UNSEEN : Loving You In Silence

Chapter 11 - Borrowed Time

The next morning...

Lya stirred awake much later than usual. The house felt unusually quiet. Almost empty. She reached for her phone before glancing at the clock mounted on the wall.

9:00 AM.

"Oh no..." She groaned before letting out a quiet laugh. "I overslept."

She had always been an early riser. Long before sunrise on most days. But yesterday...The meetings. The tears. The emotional exhaustion.

Everything had finally caught up with her.

Still lying in bed, she unlocked her phone. Dozens of notifications greeted her.Most were from the family group chat. A few from Iskandar. She opened his chat first.

Morning, Lya.

Don't forget to eat your breakfast.

A small smile appeared on her face. She could already guess who had prepared breakfast before leaving for work. She quickly replied.

Morning, Is.

I just woke up.

Thank you for the breakfast.

Lya smiled before locking her phone.

She slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom, brushing her teeth and washing away the last traces of sleep from her face.

A few minutes later, she made her way downstairs. The house was still quiet. Too quiet.

On the kitchen island sat a plate of toast, scrambled eggs and grilled sausages, carefully covered with a food cover. Beside it was a small handwritten note.

Warm it before you eat.

Your almond iced latte is in the fridge.

Lya laughed to herself. "So bossy."

She placed the plate into the microwave, just enough to warm it through, before retrieving the almond iced latte from the refrigerator. A soft beep echoed through the kitchen. Breakfast was ready.

She carried everything back to the kitchen island and took her first sip of the iced latte. Perfect. As she slowly ate her breakfast, she unlocked her phone again and opened the family group chat.

Papa had sent a message nearly an hour ago.

Let's have lunch together at 1:00 PM at our usual place.

Invite Hanna too if she's free, Aidan.

Over time, Hanna had quietly become part of both families. Another message appeared underneath. From Mommy.

Ladies' outing after lunch.

Auntie Amanda is joining us.

She's bringing Amelia too.

Lya smiled. Shopping. Exactly what she needed after yesterday. She quickly typed.

I overslept.

Noted.

And thanks for the breakfast.

Almost instantly. A new message appeared.

From Iskandar.

I'll pick you up at 12:15.

Lya frowned playfully before replying.

I can drive there.

Three new messages appeared almost immediately.

NO.

NO.

NO.

One from Iskandar. One from Mama. One from Daddy. Lya burst into laughter.

"My own family has absolutely no faith in my driving."

Just as she was about to get out of bed, her phone lit up. Incoming video call. Irfan's name appeared on the screen. Lya hesitated for a few seconds before finally pressing the accept button.

"Morning, Lya."

"Morning."

For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to fake a cheerful smile and Irfan noticed it immediately.

"Hey..."

"I'm sorry about yesterday."

"I know I shouldn't have been emotional."

Lya sighed softly, her eyes fixed on the screen.

"I'm really sorry, Lya."

The corner of her lips lifted into the faintest smile.

"It's okay, Irfan."

"I was just... tired."

"I had back-to-back meetings yesterday."

"The whole day."

"Yeah, I know." Irfan said with apologetic face. "And I'm sorry."

He paused for a moment.

"I missed you."

Lya's expression softened."I missed you too."

She tilted her head slightly.

"You're not working today?"

Her eyes drifted towards the clock on the wall.

9:45 AM.

Irfan was still leaning comfortably against the headboard of his bed. Four years older than Lya, he had graduated two years earlier. They first met through an online academic discussion during his final semester.

Now, he was working in his hometown. Lya had suggested several times that he apply to one of her family's companies or any of their subsidiaries. He had politely declined every time.

"I'm taking the day off."

"Oh." Lya replied. "By the way, we're having a family lunch later."

"And after that, the ladies are going shopping."

"Sounds fun."

"So everyone's going?" He adjusted the pillow behind him.

"Yeah...Everyone."

"Including Iskandar?"

Lya nodded without hesitation. "Of course.His parents too."

"We're family."

A brief silence settled between them.

"I'm jealous."

Lya laughed softly. "Then come over. Let's finally meet."

"I mean...A real date."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Irfan smiled.

"I will." He paused for a moment

"One day."

"I'll take you on the most romantic date you've ever imagined."

Lya smiled back. "I'll hold you to that." She glanced at the clock again.

10:30 AM.

"I should get ready."

"We'll talk later?"

"Sure."

Another brief silence.

"Love you, Lya."

"Love you too, Irfan."

The call ended.

Lya finished the last bite of her breakfast before washing her plate and glass. With the kitchen spotless once again, she made her way upstairs.

Sliding open the wardrobe doors, she scanned the neatly arranged clothes, trying to decide what to wear for lunch and the shopping trip afterwards.

"Something comfortable...But still pretty."

After several minutes of debating with herself, she finally settled on a dusty sage linen co-ord set, paired with a white inner top. Casual enough for an afternoon of shopping, yet elegant enough for lunch with the family.

She laid the outfit neatly on the bed before heading into the bathroom.

As warm water cascaded over her shoulders, she found herself softly humming one of her favourite Arabic songs. She had fallen in love with the language years ago. Although her degree in Applied Sciences required her to take German as an elective, Lya had secretly enrolled in an additional Arabic language course simply because she enjoyed it.

Besides...

Ardent Holdings had been exploring opportunities to expand into the Middle East.

Learning the language felt like a worthwhile investment. No one in the company knew.Not even Daddy.

As for German. That had become something she, Iskandar and Aidan learned together over the years.The three of them often switched languages halfway through conversations just to annoy everyone else.

The warm water had long turned lukewarm by the time Lya finally stepped out of the bathtub.

She wrapped herself in a towel before drying her hair. Later, she slipped into the dusty sage linen co-ord set she had picked earlier, pairing it with a white inner top and nude sandals. A touch of lip tint. Mascara and hint of perfume. Nothing too much. Just enough.

By the time she zipped her handbag, the doorbell downstairs rang. She smiled.

"That must be Is."

A familiar black Range Rover was already waiting in the driveway. Iskandar stepped out the moment he saw her.

"You ready?"

Lya nodded. "Sorry. Did I make you wait?"

He glanced at his watch. "You came down two minutes early."

"I did?"

"You did."

She grinned.

"I'll take that as progress." Iskandar opened the passenger door for her.

"Mommy and Daddy already left?"

"They're meeting Mama and Papa there."

Lya settled into the seat before fastening her seatbelt. The familiar scent of cedarwood and bergamot lingered inside the cabin. Comforting.

Almost familiar enough to feel like home.

"You look better today."

Lya looked out of the window. "I feel better."

"I'm glad." Iskandar said, smiling.

By twelve-fourty five, everyone had already gathered at Trattoria Verano, their family's favourite Italian restaurant. It had always been their place. Birthdays. Business milestones. Graduations.Or simply weekends when everyone happened to be free.

The familiar manager greeted them with a warm smile the moment they stepped inside.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ardent, everyone."

"Your private room is ready."

Daddy nodded politely before everyone followed the waiter into the private dining room. The room was bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a small olive garden.

The aroma of freshly baked bread, herbs and roasted garlic lingered pleasantly in the air.

"This place always smells so good." Lya inhaled deeply before taking her seat.

"It makes me hungry all over again."

"You just had breakfast two hours ago," Aidan teased.

"So? I'm growing."

Everyone laughed.

"You stopped growing years ago," Daddy replied while opening the menu.

"I can still grow emotionally."

Papa chuckled.

"That's a dangerous answer."

Mommy gently shook her head.

"Our little philosopher is back."

Lya simply grinned. Hanna arrived a few minutes later, sliding into the empty chair beside Aidan.

"Sorry, traffic."

"We haven't ordered yet," Mama assured her.

Perfect timing. As usual, everyone ordered different dishes before agreeing to share everything in the middle of the table. That had always been their way.No one ever really ordered for themselves. Every plate belonged to everyone.

Lunch stretched on for another hour. Conversations drifted effortlessly from business updates to holiday plans, from Hanna's latest cybersecurity project to Amelia's upcoming postgraduate studies.

As always...

The table was filled with more laughter than silence.Only after dessert arrived did Daddy glance at his watch.

"I need to tell everyone something." The room gradually quietened. "Our overseas meeting has been brought forward."

He looked apologetically at Lya.

"Mommy and I will be flying out two days before you're due back on campus."

Lya nodded slowly. "That's okay." Papa continued. "I'll be away as well.The Southern project requires me to be on-site for the rest of the week."

Aidan sighed.

"And I'll be taking over the local meetings while they're away."

"So..." Lya smiled reassuringly. "It's okay. I can ask one of the company drivers to send me back to campus."

"NO."

Everyone turned towards Iskandar.

Even he seemed slightly surprised by how quickly the word had escaped him. He cleared his throat.

"I'll send you."

"It's safer that way."

Lya laughed softly. "Iskandar Aarys..It's only a three-hour drive."

"And you have a company to run."

"That can wait." His answer came calmly. Matter-of-factly.

For a brief moment, the room fell unusually quiet. Aidan exchanged a knowing glance with Hanna. Mommy looked at Mama. Mama smiled to herself. Daddy was the first to break the silence.

"Then it's settled."

"But—"

"No buts." Daddy smiled warmly at his daughter.

"Iskandar is right. At least one of us should send you back."

Lya looked around the table before finally giving in.

"Okay. Thank you."

A smile spread across Mommy's face before she clapped her hands once.

"Now..."

She looked at the ladies.

"Time for shopping?"

The private dining room erupted into laughter. Daddy pointed playfully at Mommy.

"Please don't let her come home with another handbag."

"Daddy!"

Lya laughed.

"I'm buying silk and satin this time."

"That's even worse," Aidan muttered.

The laughter echoed through the room once again. For a little while longer... No one thought about meetings. Or deadlines.Or goodbyes.

Today, they simply enjoyed each other's company.