Stay with Me

2. An exam.

Asbahna wa asbahal mulku lillah.

Safiyya woke up with positivity today and gratitude to Allah. The weekend with her son made her forget how rowdy the other week was and now since it was his exam day, she put on her best smile. She got him ready in his fine uniform and fed him the shortcakes she made yesterday and milk. He took water and uttered thanks to Allah and she was glad that he was getting used to it.

She smiled and held his small hands.
"This is your big day baby and I want you to forget about everything else. Forget about being the best in class or disappointing your father and focus on yourself. The most important person now is you. I want you to enjoy your papers like you enjoy your video games, treat your seat like a bouncing cloud and you know what, Mummy will be there in your heart giving it the warmest hug, so nothing can happen to my baby. You are beautiful. You are smart and you are mummy's baby. Okay?"

Joseph smiled and bobbed his head. "My pencil is my laser gun and the questions are supervillains. I'll take them down, easy," he grinned and she pulled his cheeks. "Now that's the spirit," she smiled and pulled him into a warm hug. Joseph buried his head in her neck inhaling her soft scent that always gave him peace.
"Mummy," he called out and she hummed. "I love you," he whispered with his eyes closed. She was quiet before pulling back and pecking his cheek. "And I adore you," she grinned and hugged him again.

Alfred just came down and watched them silently. Recalling the other tests and exams Joseph had, all he did was wish him good luck and drop him off at school not knowing the damage to confidence he was doing to his son. He was grateful that Safiyya was here this time.

The two stayed like that for a minute before separating. Safiyya reached out for her bag and MacBook on the table when Joseph rushed to his father after seeing him. Alfred smiled faintly and caught his son raising him in his arms.

"Today Dad, I will start my exams and make you proud," Joseph said confidently.

"No Joseph. You are going to make yourself proud and that will make me proud too," Alfred returned.

"K," Joseph smiled.

"Let's go," Alfred said and glanced at Safiyya who walked over. She nodded and they left the house for the car.

They drove to the school and as promised, they escorted Joseph to his class. Even if it was rare, Joseph didn't care and enjoyed the gesture. They said goodbye to him before heading to the playground to sit. Alfred glanced back to the classes for a while before exhaling and turning his head.

He heard a soft sigh and turned to the side to see Safiyya biting her finger, clearly nervous.

"You are not the one writing the exam but you seem nervous. What if Joseph sees you like this?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

She twisted her lips with a pout and sighed again. "I am not nervous for Yousef but for me. I'm facing an exam too you know? I just got promoted to a new office but met a big assignment and an abrupt meeting with the CEO and now, clients from outside are coming over too. Of course, I'm nervous,"

"You do realize that the CEO you are speaking about is me right?" Alfred couldn't help but say. She looked at him with narrowed eyes and shook her head.

"That you are different," she said.

"How different?" he asked curiously.

"Scary," she whispered and he was surprised. Many employees tremble before him and speak cautiously when with him but she stays with him in the same house and can spark a conversation with him, how can she be scared of him too?

"You don't seem scared at all now," he said and she shrugged.

"That's because now, you are Joseph's Dad and not Hill Corp's CEO," she replied seriously.