Beneath Guarded Hearts - 22

Previously...

Asma

From: 3bady (Mobile)

Ok yalla bye :D I'll be watching over you when you sleep ;*

As much as I knew how wrong this was, I couldn't ignore the pang of pleasure I felt deep inside me. I didn't answer the text, but I whispered 4 words under my breath as my eyelids started to close, drifting me off into a world where there were no rules, where 3bdulla and me could be together. For eternity.

____________

3bdulla

I saw her head tilt slightly to the left as she slept, and I willed to carry her on my lap and let her sleep on my chest. Bas bi3'ait ayawidhaa, asma3 9ot nfas-ha as she escaped into a different world that I could never reach.

Thank God Sul6an mb yalis jreebna. 7a6ona n7na fe business class since there were limited seats on the airplane w naturally Sul6an akbar fa ylas fe first. At first I thought, lucky bastard, and then I realized I would get to have stolen moments with Asma.

Asma. My last month with her. I was pondering over whether I should make the most of it, or save us both the hurt and leave her alone. But it's so hard to ignore her, especially when she's paying me so much attention. I can't help but return some of that energy.

For a change, we decided to go to Thailand this year bdal London mthl kil sina. If baba hadn't let 3amy M7amad and his family choose the place, we would have probably been on a plane to London right now. Bas yalla masheeha, change is good! La3at chabdy mn kil el 3rab ele hnak xD Ban3'ayer jaw shwaya. Bas Thailand? What on earth is in Thailand?

Asma

We sat at Starbucks in Uptown Mirdif. I was carefully drinking my hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and sprinkles, as he sat there watching me. My heart was thumping with joy and eagerness at the same time. I didn't know how I felt now that I'd gotten what I wanted.

He was all I wanted.

His feet lightly brushed mine from under the table, playing a little battle with them as he continued staring at me. I hadn't noticed his fixed gaze until I drank a couple of sips and saw that there was no movement on his side of the table.

I peeked from my mug and saw his face. An unfamiliar evil hunger lingered in his eyes, and suddenly I blinked. It wasn't 3bdulla that was sitting in front of me. It was Rashid.

I jumped from my seat as I suddenly woke up from my dream. My breathing was harsh, my body flushed with warmth, caught up in a tangled mess under the blanket. My hands wobbled as I tried to regain my equilibrium. I looked around and saw that the lights were out, and everyone was sleeping.

Me: "Calm down Asmaa, it was just a dream... Just... A... Dre-"

A large, dark form appeared beside me, shadowing my small figure. I panicked more and I had trouble breathing. I glanced up slowly. But I couldn't see who it was properly, my eyes still blurry from my nap.

Me: "Gom 3any!!! You will never have your way Rashid, never! Sul6an will-"

3bdulla: "Rashid?"

Me: "Don't try to fool-"

I blinked.

Me: "What?"

3bdulla: "You were dreaming Asma. I'm not Rashid, I'm 3bdulla. Calm down, here..."

His voice was sharp at first, hinting towards anger, but then it softened as he saw the frightened vulnerability in my eyes.

3bdulla: "There, shhhh..."

I felt a tear trickle down the soft skin of my left cheek. I didn't know why I was crying, whether it was because of the nightmare I had or the relief that it was only a nightmare and nothing more.

I felt him move hesitantly, and then he bent down and gently rubbed of the damp surface under my eyes with the tip of his thumb, and he traced the tear all the way down to my chin.

My body was shivering with an electrifying stun.

As soon as my mind cracked back to reality, I pushed his taunting finger away and tried to remove any smudged traces of my liner.

Me: "3bdulla..."

3bdulla: "Shhh, Rdy ergdy 7yatii, w inshalla hal mara t7lmeen 3any..."

And he faded into the darkness as he left me dazed with a throbbing pulse behind my ear.

To be continued...