’t trust me now?"

Omar wrapped an arm around Zain’s neck, playfully tightening his grip for a moment. "Of course I trust you," he said, releasing him with a grin. "Just don’t forget your duty." He winked, "Try to get some information from her."

Zain nodded knowingly, a grin spreading across his face. "Ahh, now I understand. Always the strategist."

They reached the parking lot, and Zain and Anum waved goodbye before climbing into Zain’s white sedan. Noor got into her own car without a word, pulling out of the lot. Omar, slipping into his car, watched her drive ahead and began following. As the cars moved onto the quiet road leading out of campus, Omar voicemailled Ammarah, his voice calm but focused.

"Hey, listen. We just left the college. I’m following Noor. We’re heading in the same direction, but I need you to check if anyone’s watching her. That’ll give us a clue."

On the Way

Noor’s car sped ahead on the same silent road that wound through dense woods of pine. The tall trees cast long shadows across the road, adding an eerie calm to the otherwise peaceful scene. From her rearview mirror, she kept glancing at Omar’s car, which followed her at a distance.

Omar’s phone buzzed, and he quickly answered the call. "Yes?"

Ammarah’s voice came through, clear but urgent. "I scanned the entire path. There’s a man standing on the ridge between the woods. He’s got a binoculars and has been watching the road."

Omar’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, his eyes narrowing as he scanned his surroundings. "Is it clear who he’s watching?" he asked.

"It’s hard to tell," Ammarah replied. "But there’s more. Just ahead of you, on the intersecting road, there’s a truck parked. It looks suspicious."

Omar’s heart skipped a beat, and his pulse quickened. "So, someone’s after her."

"Maybe. Or maybe they’re after you," Ammarah said calmly. "I’ll keep an eye on them. Just stay alert."

Omar nodded to himself, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "We need to stop Noor if she’s the target." His foot pressed harder on the accelerator.

"You're almost at the intersection," Ammarah's voice came through the phone, her tone steady but urgent.

Omar quickly ended the call and dialed Noor's number. His car was closing the gap between them fast.