Bab 57: US TIME

“Salaam alaikum,” I heard Ali say as my door creaked open. I straightened up from where I was hunched over, organizing my desk, and turned around, trying to look casual. Luckily, I was nearly done cleaning my room—thank God he hadn’t seen it twenty minutes ago.

“Salaam alaikum,” he repeated, stepping inside. He used that phrase wherever he went—classrooms, restaurants, you name it. He’d once told me it meant peace be upon you. Pretty cool, honestly.

Ali glanced around my room as he entered. I shot him an awkward smile, wondering what he might be thinking. Maybe he thought it was small or something. “Small,” I muttered, half-apologetically.

“No, it’s cute,” he said, smiling as his eyes wandered over everything: our family picture on the wall, the random band posters, the embarrassing butterfly stickers my mom had insisted on. His gaze settled on me, and he tried to frown, but it ended up as a crooked smile.

“Man, you too skinny,” he chuckled. “You should eat more.”