chapter 30

-REEM-










when i saw who it was that was calling i looked at faisal.

but he wasnt looking at the phone, he was looking out at layan, he forgot about the phone completely when she came out.

so i quickly snatched the phone and pressed the busy button.

layan got in the car and we were on our way to the airport.

"layan" i said,

she turned to me

"na3am" she said, and i gave her her phone.

she saw the missed call and a shocked look crossed her face.

faisal was looking out the window.

he opened the radio, and we went in silence.

when we got to the aiirport i held layan back

me:"layan, tell all".

she nodded . faisal was walking ahead

"yalla inroo7 starbucks nan6irhom fee delay there coming in half an hour inshallah" he said

me:"la khan roo7 pinkberry"

"walay, matooboon?,,, mako" he said and we walked to starbucks

faisal went to got the order, we sat on the top floor.

"i was going to tell you bas its not the right time or place bas you need to know one thing, fahad and i are not close and-" is aid bas reem kicked me under the table telling me inna faisal came

he sat down with the receipt.

"layan you go down in five" faisal said.

"ok" she said and left min il7een

so it was just faisal and i

chan his phone rings.

"hala fhaid, la la tyee. la ana hnee ma3a ilbanat,.................. la la, ana ashoofik ba3dain......................shinu yay?! bismilah ma midaak," faisal said.

he paused
"la la tyee,.................... shinu laish? ana ma3ay banat o yay a5ith ahaly........................................ la mako. la tyee....................................... ay 6ireej fahad." he said.

faisal looked a little troubled
''3ala ra7tik a7na ib starbucks" he said. he shut the phone and looked at me.

layan did tell me about his eyes.

they were black, but his eyes were scary.

they looked either cold, or on fire.

theres no middle with faisal.

why did layan have to like him, how could i keep her safe from him,

faisal bro7a army, ana thida shinu

i realised we were both looking at eachother in silence and that i was staring, so i tried to act nuetral

"save us the trouble reem your like a book, illy da5lich ibayin ib waihich, no bother hiding it" he said.

oookkk

"laish ma tabee fahad yee?" i asked

"mo inna ana ila5ir mara giltlich inna fahad ma titkalimayn 3ana ow ma3a? " he said and looked at the table

chan faj2a his eyes shoot back to me
"la7tha intow o layan ma tiboon 6ariya 9a7?" he asked
his body tense
"la2" i said.
 bas i was stubborn ma sikat

what was his problem why doesnt he want us to talk about fahad
"bas i dont get why" i said.

he sighed
"just do as  i say" he said.

"no, no i wont, im not layan faisal, you cant bully me or boss me around, " i said in a rush

faisal just sat there, he didnt even look suprised.
no he looked a little pissed
"ok i know you just helped me, so dont get me wrong im greateful, but why can you be his friend, bas we cant?" i said.
"because i know whats best, rasich laish yabis?" he said
 then layan came up, and he gave me the shut up look.

layan got the orders and passed them around when faisal looked up at her.

"fahads coming, hes probably outside" he said.

layan looked at him, and acted normal, bas i knew layan, as soon as she sat she flinched.

she couldnt help it bas faisal didnt notice thankfully,

he excused himself so that he could go check the arrival time again.

fahad walked in two minutes later i held my breathe.

he came in and smiled at layan and me.

"hey guys" he said o 8amazata 6la3at.
"hey fahad" layan said and grinned back. her 8amazat 6la3at too.

talk about deja vu

i felt so shy that i couldnt reply.

"so reem, whats up? how is everything" he asked

he came and sat on oure square table.

he sat next to me which means he was directly infront of layan, faisals seat was closer to layan and directly infornt of me.

"la wala shay il7amdulillah, kilshay zain" i said.

bas layans eye twiched faj2a, and fahad saw it.

"your eye twiches too? wait that means something happened what happened?" he said.

"nothing its ok" layan sid.

he was about to say more, bas faisal came back up

more like ran

"there here " he said breathelessy his eyes were wide




-LAYAN-



i stood up and walked next to faisal.

both reem and fahad were taller than me, and faisal was taller than both of them,

so i felt reallly short walking next to faisal.

reem and fahad were walking behind us talking about how the school would change now that he runs things and stuff.

faisal and i walked in silence,

"mistanis?" i asked

he looked at me from the corner of his eye without moving his head.

"this counts as another one of your questions" he said

i sighed

"not fair, bas ok" i said.

"ana mo yahil 3ashani astanas, bas i am happy inna there coming back home" he said.

i nodded.

we reached the gate and saw his mom and gramma.

they screamed and ran to faisal

faisal looked a little embarresed and both fahad and reem looked shocked

they stopped talking and stared at the scene.

"salim galb wlaidy!!" his gramma said and gave him a hug. he hugged her back and kissed her head

his mom came in next.

i was shocked

she was really short just like me and she had his eyes, or should i say he had hers.

she was gorgeous in a white dress.

she gave him a huge hug and he kissed her head. she pulled his face down and kissed his head

"la yuma may 9eer " he said.

she laughed and he grinned,

i was awestruck

his grin was so beautiful, huge straight white teeth.

he was gorgeuos.
faisal should be arrested, he is a danger to all girls.

i didnt know how my face looked, bas i was staring at faisal.

his mom saw me and they both turned to me

faisal caught my loook. chan his eyes change

"la tistansain 3ala roo7ich. lat 9adgeen" ( i dont know if that was him or my concience)

she came over to me
"hathy layan illy tgooly 3anha??? faisal itshawig!!! cute nafs ma inta gilt" then she hugged me.

my face was red and my mouth was open.

reem and fahad ran away

faisal looked uncertain, i looked at him,

he looked away and talked with his gramma

"hala khalty shlonich, il7amdulillah 3ala ilsalama, " i said.

"allah yisalmich" she said and patted my cheak.

i smiled.

they all hugged faisal.

"faisal tara a7na binroo7 ma3a ilsayig dam inna layan o rab3ik mawjoodeen" she said and walked away

faisal looked at me.

"you said good things about me?" i said and laughed out loud. my face was still red
"dont believe everything you hear" he said in a straight face
i shrugged

"are you calling your mom a liar?" i said.

"no im just saying shes being polite" he said.

i nodded

"ya thats believable" i said.

we started walking side by side.

we were looking for fahad and reem

as we walked through the airport i remembered the last time we were here

"do you miss your dad?" i said in a voice, that i couldnt even hear.

i didnt think he heard

"doesnt matter " he said.



i looked towards pinkberry
"kahum!!!" i said.

and pointed at the two sitting in pinkberry

they were deep in conversation

"pinkberry waray waray? mara7 aftak min hal pinkberry ista8farallah" he said and i laughed

fahad and reem heard us and stood up .

why did they stop talking

they could at least act normal

suddenly i got a text, from reem

"faisals m...................."

i couldnt believe my eyes i read it three times

i looked at him and at his eyes, he didnt even notice,



-REEM-

when we left to go to pinkberry fahad and i went to take our orders.

"ladies first" he said to me.

i laughed "ok" i said

i went in front and ordered passion fruit since it was my fav i didnt put any toppings on it

"thats it??!! nothing else?" he asked eyes wide.

i laughed and nodded

he shrugged

"yes sir what would you like?" the woman asked him

"him id like a large one with all the flavors, and i want the chocolate shavings, both dark and white chocolate, and i want the raspberrys splattered with m n ms.........................wait i also want peanuts and chocolate chips........can you cross out the raspberry and put blueberrys instead? you know what put both" he said.

the woman looked at him like he was crazy, i looked at him in awe too.

he looked at me "you like yours plain and i like mines full option" he said.

i smiled.

fahad really does make me happy, hes sweet and funny and everything rolled up in one


we picked seats and sat down.

"its nice to see that faisals mom and gramma are back" he said.

i smiled "ya it sounds fun for them" i said.

his smile fell

"you dont know?" he asked and looked at me with questioning eyes
"know what?" i asked

his eyes twiched. walain he said himself eye twiches are bad signals

"his mom is slowly dieng..............she has cancer" he said.

my mouth fell open,

"what?" i said. not believing it

"he hides it well" fahad said with a ruefull smile

"and do you know whats worse? though his mom is actually dieng, everyday bit by bit , faisals is dieng inside with her, hes changing, no emotions, just games, its all a game to him" he said almost to himself

his eyes were far away

"its almost as if he has nothing to lose anymore" he said.
"next year hell start fresh, in a new country far from here, far from anyone who reminds him of her," he said.

"im surprised how he keeps it all inside, how he just keeps his secrets from everyone" he said and his voice got even lower

"even himself"


thats when i heard a familiar laugh and saw layan next to a very quiet faisal,

though he was standing right here he looked miles away............

i sent the message to layan, and saw her face change, as she found out his mom was dieng

(Love Is A Fire - Courrier )
(can you hear my heart now? love is like a fire and its burning me down)