Amani looks at Sihan who was painting on the rooftop, he seems distant minded for a moment. He soon notices Amani and smiles.
“Amani,”
“Deep in thought?” Amani inquires.
“Well of course, he was this close to Noah. It felt as though he was this close to snatching my baby away from me.” Sihan sighs.
“He won't,”
“How do you know that?” Sihan asks with a frustrating and agitated sigh.
“Because I know you, and you have me. Noah is my son too.” Amani said
Sihan smiles feeling better, “ha, maybe if I wasn't so stupid then…”
“You aren't stupid, you were just looking for the good and scared by the unknown.” Amani said as he hugs his knees and smiles at him.
“Have you ever been in a relationship like mine?” Sihan asks.
“No, I've never been in a “relationship” to begin with,” Amani emphasises.
Sihan's eyes widened, and Amani , who was beautiful, charming and had a kind personality, never been in a relationship?!
“Were you that busy with your studies,” Sihan asks.
“Not my studies necessarily… When I was 15 I was kicked out of my father's house so I moved in with my mother who didn't have a healthy lifestyle and was prone to having children while getting in debt. So… I was always busy taking care of my siblings and had no time for typical teen stuff.” He said smiling.
“That must've been sad…” Sihan said.
“It was, but my resolution kept me going and before you knew it. I had plenty of subjects and degrees to be penniless.” He chuckles.
Amani's head raises up then looks at the sky as he leans back on the roof, Sihan puts his hand on the back of Amani's hand. Who turns to feel the warmth of the small hands, he intertwines them as the two slowly move closer.
“Sihan,”
“Yaakov,”
Before both knew it they're lips meet kissing each other.
______________________________________
Early next day Amani comes down from upstairs to Sihan, he looks at him with his usual smile then gives two separate lunch bags.
“So I pack extra snacks in case he is feeling like having a bit of a munchy time. There are 4 different juices, two lunchboxes and a small container of fruits. You know he is very picky when in the mood so give him the fruits, especially grapes.” Sihan instructed.
Amani listens intently as the mother gives his instructions on his son's details and behaviours.
“And here is for you, two lunches for lunch and dinner. Some juice and an apple to keep the doctor away.” Sihan said.
Amani nods, “thank you Bambi I appreciate your grand feast and I shall take care of our little Doe.” He smiles.
Sihan smiles, and soon Noah walks downstairs with his bag on his back. Sihan gives him his usual big hug and plenty of face kissing.
“take care Noah, I love you,”
“I love you mom,”
Entering the car Noah buckled himself up and waved at his mother, today he was spending the day with Amani, the mother protagonist felt it was best Noah spend the week at Amani’s work.
Entering work Amani registered then entered his office and placed the food in the fridge, “welcome to Dad’s office I hope you like it”. Amani smiles as he waits for his impression.
The office was spacious, the coach looks comfy above where pictures of Amani with different patients. Noah smiles, liking what he is seeing.
“Noah, ready to go explore dad's work?”
“Yes,”
Taking Noah's hand, Amani walks him outside his office and through the hallways. They greeted and was greeted by the co-workers as they walked around until they reached the patients room.
“Good morning Mrs. Roswald how are you?” Amani smiles.
“I'm fine, Dr. Amani and…”
“This is my son Noah,” Amani smiles confidentially.
Noah smiles stretching out a hand, “nice to meet you miss.”
The lady looks at Noah surprised, “really? I didn't know you had a son. How lovely he is the same age as my Arian here,” she smiles.
She slightly moves revealing a boy sitting on the bed with a bandaged hand arm, Noah tilts his head as he looks into the boys eyes for a moment it look dull.
Amani smiles then walks up to the boy, “Arian, it seems you're here often than usual recently. How are you?”
Amani pats his head as the boy looks at him, his mouth soon raises into a smile before, “I'm fine doctor,”
Noah felt strange when he looked into the boy's eyes, there was just something about it. Voided? Tired? A sense of struggle, something definitely seems out of place with him.
“Noah, would you like to say hello?” Amani asks him politely.
Noah nods smiling, “hey! I'm Noah!”
Noah was startled by his own tone of voice. Arian looked at Noah's hand that had been stretched out and held it gently, shaking it.
“Arian,”
Noah looks at his hands, it's so warm and soft.
Noah wouldn't have guessed that meeting Arian would fill his world with all things beautiful and ugly at the same time.
……………
Sihan was inside the bakery, he thinks about last night.
“WHAT WAS I THINKING?! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
He couldn't believe and Amani how can he still be… still be normal after that?! But what about Noah?! How would he feel about this?!
Sihan's face was flustered all over pacing around the back of the counter. He was nervous all day and night, did he sleep? Of course NOT!!!
His heart hasn't raced this fast since he has been with Nathaniel.
After all he was his first love, unfortunately that didn't turn out so well.
Hearing the doorbell, Sihan composed himself to greet the customer that just entered.
“Hello welcome to the Golden—”
Sihan stops mid sentence as he sees a flash of shiny black hair, two sword like eyebrows, a fair complexion and soft slightly pink lips. His heart stings as soon as his eyes meet his, his breath stops in a second as cold sweet washes over his face.
“Nathaniel…”
Nathaniel straightened his jacket, “yes?”
Nathaniel sighs in relief. “It's a good thing you know me, I fear you may not recognize me.” He chuckles lightly.
“Huh?” Sihan was confused.
“My wife, he couldn't come in so he asked me to collect it. It's a good thing you recognize me or I'm afraid I may have to go through the trouble of calling him for confirmation.” He chuckles awkwardly.
Sihan is confused, could it be?
“Um, do you perhaps… know me?” Sihan asks hesitantly.
Nathaniel stares at him intensely as Sihan swallows, “well of course,”
Sihan breathes hinges, “hahaha my wife spoke so much of you I couldn't possibly not know, and the pastries have so much familiarity in them.” Nathaniel said politely.
Sihan feels tense, pretending or was it genuine. Sihan doesn't understand his hands are trembling. What's going on?
Nathaniel looks at his watch, “can you please do it quickly, I hate to be rude but I have to pick up my children from school and go to the office. Hehe” he laughs.
“Ah– yes,”
Sohan rushes the delivery, unsure about anything, and just gives him.
“Thank you,”
“Yes, yes.”
“Um one second let just give this,”
Nathaniel's head looks down at the counter, “that's a cute child there.”
Sihan's body tenses as he hands the envelope to Nathaniel, he takes turning away. “Have a nice day. goodbye”.
As the bell jingles, Sihan feels lost by everything.