Rayn gave a small smile and replied:— “Good morning, Dad. Why are you standing outside? Please, come in.”

  Rayn stepped aside respectfully and brought his father inside. As soon as they entered, his father saw Yuqeen and looked a bit surprised.

  For a brief moment, his sharp eyes studied her calmly, as if weighing something unseen.

  Yuqeen quickly stood up from the sofa and, with respect and a sweet tone, said:— “Good morning, Uncle.”

  Rayn’s father looked at Rayn. Then Rayn calmly said:— “Dad, I mentioned it in my message. I have a friend who lives in the next apartment, and she’s the one teaching me how to cook.”

  Then, pointing at Yuqeen, he added:— “This is her. Her name is Yuqeen Aev Hanabirah.”

  Hearing Yuqeen’s full name, Rayn’s father was even more surprised, though he didn’t let it show.

  He slowly walked over to Yuqeen and politely said:— “Thank you for being friends with my son and for teaching him how to cook.”

  In a gentle, kind voice, Yuqeen replied:— “Uncle, there’s no need to thank me. In fact, your son helps me a lot.”

  Then Yuqeen added:— “Uncle, if you allow me, I can prepare breakfast for you.”

  Rayn’s father smiled and answered:— “Why not? Of course.”

  As soon as he said that, Yuqeen headed toward the kitchen.

  After Yuqeen left, Rayn’s father said to him:— “This girl is very kind and gentle. So Rayn, never leave her alone, and never hurt her feelings.”

  Rayn calmly replied:— “Alright, Dad.”

  Then Rayn gave a small smile and thought to himself:— Fathers really are something else. The moment he arrived, he understood Yuqeen’s nature. But why did he say, ‘Don’t leave Yuqeen alone’?

  Rayn then asked his father:— “Dad, why did you say that I shouldn’t leave Yuqeen alone?”

  With a faint smile, his father replied:— “Because I know someone from the Hanabirah Family.”

  Hearing his father’s words, Rayn wasn’t too surprised.

  Because deep down, Rayn knew — there were many things about his father’s past that he still didn’t fully understand.

  After a while, the three of them sat together at the dining table. Rayn’s father was the first to taste the food.

  This time… The faint scent of freshly cooked food lingered in the air, mixing with the quiet warmth of the apartment.

  Yuqeen sat there, a little nervous. Her fingers tightened slightly against the edge of the table, her heartbeat quietly racing beneath her calm expression. She thought to herself:— “Will Uncle like the food I cooked?”

  Rayn, on the other hand, was completely confident. He already knew his father would definitely enjoy Yuqeen’s breakfast.

  After eating for a while, Rayn’s father stayed quiet, then in a slow voice said:— “I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a meal like this.”

  The room felt softer then, as if the weight of years had briefly lifted from his shoulders.

  Then he gave a soft smile, his eyes full of warmth, and looked at Yuqeen as he added:— “Truly, you’ve made a wonderful breakfast, dear Hanabirah.”

  Hearing such words, Yuqeen’s eyes welled up with tears. Her vision blurred slightly, memories she never spoke of quietly surfacing in her heart. It felt to her as if her own father was the one saying those words.

  Noticing the tears in Yuqeen’s eyes, Rayn’s father grew a little concerned and quickly said:— “Hanabirah, dear, what happened? Why are you crying? If my words hurt you in any way, then I must apologize.”

  Wiping her tears away, Yuqeen gave a gentle smile and said softly:— “Uncle, there’s no need to apologize at all. I wasn’t hurt — in fact, your words truly touched me.”

  Hearing that, Rayn’s father felt relieved.

  After the meal, the three of them settled onto the sofa.

  There was no rush in the room anymore — just comfort and calm. Soft light slipped in through the window, warming the space even more. After sitting quietly for a while, Rayn’s father spoke in a calm, steady voice,

  “I’ll stay here the whole day today. I’ll head back home once it gets evening.”

  Hearing that, a small, natural smile appeared on Rayn’s face. Having his father close made him happy — there was no point hiding it.

  But Yuqeen was even happier. She didn’t say anything; only the light in her eyes grew a little brighter. After a long time, she was feeling a day that truly felt like her own.

  Time began to drift by slowly.

  Sometimes the three of them talked — about school, about ordinary little things. At other moments, a video game was turned on, like friends hanging out.

  Rayn’s father was a bit awkward at first, but soon he started keeping up with Rayn and Yuqeen, playing along.

  Laughter spread through the room — something this apartment didn’t usually hear much of.

  Around midday, Yuqeen went into the kitchen and started showing Rayn’s father how she cooked.

  She carefully explained the spice measurements, the heat control — everything. Rayn’s father listened with interest, nodding now and then with a gentle smile to show he was paying attention.

  Rayn stood a little distance away, watching the scene. It felt like these small moments were the ones that stayed with you the longest.

  As the day went on, the sunlight softened. Outside the window, the color of the sky slowly began to change.

  When evening drew near, Rayn’s father prepared to leave. While putting on his shoes, he looked at the two of them and gave a warm, sweet smile — as if that smile alone carried a lot unsaid.

  No dramatic goodbyes. No heavy words. Just a quiet moment — one that would linger in memory without making a sound.

  Night time.

  The silence of the apartment felt deeper than before, broken only by distant sounds from the city below.

  The night had descended into silence. The sky was filled with stars, and everything shimmered under the moonlight.

  The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, while the distant chirping of crickets wrapped everything in a calm, mysterious atmosphere.

  Yuqeen and Rayn were having dinner together.

  Yuqeen noticed that Rayn seemed lost in deep thought. His gaze lingered somewhere far away, as though his thoughts were drifting beyond the room. Still, she didn’t want to disturb him during the meal.

  After a while, Rayn went to sit on the sofa. Yuqeen slowly followed and sat beside him. In a calm tone, Rayn said:— “If you want to ask me something, you can.”

  Yuqeen was surprised. She wondered, How did Rayn know that I wanted to say something?

  In a soft voice, Yuqeen said:— “No, I mean… during dinner, you seemed like you were thinking about something. May I ask what it was?”

  Rayn gave a slight smile:— “Why wouldn’t you know? I was thinking about you.”

  In a startled tone, Yuqeen asked:— “About me?”

  Rayn answered calmly:— “Yes, about you. I’ve noticed for a long time that you’re hiding something inside your heart.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  He stayed silent for a moment, then started speaking again:— Like the first day we met — you were in a very bad mood. The next day too, I saw you lost in deep thought.

  Rayn noticed that Yuqeen was quietly looking at him, so he began talking once more:— But this morning, it felt as if a different kind of happiness came from within you — something you might never have felt before.”

  Rayn paused for a moment and then continued:— “And most importantly, even though you’re Royal, you’re living in a simple apartment.

  That’s why I want to know… what’s really going on in your heart?”

  Hearing Rayn’s words, Yuqeen grew a little serious. She lowered her head and stayed quiet for a while. A quiet tension settled between them, thick enough to make every breath feel heavier.

  Seeing Yuqeen lower her head like that, Rayn thought to himself:— “Am I really ready to hear her truth? What if it changes everything between us?”

  After a few moments, she lifted her head again, and with a gentle, enchanting smile, she said:— “Rayn, do you know? You’re the fourth person in my life who has ever called me by my first name.

  Rayn looked a little confused and thought to himself, “What forth?”

  Yuqeen then spoke in a calm voice:— The first was my Uncle Zameer, then Ms. Zayla, and after that, a childhood friend of mine.”

  In a calm voice, Rayn asked:— “You have an uncle?”

  With a tender smile, Yuqeen replied:— “Yes, I do. His full name is Zameer Aev Hanabirah. Because of his company, he stays abroad most of the time.

  Yuqeen lowered her head slightly, and her eyes narrowed a little:— He only comes to visit two or three times a year, and the rest of the time we talk over the phone.”

  In a soft tone, Rayn asked again:— “And who is this Ms. Zayla?”

  Yuqeen answered:— “She is my father’s childhood friend. For as long as I can remember, she has looked after me.

  While Ms. Zayla was talking, a small smile appeared on Yuqeen’s face:— She’s the one who even taught me how to cook.

  To be honest, she loves me like a mother. But she never married. And her full name is Zayla Aev Qazmaar.”

  Rayn, without reacting, said in a calm voice:— You said all this, but you didn’t say why you were upset.

  Yuqeen suddenly grew quiet; there was a slight depth in her voice as she replied:— Actually, I’ve been living alone for a long time. The closest person I have is Ms. Zayla.

  She often falls ill, but that day her health had gotten really bad. I couldn’t do anything from afar.

  Her tone grew heavier:— I thought I was going to lose her. That’s why I was so upset that day.

  After a moment of silence, Rayn gently placed his hand on Yuqeen’s head and said in a cool yet soothing voice:— "Don’t be sad. May I ask, how is she doing now?"

  Gradually, Yuqeen calmed down and said:— “She’s fine now.”

  Rayn gave a faint smile and asked again:— “Yuqeen, can I ask you another question?”

  Yuqeen nodded:— “Yes, why not.”

  This time Rayn spoke in a slightly serious tone:— You spoke about them, but why didn’t you say anything about your parents?

  Hearing this, Yuqeen’s face grew heavy. Her smile faded, and she lowered her head.

  Seeing her upset, Rayn grew nervous and quickly said:— Sorry, sorry… forgive me. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked that.

  In a deep voice, Yuqeen replied:— It’s okay. You don’t need to apologize.

  Her words eased Rayn a little. He turned his head and thought to himself:— Maybe I really made a mistake. I shouldn’t have asked that question.

  Before Rayn could think further, Yuqeen began to speak in a heavy voice:— My father doesn’t love me at all.

  Her voice trembled, not from weakness, but from the weight of words she had carried alone for years. Rayn looked at her in shock:— What?

  Yuqeen repeated:— Yes, you heard me right. My father doesn’t love me at all. And my mother… I’ve never seen her. When I was very little, my parents got divorced. After that, my mother left us.

  Her voice broke further:— Honestly, if my parents had given me even a fraction of the love that my uncle and Ms. Zayla gave me, I would have been happy.

  Yuqeen’s voice grew deeper, as though she was about to cry. Rayn sat silently, feeling every word she spoke.

  After a while, Yuqeen continued:— But my father has never loved me. My uncle visits two or three times a year, but my father has never once come to see me in my life.

  Slowly, Yuqeen’s voice began to grow deeper:—I tried many times to meet him, to talk to him. But he always avoided me, spoke harshly.

  Now, her voice started to tremble slightly:— Even when it came to my monthly expenses or other needs, it was always my uncle who sent me money. So if there is anyone I truly hate in this life, it’s my father.

  As soon as Yuqeen finished speaking, a strange silence seemed to settle over the entire room.

  Rayn suddenly understood why Yuqeen often felt so alone.

  The countless questions he had carried inside himself — at that moment, many of them seemed to find their answer.

  For years, Yuqeen had hidden so much pain within her, yet to the world she appeared like an ordinary girl.

  She still sat with her head bowed, as if she had nothing more to say. Rayn rose from the sofa and slowly sat down in front of her.

  He gently cupped her cheeks with both hands, lifting her face. In a soft voice, he said:—“Yuqeen, I can see now how much you’ve been keeping inside.”

  His touch was steady and warm, grounding her trembling thoughts back into the moment. A thin film of tears glistened in Yuqeen’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

  Rayn’s voice grew even gentle:— “Listen… When someone unburdens their heart, pain slowly begins to fade. That’s why I want you to let your heart be light — today.”

  Hearing his words, Yuqeen quickly stood up. In a hurried tone, she said:— “Why are you saying these things? I’m fine. There’s no pain inside me.”

  With that, she moved toward the balcony. Rayn whispered under his breath:— “This girl… she won’t admit it so easily.”

  Standing on the balcony, Yuqeen drifted into thoughts unknown. Just then, Rayn came up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her.

  The cool night air contrasted with the warmth of his embrace, making her breath hitch for a moment.

  Startled by his sudden closeness, Yuqeen pulled herself free and turned to face him. She saw Rayn’s eyes — filled only with tender warmth, fixed solely on her.

  In a low voice, Rayn said:— “I know you’re strong. You could fight alone if you wanted. But remember this — one day, even the strongest person needs someone.”

  At those words, Yuqeen’s eyes welled up once more. This time, she couldn’t hold back the tears.

  Rayn extended his arms and said softly:— “So don’t ever think you’re alone. I’m here — with you.”

  The moment he spoke, Yuqeen threw her arms around him, pressing her face into his chest as she began to weep.

  Rayn gently covered her head with his hand, thinking to himself:— “Yes… even the strong need someone. Just as you need me. Yuqeen, I feel like I can’t live without you anymore.

  A serious look now appeared in Rayn’s eyes:— In such a short time, you’ve become a part of me. I promise—I won’t let any sorrow ever reach you, and I will never leave your side.”

  The Next Evening

  As dusk settled in, the sky turned into shades of orange and crimson.

  Birds returned to their nests one by one, and in the distance, lights began to flicker on.

  A cool breeze swept through, carrying with it a strange, peaceful silence.

  Rayn was walking home from school. As he crossed the bridge, The river below reflected the fading colors of the sky, flowing quietly beneath the bridge.

  Rayn stopped — there, by the railing, stood Yuqeen, as if she had been waiting just for him.

  Her hair swayed gently in the cold wind, blending with the rhythm of the river’s waves, making the moment feel even quieter and more beautiful.

  Yuqeen turned her gaze toward Rayn, then smiled sweetly:— “Good evening, Rayn.”

  Rayn didn’t reply with words — he only let a soft smile spread across his face.

  Night slowly fell. The streets were nearly empty as the two of them walked side by side toward their apartments.

  Their footsteps echoed softly on the pavement, syncing naturally as they walked side by side.

  Yuqeen stayed quiet, blushing faintly, while Rayn remained calm, as though absorbing the chill of the evening into his very soul.

  At last, they reached their apartments. Before Yuqeen could open her door, Rayn stepped closer and said in a calm, steady voice:— “Yuqeen, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  A little surprised, Yuqeen asked:— “What is it?”

  Rayn’s voice remained composed:— “Tonight, I have some personal work. I’ll be out late.

  Please cook and eat dinner without waiting for me.”

  Yuqeen let out a quiet sigh, as if she had expected something else. Then, in a gentle voice, she replied:— “Alright.”

  Rayn gave her a faint smile and went inside his apartment.

  Yuqeen also opened her door, stepped in, and leaned against it with a whisper:— “Fool… I thought you were going to say something else.”

  A little later, Yuqeen went over to Rayn’s apartment. She found him already dressed, ready to leave.

  When he turned to her, he smiled softly and said in his calm tone:— “Alright, I’m heading out.”

  With that, Rayn walked out the door. It was deep into the night. Rayn returned alone to his apartment. As he reached the door, he stopped — he noticed it wasn’t locked.

  A strange unease flickered through him, followed by quiet curiosity. Stepping inside, he looked around in surprise.

  The entire place looked as if it had been freshly made new. Not a single speck of dust or dirt could be seen.

  The sofa cushions were neatly arranged, the curtains hung perfectly in place, and even the smallest items were set exactly where they belonged.

  Rayn thought to himself:— “Could this be Yuqeen’s doing?”

  Slowly, he stepped further into the living room.

  Again, his thoughts whispered:— “I’ve never cleaned this thoroughly in my life… A gentle, almost wistful amazement showed in his eyes.”

  Then, with quiet steps, he moved toward the dining table. The moment he reached it, he stopped.

  There sat Yuqeen, her head resting on the table, fast asleep. On the table lay a beautifully arranged dinner — prepared as though it had been waiting only for him.

  The soft rise and fall of her breathing told him how exhausted she truly was.

  Rayn stood still, gazing at her. A strange, soft feeling bloomed inside his chest. Has anyone ever cared for me like this before?

  His eyes lingered on Yuqeen’s peaceful face. Even in sleep, traces of both weariness and warmth were etched into her expression.

  Quietly, he whispered in his heart:— “Yuqeen… why do you do so much for me?”

  Unknowingly, a gentle smile spread across his lips. Rayn slowly walked closer to Yuqeen and saw that she had fallen into a deep sleep.

  Looking at her gentle, peaceful face, he gave a faint smile and whispered:— “I told this girl not to wait for me, but she didn’t listen.”

  For a moment, he stayed silent, then thought to himself:— “What should I do now? It looks like she was so tired that she drifted into such deep sleep.

  Waking her up wouldn’t be right. Should I take her back to her apartment?”

  After thinking for a while, he shook his head:— “No… that wouldn’t be right. I can’t go into a girl’s apartment without her permission.”

  Letting out a quiet sigh, he whispered:— “Then there’s only one choice.”

  Carefully, Rayn lifted Yuqeen in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. She felt surprisingly light in his arms, as if she trusted him even in sleep. He gently laid her down on the bed, making sure she was comfortable.

  As he stepped out of the room, a tender smile curved his lips, and he whispered:— “Good night.”

  Then Rayn sat down at the dining table. As he ate the meal, his thoughts wandered:— “At first, Yuqeen never opened up to me. But just last night, she shared everything that was in her heart.”

  He suddenly stopped eating, a new realization hitting him:— “Yuqeen is doing so much for me… and today she did even more. But I still haven’t done much for her in return.”

  A gentle smile returned to his face as he softly whispered to himself:— “Alright then… tomorrow, I’ll bring a gift for Yuqeen.”

  For the first time in a long while, Rayn felt certain—this wasn’t just kindness. It was attachment.

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