The amusement park was packed with families, couples, and groups of friends, all weaving in and out of the bright lights and bustling attractions. But the crowds didn’t faze Sara; she was determined to make the most of the night. She dragged Aisha and Omar over to a photo booth with a floral backdrop, lush with oversized pastel roses and delicate fairy lights, perfect for capturing memories.
“Let’s start with some solo shots!” Sara grinned, handing her DSLR to Omar with an expectant look. Omar took the camera, sighing with a mock helpless expression, but there was a hint of a smile in his eyes as he adjusted the settings.
Sara stepped in front of the camera and began striking pose after pose, her confidence radiating as she played with different angles and expressions. She looked effortlessly stunning, and Aisha watched with admiration, feeling a pang of envy at how fearless Sara seemed. Aisha wondered if she could ever carry herself like that—especially in front of Omar, who looked completely absorbed as he clicked away.
After an endless series of snaps, Sara finally turned to Aisha with a playful grin. “Your turn! Come on!”
Aisha’s eyes widened, and she shook her head slightly, trying to dodge. “I’m good, really,” she mumbled, glancing toward Omar as if hoping he’d get annoyed and urge them to move on. But to her surprise, he simply kept looking at her with an unreadable expression.
“Go ahead,” he said, nodding toward the floral setup.
Aisha’s heart raced. Did he… actually want to take her picture? She didn’t know why, but it felt strange and exciting. Before she could react, Sara nudged her forward, and she found herself standing in front of the camera, unsure where to look or what to do with her hands.
Omar watched her, and after a moment, he lifted his hand, gesturing for her to relax and just smile. Aisha took a breath, glanced up at the camera, and gave a small, hesitant smile. Omar snapped a few pictures and then looked up, meeting her gaze. “Perfect,” he said softly, his voice carrying an unexpected warmth. Her cheeks flushed as she quickly looked down, feeling an odd mixture of embarrassment and delight.
But before she could step away, Sara’s voice rang out. “Hold on, Aisha! We need some couple pictures now. Omar, get in there.”
Both Aisha and Omar opened their mouths to protest, but Sara held up her hand firmly. “No excuses. Stand together,I want to capture a few of you two.”
Omar gave an exasperated sigh but complied, stepping beside Aisha. She felt her pulse quicken as he gently placed a hand on her waist, a gesture so simple yet oddly electric. They hadn’t taken any photos together since their wedding, and suddenly, the moment felt more intimate than it should.
Sara grinned, snapping a shot before Aisha could even look at the camera. “Got it!” she said, winking at them. “Come on, pose a bit more”
They exchanged awkward glances, but as the flashes went off and Sara egged them on with playful instructions, something in Aisha softened. They spent a few more minutes posing, first stiffly, but then a little more naturally as Sara's teasing comments pulled smiles and laughs from them. Eventually, Sara hopped into the frame too, and they took a few more shots, the three of them laughing and jostling together.
When they finally left the photo booth, Omar suggested they grab dinner, his stomach rumbling in agreement. They strolled over to a row of food stalls, the scent of grilled food and fried treats filling the air. Aisha ordered a veggie burger with orange juice, while Omar and Sara opted for hot dogs and Coca-Cola. They found a small, slightly wobbly table nearby, and took seats on the plastic chairs scattered around it.
Omar and Sara fell easily into conversation, joking about old memories and random topics as they ate. Aisha sat quietly, trying to enjoy her burger but feeling a bit like an outsider in their world. Sara noticed and made a point of bringing Aisha into the conversation, sharing stories and asking her questions that pulled her into the laughter.
With each minute, Aisha felt herself ease into their rhythm. She still felt a little shy, a little out of place, but with Sara’s warmth and Omar’s occasional glances her way, she felt a bit less like a stranger,and a bit more like she belonged.
The night was alive with colors and sounds as the amusement park buzzed under a sky dotted with stars. After eating,Omar, Aisha, and Sara strolled along, the bright lights casting a soft glow on their faces. Laughter and chatter filled the air, but Omar found himself stealing glances at Aisha, unsure if she was having as much fun as she looked.
Ahead of them was the bumper car arena, where drivers swerved and collided in a mess of laughter and honking. Sara spotted it first and grinned, tugging on Omar’s arm.
“Come on, let’s show these rookies how it’s done!” she called, already heading toward a sleek purple car.
Omar laughed, caught up in her enthusiasm. Aisha followed behind, quieter, her eyes drifting to the bumper cars with interest but keeping a little distance. Omar noticed and hesitated for a second, wondering if she even wanted to join, but Sara was already motioning for him to grab a car next to hers.
“Guess you’re going down, Omar!” Sara laughed, strapping herself in with a gleam of determination in her eyes.
“Not if I get you first!” Omar shot back, taking a seat beside her.
Aisha settled into a car across the arena, hands gripping the wheel as she watched them. She tried to shake it off, but something in the way Omar and Sara laughed so easily together gnawed at her.
The buzzer sounded, jolting her back. She pressed her foot on the pedal, her car lurching forward just as Omar darted past her. She watched as he made a beeline straight for Sara’s car, ramming into it with a triumphant grin. Sara shrieked with laughter, feigning mock horror as she tried to swerve away, but he was relentless, chasing her car and laughing with each bump.
Aisha bit her lip, feeling her chest tighten with something she didn’t want to name. She could hear them laughing, their voices carrying over the music and engine noise, a rhythm she couldn’t quite join. The urge to drive over there and shake things up herself grew, and before she knew it, she’d spun her car around and made a beeline toward Omar’s.
With a loud crash, her car bumped into his, jolting him forward in surprise. He turned, eyes wide, and found Aisha staring back at him, a small, challenging smile on her lips.
“Ouch!” Omar laughed, recovering from the shock. “Didn’t think you’d go after me!”
Aisha just shrugged, but a hint of satisfaction crossed her face. “Thought I’d even things out,” she replied coolly, before backing up and zooming away, the hint of a grin flashing over her shoulder.
But Omar wasn’t about to let her have the last move. With a grin, he chased after her, the two of them weaving and dodging, exchanging playful bumps and glances. Somewhere between the spinning cars and the flashing lights, the awkwardness began to dissolve. She laughed as she swerved, and for the first time, he saw her eyes brighten with something more than polite amusement.
Sara’s car bumped into him from behind, snapping him back. She raised her eyebrows playfully. “Thought you forgot about me there, Omar!”
He laughed, suddenly aware of how he had acted with Aisha, but shrugged it off, focusing instead on the thrill of the ride. The buzzer sounded, signaling the end, and they clambered out of the cars, breathless and giddy.
“That was intense,” Sara said, grinning. But Aisha’s quiet, almost unreadable expression caught her attention. “Aisha, you really got Omar good out there,” she added with a wink.
Aisha gave a small smile, glancing at Omar, who was already looking her way. For a brief moment, they locked eyes, both feeling something unspoken hanging between them. And as they made their way out of the arena, Omar found himself walking a little closer to Aisha, realizing that maybe he wanted to get to know this side of her a bit more.
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and then Add to home screen.