Edna is sitting down at one of the tables closest to the window and she watches as tiny droplets of water roll on the glass and tickles down till it disappears.
She does that for so long that by the time she looks up at Malik again, he has drank almost half of his coffee and she is yet to even take a sip of hers.
She prefers to keep her fingers around the cup and even though it burned to some extent, the stinging feeling is gone now and it's just warmth to her fingers now.
She doesn't even realize that she has this gloom on her face or how much she is just drifting off in her thoughts until Malik says something.
" Is something wrong with the coffee, Edna?" He lightly touches her finger to get her attention. " It has lots of creams, just the way you like it. "
Yes, she has noticed that he knows that about her. He knows the littlest details about her and that's not just something he picked up from the few days that she has been seeking asylum in his house.
He knows her favorite flavor of ice cream. He knows that she doesn't like sleeping without a blanket, and he knows that she is allergic to peanut butter so he doesn't have any in his house.
He knows that she is a sucker for music so he gets her good playlists all the time.
Nothing like Keith, he doesn't know one thing about her and she is very sure that he doesn't care at all. He had one time, when trying to be super generous, offered her a slice of bread covered in peanut butter.
He wasn't trying to be an ass or at that time trying to kill her. He genuinely didn't know that she was allergic.
Edna takes off the lid from her coffee and sips from it, just to make Malik feel better, but he doesn't. He knows that she is faking it.
" If it's too cold, I can get you another. " He offers.
"Oh, no. " She turns it down. " They have closed already and are only here because of us. We don't want to inconvenience them even more. "
Yeah, it's almost midnight and Malik thought they should go out for some coffee.
The startled manager allowed them to be served even though it was past working time, guess that's a perk of being rich and famous.
It's only them in the shop so they don't have to bother with keeping up their public image. They can be just Malik and Edna for tonight.
Even though she has protested, Malik takes her coffee and attests to see just how hot it is. He concludes that it's not hot enough and takes it back to the front.
Edna watches with a sigh as he converses with the boy behind the table and then he makes a new one for her.
He returns to get the table with it and slides it to her. She puts her hand around her, it's hot again.
" You really shouldn't have. " She looks down.
" That's the least I can do, I will be traveling tomorrow. " He says.
She shifts her leg uncomfortably and looks out of the window, her mouth is in a right knot. That's the reason for her bitter behavior, she can't just get her head around the fact that he is leaving.
" Do you want to come with me?" He asks
"No. " She simply murmurs. " I don't want to be a distraction. "
" Then you are going to be fine on your own for the whole week?" He raises his eyebrow.
She folds her hands and looks at the small jeep car that reverses out of the driveway and heads to the main road.
" Well, as far as Keith doesn't come looking for me I will be fine. " She refolds her hands.
She feels his eyes on her but she doesn't have the heart to look at him. She doesn't trust herself she knows that she is going to burst into tears and it's going to be so embarrassing.
When did all of this start? Months ago, she avoided him like a plague and now she is tearing up because he is going to be away for a week.
She hasn't been like this before in her life and she doesn't know if it's a good thing or not. She doesn't want to appear to be an emotional weakling.
" You know what?" Malik lightly taps on the table. " You are going to Rome with me. "
"What?!" She huffs. She wasn't expecting him to make such an offer.
" You don't want to come?" He inquires.
" I don't want to cause you inconvenience, you are going there for a meeting and I can't have you worrying about me while working. " She tries to change his mind.
" I will worry less for you when I know that you are in the same city with me and not thousands of miles away. " He argues.
" Malik, I am going to be fine here. " She tells him.
" I'm not asking anymore, you are going to come with me." He declares.
Edna sighs and takes a long sip from her cup, it's so long that she feels the coffee just going down and down.
She drops the cup back to the table, it's almost empty now.
" My papers aren't with me though. " She says. " Everything is back at Keith's house. "
" No problem, I will get it for you. " He says.
He raises his hand to get the attention of the young boy, the only person who is left in the store, and the boy runs to them.
Malik takes out his wallet and takes out a few dollar notes and turns to Edna.
" Do you need anything else?"
"No, I'm good. "
Malik gives the money to the boy who looks so confused as he stares at the money in his hands.
" This is way too much, sir. " He looks up. " You guys just had only coffee. "
" I know, but we wasted your time, you should be home sleeping. Take the rest as a tip. " Malik says.
The boy exhales happily and looks at both Edna and Malik with gratitude.
" Thank you so much. God bless you. "
Edna looks away in humiliation. She doesn't know why he is thanking her when she didn't give him anything.
" I have one more favor. " Malik begs. " I just have to go somewhere to grab something so can she stay here for a bit longer? I will be back in less than one hour. "
The boy doesn't look like he cares. With the large tip he has gotten, Edna can spend the rest of the night here and he won't care. He will stay awake and watch her.
"No problem, stay as long as you want. " The boy grins.
He walks away, stuffing the money away in his pocket.
Malik quickly stands up and takes out his car keys as he leans toward Edna.
" I won't be long ." He assures her.
" Be careful. " She says.
He nods and leaves.
*****
It's chilly outside, but he pulls the collar of his jacket up and increases his pace so that he gets to the car fast.
He gets in and turns on the engine, the car is warmer than outside.
He makes a mental calculation, finding the shortest route to take to his brother's house so that he can grab Edna's important papers so that he can come back for her and they will go back home to rest.
It takes about twenty minutes of driving and he finally pulls up in front of his brother's house.
He turns off the engine and locks up the car as he walks to the front door. It's unlocked, not even shut. It's halfway open and creaks loudly as he pushes it further with a finger.
Malik sighs at the state he finds the sitting room. There is a lady's bra on the floor and panties are hanging on the TV.
He sees some more shoes and clothes as if there is deliberate littering of the place.
He knows that his brother is probably busy upstairs but that doesn't stop him from walking to the room and kicking the door open.
His brother is in bed with a lady and they ate both so shamelessly that they don't bother to cover themselves as he walks in.
He doesn't give them more than a glance before turning around to the dresser and begins to search for Edna's papers carefully.
" What the hell are you doing here?" Keith demands to know.
"Please don't let me interrupt you. " Malik doesn't give them a look. " Keep up the work. "
" Is that your brother?" The lady asks Keith. " Hs is so hot. "
"Shut the fuck up. " Keith is offended by her surprise compliment.
He throws off the duvet and nakedly stands in front of his brother with his hands on his waist.
He is fit, but he is fatter than his brother.
Malik doesn't mind him. He gets Edna's ID card from the dresser and walks into her closet to check some more.
Keith follows him around with a suspicious look on his face like he doesn't trust him.
" Enjoying fucking Edna, are you?" Keith taunts. " Don't be too caught up, I am going to have her back soon. "
For the first time, Malik looks at Keith. He first looks at his uncovered member and then his face.
" Aren't you busy fucking that prostitute?" He gestures. " Why have you suddenly turned into my guard? "
" Play around with my question all you want. " Keith says. " Just know that it won't be long. "
" You think that I am fucking your wife, but I am not. I wish I was, but I have morals, unlike you. " Malik says to his face.
He finds her international passport and waves it in Keith's face. He has found what he has come for.