Meanwhile, Anisa and her team hired another van for the journey back. As before, Yugh and Anisa found themselves seated side by side. š
"Thank you, Yugh," Anisa said softly, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them after their earlier ordeal.
"What for?" Yugh asked, genuinely surprised. š²
"For always being there to help me. You used to have so much... resentment towards me before. I thought you were a harsh person. But you're not. You're a good person," she confessed, her voice sincere.
Yugh gave a small, wry smile. "Actually, you're the first person who's ever called me a good person," he said, a hint of quiet humor in his tone. š
The rest of the journey passed in a companionable silence, a stark contrast to the tense quiet of their trip out. Hours later, they finally arrived back at AZ Studios. Yugh paid the driver, and everyone disembarked, collecting their luggage.
As Anisa stepped out of the van, she immediately saw him: Hasan, waiting to pick her up. He really does think of me so much, she thought, a wave of affectionate gratitude washing over her. š«
Hasan strode over, the picture of devotion. He took her bags, carried them to his car, and loaded them with efficient care. Then, he pulled her into an embrace, holding her close. "I missed you, darling," he murmured into her hair.
Anisa smiled, returning the hug. "I missed you too," she said, her heart warmed by his show of affection. š¤
From a distance, Yugh watched the reunion. A familiar, sharp pang of discomfort tightened in his chest. He didn't linger to analyze it. Instead, he turned away, avoiding the sight, and walked into the studio without a backward glance.
Back at the car, Hasan, ever the gentleman, opened the passenger door for Anisa. Once she was settled, he took his place behind the wheel and started the engine, pulling away from the curb and from the unspoken tension left standing on the sidewalk. š£