They spent the rest of the day in their mother's garden. Hannah showed her sister pictures of their mother, told her memories about her, and how lovely she was when she was still alive. Reminiscing memories about her makes Fatima feel like she's experiencing the things Hannah has told.
"So.. Philippe and Timothy are my brothers too, I guess?" Hannah asked as she looked over at the three eating at the table that was set up for them while the two girls talked about things.
"I still can't believe we're siblings." Fatima shook her head at the thought and Hannah rolled her eyes. "We're just so different from one another- I just don't quite get it," she added and chuckled. Hannah sighed before crossing her arms.
"Both of us look so similar to her! How can we not be?" Hannah argued while looking at the picture of their mom in Fatima's hands.
"Ohh, looks like you really want me to be your sister, huh?" Fatima teased.
"Hah! As if!" Hannah exclaimed, making her chuckle.
The girls went to the table and sat down across from the others. They looked at the food presented and Fatima raised an eyebrow. "You bought all of these?" Hannah nodded in response before grabbing salad while Fatima grabbed the burger.
"Only salad?" Fatima asked and looked at the salad she grabbed.
"Yeah, I'm on a diet. I'm also a model, you see. So yeah, a very strict diet." Fatima nodded before biting into the burger. She can't imagine eating only salad anymore. She had a hard time finding money to buy food for her siblings and always starved. Now, she's got all the food she needs.
She can eat properly now. Her life changed for the better ever since she met Grian and Christopher at the bar that day. But then again.. she wouldn't have had a hard life if her father didn't die in that accident.
She breathed heavily before smiling. (The past is in the past. What matters now is the people I have around me,) she thought to herself.
When the night came, they walked to their car together with Hannah to bid farewell. "Let's see each other again next time." After that, the four of them went inside Grian's car and Hannah waited for them to drive away before getting in her car and driving home as well.
Once they arrived at Grian's house, Fatima breathed heavily. "How was it?" Grian asked and she turned to him and smiled.
"Pleasant, maybe? It's mixed feelings," she answered and he nodded before sitting on the couch. He opened the television and started watching a movie. Fatima approached him.
"Do you think we can visit Chris?" she asked and Grian paused before turning around.
"We can't. At least not yet. You need to testify in court against your kidnappers first and Christopher doesn't want to meet you just yet," Grian explained and she nodded. She deeply sighed before sitting down next to him.
"When is that again?" she asked.
"Next week," he answered.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, FATIMA packed up her clothes and everything she owns from Grian's house. She went out of the room, exhausted and Grian saw her. "Woah, slow down. What were you doing?" he asked as he eyed her face as she sweated.
"We're moving back to our house," she said as she caught her breath. He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the kitchen before putting water on the glass and handed it to her. She accepted it and drank the fluid right away. "Oh my god! I'm going to pass out," she said dramatically and he sighed.
"Didn't your doctor tell you to rest? You should've told me so I could've packed everything for you," he said calmly and she shook her head.
"You've done so much for me, I already finished packing as well."
"AND! People donated so much money to me, I can may you back-"
"I told you I only wanted a kiss," he said while pouting and her eyes widened. She pushed him away while still catching her breath. He chuckled before grabbing a glass of water for himself.
"The only way you can pay me back is by a kiss," he said with a teasing smirk and she looked down at his lips. She stared at it for a moment before shaking her head and lightly slapping her head.
"But I have money-"
"No, you keep it. You deserve it," he said and her heart started beating fast. She inhaled aggressively before turning around and running in the opposite direction while holding her cheeks.
Grian helped Philippe pack his things but he looked
so down. "You good?" he asked and Phil shook his head.
"Nikki hasn't been responding and stuff. She's having a hard time because of Chris.. She doesn't even want to meet Fatima," he explained and Grian nodded.
"We'll figure things out," Grian said before smiling. They returned to packing their things and after hours, they were done.
They put the things at the back of the car before they drove to Fatima's house that Christopher bought for her before. While they were pulling up to the house, they found someone waiting for them.
"I think you've got what you wanted, Philippe," Grian said as he looked at the girl. Phil looked out the window and saw Nikki standing there waiting for them.
Once Grian parked, he got out of the car and approached her. "Nikki!" he exclaimed and she looked at him. She furrowed her eyebrows before rolling her eyes.
He hugged her but she didn't hug him back. "How are you? It's been so long," Phil asked but she didn't respond and just stared at him. He felt a bit awkward so he asked another question.
"Do you want to eat or something?" he asked and she sighed.
"I'm still trying to figure out why I can't seem to stop myself from being pulled to you. Aish," she said before she stomped to Fatima. He blinked a couple of times and stood there confused. He turned to the house and saw Nikki running up to Fatima and he followed behind them.
"I missed you!" Nikki said and hugged Fatima.
"I was so glad you were safe but I was unable to meet you," she said with tears forming in her eyes and Fatima hugged her back.
"I think someone else missed you," she whispered before looking at her brother, Philippe, staring at Nikki longingly. Nikki's eyes widened and let go of Fatima.
"Very funny! Uhm, uh, let me help you with your stuff," Nikki said and grabbed what Fatima was holding and struggled to put it inside. Phil ran up to her and grabbed what she was carrying and carried it for her.
"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked and she gulped. She didn't utter a word and continued walking inside.
When everything was inside, Fatima looked through the kitchen and grabbed water. He poured water in a glass and walked into the living room and handed it to Grian. He accepted it and smiled. "You're so sweet," he flirted and she squinted her eyes before turning her back and going back in the kitchen to drink some water, as well as give Timothy some.
She looked around and found Nikki and Phil standing outside, talking. She smiled to herself before sitting down on the sofa. She sighed before closing her eyes. "You can lay your head on my shoulder if you want," he said and her eyebrows furrowed.
"Shut up." He chuckled.
"I'm going to be busy tomorrow," he said before sighing. She opened her eyes and looked at him confusedly. "Company?" He nodded.
"Who's the owner, even?" she questioned and he looked at her.
"Me," he said. She stared at him before laughing loudly. "Funny," she said in a deadpan voice.
"I'm serious," he said and she furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him. "Wait- You're not joking?" she asked with widened eyes.
"He gave ownership to me before he confessed. I'm going to make a public announcement tomorrow that the company's fate is in my hands now. There's going to be a lot of changes," he explained and she didn't know what to say.
"Wow," she said with lips parted. He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Did I sound hot just then?" he teased and she hit his arm.
Outside the house, Philippe and Nikki are talking. "Are we going back to school tomorrow?" Nikki asked and he nodded. He sighed before sitting down.
"Good thing the bullies aren't in that school," he said and she nodded.
She sat down next to him and patted his back. "How are you holding up?" he asked.
"I'm fine.. My grandparents are living with me now. It was hard to accept, even now, it's still hard. I just have to accept it and move forward, I guess.." she mumbled and he slowly wrapped his arm around her.
"Things will be fine, I'm also here for you." Nikki sighed as her cheeks turned red. (I hate this, why am I always feeling flustered around him? My heart keeps beating rapidly around this guy. Am I going to die? My god,) she thought to herself before looking at his face. She deeply sighed before looking at the road.
(Am I really liking him and not in a friend-type of way? This is very bad for my heart. What if he doesn't feel the same way? Ugh, crushing on someone is so hard. I might as well just jump off a window,) she thought to herself again.