Chapter 4

I woke up to the ring of my irritating alarm, I reached for my phone and instantly turned it off, I let out a yawn, turning around I fall to the ground.

"Did you forgot you were sleeping on the couch?" Khalil chuckled

Khalil has always been a jolly person, he hardly gets sad or worried about something.

"Haha, not funny." I groaned while standing up "How are you feeling?" I asked

"Much better."

"Okay, I will get you something to eat before I go back home"

"Aren’t we going home together?”

"No, we’re not, I have to get back home before aunt Sabina starts calling me"

“Oh but aren’t you supposed to go to work?"

Oh god, I forgot about work, Nadia is gonna kill me for coming late twice in a week. "Oh no, I’m an hour late. Nadia is definitely gonna fire me."

"No she won’t, just tell her what happened I’m sure she will understand"

"You don’t get it, we have a big order today and I’m in charge, it took Nadia almost a week before giving me that opportunity if I let her down she won’t have a choice but to fire me," I said

"Ohh seems like you’re in a loop"

"You know what? I will get you something to eat at the hospital canteen then go back home and prepare for work."

That’s if I still have the job. I was about to leave when the nurse came in with a tray containing potato balls, a side of chicken salad, and eggnog.

As she kept the tray on the table, she spoke. "You don’t have to go to the canteen, this is what he needs for breakfast"

I glanced at the food, it looks expensive, I don’t think I can afford it.

"I appreciate the fact you brought a healthy breakfast for Khalil but I’m not sure if I have enough money to pay for the food"

"Don’t worry about the payment it’s free"

Oh lord, that’s a relief "Thank you" I said while coming closer to Khalil "Bye if you need anything, call me" I kissed his forehead and left the room.

I walked my way back home, like I said I didn’t have no money to spare. On my way back home I was thinking of how I will save money to buy a wheelchair for Khalil and how I will get him a new oxygen tube.

Everything has been hard for me ever since Khalil got diagnosed with cancer. I found out about his Cancer a year after dad passed away.

I arrived home and directly went into my room to take a shower, as I entered the room was scattered, all my clothes were scattered on the floor, the coverlet was removed, and wrappers of snacks were all over the place.

I wasn’t surprised when I saw the room scattered, I know it’s the work of Hanan and Jamil.

I rolled my eyes in frustration before I entered the bathroom to take a shower. Once I was done, I wore my regular work clothes, luckily for me, I have two work shirts and skirt, I wore a black scarf to cover my hair.

I picked up my clothes and kept them on the couch before I exited the room.

Before leaving the house I went to the kitchen to take a glass of water and eat an apple, as I drank water Jamil and Hanan entered the kitchen

"Aren’t you supposed to be in school?" I said as I kept the glass cup back to where it belongs

"Mommy isn’t around and Noor forgot to wake us but for school," Jamil said

Jamil is the youngest in the house, he is fair in complexion, his lips are peach in color, his eyelashes are barely noticeable and he’s chubby.

"Okay" I was about to leave when I remembered something "Why did you scatter my room, I told you not to play in my room"

"We can do whatever we want to do, this is our house," Jamil said

"I’m very much aware of that, but you shouldn’t play in my room"

"Mommy was right about you" He mumbled

"Jamil you aren’t supposed to tell her what mommy said," Hannan said before she grabbed his hands and walked out of the kitchen

What did she say about me? I took an apple before I left the kitchen.

On my way to the bakery, I kept thinking of what I will tell Nadia. She must be very disappointed in me. I just hope she doesn’t fire me.

Once I got to the bakery, I stood outside for a while thinking of whether to enter or not, I’m not ready to face Nadia right now but I have no choice, I have to face her sooner or later. I took a deep breath before I walked into the store.

"Hi" I said to Amal who was standing behind the counter attending to a customer

"There you are, what took you so long?" She said after she gave the customer his order

"You have no idea. Is Nadia around"

"Forget about her, how is Khalil I hope he’s feeling better"

"Yes he is, I left him at the hospital," I said as I walked closer to her "Have the other bakers made the arrangements of the order"

"What order?"

"The order we got last two weeks, the one Nadia put me in charge of it"

"Oh don’t worry about it, the order got canceled this morning"

I felt relief when she said that although it wasn’t a good news but at least Nadia will be less mad at me.

"Okay, I have to go explain to Nadia why I’m late today" I was about to leave when she stopped me

"Before you go, someone has been waiting for you since morning”

"Me! Are you serious?"

"Yes, he’s over there" She said as she pointed to a guy in an ash sweater

"Do you know why he is waiting for me?" I asked

"Nope but I wish he was waiting for me not you, he is so dreamy" She smiled

Is she serious right now? I raised an eyebrow at her

"I was just joking" She chuckled

I was about to walk towards him when Nadia came out of her office. This is it Afraah, it’s time you get fired. "Good morning Nadia," I awkwardly smiled

"Afraah, I will like to have a word with you in my office," She said before she stepped back into her office

Oh my god, she’s definitely gonna fire me.

I entered her office and she told me to take a sit which made me wonder why she said that, Nadia has never offered me a sit before.

"Nadia I can explain why I’m late today, I know this is the second time this week and today I’m not just late but I would have let down you if the order wasn’t canceled, I’m sorry."

She looked at me for some seconds, her eyebrow raised and her hands crossed on her chest

"Who told you the order was canceled?" She asked

I was about to talk when she spoke "I don’t have to know who told you, just tell me one thing do you know why the order was canceled?"

I’m guessing it’s not because of me.

"I have no idea"

"Look Afraah if anything happens, you should acknowledge me about it, I can help you I’m not just your boss but you can consider me as a friend too"

Did she just say I can consider her as a friend? This is awkward.

"Yes I’m strict but I’m a human being too, we all go through difficulties and if you have something going on in your life you can tell me, and if I can assist you, I will. I’m not saying I’m going to sympathize with you or anything like that, all I’m saying is that if you need anything you can tell me"

Why is she talking like this, did anything happen?

"Nadia did anything happen?" I asked

"Not at all"

"Are you sure because….."

"Did Amal tell you that someone is looking for you" She interrupted

"Yes she did"

"Go meet him, it might be important."

"Okay." I said before I stood up and walked out of the office

I can’t believe this, Nadia wasn’t mad at all, she said I can consider her as a friend, this is something I will never forget.

"Afraah what took you so long, he just left the bakery" Amal said

"Oh well maybe what he wanted to say wasn’t important" I said

A few hours later, I got a call from Aya

"Hi," She said almost immediately I answered the call

"Hi, how are you."

"I’m fine. Afraah sorry I didn’t tell you earlier but the store is closing early today and there won’t be a need for you to come"

"Why, what happened?" I instantly asked

"Don’t worry, you have nothing to worry about you can resume work tomorrow."

"Okay thank you." I said before she ended the call

Some hours later, I checked the time and it was almost time to pick Khalil up from the hospital because I only paid for a one-day stay at the hospital

"Excuse me" A voice said

I turned around and met with the guy that bought doughnuts and coffee yesterday, I wonder when I will stop calling him that

"Welcome to Amee's bakery how may I help you"

"I will take a chocolate cake and one coffee to go"

"Okay, please take a sit while I get your order ready"

He was about to leave when he spoke turned back and looked at me "How is your brother?" He asked

How does he know that I brought my brother there, he didn’t see me with anyone last night. "He’s fine."

"Afraah, isn’t it time for you to go to the grocery store" Nadia said immediately after she came out of her office

"The grocery store won’t be opened today" I responded

After I parked his order, I arranged my things and collected my money for the day before I left.

I walked for almost thirty minutes without seeing a cab on the way. Just when I decided to take a cab, this happens. A drop of water fell on my eye, I looked around and noticed a change in weather.

This is bad, no cab on the road and rain is about to fall. What am I gonna do?

As I continued walking, a black AMG Benz stopped by the side of the road and rolled down the window glass

"Come inside, I will drop you off," He said

I looked at the person and realized it is the doughnut guy. I looked around, the weather was getting worse. "Thank you" I said once I entered the car

"I’m Rayan" He said

At least now I don’t have to call him doughnut guy. "Afraah." I awkwardly said

"Where are you going?" He asked

"Hospital"

"Okay."

After he spoke no one said a word, the ride to the hospital was so awkward and quiet.