[Scene: Alvira's Apartment – Evening]
The warm glow from the desk lamp pooled over her notes, but Alvira's eyes weren't on the textbook in front of her. They kept drifting to the words she'd heard earlier that day.
> Ilham Taib.
Her heart thudded each time she replayed the moment. Years of imagining him in daydreams, years of seeing him from behind a screen — now, the possibility of him being in the same room was almost too much.
Ruhi barged in, a grocery bag in one hand.
Ruhi:
"Why do you look like someone told you your crush just moved in next door?"
Alvira forced a small laugh.
Alvira:
"Nothing. Just… something the producer mentioned."
Ruhi didn't buy it.
Ruhi:
"Spill."
Alvira hesitated, then whispered:
"They might… feature my interview alongside Ilham Taib's."
Ruhi dropped the grocery bag on the couch dramatically.
Ruhi:
"WHAT? Alvira, that's—"
Alvira (cutting in):
"Shhh! I don't even know if it'll happen. And it's not like he'll notice me. I'm just… a participant."
But deep down, she knew this wasn't just "nothing."
[Scene: Broadcasting Office – Next Morning]
The producer scrolled through emails, then tapped out a quick one:
> Subject: Special Joint Segment Recording
"Dear Elvaira, due to the thematic connection of your interview with our upcoming guest feature, we'd like to invite you to a joint discussion panel with Mr. Ilham Taib next Friday at our Seoul headquarters…"
They hit "Send."
[Scene: Ilham's Management Office – Afternoon]
Ilham's manager slid a folder across the desk.
Manager:
"Here's the panel outline for next week. You'll be sharing the floor with that Muslim student from the 'Cultural Voices' feature."
Ilham kept his tone neutral.
Ilham:
"Elvaira?"
Manager:
"Yeah. You know her?"
Ilham:
"…No. Just… the name sounds familiar."
But inside, his chest tightened with the strange mixture of curiosity, recognition, and… something warmer.
[Scene: Alvira's Room – Night]
Her laptop pinged.
Email: Invitation to Joint Discussion with Ilham Taib – Confirm Attendance
She stared at the screen, hands trembling.
Ruhi peeked over her shoulder.
Ruhi:
"Are you gonna click yes or…?"
Alvira took a deep breath.
Alvira:
"Bismillah."
She clicked Accept.
In that single motion, years of distant dreams took one step toward reality.
[Closing Scene: Two Hearts, Two Worlds]
Ilham's POV:
He sat in his quiet apartment, looking out at the Seoul skyline.
> What are the odds? After all these years, someone with her name, her voice… Could it really be her?
Alvira's POV:
She lay awake, imagining a dozen ways the meeting could go.
> Ya Allah… I don't want to lose myself. I don't want to lose You. But my heart… please keep it steady.
The city lights burned softly in the night — somewhere between them, two stories were moving toward the same page.
To be continued....