Iliana turned around, her expression fierce. "Let go of me, Mr. How dare you touch me like that? You think this is funny?"
Eiden raised an eyebrow, a playful grin on his face. "Come on, I didn't do anything too crazy. I just touched the hem of your abaya. No harm done, right?"
"Let's talk tomorrow," Iliana said, her tone firm and final, before turning on her heel and heading home. Eiden stood there, watching her slender figure disappear into the distance. A knot formed in his stomach. "Something's definitely off," he murmured to himself, feeling a mix of concern and confusion. With a heavy sigh, he decided to drown his thoughts in a drink with his friend at the bar.
As they settled into their seats, his friend lit a cigarette and took a long drag before glancing at Eiden. "Man, why don't you just change your name? Eiden sounds kind of weird."
Eiden took a sip of his drink, contemplating the suggestion. "How about Jungkook? My grandfather had that name."
"Jeon Jungkook," his friend repeated, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "I like it! It fits you, especially with that mysterious aura of yours."
Jungkook didn't indulge much that night. He left the bar early, his mind swirling with thoughts of Iliana. "Why can't I stop thinking about her?" he thought, frustration bubbling up. "It's her problem to deal with, not mine."
Meanwhile, Iliana lay wide awake in her darkened room, tossing and turning as her mind raced. The shadows of her past loomed over her, and she couldn't shake the thoughts of how to confront the uncle who had stolen her parents from her. Every tick of the clock echoed in her ears, amplifying her anxiety and determination. She knew she had to find a way to face him, and the weight of her mission kept her awake through the long, restless night.
The whole night, Jungkook couldn't shake off thoughts of Iliana. He tossed and turned, frustration boiling inside him. "Dang, why am I thinking about her?" he grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "It's her problem; she can handle it." Yet every time he tried to push her from his mind, her face would resurface, leaving him restless.
Meanwhile, Iliana lay awake, her heart heavy with the weight of her mission. "Ya Allah, make a way for me," she pleaded softly, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts raced as she replayed memories of her parents, the pain of their loss fueling her determination. As the first light of dawn crept in, she sighed, glancing at her reflection. "I can't let fear hold me back," she whispered to herself, stealing her resolve.
The next morning, she rushed into the office, already late. Her baby blue abaya flowed elegantly around her, matching her sparkling blue eyes and radiating an aura of modesty and grace. "inshaAllah I will find a way to resolve everything" she thought as she hurried down the hallway.
Inside her office, Jungkook was tapping his fingers impatiently on the desk, dressed sharply in a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves that showcased his tattoos. He glanced at the clock, muttering, "Why is she so late today?" Just then, the door swung open, and Iliana stepped in, breathless.
"Good morning, green chameleon! Where have you been, princess?" Jungkook teased, a playful smirk on his face as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Assalamualaikum! Sorry I'm late, and don't call me by that name!" Iliana replied, her cheeks flushed as she closed her eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart. "I had a lot on my mind."
Jungkook raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Everything okay? You seem a bit of a tensed green chameleon."
Iliana settled into her seat, forcing a smile. "Just some personal stuff I need to sort out. I'll be fine."
"Alright, but remember, you can talk to me if you need to," he said, "We're a team, right?"
"Yeah," she echoed, grateful for his support, even as her thoughts drifted back to her mission. "Let's get to work."
As Iliana answered the phone, her voice was steady, "Assalamualaikum."
"Mam, we have a serious issue with the medicine. We detected an unusual smell, and we need to prepare it again," the voice on the other end reported urgently.
"What??" Iliana exclaimed, her heart racing as she abruptly hung up the call. Without a moment's hesitation, she sprang into action, sprinting down the hallway.
"Iliana, wait!" Jungkook shouted, his footsteps echoing behind her as he hurried to keep up.
She didn't slow down, her mind racing with thoughts of what this could mean. "We can't afford any mistakes," she muttered, determination fueling her speed.
Jungkook caught up to her, concern etched on his face. "What's going on? Do you need help?"
Iliana glanced back at him, urgency in her eyes. "We need to check the pharmaceutical industry and see what went wrong. This could affect everything!"
"Let's go then!" Jungkook replied, matching her pace as they raced toward the pharmaceutical industry, both feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on them.
As Jungkook and Iliana hopped into the car, Jungkook urged, "We need to hurry, so please, green chameleon, sit back. I'll drive; can I have the honor of that?" His voice was laced with urgency, and both of them were breathing heavily. Iliana found herself staring at him, her mind racing. A slight blush crept onto her cheeks as she looked down, feeling a mix of emotions. She nodded silently, sensing a shift in Jungkook's demeanor—he seemed more mature than before.
In her mind, she thought, "Why is my heart beating so fast? Am I ill?" Jungkook kept glancing at her through the front view camera of the car, his expression serious yet soft. "You seem like magic to me," he said, "even though I hate you. There's a part of me that wants you, and another part that wants to hate you to death."
Iliana turned her gaze to the window, feeling conflicted. She began to pray silently to Allah, hoping everything would turn out alright.
When they finally arrived at the pharmaceutical industry, they dashed inside, only to find an atmosphere thick with tension. Workers were on edge, pointing fingers at one another, and chaos erupted as they started to argue. Iliana stepped forward, determined to take control of the situation.