Alfiq reflexively clamped his mouth shut before he could blurt out and call Inaya a kid.
“Uh... I mean, s-sweetheart,” he corrected himself, rubbing the back of his neck, which felt hot and cold at the same time.
“His face is scary.” Inaya shuddered at the thought of that long-whiskered fish.
“Bahahaha.”
Salma almost burst out laughing at the sight of her only son roaring with laughter. She knew her son’s cold and indifferent nature all too well, so seeing him laugh that freely felt strange. Her son really could laugh after all.
Hopefully, this was the beginning of something good. Salma truly hoped so. She was tired of the neighbors asking when her son was finally going to get married.
Inaya pursed her thin lips as she listened to Alfiq’s laughter, which had erupted at her expense. She had been afraid of catfish since childhood, convinced they had frightening faces. Just imagining one was enough to make her lose her appetite for the whiskered fish, even though many people actually enjoyed it because of its naturally savory flavor compared with saltwater fish.
“Catfish are delicious, though. They’re savory in this really good way,” Salma argued.
“But they’re scary, Umi. Hehe.”
“You’re afraid of a catfish? Pathetic!”
“Alfiq...!”
Hearing his Umi’s voice rise, Alfiq merely lowered his head. He knew she was on the verge of launching into a lecture. Things could get complicated once his Umi started talking at length.
Bzzzt!
Salma glanced at the chat notification that had landed on her phone. She sighed as she read the message.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry. Umi has a get-together at the neighboring village. I’m really sorry, but I can’t take you home.”
“It’s okay, Umi.” Inaya smiled understandingly.
“Son, take your future wife home. Don’t let her get so much as a scratch!” Salma ordered, keeping a watchful eye on her only son as he ate the catfish in front of him.
“Yes, Umi,” Alfiq replied without looking away from his food.
After Salma left, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Not a sound could be heard. Inaya, who wasn’t good at starting conversations, could only focus on the chicken thigh in her hand. Alfiq stared intently at the veiled woman across from him.
Long, curled eyelashes, a slender face, a sharp nose, and dimples in her cheeks. Looking closely, the woman in front of him really was beautiful. His Umi was quite perceptive when it came to finding a future daughter-in-law.
“What is it, sir?”
Alfiq narrowed his eyes. He was extremely annoyed that Inaya called him sir.
“I’m not your father.”
“S-sorry. I’m used to calling older men ‘sir’ at school.”
“Do I really look that old!?”
Inaya shook her head. Alfiq did still look remarkably youthful.
“Finish your food, kid!”
“I’m not a kid,” Inaya protested, pouting.
Alfiq smiled in triumph, pleased that he had managed to call the woman in front of him a kid.
Inaya glared uneasily at the customers in the pecel lele stall, who were staring strangely at her and Alfiq. Their eye-catching appearance had made them the center of attention. Their mismatched heights and stiff manner of speaking made them look like a father and daughter to anyone watching.
“Why do they keep staring at us, sir?” Inaya joked, beginning to feel uncomfortable.
“Don’t call me that, kid. They’ll assume you’re my daughter!”
“Pffft... So it’s true, then. You really do have an old man’s face, huh, sir?”
Alfiq shot Inaya a sharp look, and the slender girl’s courage shriveled from fear. In silence, they continued eating their meal.