***
{Outside The Projection}
"You look better."
Ah... indeed. Those words that rolled out in that low, steady way of his, with no warmth, no hint of exactly who they were meant for, held a lot more meaning.
Yet he was wrong, at least to a point, because they now knew.
They knew exactly how much those words meant to him.
And for both the women on the screen, it was enough.
Rather, it was way more than enough.
Layla, though feeling unworthy of such a compliment, had her lips curve faintly, forming a smile that wasn't meant to be seen, belonging to a moment she'd only keep for herself.
Dunya's already softened eyes softened further, her fingers curling into Sinbad's fluff, her mind holding onto the echo of her big brother's voice, repeating it over and over again.
Yes, only now did Malik finally see them, realizing their beauty.
Finally realizing what he once was entirely unable to.
