Caught In The Cyber trap

Faisal's Silent Admiration

Afnan sat by the window in her room, scrolling through her phone. The conversation with the mysterious texter was still fresh in her mind, but she couldn't bring herself to tell anyone about it not yet, at least. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Afnan! Get down here, your brother Faisal is here!" her mother, Hajia Shafa'atu, called from downstairs.

Afnan sighed and put her phone aside. Faisal had been visiting frequently ever since her father travelled to Dubai for his business meetings. Her mom seemed to think he was there to help around the house, but Afnan knew better. Faisal had always been around, lurking in the background, offering help, and acting overly attentive ever since they were kids. She never gave it much thought, brushing off his actions as brotherly concern. But lately, things had felt... different.

As she made her way downstairs, she found Faisal sitting comfortably on the couch, casually chatting with her mom. He was well-dressed, as always Faisal loved to look his best. His sharp features and clean-cut look gave him an air of confidence that never failed to draw attention, especially at family events. Afnan noticed how his eyes lit up when he saw her coming down the stairs, but he quickly masked it with a smile.

"Salam, little cutie," Faisal greeted her, standing up as she entered the room. His voice was warm, but there was something about it that always made Afnan feel uneasy.

"Wa alaikum salam," she replied, forcing a smile.

"You're looking as radiant as ever," he said, his gaze lingering on her just a bit too long.

Afnan didn't miss the subtle compliment, but she chose to ignore it. "Thanks," she said dismissively, sitting on the other couch. Her mother beamed at Faisal, clearly impressed by his politeness and how he always found ways to compliment her daughter.

As the conversation drifted toward family matters, Afnan's mind wandered. Faisal had been hovering around more than usual lately. She wondered if it was because of Maalik. Faisal had never openly shown any jealousy or dislike for Maalik, but there were times when his actions spoke louder than words. He had a way of appearing right when she and Maalik were planning something, often offering unsolicited advice or reminding her how lucky she was to have family close by.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Faisal's voice.

"Cutie, I was thinking," he began, leaning forward slightly. "With your father out of town, you might need some help with the wedding preparations. I'm free to assist, you know. Whatever you need."

Afnan raised an eyebrow, unsure how to respond. It was sweet of him to offer, but the truth was, she didn't feel comfortable having him so involved in her relationship with Maalik.

"That's nice of you, bro, but Maalik and I have everything under control," she said, hoping her tone was clear enough to push him back.

Her mother, of course, wasn't about to let that stand. "Oh, come on, Afnan! Faisal is just being helpful. You should appreciate having such a thoughtful cousin." She shot her daughter a look, clearly hoping Afnan would reconsider.

Faisal smiled, though Afnan noticed it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's no trouble at all, Cutie. You know I care about you."

There it was again that lingering undertone in his words that made her uncomfortable. She wanted to say something, to put up a boundary, but before she could, her mother chimed in again.

"You know, Faisal has always looked out for you. Even back when you two were younger, he was the one who made sure you stayed out of trouble." Her mother chuckled, clearly reminiscing about old times.

Afnan forced a tight smile. She didn't need reminding. She remembered all too well how Faisal used to follow her around, offering advice she didn't ask for, and how he would sometimes overstep in ways that left her feeling suffocated.

After a few more minutes of idle conversation, Afnan excused herself and headed to the kitchen to get some water. As she stood by the sink, sipping slowly and trying to shake off the discomfort, she heard footsteps behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"Afnan," Faisal's voice was softer now, more intimate. "I hope you don't think I'm trying to interfere."

She turned to face him, her expression neutral. "No, Bro. I appreciate your concern. Really, I do. But Maalik and I have things figured out.

Faisal nodded, but there was a look in his eyes that made her uneasy. "I know, I know. It's just... I worry about you. I've seen how busy Maalik is, how often he's away. I just want you to know that if you ever feel like something's not right... I'm here."

Afnan tensed slightly, her grip tightening around the glass. "I'm fine, Bro. Really."

Faisal held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary before giving her a tight smile. "Alright, I'll drop it. For now." He turned to leave but paused at the door. "Just remember, I've always had your back."

As he walked away, Afnan let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. There was something about the way Faisal spoke, the way he always made it seem like Maalik wasn't good enough for her, that left her feeling unsettled. She didn't want to think too much into it, but she couldn't help the nagging feeling that Faisal's silent admiration wasn't so silent anymore.

Later that evening, as Afnan sat alone in her room, she thought about Faisal's words. His subtle hints, his constant presence it was becoming too much. But as unsettling as it was, her mind kept drifting back to the mysterious texter. What if Maalik really was too busy? What if Faisal was right, and she needed something or someone different?

Her phone buzzed, and she quickly picked it up, hoping it was Maalik. But once again, it was another message from the unknown number.

"I bet your're busy with thought, isn't it? These days you wondered a lot, right?."

Afnan's breath caught in her throat. How did this person know that? She glanced around her room, half-expecting someone to be watching her.

Another message followed:

"Don't worry. I'm far away, but. I think I understand you better than anyone close to you."

A shiver ran down her spine, but instead of fear, she felt an odd sense of excitement. This mystery person knew things, and somehow, that made them intriguing.

For a moment, Afnan's thoughts drifted away from Maalik, away from Faisal's silent admiration, and onto the stranger who seemed to know her better than she knew herself.

And as she stared at the phone screen, she wondered just how far would this new connection go?