Beneath Guarded Hearts - 44

Previously…

3bdulla

And before I knew it, they were gone. Poof. Disappeared. I ran inside to find Sul6an and to my raged annoyance, he calmly told me inh ‘mtfahim weyah’. And soon I learned of this ‘surprise’ party, and I didn’t want to attend. I couldn’t trust myself with Rashid in the same room. But Sul6an made me. Damn him, he made me! I-

My thoughts were abruptly cut off as I felt the doorknob twitching. My heart skipped a hard beat as I fought to regain my composure, to hide my mixed emotions of misery and rage.

They were here.

_____________

Asma

            I couldn’t think about how amazing my night was, until it got even better. I don’t really know what I was feeling, but any haunting thoughts of 3bdulla were completely washed away. Rashid swept me off my feet, but for a moment on the beach, when I stared into the waves, I realized that I didn’t really feel anything special. I was happy definitely, but… that’s all. It was like going out with my family or one of my friends. Not my future husband. I felt a little guilty at first, and then I just felt empty. I made myself look into his eyes before I let myself linger over 3bdulla again. I don’t want to hurt him. It’s not fair.

            I was surprised that he walked me all the way to my door, even more so when he followed me in, until the hallway burst with flying flickers of shiny rainbow strips that stuck to my clothes. A surprise party! I couldn’t describe how excited I felt. I looked up at Rashid in question, wondering if this too was his idea. He nodded in answer. I knew my family would throw me a party and Sul6an would probably rent out my favorite sports car for the night and let me and my friends stroll endlessly for our graduation night. But this kind of party was something my family would have never done. It was too much! There was even a whole buffet at the end of the hallway, and, dare I say, a HUGE box that seemed to have a cake! After quickly saying hello to everyone, I literally ran to the cake that was awaiting me. I stopped and drooled at it. It looked huge. Ohhhhh my God I can’t wait to open it! However, a deep voice cut through me. I started to breath quietly, hoping he didn’t notice my nervousness.

3bdulla: “You know, el mafroo6’ tifta7een el cake a5er shay.”

Me: “3bdulla.”

            I hissed his name angrily through my teeth.

3bdulla: “Don’t worry princess, I’m not here to bother you; Sul6an made me come.”

            I widened my eyes but he didn’t see me, my back still facing him. I regained my poise and turned to face him.

Me: “No, of course you don’t want to bother me. I kinda got that earlier tonight, if you haven’t made it any clearer.”

            I got no reaction from him, but his eyes flamed at the reminder of… of… He smiled at me bitterly.

3bdulla: “And you don’t seem to mind in the least. Mabrook 3alaich Asma. Enjoy your night, w an9a7ch tseren 3nd 5A6EEBCH, shaklh mb wayed mstanis, y6ala3na mn waray.”

            He left tersely before I could say anything, and as his huge body left my sight, my eyes greeted a surprisingly annoyed Rashid.

            I didn’t know what I should say. I didn’t know anything, except that I didn’t like fighting with 3bdulla. I wanted to go over to him and fix everything, but Rashid was ruining everything!

            Wha…t? Did I really just think that?

            To my relief, he finally spoke.

Rashid: “Inte b5air? Sho galch?”

            I narrowed my eyes at him mockingly. As if he didn’t listen? -.-

Rashid: “Okaay change the subject. But he’s right you know. That cake is off-limits.”

            He gave me a wink as I pouted, glancing back at my cake.

Me: “Fine. Later… Ohh esma7ly I need to find Sul6an!”

            I rushed off before he could ask why, and it didn’t take long to find Sul6an’s poker face conversing with someone… 3WASH?

            Sul6an never spoke to her. Especially not publicly! It was sort of his way of disgracing her, but here he was, talking like it was something normal. What happened?

            I hadn’t talked to my sister in ages myself, actually. Since that night… we grew apart, and she never apologized for me to forgive her, even though I already had inside. I wouldn’t tell her; she would have to make the effort this time.

            I nudged Sul6an, and he turned around with an annoyed expression for being disturbed, but he quickly smiled as he saw me.

Sul6an: “Ohh halla asamy! Soooo sho raych fel 7afla? You enjoying yourself?”

            I nodded unsurely, not trusting myself with words. He understood immediately and excused himself… from 3wash. I still couldn’t believe it. 3wash?

            He swept me into another hallway and didn’t even wait to let me regain myself.

Sul6an: “Shostwa? Did he touch you again?”

            I blinked my eyes. Who exactly was he talking about? He sighed.

Sul6an: “Yes Asma, I mean Rashid.”

Me: “Ohh okaay. Laa he wasn’t being inappropriate or anything, he's… he's actually really sweet.”

            He didn’t seem surprised, only relieved. What exactly was this ‘tfahm’ bainhm?

Me: “It was amazing and I hate you for telling him about the beach but I had no idea he was so-”

Sul6an: “La76’a la76’a… What beach? Mageltella shay 3n your beach obsession.”

            I stared at him.

Me: “AWAL shay, it’s not a beach obsession.”

Sul6an: “It kinda is when you prefer it over parties.”

Me: “Uggh mb wagteh itgafi6ny you made your point. Well anyway, he said he asked around about what I liked, and I assumed it was you and that you mentioned the beach because that was where he took me and-”

Sul6an: “La76’a what do you mean? Ma 5thach el burj?”

            I shook my head slowly. I saw his eyes matching some puzzle pieces together, and he suddenly swore. I was taken by surprise and I was a little frightened, to be honest.

Me: “Sho what’s wrong?

Sul6an: “Wait here.”

            From the tone of his voice, I didn’t dare surrender to my urges. I heard him dial a few digits on his phone as he disappeared from the empty hallway.

Sul6an

            That bastard. He must have overheard us and took her there. Ughh no wonder Asma came in glowing like a damned angel or something. I waited for Rashid rather impatiently, and he finally appeared from the shadows.

Rashid: “What NOW?”

Me: “Wadait-ha el BA7AR?!”

            I didn’t need to imply any further; he understood everything.

Rashid: “Inteh a9lan ma knt bat5aleeh ysaweeha, so I might as well have used it! She’s happy, isn’t that enough?”

Me: “NOT when you’re lying to her!”

Rashid: “Sho lie, I never ACTUALLY said I did it for her, I just took her there and she assumed the rest.”

Me: “Ya ALLAH, sho basawee feek?! Sho basawy al7eena? If she knows the truth, you can kiss your marriage goodbye. She despises liars.”

            He looked horrified for some reason, but also a little satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. What the hell?

Me: “You don’t WANT it to work?”

            He shook his head slowly, smiling a little.

Me: “3yal laish kil hal ta3ab?”

Rashid: “Because I’m free. I can play around all I want.”

Me: “What?”

Rashid: “My father finally agreed.”

            I couldn’t believe my ears. I didn’t know if I wanted to punch him or thank him. I wanted to do both.

Me: “Chathaab.”

Rashid: “Walla.”

Me: “Oh my God! Do you know what this means?”

Rashid: “Yes yes, now she can have her happily ever after with 3bdulla bas let me tell you some-”

Me: “NO. Mno gal ay shay 3n 3bdulla?”

            I explained further at his confused expression.

Me: “He is NOT good for her. Yawailk lo 5abart Asma aw 3bdulla about any of this! Especially 3bdulla. He can never know that you took her to the place HE set up for her, understand?”

            He nodded.

Me: “So why did you do all of this?”

Rashid: “I wanted to see if she would like me if I tried to impress her differently.”

Me: “And?”

Rashid: “Ma shft-ha? It worked. But I’ll be honest, I kinda felt that she wanted me to be 3bdulla.”

            As he turned to walk away, I interrupted him.

Me: “Don’t play with my sister’s feelings.”

Rashid: “Well then, I suggest you tell 3bdulla what I just told you, before I change my mind. Asma is too tempting not to love.”

            He walked away in long strides, and I was baffled. Rashid is starting to fall in love? After all these years? And with Asma? I realized with torn annoyance that I had only two choices now: tell 3bdulla what happened and have him going through another one of his trances, or let Rashid have Asma when she could have had a choice in saying no. I brushed my hair back in agitation, not knowing what to do. Either way, there’s a risk that Asma will get hurt, and I have to take it. 3wash was right all along.

To be continued…