8~Digging the past #2
"Welcome to my home."
Faruk smiled as they stepped into the house.
The bedroom, living room, and kitchen shared one open space, with only the bathroom separated by a door.
Hanan slowly looked around, taking in every detail. The apartment was decorated almost entirely in white, spotless from corner to corner. It somehow didn't surprise her. Faruk had always been a clean freak.
"You like what you see?" He asked with a grin as he wheeled her suitcase inside.
"I do. It's cozy." She smiled.
"My mom gave it to me for my birthday last year."
She blinked. "First a sports car... now an apartment? Your parents really love spoiling you."
He laughed softly. "Maybe it's their way of compensating me for growing up lonely."
"I thought you had siblings."
"Nope. I'm an only child."
"Oh..." She murmured.
He clapped his hands together dramatically. "Now then, my honored guest, what would you like to eat?"
She chuckled. "Anything edible will do. But can I freshen up first?"
"Bathroom's right there."
A few minutes later, she returned in a comfortable nightwear with her damp hair tucked beneath a scarf.
The aroma of food instantly stole her attention.
"Dinner is served." Faruk announced proudly.
Her eyes widened at the dishes before her.
"All this... for just two people?"
"I eat a lot." He shrugged. "Besides, you barely ate today."
She didn't argue.
The first bite made her pause.
"This is amazing." She looked at him in disbelief. "Where did you learn to cook?"
"My mom started teaching me when I was eight."
She took another bite.
"You definitely missed your calling."
He laughed. "Maybe. But life had other plans for me."
She pointed her fork at him. "Add tonight's dinner to my rent fee."
He nearly choked."You're serious?"
"I don't accept free things."
"Fine." He smiled. "I'll add it to your growing debt."
They both laughed.
After a moment, his smile faded.
"By the way... Abdul called your phone and mine too while you were in the bathroom."
Her expression immediately hardened. "Ignore him."
"Hanan..."
"Please."
He sighed. "I just think he's worried."
"I know."
"And maybe hearing him out wouldn't be so bad."
"I said no."
He nodded. "I won't force you."
Silence settled between them.
"So..." He cleared his throat. "Movie? Board games? Something to help you relax?"
She shook her head. "I'm exhausted. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
"The interview?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"Fair enough." He stood.
"You take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
She immediately got up and gathered the dishes.
"I'll wash these."
"You don't have to."
"I can't just eat for free."
"You're paying." He grinned. "Remember?"
She rolled her eyes.
Then his gaze dropped to her injured foot.
"The bandage has loosened."
She glanced down.
"It'll be fine."
"No, it won't."
He frowned. "If it gets infected, you'll regret ignoring it."
Before she could protest, he grabbed his keys.
"I will grab my first aid kit in the car."
"Faruk..."
"I'll be right back."
The door closed behind him.
Left alone, Hanan wandered around the apartment absentmindedly, admiring the little decorations scattered across the shelves.
Something about the place felt... peaceful.
Warm.
Almost like home.
Just then...
His laptop buzzed.
She wasn't trying to invade his privacy.
Really, she wasn't.
But the screen lit up directly in front of her.
Her eyes accidentally landed on the page.
And she froze.
"What..."
The article displayed an old wedding photograph.
Her wedding.
Her name.
Habiba.
She stared at the search history beneath it.
Dozens.
No...
Hundreds of articles.
Every single one about her past.
The apartment door opened.
"Let's clean your..."
Faruk stopped mid sentence.
The smile disappeared from his face.
Hanan slowly turned around, hurt flashing in her eyes.
"How much..."
Her voice trembled.
"...of my past do you know?"
He swallowed. "Hanan..."
"So it wasn't my imagination."
She held up the laptop.
"You've been investigating me."
"It's not what you think."
"Oh?" She laughed bitterly.
"Then tell me what I'm supposed to think."
He stepped closer.
"I can explain."
She backed away.
"No."
Her voice shook with disappointment.
"You were digging out my past."
"I was curious..."
"Curious?" She scoffed.
"So instead of asking me, you decided to dig through my life online?"
"I never meant to hurt you."
"Yet you did."
Silence.
"Hanan..."
"What don't you already know about me?"
She looked straight into his eyes. "Was learning my old name not enough?"
"It wasn't about your name."
"Then what?"
"I wanted to understand you."
She laughed again.
A humourless laugh.
"You call this understanding?"
She gestured toward the laptop.
"This is stalking."
"I'm sorry."
"You don't respect boundaries."
"I'm sorry."
"You don't respect privacy."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing."
She grabbed her suitcase.
"I should leave."
He quickly stood in front of the door.
"It's after midnight."
"I don't care."
"You can't leave now."
"I would rather sleep on the streets than spend another minute with someone secretly digging into my life."
She reached for the doorknob.
"Najib."
His voice stopped her instantly.
She slowly looked back.
"My cousin..."
He took a deep breath.
"...is Najib."
Silence.
"The owner of the bar I took you to."
Silence.
"The man you wanted me to introduce you to."
She felt the blood drain from her face.
"So..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You've been working for him all along?"
"No." He answered immediately.
"I swear."
"Then explain."
He nodded.
"The night you disappeared from the bar... I went to your house."
She listened quietly.
"Abdul accidentally revealed enough to make me curious."
Her eyes narrowed. "He told you?"
"Not everything, but enough for me to realize you weren't just some random woman."
He looked down.
"I searched because I wanted to know whether you were really the Habibti Najib has been searching for."
"I'm not!"
She snapped immediately.
"I don't care what you found online."
Her breathing became uneven.
"Whatever existed between Najib and me died a long time ago."
She looked away.
"I won't explain my past."
"And I won't ask again." He replied softly. "I promise."
Silence stretched between them.
"Please..."
His voice was gentle.
"Just stay tonight."
"You can leave tomorrow."
"I no longer feel comfortable." She muttered.
"I understand, but I can't let you wander outside alone at this hour."
She stared at him.
"I insist, I want to leave."
"Hanan! C'mon, you don't have to be difficult all the time." Faruk voiced out.
"Difficult?" She scoffed. "Your so called cousin made me this way."
"I know." He sighed.
"And I'll remain this way until I get..."
"Get revenge?" He cuts her off with a smirk.
"Abdul told you this too?"
"No, I figured it out myself." He replied.
She folded her arms. "Now that you know, I don't care anymore, I'm going to wreck him and anyone who comes my way, I mean it."
Faruk met her gaze without hesitation.
"If Najib truly wronged you..."
His voice was calm.
"...then I'll help you make him answer for it."
She blinked. "You would stand against your own family?"
"If they're guilty..."
He nodded once.
"...then yes."
She searched his face.
"But you don't even know what he did."
"I don't."
He smiled gently.
"But for some reason..."
"I believe you."
For the first time that night, the anger in her chest eased.
Not because her pain was gone...
But because for the first time someone had chosen to believe her without asking for proof.
.
.
.
***
A/N