Chapter 39: Chapter 39

She hugged him tightly, not giving a room for him to move. He felt when Kassim collected the carpet from his hand and walked off with their parents, not looking back at them-for he knew how Adyan is fond of kids, he couldn't waste his precious time on this.

"Here girl, who's this person that we're hiding from?" He asked softly, sitting down on the near by bench-as she sat beside him.

"It's my Addah, we had a deal that whoever wins would be the Queen; the other the slave," she informed jovially, entwining their hands.

He looked at her affectionately, naturally; he had a thing for kids, but this girl couldn't be called a kid, she must be a teenager. "What's your name preety? You look beautiful," he complimented, pinching her cheeks with his usual soft and loving smile-albeit his eyes held a devoid expression.

Her eyes brightened with joy, she was beyond happy. "Thank you sooo much uncle. My name is Rayhan, but since you're handsome; you can call me Ray-that's sweetly huh?" She spoke with utmost genuineness, amazed by his handsomeness.

Adyan chuckled outwardly, this girl made a soft spot for herself in his heart. "My Ray is really smart. And you can call me 'A' isn't it sweet? The first alphabet," Adyan said, smiling widely at her.

"A! That's a great name. Aren't you here with your family?" She asked, looking around, as she started getting tensed for not sighting Hayfah.

He made an O gesture with his mouth, and leaned back on the bench. "Yeah, I'm with my Mom, Dad, and also my brother. I've almost forgot about them."

"I would've loved to meet them, but I need to go and look for my Addah, she might be worried now; and I don't want anything to happen to her again," she abruptly stood, when she remembered how Hayfah almost got lost that day-she couldn't take that risk today.

He stood up too, looking at how tensed she seemed. "Isn't she big? She'll take care of herself, don't panick, Ray," Adyan said soothingly, taking her hands in his.

Rayhan removed her hand from his hold, "No A, I need to go and check her; she was crying so hard the other day she got lost, I hate seeing her crying-that's why I hate her boyfriend so much, she always cry because of him," she spoke through gritted, as she started walking away, trying her luck to go back to where she left her.

"Okay Ray, if you didn't see her; I will be over there-come so we will check her together," She offered, as he saw her squealed and ran towards a curvy figure-he couldn't see the face of the lady, as she was fumbling with her veil that covered her face.

"Addah!!!" Rayhan squealed, hugging Hayfah so tight like she haven't saw her thirty minutes ago.

Hayfah moved the veil from her face and laughed heartily. Adyan was rooted to his spot, all his limbs got stiffened, as his heart beats more than 80 times per minute. He got into a hiatus. Her soft melodious laughter echoes in his ears-feeling a soft spot in his heart. Her forever ravishing face, smiling widely-making his heart to capture the moment, making it a treasure; hidden depths beneath his heart.

They were kilometres away, he could clearly hear when Rayha said "Addah Hayfah, I made a new friend; his name is A. Funny isn't it? But he said I'm beautiful, and he's damn handsome," she rambled, taking a hold of Hayfah's hand, trying to take her to her new friend.

Hayfah was about moving when a call halted her, she picked the call-as her heart lost a beat, it was no one but Malik, and she could clearly remember when he told her he will talk to Abba about them. She gulped down and slid the answer button, dragging Rayhan towards the parking lot-where Baba was waiting for them-her heart beating rapidly.

"Let's go, Rayhan," with that, she dragged her towards the parking lot. Rayhan was trying so hard to get out of the hold, but couldn't-as Hayfah tightened the grisp of her wrist.

"Hello," she spoke silently, but if attention was to be paid to how she uttered the words-the quiver could be clearly heard.

"Good evening, Betty. I know how I left you the other day was so uncalled for, and I'm so sorry for that. How have you been? I hope he hasn't repeated what he did that day?" He inquired, but was trying so hard to sound calm and sweet-without leaking the thunders in his heart to her.

A gush of relief washed over her face, as they sat down-Baba igniting on the car. "Yes, Malik, and thanks for checking on me-it means alot," she had to sound normal, not that she wasn't burning inside.

She could hear his soft smile, as if telling her that he knew she was lying. But he could be crazy to think that she'll tell him what followed afterwards that day, even she, herself-made that a forbidden thought to her brittle heart.

"That's good to hear, Betty. I went to Abba yesterday, and Alhamdulillah-he welcomed the issue with opened hands, you need to see how happy he was. I'm sure we won't have a problem with him nor Umma, for we exchanged pleasantries with her also-I have to say; she was so nice to me and even apologized...." and the rants went on, about how her family were happy about his proposal, how nice they were to him and welcoming.

Hayfah listined attentively without cutting him off. But with each word he uttered-her veins were cutting to pieces, as her heart bleeds without taking care of.

"Won't you say anything, Betty? You know I love you right? And I'll make sure you become the happiest woman on earth. I'll replace your tears with a forever glint of happiness in your eyes, your pains will leave your frail heart, I'll mend it back into the sturdy and golden heart it was...," he couldn't finish his sugar coated talks when she cut him off in a high pitched tone-startling Rayhan-whom was staring at her since she started crying.

"Cut the crap, Malik! You call this love? Do you know that uttering the word love to me breaks my heart to pieces? Do you really think that I, Hayfah Talhah Muhammad will ever be happy without him in my life? Or do you really want to bring an end to my life by marrying me? Uhm Malik?" She clamoured, and clasped her eyes shut, making way for her anguishly streaming tears. The words she uttered were so painful to her ears, and she doesn't want to think of how he will feel.

Malik let out a humorless laugh, "Do you think this might made me back out? Well, think again-Hayfah Talhah Muhammad. I love you, that too deeply and completely, don't ever think I'll bring an end to your life by marrying you; rather, it would open a new phase in your life, which is an unshakable happiness. Your words hurt by the way." He ended the call. She could hear the unvoiced pain, the unshed tears, and a shattering heart through his words.

Slowly, she took down the phone from her ears and her eyes grew wide like a saucers-upon seeing tears on Rayhan's cheeks. "Why are you crying, Rayhan?" She asked slowly, clearing away the girl's tears-hers streming in oceans.

"I'm crying because you are crying, Addah. What made you cry?" Rayhan answered her question and inquired.

"I'm sick, or should I say love sick? Yes-I'm love sick, Rayhan. I miss Adyan, I really wish he was here, alot of problems wouldn't have been happening," Hayfah slurred, hugging Rayhan onto her body and broke into tears, she was in so much pain that couldn't be vocalised. She needs Adyan the most in her life, where could he have possibly been all those years?

***

He stood rooted to his spot, his brain was betraying him whenever he saw her; he could be inches away from her-but he couldn't get to her. Unknowingly, tears of anguish began rolling down his cheeks, how could he be so stupid? She was right before him! How could he let her leave, all in the name of cocooned in her presence?

Trudging to where his family sat, they were laughing genuinely, even Kassim was laughing. Adyan felt he wished he was the one, how bad he wanted to rip off his heart and feel relieved-it was hammering and tearing, he could feel the spilled blood on his tongue.

He walked over to them and slumped beside Mom, placing his head on her laps and breaking into tears. They were tears of melancholy, agonizing tears, why would he have to be this unlucky in his life?

"She has left, after being inches away from me!" He whimpered, choking on his breathe.

All their laughters died down, as grief washed over their faces. Kassim knew something was definitely wrong with his brother, and he could finally figure out what it is.

"Who has left? Are you sick, talk to us and stop crying like a baby, Adyan!" Kassim yelled, shaking him vigorously, he was getting tensed on how Adyan was sobbing hard.

Adyan lifted up his bloodshot eyes, "Yes I'm sick, Kassim, I'm love sick! And you want to know the reason of my sickness? You! No one but you Kassim Aliyu Ardo! You remeber that day we went to ABU? And how you chased me away and seized my phone? From that very day; I became sick, my soul was slowly dying, I became a living corpse!" Adyan retaliated in thunder! They have never seen him like this, he wasn't the Adyan they knew anymore, it was as if he was changed within some seconds.

Mom patted his shoulder, she was crying silently, she was seriously afraid that something might definitely be wrong with her son. "Amore, what are you talking about? Aren't you hooked with some small girl? Is she the one that left you in this condition?" She asked haltingly, afraid that whosoever this girl is; isn't a normal human being, for she has turned his brain in shambles.

He scoffed and shrugged off her hand from his shoulder. "Are you trying to act as if you didn't know what I'm talking about? How could you think that girl left me in this position? Well she brings solace to my heart, and through her-I found the rest of my life. Byt Mom, if care is not taking, I'll leave this world for good! I'm tired of everyone!"

"Adyan!!!! Be right back in your senses and tell us what exactly happened and the goddamn girl you're looking for!" Dad roared, his eyes covered in wrath-as a fear feeling was enshrouded beneath his soul. This wasn't his Adyan anymore.

Adyan stood up, his feets couldn't even take him-he was tumbling and swaying as if he was high on something. "You know what? I hate you all! I've always stand for you, wouldn't you do this for me once? Including you, Mom? Thank you." And he gave her a disbelieving look, before his eyes landed on the car keys. He took them and began trudging away.

"Where are you going?" They yelled at the same time, standing up.

"To search for my other half!" And he broke into a jog-searching every crevice and corner of the park-as if he were mad.

He checked everywhere, panting, crying and chanting the same thing. "Don't do this to me, Tesoro, or do you really mean it that you will be out of my life forever? I can't live without you. Please come back to me!"

He got exhausted the time he came to the parking lot, his heart was in shambles, his limbs were soar; and his eyes clouded with pain. Darting his eyelids open, he felt his chest paining-a pain he couldn't help but cough upon. Swiftly, he was embraced into a world full of darkness, with the relief-that he might see her there, they belong in their dreams afterall. But now, he wished to never wakeup from this sleep. He fell on the groud with a loud thud, his last tears dripping on the gravels.