Once In A Blue Moon

08 Chance

She leans back and crosses her arms, her full-term belly unsettling him for some reason.

"I'm not lying," he tells her half truth, taking a sip of his coffee and trying to hide behind his mug. "You should be resting, not fretting over minor affairs."

"So Banafsha is a minor affair for you?"

"Who said it's about her?"

"You haven't been yourself ever since your nikah. You think I cannot sense it?"

"Pft, nonsense. There's nothing to sense."

"Mikael," Larmina fixes his pupils, "either you tell me or I ask Hurairah."

He sits up straighter, putting Qutub down his lap on the grass and leaning towards his sister anxiously. "What can you possibly ask Hurairah?"

"Whatever is up with you. He's your best friend, right? He always knows all about you because you consider it fit to tell him everything but not me." She clicks her tongue in irony. "I just thought it'd be decent to hear it directly from you than a third party."

"You're overthinking this, Mina."

She throws up her hands in frustration. "Stop it, please. You speak as if we're strangers to each other."

Mikael gives up trying and goes mute, drumming his fingers against his knee to distract himself. Seconds tick before he hears Larmina sigh and reaching for his hand.

"Mikael?"

"We'll talk about it when you're well."

"I'm not sick."

"I know."

"Then stop treating me like one."

"I'm not." He turns back to her. "Ain't you," he clears his throat, "hormonal?"

She frowns in displeasure. "Excuse me?"

"I mean, well," he scratches the back of his head sheepishly, "emotionally sensitive? I just don't wanna stress you with anything."

She rolls her eyes. "I'm fine."

But she will not be after listening to his life drama, he knows. He squeezes her hand reassuringly and smiles.

"I'm a grown up man, Mina. True, I might have problems to deal with, but can't you have a little faith in me?"

Her gaze tenders at his words and her shoulders drops. "I do trust you, but I want you to know that you're not alone." She sighs again and shakes her head. "You know, Mikael, when Hurairah found a girl for you, and when he told me about her, I didn't agree with his choice." She puts her other hand on top of his. "And now for some reason, I can't stop thinking that maybe I was right."

He swallows the lump in his throat uneasily and keeps his smile plastered. "Don't let any such thoughts plague you."

"I can't help it," she replies in a hushed tone, looking down at their joined hands. "Your happiness is dearer to me than my own. You've suffered enough, brother. I want you happy now."

"I am happy."

"No, you're not." She smiles sardonically. "You only say this to make me happy."

He let go of her hands and turns his chair to face her, tilting his head and reaching forward to cup her cheek. "Don't be upset, and I'll be happy."

She chuckles and then hums, nodding. "Okay, don't tell me. But if Hurairah is the reason--"

"Larmina," Mikael shushes her, "he's not. Why are you affecting your marriage by doubting your husband? Think about your child."

She purses her lips and looks away, restlessly twirling her braid. "I told Hurairah Banafsha isn't the one for you, but he still insisted."