Everyone arrived safely at Socotra Island, and the sun was still gentle, touching the sea with a light golden hue.
The children were the first to descend from the yacht, running onto the sand with loud laughter, as if the island had been waiting for them for a long time. Um Ahmed followed them, then Misaki and Mrs. Sayuri, while Ahmed stayed behind for a bit to unload the luggage. He brought down the bags, the grill, and the snacks he had prepared in advance, along with everything they needed for a long day on the beach.
Meanwhile, the children had rushed into the sea, swimming joyfully, and then returned to collect shells and seaweed, competing to find the most beautiful and unique pieces. Um Ahmed began preparing breakfast on the beach using the remaining bread, and said quietly:
"Ahmed, tell your father to go fishing."
Ahmed smiled: "Right away, Mother."
He strongly desired to swim with them, to jump into the water and forget everything, but he preferred to stay and help his mother.
As for Mrs. Sayuri, she stood a little further away, contemplating the sea and the clarity of the sky, captivated by the beauty and rarity of the island. Beside her, Abu Ahmed's friend gazed at the place with the same amazement, as if Socotra were whispering to them an unspoken secret.
On the yacht, Abu Ahmed called Mr. Haruki in a low voice:
"Are you ready to execute the plan for Ahmed and Misaki's engagement today?"
Mr. Haruki's face lit up: "Yes... but what is the strategy?"
Abu Ahmed said with a confident smile:
"I have prepared the engagement rings. The plan is simple but impactful... We cover Ahmed's eyes with a blindfold so he can't see, and we dress Misaki in an engagement dress. We make Ahmed hold the ring with his fingers, then Misaki slides her finger into the ring... afterward, she puts his ring on him, and only then do we remove the blindfold."
He paused for a moment, then added: "I want to see the expression on his face when he sees her."
Mr. Haruki laughed quietly: "He will not forget this moment for as long as he lives."
Afterward, Abu Ahmed went out with Mr. Haruki to fish, and they managed to catch five large fish near the yacht, making for a special breakfast. At the same time, the wife of Abu Ahmed's friend went to help Um Ahmed prepare the food; everyone shared the work as if they had been one family for a long time.
Before moving away, Abu Ahmed called Mr. Haruki once more:
"We execute the plan at eleven o'clock in the morning."
Mr. Haruki nodded in agreement, while the island continued its silence... unaware that two hearts were preparing, in just a few hours, for a step that would change everything.