2024-12-24 22:06:18It was the afternoon, and Akashi returned home with his siblings, Amira and Khadija, their footsteps echoing through the quiet house.
"Phew, the sun is quite hot . I got dehydrated fifteen times today." He said grabbing the bottle of water on the stool.
"True, the summer sun is at its hottest now. I might need a cold shower " Dija said peeling off her socks.
"Not the place to undress Dija. Akashi frowned lightly. Amira, take your sister upstairs, you both should freshen up, while I make dinner." He instructed them to go upstairs and change, while he wandered into the dining room. His gaze fell on his father's breakfast, untouched, stale, and sour. A frown crossed his face as he realized the time-almost three in the afternoon-and his father had not even come down for breakfast.
Akashi's mind raced with questions. Why hadn't his father eaten? Why hadn't he shown up all day? Something wasn't right. His gut churned as he headed upstairs, deciding to check on his father. As he approached Hakimi's door, he knocked softly, but there was no response. His heart pounded harder. He knocked again, more forcefully this time, and when silence greeted him once more, he opened the door slightly, peeking inside.
The room's atmosphere had changed. The once warm, inviting space now felt cold, distant, even foreboding. His eyes swept the room and fell upon a black coat draped over a chair, boots neatly placed by its side, a face mask, and gloves discarded near them. His pulse quickened.
Without thinking, he began searching. His hands trembled as he checked the wardrobe, the laundry basket, and then the bedside table. As he opened the drawer, his breath caught in his throat. There it was-a large stack of cash neatly bundled, and next to it, a shotgun and a dagger. His heart hammered in his chest.
"What is this?" he whispered, a wave of dread washing over him. Was his father back to his old ways? The dangerous lifestyle Hakimi had sworn to leave behind? His mother had once joked about how a medical doctor ended up with a street gangster. He waved it off as a joke, but now reality is beginning to kick in.
Before he could process the discovery, a soft voice broke the silence."Daddy? Daddy?" Khadija's small figure appeared in the doorway, her face pale, eyes red and watery. She looked sickly, her tiny hands clutching her head.
Akashi quickly closed the drawer, trying to steady his voice. "Khadija? What's wrong?"
"I don't feel well. Everything's spinning," she said in a small, childish voice, her body swaying slightly.
Akashi's heart softened, but panic gripped him. "Okay, okay. I'll take you to the pharmacy. Just... let me change first."
At that moment, the sound of water stopping from the shower echoed through the room. Hakimi emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He spotted his children and smiled weakly.
"Oh, you're back," he said, his voice casual but tired.
"Yeah, Akashi responded, eyeing his father with suspicion. Why haven't you had your breakfast yet?"
Hakimi looked momentarily caught off guard. "Ah... I fell asleep after you left. I guess I overslept. Just woke up now, thought I'd freshen up before heading down."
Akashi didn't entirely believe him but nodded slowly. "Alright... just seems odd you slept through the whole day."
Hakimi's eyes narrowed, sensing the interrogation. "What's with all the questions, Akashi? Am I on trial?"
Akashi held up his hands. "No, no. Just... making conversation."
At that moment, Khadija let out a small whimper. "Dad, I don't feel well. My head hurts so bad..."
Hakimi's expression softened as he looked down at his daughter. "Alright, let me get dressed, and I'll take you to the pharmacy. Don't worry."
Minutes later, Hakimi came downstairs, dressed casually, his long hair tied into a messy bun. He scooped Khadija into his arms, cradling her with a tenderness that belied the tough exterior Akashi had just seen.
"I've got an idea," Hakimi announced as he carried Khadija toward the door. Why don't we all go out for dinner after this? A nice meal out for a change."
Amira raised an eyebrow. "Eat out? We barely have enough money to cook at home, Dad."
"Don't worry, Hakimi said, smiling with a strange new confidence. I told you, I got a new job. Things are going to get better from now on. I promise you guys."
Akashi's suspicion deepened. "A job? What job?"
"I'll explain everything when things settle down. For now, trust me," Hakimi replied, his tone final.
Akashi kept quiet but couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.
--------------The Dinner Out
Later that evening, they arrived at a small, cozy restaurant. The lights were warm, the atmosphere buzzing with chatter and the scent of delicious food. For a moment, the weight of suspicion and secrets lifted as Hakimi's children sat at the table, scanning the menu excitedly.
"Order anything you like, bill is on your sugar daddy" Hakimi said with a smile, his eyes twinkling as if relishing this rare moment of happiness with his family.
Amira looked up in surprise. "But this place is expensive."
"Don't worry about that. Hakimi replied. Tonight is very special."
They ordered their favorite dishes-spiced lamb, rice, and an array of appetizers. As they began eating, the table was filled with laughter and chatter. For a brief moment, it felt like old times-before the struggles, before Ravishia's absence. Hakimi smiled, watching his children enjoy the meal, but in the back of his mind, the weight of what he'd done the previous night lingered.
Just as they were finishing their meal, a woman sitting at the bar glanced over at Hakimi, her gaze lingering a little too long. She smiled, sending a flirty wave. Akashi noticed, but it was Khadija who acted first.
With a stern expression far beyond her years, Khadija stood up, her small frame full of determination, and shot the woman a glare.
"What are you looking at lady?!". She pouted cutelyThe woman quickly turned away, embarrassed.
Hakimi chuckled softly, pulling Khadija back into her seat. "That's my girl," he said, ruffling her hair.
"You're married to me now Daddy." She said and grabbed his arm
"Of course my lady." He grinned and placed a kiss on her arm
-------------
Later that night, as they walked back home, Akashi couldn't shake the unease. The cash, the weapons, the mysterious job-it didn't add up. His father was hiding something, and Akashi intended to find out what.
As they approached the house, Hakimi's phone buzzed. He checked it quickly, his expression darkening as he glanced at the message.
Akashi watched him carefully, but Hakimi shoved the phone into his pocket, forcing a smile. "Alright, kids, time for bed."
As they settled in, Akashi lay awake, replaying the day's events in his mind. His father was slipping into something dangerous, and soon, Akashi knew he had have to confront him. Whatever Hakimi was hiding, it was only a matter of time before the truth surfaced.
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CHAPTER 37: THE CONFRONTATION
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the small but cozy living room where Khadijat and Amira sat on the worn sofa. The scent of breakfast still lingered in the air-freshly made tea and the faint aroma of bread Bashir had toasted earlier. Akashi leaned against the wall, flipping lazily through a magazine, his long hair loosely tied back.Bashir entered the room, his sleeves rolled up and a playful grin on his face. "Alright, you three, coats on!" he declared, clapping his hands together.Khadijat frowned, looking up from the book she had been skimming. "Why? Where are we going?""To see your father," Bashir said simply, his smile widening.At those words, Khadijat's face lit up, and Amira let out an excited squeal. "Really?!"Akashi, too, straightened up, his expression softening. "To Dad's restaurant?" he asked, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.Bashir chuckled. "Yes, now hurry up before I change my mind."The room burst into movement as the siblings
CHAPTER 36: A THIN LINE BETWEEN ALLIES AND ENEMIES
The meeting with Malik was set for midnight. Hakimi and Laila arrived at an underground café hidden in the heart of the city, accessible only through a narrow alley flanked by decrepit buildings. A flickering neon sign above the entrance read "The Rabbit Hole." The café's air was heavy with the aroma of roasted coffee beans, mixed with a hint of tobacco and something metallic.Hakimi scanned the room, his sharp eyes catching every shadow and corner. The place was dimly lit, with heavy velvet curtains draped over private booths. The hum of muted conversations and the occasional clinking of glasses filled the air. Laila nudged Hakimi toward the booth in the far corner, where a blonde haired man sat hunched over a laptop. He was dressed in black and wore a dark gloves. Malik.He looked every bit the eccentric tech genius. His wiry frame was wrapped in a mismatched hoodie and cargo pants, his wrists adorned with bands of worn leather and tech gadgets. His thick glasses magnified his rest
CHAPTER 35: THE SHADOWS CLOSE IN
The morning light barely seeped through the heavy curtains of Bashir's house. The air was quiet, almost too still, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Bashir shuffled to his front door, his old cat trailing behind him with a soft meow. He bent to pick up the morning paper but froze when his eyes caught a crimson-colored envelope resting on the doormat. What the hell was that? He silently prayed it was not what he was thinking.His hands trembled slightly as he opened it. Inside, scrawled in uneven red ink, was a single sentence:"You better stay out of it, or you'll regret it."The words seemed to leap off the paper, their menace almost palpable. Bashir's heart thudded painfully in his chest. He glanced around the empty street, the morning fog curling like ghostly fingers around the houses. There was no sign of anyone, but he felt like someone was watching him. Carefully, he folded the note and tucked it into his pocket, forcing himself to act normal as he turned back insid
CHAPTER 34: ALLIES AND SHADOWS
The cold night air was sharp and biting, slicing through Hakimi's coat as he stepped out of the truck. The streetlights buzzed faintly above, casting a dim yellow glow on the empty parking lot of a run-down diner. Hakimi stood still for a moment, his breath curling in front of him in pale clouds. Beside him, Akashi slammed the truck door shut, his movements sharp with bottled frustration."Why here?" Akashi asked, eyeing the flickering neon sign above the diner. The smell of old grease wafted faintly through the air, mingling with the faint hum of a passing car somewhere in the distance.Hakimi didn't answer immediately. His eyes scanned the lot, the shadows of parked cars, the dark alley to the left of the diner. His hand hovered near his coat pocket, fingers brushing the handle of the knife he had tucked inside. "It's quiet, he finally muttered, nodding toward the door. Let's go inside."The diner's door creaked as they stepped in, the bell above it jingling. Inside, the place looke
CHAPTER 33: ESCAPE BEFORE DAWN
Hakimi's blood ran cold as the words on his phone screen burned into his mind."It's today. Hope you'll comply with your part of the deal and bring what's mine."His breath caught in his throat, and he gripped the phone tighter, the edges digging into his palm. The weight of the threat sat heavy on his chest, making it harder to breathe. He felt trapped in his own body, paralyzed by fear and indecision. How had it come to this?He glanced at the dim glow of the clock on the bedside table. It was barely past midnight, the world outside cloaked in silence, but his mind was anything but still. His chest tightened as a flood of questions and regrets swirled within him. He had known the risks when he made the deal, but now, with his children's safety on the line, regret hit him like a tidal wave."Think, Hakimi, think!" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He couldn't stay here, not with the looming threat. His family came first. Always, and he certainly kne
CHAPTER 32: AKASHI'S SECRET INVESTIGATION
The morning sun streamed through the tattered curtains, casting a pale glow over the modest kitchen. Hakimi sat at the dining table, nursing a cup of tea as steam spiraled lazily upward. A worn newspaper lay open before him, but he wasn't reading. His eyes skimmed over the words without comprehension. His mind was elsewhere-on Riqqo's threat, the cryptic note, the stranger outside his house the other day, and the weight of keeping his family safe.The sound of lighthearted chatter pulled him back to the present. At the far end of the room, Amira was gently braiding Khadija's hair, something his wife has always done, her younger sister giggling at something she had said. The sight of his daughters filled Hakimi with a bittersweet ache. They were innocent, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them. He envied their ignorance.At the other end of the room, Akashi silently packed his bag, his expression stoic but his movements unusually deliberate. His mind wasn't on school. He h
