Beneath Guarded Hearts - 90

Nouf

Asma: “3bdulla has a surprise for me but he won’t tell until before graduation! So you have to help me figure it out.”

I grinned in eagerness as I started scheming in my head. Asooma came to the right person. My heart skipped a beat as I realized that we might have to get Sul6an to help out. I hadn’t seen him in a long time.

______________

Asma

            My birthday was coming up, and it was the perfect opportunity.

Me: “Sul6an?”

            I knocked on his door gently, then realized that it was pointless and started banging with my fist.

Me: “OPEN UP!”

            I heard lazy movements and barging footsteps. I stopped, waiting for the door to swing open and preparing to meet an irritated face.

Sul6an: “WHAT?”

            I smiled sweetly because I knew it pissed him off even more than my forceful knocking. I kind of missed fighting with my older brother.

Me: “I need a favor.”

Sul6an: “Uff mnch! Ask me later when I'm in the mood to listen.”

            He started to close the door and was about to slam it in my face, but I shoved myself through the door and managed to get a frown from him. I knew I had to start talking or his annoyance would turn into a serious quarrel.

Me: “My birthday’s coming up.”

Sul6an: “I know. And?”

Me: “I know you hate doing this so I'm asking you, as my birthday gift, to help me out.”

            He rolled his eyes and turned towards his dressing table, cluttered with objects he dumped and picked up every day. He picked up his crumpled up 3’itra and folded it neatly around his head, ignoring my presence.

Me: “Where are you going?”

Sul6an: “Out.”

            If Sul6an’s future wife didn’t have the patience to deal with him, she’d be out of her mind trying to change what can undoubtedly never be changed.

Me: “And my birthday wish?”

Sul6an: “Like I said, we’ll take later.”

Me: “Okay it’s fine, I’ll just have Noufyy explain it to you.”

            He turned to me, appearing unconcerned but nevertheless giving me his attention.

Sul6an: “If you have her, what do you need me for?”

Me: “Like you said, we’ll talk later.”

            I gave him a wink before I turned around and left the room.

Nouf

             My stomach was a raging war of fluttering butterflies, and I hated every minute Asma prolonged to get an answer. I didn’t love Sul6an, and I knew that in my heart. But his effect on me surprised me every single time I knew I would see him. He was too handsome for any girl not to feel something in his presence. When Asma finally ascended from the corridor of bedrooms, my heart skipped a beat and died down to a normal pulse as I realized that he wasn’t with her. I was glad. I felt like a pathetic fool when he was around, and I hated it. The worst part was that he knew how much he affected me.

Me: “Well? What happened?”

Asma: “Ugh, he wouldn’t talk to me. He said he had to leave but that we would talk later, and GOD knows when that is. I told him that you would talk to him and explain kilshay because I have to go back home and-”

Me: “You said WHAT?”

            She widened her eyes and I shut my mouth instantly. I felt embarrassed, yet again. But I couldn’t help it.

Asma: “Sho? 3ade you can handle him. You can handle anyone.”

            I wanted to tell her that she overestimated me, but I didn’t. Asma was one of the few people who simply chose to look at my good qualities and accepted, or maybe ignored, my bad ones.

Me: “But I thought-”

            I heard a swish of fabric echo through the hall and head towards us, and I stopped midsentence. His lowered lashes looked up at us and framed his laughing eyes.

Sul6an: “Hi Nouf. I see you’re here. Apparently, we’re supposed to talk about Asma’s ‘birthday wish’ later.”

            He flashed a dazzling smile and I wiped my face of any expression. I simply nodded and said nothing in return. Somehow, the image of 3alya popped into my head and I flinched in resentment, wondering what in the world he saw in her. I hated that I still made regular checks on him, but I couldn’t help it. And I was far from satisfied every single time.

Sul6an: “Just wanted to clear up that it’s not happening. Ana 6ali3, yalla bye.”

            For some reason, irritation suddenly electrified my veins, and all my nervous energy joined in and boosted it up. Before I could say anything, Asma spoke.

Asma: “Sul6an! Laish ya3ni?!”

Sul6an: “Because it’s inappropriate Asma. If you really want something from me, YOU would make the time to talk to me.”

Me: “So it’s appropriate to be seen with someone like 3alya but not with me? You’re such a hypocrite!”

Sul6an: “Excuse me? Ma sma3t, sho gelty?”

            He eyed me angrily, daring me to repeat the words we both knew he heard.

Me: “Nothing.”

            I muttered.

Great. I made a fool of myself again.

Sul6an: “Haih, et7arait ba3ad.”

            He turned to Asma, dismissing my existence with his stupid arrogant posture.

Sul6an: “You should think about getting a new best friend, you know.”

            He left through the front door, leaving me close to tears.

Asma: “Ugh, just ignore him, Sul6an is being Sul6an again. But seriously Nouf? What the hell was that all about?”

            I laughed hysterically, pretending to make light of the situation. Asma looked at me skeptically and apparently decided to bush it off.

Asma: “5ala9 I’ll talk to him, don’t worry about it.”

I was relieved that I didn’t have to talk to him anymore. But I was also a tiny bit disappointed.

3bdulla

            I knew the instant I saw Sul6an that Asma was the reason behind his sudden appearance at our door. And Asma was ‘conveniently’ out with her best friend Nouf. I sighed.

Sul6an: “I think you know why I'm here.”

Me: “I know why, but I didn’t think you’d butt in.”

Sul6an: “She made it her birthday wish. Sho asawy ba3ad?”

            Of course she did. Many people didn’t know this, but Asma was manipulative when she really wanted something.

Me: “Say no and get her a gift. It wouldn’t be the first time you refuse her.”

Sul6an: “Adre bas I’m curious. So what’s going on?”

Me: “Nothing. I’m just planning something.”

Sul6an: “A trip? An early graduation gift? A dinner? A secret retreat?”

Me: “Can you get out of my house?”

Sul6an: “Nope.”

Me: “A9lan who let you in?”

Sul6an: “Your maids like me.”

            He flashed a grin and crossed his arms.

Sul6an: “Now stop wasting my time, I have to go to Bu6’abi tomorrow for a business conference.”

Me: “About sealing your dad’s company’s new partnership deal?”

            He stopped for a moment and gave me a weird look.

Sul6an: “Yes, how did you know?”

Me: “I’ll be working for them in a couple of months.”

            Sul6an raised his brow, obviously impressed.

Me: “3wash got me an interview with the head of HR Management. A favor she owed me a long time ago.”

Sul6an: “I guess I’ll be seeing more of you then. Is this what you were planning on telling her?”

Me: “This has something to do with it, but not exactly.”

Sul6an: “With that kind of salary, I’d take her to visit the Great Wall of China. She always wanted to go there. Just a tip.”

Me: “Thanks. Now please leave, I have better things to do.”

Sul6an: “Couldn’t agree more.”

Asma

            I could tell from the look in his mocking eyes that I was busted.

3bdulla: “So…”

            And did I mention how much I detested it when he prolonged an inescapable confrontation and rubbed it in my face?

 3bdulla: “You sent Sul6an to do your dirty work, ha?”

            I adorned a poker face and didn’t satisfy him with a guilty look. He took a step closer to me and I lowered my eyes to the ground, resisting the urge to move further back. He held my chin in his fingertips as he raised my head, assessing me. I held my tongue, which was one of the hardest things to do for me because I always had something to say.

3bdulla: “Admit it yal shai6ana.”

            I couldn’t help but flash an involuntary smile and I sighed, giving him a nod.

3bdulla: “If you really want to know that bad, I’ll tell you. But you have to promise me that you won’t freak out.”

            My eyes widened in surprised curiosity as he shook his head. I felt the excitement accelerate up my spine, and my smile widened into a childish grin. I nodded again, waiting for him to spill the ‘surprise.’

Me: “I promise.”

To be continued…