THE NIGHT BEFORE
The night felt heavier than usual.
Not dark… just still.
As if the world itself was slowing down.
Inside the house, the lights were dim.
Their parents had already gone to rest.
Farid and Pakcik Malik had left not long ago.
Only silence remained.
Aiman sat on the edge of his bed.
Breathing slowly.
Carefully.
Every movement now required effort.
"Aina…"
His voice was soft, almost blending into the quiet.
Aina, who had been sitting on the floor beside the bed, looked up immediately.
She hadn't gone far from him all night.
"Yes, abang?"
Aiman gave a small smile.
"Can you take my phone?"
Aina nodded quickly.
She reached for it on the table and handed it to him without question.
"Here."
Their fingers brushed for a moment.
Cold.
Aina noticed.
But she said nothing.
Aiman unlocked the phone.
The light from the screen reflected in his tired eyes.
CLOSE, SILENT MOMENT
Only the soft sound of typing filled the room.
Aina didn't look at the screen.
Out of respect.
Out of trust.
But her eyes…
kept drifting.
Aiman typed slowly.
Carefully choosing every word.
Message 1 — ALYA
Alya… if you truly want to meet me,
come tomorrow morning.
I'll be waiting.
He paused.
Breathing slightly heavier now.
Then continued.
Message 2 — NADIA
Nadia… if you want to know about me,
I invite you to come to my house tomorrow morning.
I'll be waiting.
He stared at both messages for a long time.
Thumb hovering over the screen.
Then…
SEND.
The room fell silent again.
Aina finally spoke.
"…abang?"
Aiman looked at her.
"Hmm?"
Aina hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly on her skirt.
"Who are you messaging?"
Simple question.
But something in her tone…
was different.
Aiman smiled.
A soft one.
"Just… friends."
Aina nodded.
Slowly.
"I see."
She didn't ask more.
Didn't look at the phone.
Didn't question further.
But her face…
changed.
Not anger.
Not jealousy.
Something deeper.
A quiet discomfort.
A feeling she didn't understand.
CLOSE-UP — AINA
Her eyes lowered.
Lost in thought.
Why now?
Why tonight?
Why those messages?
Something about it…
felt like a goodbye.
She looked back at Aiman.
He was still smiling.
But it felt different now.
Calmer.
Too calm.
"Aina."
She snapped out of her thoughts.
"Yes?"
Aiman placed the phone aside.
"Tomorrow morning…"
He paused.
As if choosing his words carefully.
"Stay close, okay?"
Aina frowned slightly.
"I always do."
Aiman chuckled softly.
Weak… but real.
"I know."
Silence again.
Aina slowly moved closer to the bed.
Then, without asking…
she rested her head gently on the side of the mattress.
Near him.
Like when she was younger.
Aiman looked down at her.
His eyes softened.
His hand slowly reached out…
and rested on her hair.
Gentle.
Protective.
Familiar.
Aina closed her eyes.
"Abang…"
"Hmm?"
"…don't wake up too early tomorrow."
Aiman smiled faintly.
"Why?"
Aina didn't open her eyes.
"…because I want to see you first."
That line hit deeper than she knew.
Aiman didn't reply immediately.
His hand remained on her head.
Still.
"…okay."
Outside…
the takbir echoed softly into the night.
Inside…
two siblings stayed close.
One trying to hold on.
The other…
quietly preparing to let go.
ELSEWHERE — SAME NIGHT
Alya sat alone in her room.
The soft glow of her lamp barely lit the space around her.
Her phone rested in her hand, her thumb scrolling slowly through old messages.
His name was still there.
Unchanged.
Aiman.
Their last conversation had ended without closure.
Without explanation.
Without goodbye.
Alya stared at the screen for a long time.
"…you really disappeared."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
She locked the phone and placed it beside her.
Then suddenly—
it vibrated.
She froze.
Slowly… she picked it up again.
And when she saw the name…
her heart stopped.
Aiman.
Her fingers trembled as she opened the message.
If you truly want to meet me… come tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting.
She read it once.
Twice.
Again.
"…after all this time?"
Her voice broke slightly.
Why now?
Why suddenly?
But none of that mattered as much as one thing—
He finally reached out.
Alya held the phone tightly.
Her eyes filled with tears she didn't hold back this time.
"…I'll come."
Not far away, Nadia stood by her window.
Quiet.
Distant.
Her phone buzzed on the table behind her.
She ignored it at first.
Then it buzzed again.
Annoyed, she turned and grabbed it.
"…who is this—"
She stopped.
Her expression changed instantly.
Aiman.
She opened the message quickly.
If you want to know about me… I invite you to come to my house tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting.
Silence.
Her grip tightened.
"…you finally text."
Her voice carried a mix of emotions.
Anger.
Relief.
Hurt.
"…after disappearing like that."
She looked away.
Trying to steady herself.
But the truth was…
she had been waiting.
For this.
For him.
"…fine."
She whispered quietly.
"I'll come."
That night…
three hearts carried different emotions.
Aina — fear she didn't understand.
Alya — hope she thought she lost.
Nadia — answers she had been waiting for.
And Aiman…
He simply waited for morning.