"What was so great about that Ama? She was nothing but made up of lies. This is the real me, the stark opposite of what I pretended to be."
Zeya's gaze locked onto Amaya, who was lost in the swirling smoke of her cigarette. Rising from the bed, she approached Amaya and knelt before her, the weight of the moment heavy in the air. Gently, she took the cigarette from Amaya's trembling fingers and placed it in the ashtray, a quiet act of care. "I don't know what shadows haunt you or what storms you've endure, and I won't pry either. But, Ama, if ever your heart feels too heavy to bear, I'm here—always ready to listen, always ready to hold you." Zeya whispered, her voice a soothing balm that filled the room with warmth. Her eyes, filled with sincerity, reflected Amaya's pain, cradling it with tenderness.
Bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, Zeya appeared almost ethereal, a beacon of hope that flickered in Amaya's heart, still shackled by chains of doubt. Amaya reached out, her fingers brushing against Zeya's cheek, a smile breaking through the storm that had clouded her soul. Leaning closer, she whispered, "Please, go sit on the bed. I promise I'll share my thoughts with you once I'm done here." In that moment, Amaya radiated a fragile beauty under the moon's embrace, illuminating Zeya's face with a gentle light. With a nod of understanding, Zeya settled onto the bed, her eyes never leaving Amaya, ready to bear witness to her truth.
Amaya's fingers danced across the keyboard, typing with an intensity that made her brow crease in disbelief. Her lips parted slightly as she furrowed her brows, scrolling through the screen, completely absorbed in her work. Unbeknownst to her, Zeya lay asleep in Seth's bed, the clock ticking past midnight while Amaya remained fixated on her laptop.
The door creaked open, and Seth stumbled in, yawning as he approached her. "You still haven't put on any clothes? Do you want to die from my hand?" he asked, leaning closer to Amaya, resting his head on her shoulder, his eyes barely open as he squinted to decipher the text on the screen. "What are you working on? Financial... what?" His eyes widened as he scrolled down, reading the document with growing astonishment. "You!" he exclaimed, staring at Amaya in disbelief. "You got the financial statement? How? And when?"
Amaya let out a weary sigh and met Seth's gaze, both of their expressions serious. "Last night, I was asked to deliver a project to the manager's office. His computer was left open, so I downloaded all the files onto my pendrive. But he came back unexpectedly, so I hid my pendrive in his drawer and left the room. I only retrieved it after I got a message that he had gone to a meeting," she explained, her eyes flickering back to the financial statement.
"Did he suspect you?" Seth asked, raising his brows in concern.
"He did, which is why I had to hide my pendrive," Amaya replied, her tone steady but her eyes betraying a flicker of fear. "So, what do the company's financials look like? Are we in the red?" Seth asked, his fingers scrolling through the document, his frown deepening as they both absorbed the alarming numbers on the screen. When he noticed the profits soaring over 50% each year, he shot a glance at Amaya, a mix of disbelief and cautious hope flickering across his face.
"Is this the real statement or fabricate ones?" Seth demanded, his voice low and urgent. Amaya nodded, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she leaned back in her chair, the weight of the revelation pressing down on her. "I double-checked everything. There's no fabricated statement. We're in the black—beyond what we ever imagined. It's over 50%, outpacing all the competition," Amaya breathed, her voice trembling as she locked eyes with Seth. "Papa always dreamed of this moment." She swallowed hard, the gravity of their situation settling in.
"Ama," Seth said, his voice barely above a whisper, the tension thick in the air. "Maybe we misunderstood him." He tightened his grip on her hand, his palm warm against her cool skin, grounding her in the moment. Amaya's heart raced, and she licked her lips nervously, her eyes narrowing as she challenged him. "Sid, are you really saying that? You think we misunderstood him?" She searched his gaze for answers, the weight of uncertainty hanging between them.
Seth's brow furrowed, his gaze intense and searching, like he was trying to read her thoughts. "Maybe we did," he replied, his voice steady but low. Amaya jerked her hand away, but Seth's hold was unyielding. "Listen to me. Deep down, you know you feel the same way. You said it yourself; those documents are real, Ama."
Amaya shook her head, her eyes darting to the laptop, the light reflecting off her furrowed brow. "Yes, he's a good CEO, and I'll admit it—I could never achieve what he did for my papa's company in such a short time," she said, bitterness lacing her words, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"But the past can't be erased, Sid! He and momma betrayed papa, and that's a fact." Seth closed his eyes, the weight of her words settling heavily on his shoulders. "Wear clothes; you'll catch a cold," he said, standing up from the floor, his voice softer now. He took a few steps away but halted when he heard Amaya's voice, filled with determination. "Sid, I want to move on. I want to be a better person." He turned to face her fully, his heart pounding at the sight of her fierce yet vulnerable expression. "And I know that means leaving my past behind," she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm trying to forget everyone and everything. Will you help me?"
She walked towards Zeya, her fingers delicately brushing through her hair as she whispered, "Sid, my heart longs to trust again. It yearns to make someone my entire universe once more. Tell me, Sid, if I shatter–" "Then let it break," he interrupted, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of her emotions. She turned her gaze to Seth, feeling the weight of his presence. "I'll heal you, I'll embrace you. As long as I'm here, don't be afraid of trying, I'll always hold you. Did you forget I'm your top brand band-aid?" he asked, a tender smile lighting up his face, his eyes narrowing with warmth. Amaya felt a flicker of hope ignite within her, and she smiled, nodding her head, the air between them charged with unspoken promises.
*Alarm*
Zeya's eyes fluttered open at the sound of the persistent alarm. With a sleepy hand, she reached for her phone, silencing the noise before sinking back into the warmth enveloping her. "Good morning, sweetheart," a gentle voice floated to her ears, like a soft melody that wrapped around her heart. A smile blossomed on her lips as she replied, "Good morning." Just then, a chilly hand brushed against her cheek, tucking her hair behind her ear. As Zeya attempted to rise, Amaya swiftly pulled her back down, a playful glint in her eyes. "It's freezing! I need a blanket!" Amaya declared, draping the soft cover over both of them.
"What are you doing?!?" Zeya stuttered, her pulse quickening, warmth flooding her cheeks seeing Amaya on the top of her. "Just making sure I'm cozy," Amaya teased, her voice laced with mischief as she licked her lips, clearly enjoying the moment. She traced a finger along Zeya's cheek, her gaze softening. "You know, whoever wins your heart will be the luckiest person alive," she murmured, sincerity shining through her playful tone. "So, sweetheart, how about you show a little pity and make me the luckiest lady in the universe?"
Zeya chuckled, her heart swelling with affection as she looked into Amaya's eyes, which sparkled with mischief. "Oh, but what if I'm saving all my luck for someone truly special?" she teased, her tone playful and light. Amaya leaned in closer, a teasing smirk dancing on her lips, her voice a soft whisper. "Well, I'm right here, aren't I? I promise to keep you warm, even on the coldest days."
As Amaya whispered this, her hands slid under Zeya's t-shirt, sending a delightful shiver down her spine. She slowly traced her hips, and before Zeya could react, Amaya began to tickle her. "No, stop!" Zeya squealed, eyes widened in surprise, laughter bursting forth uncontrollably as she tried to wriggle away from Amaya's playful grip. Their laughter filled the air, a sweet melody of joy as they both engaged in a lighthearted battle of tickles, their bodies twisting and turning in a delightful dance.
The room was alive with their laughter, each giggle intertwining with the other, creating a bubble of happiness around them. In that moment, nothing else mattered; it was just the two of them, lost in a world of warmth and affection.