13~Guess whos trending?
"Habiba... was my wife three years ago."
"And now she's your ex wife." Abdul replied quietly.
Najib laughed bitterly.
"So, out of nowhere, she shows up as your sister with a new identity?"
"How is that even possible?" Najib demanded, anger evident in his voice.
"Najib, relax..."
"How do you expect me to relax?!" His voice rose.
His breathing grew uneven.
"You knew how desperately I searched for her like a mad man."
"I searched every corner of this country."
"I almost lost my mind looking for her."
"And all this time..." He raked a hand through his hair in frustration.
"You knew where she was?"
Abdul lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry."
"And what was all that talk about revenge?" Najib demanded.
"What exactly did I do that made her hate me so much?"
Abdul could only sigh.
"Yell at me all you want, curse me, hit me if it'll ease your anger. I deserve it."
He paused before continuing.
"But I'm begging you... forget her. At least for now."
"Forget her?" Najib let out a humorless laugh staring at him as though he said the most ridiculous thing imaginable
"Are you out of your mind?"
"You really think I'll let her go after finally finding her?"
"Never."
"I would rather die."
Abdul took a deep breath. " Najib." He said quietly. "If you keep chasing her now..."
"You'll only hurt each other."
"Why?" Najib stepped closer.
"Give me one reason."
"Because she hates you."
The words landed heavily between them.
Najib fell silent.
Images of Hanan's cold stares flashed through his mind.
"Yeah..."
He nodded slowly.
"I saw it."
"The hate... But why?"
Abdul opened his mouth to answer.
"Because..."
But the words died in his throat.
He couldn't speak.
Not yet.
After a long pause, he sighed, closing his eyes briefly before exhaling.
"I can't tell you."
Najib studied him carefully.
"You know."
"You just won't say it."
"I'm sorry." Abdul muttered.
"I can't, not yet."
After a long silence, Najib spoke again.
"Fine. If you won't answer my questions..."
"Then help me with one thing."
"What is it?"
"Where is she staying? With you?"
"No. She moved out."
"And I honestly don't know where she lives now."
"But your cousin Faruk does."
"He refused to tell me."
"Faruk..." Najib repeated thoughtfully.
Childhood memories flooded back.
Once, they had been inseparable.
Then life happened.
After Najib's mother's death.
Little by little, the bond between them faded until they became nothing more than relatives who barely spoke.
Now, after all these years...
Faruk had suddenly appeared beside Habiba, the only woman he yearns for.
A slow, dangerous smile spread on Najib's lips.
"What?" Abdul asked uneasily after noticing the look on his face.
"Faruk and Habiba..."
He paused.
"Are they a thing?"
"It's Hanan." Abdul corrected instinctively
Najib waved the correction aside.
"Whatever, just answer the question bro."
"They're just friends, that's what they both claim."
"Interesting."
Najib nodded thoughtfully.
Then another cunning smile spread across his face.
"Call her Hanan or whatever, to me, she'll always be Habiba. She can change her name, disappear for years, hate me with everything she has... but I won't let her slip away again."
"Najib..." Abdul's expression became tense.
"The look on your face scares me."
"What are you planning?"
Najib chuckled softly slipping his hands into his pockets.
"You don't have to worry." He smiled.
"I'm simply going to fight for my wife."
"And this time..."
"I'm not losing her again."
He looked toward the reception hall with unwavering determination.
"No matter what, I must make her mine again."
"Guess who is trending?"
"Who?" Hanan looked up from the pot of noodles she was stirring.
"You, of course."
A smile tugged at her lips. "Really?"
Faruk nodded, scrolling through his phone. "Congratulations. You're officially the most talked about person on social media tonight."
"Well..." She let out a satisfied chuckle. "I'm glad my entrance wasn't a waste."
"So." She asked, setting the spoon aside. "Am I being praised or trolled?"
"A little of both." He turned the screen toward her. "Some people are applauding your courage for standing up to such a powerful family. Others think you ruined an innocent couple's wedding."
"Hmm." She shrugged without the slightest hint of regret. "As long as they're talking about me, that's all that matters."
She collected the phone, quickly reading the endless comments before handing it back.
"Oh... and thanks for getting me out of there." She smiled. "If you didn't show up when you did, I would probably still be staring at his evil face."
Faruk chuckled.
"But..." She narrowed her eyes playfully. "I have one question."
"I'm listening."
"How did you find me? And what was that..." She deepened her voice, trying to imitate him. "Hi, love."
They both burst into laughter.
"You deserve an award for that performance you know."
"I'll gladly accept one." Faruk laughed.
"I actually saw some of these videos online. You were everywhere. The moment I realized where you were, I drove straight there."
"And the Hi, love?" He shrugged casually. "I figured it would be the quickest way to get you away from Najib."
Hanan laughed harder.
"It sounded so convincing."
His smile slowly faded.
"But Hanan..."
She immediately noticed the seriousness in his expression.
"You were reckless tonight."
Her smile disappeared.
"Reckless?" She frowned. "How?"
"Why reveal yourself now? Why let Najib see you before we even have a proper plan?"
She folded her arms. "Wasn't that the point? How am I supposed to destroy him while hiding?"
"For now? You should."
She scoffed. "So I'm supposed to stay hidden while they continue living peacefully?"
"No." His voice remained calm. "You're supposed to strike when it hurts the most. Tonight you won a battle by ruining their night..."
He paused.
"...but now they're alert. Every move you make from this point onward will be watched."
Hanan remained silent for a brief moment before shaking her head.
"It's my revenge, Faruk."
Her eyes hardened.
"I've waited three years for this. I won't hide anymore."
"I know."
"And besides..." A satisfied smile spread across her face. "Did you see their expressions? My mere presence shattered their peace."
"It definitely did." He sighed. "Twitter is proof enough."
He leaned back.
"But tell me something..."
"How on earth did you manage to wear the exact same outfit as Amina?"
A mischievous grin spread across Hanan's face.
"I ran into Emma... my former maid."
Faruk raised an eyebrow.
"I convinced her to get me the designer's contact. I paid him handsomely with some of my savings from my part time job to sell the entire bridal look within twenty four hours."
She laughed softly.
"And he delivered perfectly."
Faruk stared at her in disbelief before shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
"No." She smiled coldly.
"I'm simply giving them a taste of their own medicine and this is nothing compared to what they did to me."
Her fingers tightened around the mug beside her.
"I want them to lose their peace."
"I want them to feel the same suffocation..."
"...the same loneliness..."
"...the same pain I've lived with for the last three years."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Faruk smiled faintly.
"You really are a firecracker."
"As I promised..."
He leaned forward.
"I'll help you expose the real Najib."
"Not just to the world..."
"...but to my father."
Hanan blinked. "Your father?"
Faruk laughed bitterly.
"When I was younger, I once asked him a question that hurt me till today."
"What question?"
"I asked..."
"'If Najib and I were trapped in a fire, who would you rescue first?'"
Hanan listened quietly.
"He looked me straight in the eye and said..."
"I would save Najib first."
Her brows knitted together. "He actually said that?"
Faruk nodded.
"He said Najib was intelligent, resourceful, and capable enough to find a way to save me afterwards."
A bitter smile escaped him.
"That day..."
"I realized I would always come second..."
"And do you know what hurts the most?" Faruk laughed bitterly.
"It wasn't what he said. It was how easily he said it."
"He looked me straight in the eyes and said it without a flinch."
Hanan stared at him for a long moment before speaking gently.
"I don't think your father loves Najib more."
Faruk looked at her.
"I think he just admires his success."
She sighed.
"He's blinded by Najib's achievements, his wealth, and his reputation."
"But when all of that crumbles..."
"...When his mask falls, he will finally see who he truly is."
Faruk smiled. "You always manage to see things differently," He murmured.
Before Hanan could reply, his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the caller ID and sighed.
"Speaking of the devil..."
"It's my dad."
"Answer it."
He reluctantly picked the call and switched it to speaker.
"Son." His father's voice was firm. "Come home immediately."
"We need to talk."
The line went dead immediately after that.
Faruk stared at the dark screen for a second before slipping the phone back into his pocket.
"He sounded serious." Hanan said.
"He usually does."
She pointed toward the pot on the stove.
"You can meet him after having a bowl of noodles."
A grin returned to his face. "Now you're speaking."
She rolled her eyes. "Hopeless foodie."
.
.
.
***