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Bilal's heart raced as he parted his lips to ask her if she loved him too, but he fathomed he could be crossing the boundary drawn, so he ended up stomaching his question. He would patiently wait for the time she would reciprocate and if the time never arrived, he would accept that as his fate and learn to live with the fact. If her feelings for him were indeed still alive, they would reveal themselves in due time.

Zynah's lips thinned into a line. She seemed to have predicted what was on his mind. She heaved a sigh, as she also didn't have a straightforward reply to the question. "So...I found out what you and Adnan were up to. Why you two were so eager for me to return, huh?"

Bilal chuckled. "The surprise has been ruined, all thanks to my irrational self."

"Trust me, it wasn't ruined," Zynah reassured him. "I sincerely appreciate your efforts, yours and Adnan's."

"Adnan!" He suddenly exclaimed, glancing at his wristwatch. "Oh no! It's five minutes past his closing hour