Chapter 49: Chapter 49

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

Murad has been feeling this urge to go out there and meet up with Hanan and talk things out with her and it's been three months since the death of her sister and her husband, she surely is now calm. With that good intention in mind, he set out to go to the gym early just in case she arrives early or leaves, you never know. Taking out a basketball vest from his wardrobe, he threw it on then made his way out of the room featuring khaki shorts for his lower body. His gym bag is draped behind him, he has no wish to do any activity but he don't want her to know that, she doesn't have to.

What she's said the last time they talked really struck to him like an arrow and he could not stop thinking about it like a nightmare. She surely went through so much for she was on the verge of crying after reciting those words. It seems like she never bother to check out her past ever since it happened and he brought them out suddenly rendering her speechless and emotional.

"I do, I do, okay? You don't know what I've been through too in the past. Just because I'm called the spoilt brat doesn't mean I am not the one that went through the worst situations. You all just never understand, you always judge people base on what you see, hear and just what you want to believe. The story you have plotted in your head or the mindset you apply on someone you've seen from afar. I've seen something no one should, did something no one should and went through things I don't want my enemy to go through. So yes, I've had my own share of cumbrous times."

Those words haunt him to no end, he even dreamt about her three days ago so he set out for a clue, he needs the closure to help him move on. If this woman is going to keep haunting him in his dreams, he will have to do something to put an end to it or her. He don't like her so why is she having so much impact in his life like no other woman has done? Or maybe because he is never one to give women his attention talk less of them getting to his brain and mushing it up with misery and torment?! That has to do, she is no one special.

"Where are you heading to?" His oldest brother Mujaheed reacted to the question from his car wearing his whole military uniform like he needs to be somewhere urgent that early in the morning. He is a Major after all, he is needed all the time.

His brother sighed, Murad knew nothing good or pleasant is going to come out of his lips, he knew that, "We just got a report that our troops are already in critical situation, so I need to make new arrangement for the next troop to dispatch as soon as the signal is given. Don't worry, I will handle this, you don't need to be there and just rest." His brother assured after he was done voicing out his worries.

"No, you can add me in the next troop, bro. That is what I pledged to do, to save my country from any harm and peril. Where is Mujaddad?" He questioned knowing fully well that those two usually work together no matter the situation, he is a bit surprise that the other twin isn't there.

"Already at the military base, he is waiting for me. I'll make sure to add you in the next troop but you can still back out." And Mujaheed got into the car and fled out of the compound like he wasn't there to begin with. Those guys and their cars, Murad shook his head and made his way to his own navy blue Volkswagen Golf.

Arriving at the gym, he dismounted the car and made his way inside while praying to catch the petite woman amidst huge bulky men. He always wonder why she likes going to the gym when she is already so small, does she want to have muscles or abs? The woman has zero fat in her body, he is billion percent sure of that. He sighed, some women or should he rephrase that to women are never to be understood. Some are struggling to get the fat and some and busy working their asses off to make sure they have none, unpredictable.

He saw her shrugging her frost kimono on top of her working out outfit which he noticed is much more conservative than the ones she likes wearing before. She would wear a skin tight that is just above her calf and a tight vest but now, she has on lose yoga pants and tight white shirt with short sleeves. He stared, there is no doubt the woman is beautiful like her mother. Though she is more petite than her mother, she also has her mother's features more than the rest of the two sisters combined, maybe that is why most people hate her for being rude and not too friendly so they can snake around her.

She has sharp eyes, they are way too sharp that can be moved as a snake's in the dark, her nose is thin and long, her mouth is pert and sometimes it looks nonexistent. Her face is also this upsidedown pear shaped, her cheekbones are prominent due to the lack of fat. Why is he suddenly so interested in giving her face attention and detailing it like he would do a map? This is not done, he needs to tone down this new urge that is surfacing out of nowhere. Hanan is supposed to be a rival whose sister took away his sister's happiness.

With that thought mingling, he made his way to where she is standing, taking her bag off a bench beside her. She looks startled when she looks up and saw him standing there with his arms around his chest, he almost laughed. When her eyes really settled in his and she got who is there standing behind her, she scowled cutely and attempt to swiftly move from beside him but he didn't let her, he blocked her path before she does so. They did that four times before she gave up and sighed, her face showing each sign of irritation she could come up with.

"What do you want?" She finally gave up and whispered in an exaggerated voice not wanting to get the attention of the people behind them. She don't want to be in another scandal just like that, not after her sister's death with only three months.

"Nothing much, just came to say hi. Is that a problem?" He inclined his head, really enjoying how annoyed she is looking by just talking to him. That is not the reaction he gets from the females back in the military base but it will have to do, this is Hanan, the unapproachable and aloof President's daughter.

"You've said the hi, can I leave now?" She gave a saccharine smile looking really jovial about her comeback to his equally insignificant words.

"Not just yet, I haven't said the hi properly. There's a really nice coffeehouse around the corner, let's go have some." He suggested, something he never thought he would do or say to any woman his whole life.

But strangely, saying that to Hanan Yakasai sounds natural and fluent, like he was meant to say that all along. He also have a hunch that he won't marry for love but arranged like his brothers, they cannot approach ladies at all. They haven't been around much to know how their friends woo their women.

"Are you for real?" Her jaw is now touching the floor because of all the men she's thought would approach her with words like these, Murad is never one of it. He is the soldier that threaten to end her without any trouble, she has every right to be astounded!

"Do you see me wearing a joker's costume?" He rolled his eyes getting irritated. It is not that hard to believe that he wants to listen to her past, he is human too and knows how it feels even though he does not have one himself.

"That'd be better than this poker face. Is this a date?" She said the last sentence to jeer him because the smile she is now featuring is meant to trade him. He grinned, she has a beautiful smile even if it wasn't genuine, she should try smiling some more like the media had advised.

"I didn't know you were that desperate to go on a date with such hot soldier like me, but it is okay, let's go." He chuckled when she threw him a hot glare but followed him nevertheless.

"I don't want to go on a date with you, please get that." She didn't give up so she screeched the words after they left the gym and they are now walking towards the so called coffeehouse.

"Okay, whatever helps you sleep at night." He gave up, his hands adjusting the strap of his gym bag and she stared, he looks so good like a teenager holding onto their backpack on their first day at college.

She shook the thought away and decided to see what is going on in the soldier's mind because the guy looks genuine about what he is doing and she can't help feeling something is amiss. Why is he suddenly nice to her? Is it because the main trouble in his sister's life who happened to be her sister is dead? But then again, if the woman that caused his sister trouble is dead, the man that brought her happiness is dead too, it makes no sense to her. Her eyes burned, this should better not be a game to get close to her.

She is the President's daughter and the last born whom he loves dearly, so if anyone wants to get to him, it's either through her or Zara and now Zara is dead, she is the only way. If she gets the hunch that this man is trying to get something from her, she won't be responsible for her actions at all. There is nothing she hates in her life like dishonesty, she has always been an honest person no matter the situation. She hates lies, they ruin lives without meaning to, she hates to be lied to most!

And the fact that this man has been haunting her dreams is really something she should be terrified about. In all those dreams, there is never a time she gets to hold onto what is happening, it will vanish as soon as she wakes up leaving only the fact that he is the one she saw in her dreams. She sometimes don't sleep afraid she will see him again parading her dreams which makes her other sister Jiddah worried, she is always worried though. Even her father said she don't get good sleep nowadays and they thought she was thinking about her older sister Zara and that is why she couldn't sleep.

Well, she's thought about her older sister for seven days straight after receiving the news of their tragic death but she don't know why the death didn't shook her as she thought it would. Instead, the guy from her dreams took away all the space in her mind that allows her to think about her sister. She wants to see the man in her dreams and when she did, she couldn't believe it was the obnoxious soldier who wants to end her life without leaving any trace.

"Here is the coffeehouse!" His voice yanked her away from her reverie and she stared at the place he is pointing at.

"This?" Her mouth dropped in distaste for she can't just change her views because she is with a soldier.

The place looks haunted, literally. It's just a hut where small kids surround to make coffee and serve to customers and even the customers and really low class, not her show. She has never been to places like that, she don't want to be seen lurking around such places. Her eyes blazed, this man is trying to humiliate her, huh? Why bring her to such place she never would give a second glance to?

"Not your scene but trust me, their coffee is the best you can ever taste and will definitely come back for more. We always come here with my brothers and a few of our colleagues in the military base whenever we are given break. Let's taste it first before you judge." He looks excited so she knitted her brows but nodded nonetheless. It seems like he is not trying to humiliate her after all.

"Good morning, Uncle Murad." A small boy of ten greeted him in an excited tone and they started talking like long lost friends eliciting a smile from her face. He really looks so happy talking to the kid and same goes to the kid, it touched her heart.

"Two cups?" The boy scrunched his brows since he didn't notice Hanan standing just beside him, "Oh, good morning, Auntie." The boy addressed as his eyes landed on her, he even blushed and she cooed inwardly. Kids can be so cute though she never really liked them.

"Morning, how are you?" She inquired, she wants to kneel down and talk to him like Murad is doing but she will make it obvious she is enjoying the conversation and she is Hanan Yakasai, she never does.

"I'm fine, Auntie. You are pretty, are you Uncle Murad's wife?" Her eyes rounded at the kid's question before she move her eyes to Murad who shrugged implying that she answer the kid. The arrogant obnoxious bastard, she thought!

"No, I am just his..." She trailed off not knowing the word she should use for a small kid like him to understand her relationship with Murad which is rivals joined by their sisters.

"Girlfriend?" Her eyes rounded some more and she blushed, this kid is really intelligent.

"Not that, forget it." She answered quickly, her hand moving to adjust her kimono while looking around uncomfortably. Murad grinned then shooed Mumeen away, he enjoyed the show though.

"Why are you blushing? Enjoying the idea of being my girlfriend or wife already?" He teased, wiggling his brows when she pursed her lips and glare hard at him. She don't want to give him the satisfaction.

"You are one arrogant bastard, ever heard that from anyone?" She crossed her arms, looking at him squarely and normally, people really fear that reaction but not the obnoxious man in front of her, he gave a lopsided grin.

"Yes, from a petite cute lady who currently looks like she is about to explode." He jeered again, grinning fully when she blushed again and yawed her attention back to the hut so he won't see how hard she is blushing but he saw that.

He is honestly enjoying teasing her, it is refreshing to see the emotionless woman giving so many emotions at the same time.

"Whatever." She grumbled, tucking the seam of her lips inside her mouth to keep away from exposing her butterflies.

"Will you tell me about your past if I ask or are you still sensitive about it?" Murad dropped the bomb in the middle of a hearty conversation they are having in a park where they decided to stroll to and sat down on the stone bench they found there.

"Not really sensitive but the topic is something I've never disclosed to anyone my whole life. It can be called sensitive, I'm not sure." She knitted her brows, she hates the mere thought of her past, it makes everything shady and dark.

"Hmm, don't worry about it then. But you can always talk to me whenever you feel like talking about it." He reassured, throwing his cup of coffee in the dustbin just few feet away from them successfully inside. She raise a brow in amazement, she can't do that.

"Are we friends?" Hanan didn't know when the question hauled itself from her lips, tired of being shelved in her throat for hours now.

She can't help wanting to find the answer to that. She don't know how friendship works, she's never had real friends but for some odd reasons, she felt awfully comfortable with Murad. They never had heart to heart conversation like they did at that moment and it still makes her heart thump loudly. He was very understanding, nodding and advising her wherever he sees fit.

Talking to him is like breathing fresh air. She gets to bring out one topic after the other, without the feeling of distrust or insecurity. She feels like she can talk to him about anything and he won't judge her so she is definitely going to tell him about her past.

"Best friends!" He beamed and she smiled back, her heart lurching to her throat. The feeling is overwhelming, is this how friendship is or is it something more? She will have to browse and find out more about her heart's situation later. And to think she is also a doctor specializing on skin.

A dermatologist.

"Thanks for being my friend, I've never had any. If you think about betraying me, I will haunt you down till the end of time." She threatened, her eyes narrowing to slits making Murad chuckle, she is one cute human.

"It's not in my blood to betray or lead on, chill out. And that is not how friendship works, you don't threaten your friends especially not best friend." He huffed like a kid and she pouted, she didn't mean to make him mad.

"Sorry." She grimaced, the word sound so foreign to her tongue that she feels like vomiting. Sorry? Her sisters will definitely raise a flag after hearing this word, it is the word she hates most, very stubborn.

"Don't grimace for saying sorry." He laughed a little, he likes her already. There is no doubt their friendship is going to work and sprout out to something amazing.

When few hours ago, he thought of her as a rival, what the heck!