7~ Three years passed #2
"Nice try. That prank won't work on me."
"It's not a prank." She winced. "I stepped on a sharp stone."
"I don't believe you."
"Because you're an asshole!" She snapped. "Faruk, I'm serious."
When she lifted her foot, his smile disappeared.
Blood trickled down her heel.
"Hanan..."
He rushed to her side.
"Shit... your skin peeled off."
He cursed under his breath, guilt washing over him.
"Abdul is going to kill me."
"He won't..." Hanan forced a weak smile before wincing again. "It really hurts."
"I'm sorry."
His voice was calm.
Without another word, he carefully lifted her into his arms.
"I have a first aid kit in the car."
He carried her all the way to the parking lot.
Inside his car, he settled her gently in the back seat before grabbing the kit.
He cleaned the wound as carefully as he could.
Every time the antiseptic made her flinch, he instinctively blew cool air over the cut to ease the sting.
"I'm really sorry." He whispered.
"It's okay." Hanan watched him silently. "I'll be fine."
He finished wrapping the injury with a bandage before helping her settle comfortably.
"Let's get you home."
The drive back was unusually quiet.
From time to time, Hanan stole quick glances at him.
She didn't want to overthink things...
But she couldn't ignore how different he had become.
Ever since they reconciled, Faruk had changed.
He still teased her endlessly, but beneath the jokes was a gentleness she never noticed before till now.
Should I ask him...?
The thought disappeared as the car rolled to a stop outside her house.
Before she could protest, Faruk walked around the car, opened her door, and effortlessly lifted her into his arms again.
"Faruk..."
"I've got you."
"I can walk."
"You'll only make the injury worse."
She sighed, too tired to argue.
As they reached the front door, she rang the bell.
The door swung open almost instantly.
Nanny Ann stood there with worry written all over her face.
"Finally!" She exclaimed. "Where have you two been? I've been calling your phones! You were supposed to return by noon and it's evening now."
"Sorry." Faruk answered immediately. "It's my fault."
Her eyes dropped to Hanan.
"And why is she in your arms?"
"Faruk..." Hanan whispered. "Put me down."
"Are you sure?"
Before she could answer, Nanny Ann noticed the bandage.
"Oh my God!"
She rushed forward.
"What happened to your foot?"
"I tripped over a stone." Hanan replied with a small smile. "It's nothing serious."
"And you are soaking wet!"
She sighed helplessly.
"Come inside before you catch cold."
Faruk carefully helped Hanan onto her feet.
"I should get going."
"Stay for dinner." Nanny Ann offered warmly.
"Thank you, but I..."
"He should leave." Abdul's cold voice interrupted.
He had been standing in the living room hearing their discussion the entire time.
His expression was unreadable.
His eyes lingered briefly on Hanan's injured foot before shifting to Faruk.
"Good night."
Without waiting for a reply, Abdul pulled the door shut.
The loud bang echoed through the house, leaving Faruk standing alone on the porch.
"Abdul?" Nanny Ann frowned in confusion. "What was that for?"
"Please excuse us." He ignored her question and turned to Hanan. "Come with me."
Without another word, he walked away, leaving both women staring after him.
"Nanny Ann..." Hanan whispered nervously. "What's wrong with him? I've never seen him act like this before."
"I don't know." Nanny Ann sighed. "Go and talk to him. We'll speak later."
Hanan nodded reluctantly and followed Abdul upstairs.
He walked straight into his room.
The moment she stepped inside, he shut the door behind them.
"Abdul..." She called softly. "Why do you seem so angry? What's wrong?"
He took a deep breath.
"I called your university."
She frowned.
"...And I informed them that you've decided to accept your Law School and Master's scholarship."
"What?!"
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Why would you do that?" She demanded. "I already rejected the scholarship! I told you I wasn't going back."
"I've changed my mind."
His voice remained calm.
"I think accepting it is the best decision. Classes begin in three months. Get me your passport, we'll start preparing for your return."
Hanan let out a bitter laugh.
"And why exactly should I do what you say?"
"You know why I can't go back."
"I don't." His answer stunned her.
"You don't?" She repeated.
"No."
"You expect me to believe that?!" Her voice rose. "You're pretending not to understand?!"
"Then explain it to me."
"You really want me to spell it out?!" She snapped. "I came back because I want justice! I want revenge against everyone who destroyed my life!"
Abdul rubbed a hand across his face.
"Hanan..."
"No!"
She pointed a trembling finger at him.
"They ruined me!"
"No." Abdul shook his head firmly.
"They hurt you, but don't let them ruin the rest of your life."
She stared at him as though she had never seen him before.
"You're saying this?"
Her voice broke.
"The same Abdul who smuggled me out of this country? The same Abdul who gave me a new name? The same Abdul who promised I would one day get justice?"
"I never promised revenge." He said coldly.
His words landed like a slap.
"I gave you a new identity so you could survive. I sent you abroad so you could heal not so you could spend the rest of your life chasing the past."
"Hanan is your future."
"Habiba is gone."
Silence.
Then she laughed.
A broken...
Painful laugh.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm not."
"So you expect me to forget everything?"
She stepped closer.
"My once toxic marriage?"
"My child?"
"My pain?"
"You expect me to wake up one day and pretend none of it happened?"
"Hanan..."
"I watched my whole life fall apart!" she screamed.
"And now you're telling me to move on?"
He reached for her.
She stepped away.
"I know you're hurting..."
"No."
She shook her head violently.
"I finally understand."
His brows knitted together.
"You've chosen him."
"What?"
"You've chosen Najib."
"Hanan, that's not true."
"It is!"
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I should've known, your true loyalty lies with that bloody bastard..." She breathed out.
"That bloody murderer." She continued.
"The Abdul who rescued me would never say this."
"The Abdul I knew would've stood beside me."
"But you..."
She swallowed hard.
"You're back to being his friend again."
"Hear me out." He sighed.
"I don't want to!"
She was crying openly now.
"You should've left me to die with my child that day instead of rescuing me and giving me false hope."
His face turned pale. "Don't say that."
"Why not?"
"You've abandoned me."
"I haven't!"
"You have!"
She wiped her tears angrily.
"You watched everything they did to me."
"You know what they took from me."
"And yet you're protecting the man responsible."
"No, Hanan..."
"I don't need you anymore." Her voice became frighteningly calm.
"I'll get my justice without you."
Abdul's patience finally snapped.
"Fine!"
His voice thundered across the room.
"Do whatever you want!"
"But count me out."
"I won't help you destroy yourself."
"And not under my roof."
The moment the words left his mouth...
Regret hit him.
Hanan smiled.
It wasn't a happy smile.
It was heartbreak.
"I expected as much."
She nodded slowly.
"I'll leave."
She turned and walked out.
The bedroom door slammed shut behind her.
"Damn it..." Abdul dragged both hands through his hair.
"Hanan!"
He rushed after her.
"Hanan, wait!"
He caught her wrist.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't mean that."
She yanked herself free. "Yes, you did."
"I'll move out of your house."
"Hanan..."
"I said let go!"
She stormed into her room.
Nanny Ann rushed into the hallway.
"Abdul!"
She looked between them in confusion.
"What happened? Why is she leaving?"
Neither of them answered.
Abdul stood frozen, watching Hanan's closed door.
His phone suddenly began vibrating.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He ignored every call.
Then a message flashed across the screen.
Najib: Why are you ignoring my calls? I'm on my way to your house right now.
Abdul's eyes widened.
"Oh, God..."
He grabbed his car keys.
"No."
He rushed toward the front door.
"Abdul!" Nanny Ann called after him. "Where are you going?"
"Some where." He barely slowed down.
"What is going on?"
He turned back briefly.
"Please..."
His voice was urgent.
"Don't let Hanan leave the house."
Before Nanny Ann could ask another question, he was already gone.
She stood frozen in the doorway, watching his car speed out of the compound.
"What's happening to everyone?" She whispered.
The house had never felt this heavy.
.
.
.
***
A/N