22~DenseDenial?
There he stood across the hallway, leaning against the wall with one foot crossed over the other, both hands tucked into his pockets.
He was staring at her.
Expressionless.
His face revealed nothing, yet his unwavering gaze made Hanan increasingly uneasy.
Unable to bear it any longer, she quickly looked away and turned to Abdul.
"I think I should leave now." She whispered.
"I'll take you home." He replied.
"No." She shook her head.
"Stay. They need you here."
"I'll find my way home."
She forced a smile and turned to leave.
Just then, she noticed Faruk's parents walking toward them.
She stopped out of courtesy.
With a polite smile, she greeted them.
"Good evening."
Neither of them acknowledged her.
They walked right past her as though she didn't exist.
The cold dismissal stung more than she cared to admit.
Still, she swallowed the hurt and smiled faintly.
They're probably too worried to notice me, she silently reassured herself.
"Where is he?" Faruk's father asked hurriedly as he approached Najib.
"How is he?"
"Uncle... Aunty... welcome."
Najib straightened himself.
"He's currently in surgery."
A weary sigh escaped him.
"We were shocked when we heard what happened." Faruk's mother said softly as she walked over to Hajiya.
"We came as soon as we could."
She wrapped Hajiya in a comforting embrace.
"Please don't cry."
"Everything will be alright."
Hajiya suddenly pointed at Hanan. "It won't!"
Her voice echoed through the hallway.
"Nothing will be alright as long as that girl is still here."
She glared furiously.
"Leave!"
The sudden outburst startled everyone.
Hanan stood frozen.
"Didn't you hear me?!" Hajiya yelled again.
"Leave this place!"
The entire waiting area turned to look at Hanan.
Dozens of eyes settled on her.
Among them were... Najib's.
He simply watched.
Silently.
He neither defended her nor asked Hajiya to stop.
He just stood there.
Watching.
A lump formed in Hanan's throat.
Why was I expecting him to defend me anyway?
He probably doesn't want me here either.
She lowered her eyes.
"Hanan." Abdul said gently as he reached for her hand.
"Let's go."
She slowly slipped her hand from his.
"I'll leave."
"You stay, bye."
She managed a small smile before walking away.
She had barely taken a few steps when someone grabbed her wrist.
Firmly.
She turned.
"Faruk."
"What are you doing?" She whispered, trying to pull free.
"You don't deserve to be treated like this." He sighed.
"So?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Mind your business."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Unfortunately... I'm terrible at minding my business when it comes to you."
Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms.
"Faruk..."
Hanan whispered, struggling against his embrace.
"Please."
She lightly pushed against his chest, painfully aware of the countless eyes watching them.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Faruk's father's face darkened with disapproval.
Najib's expression remained unreadable, but the intensity of his gaze never left her for a second.
If looks could kill...
She would have been dead a thousand times over.
"Hello, family. Good evening, everyone."
Faruk greeted them with a bright smile before deliberately looking at Najib.
Without warning, he pulled Hanan closer, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Najib's eyes immediately darkened.
"Faruk, please stop it." Hanan whispered, trying to tear his hand away.
She forced a smile despite how uncomfortable she felt.
Quietly, she pinched his arm, hoping he would let go.
Instead, his grip only tightened.
"Baby, just let me." He murmured before turning back to the family.
"Allow me to introduce my girlfriend, Hanan."
"What?!" Abdul blurted out, his eyes moving to Hanan in disbelief.
"Yes." Faruk continued confidently. "She is my girlfriend, and whether some people here like it or not, she'll be part of this family someday."
His gaze swept from Najib to his father before settling on Hajiya.
"So I would appreciate it if everyone treated her with the respect every human being deserves."
Silence followed.
Faruk's father finally spoke.
"Why do you insist on humiliating me?"
His disappointment was evident in his tone
"Dad." Faruk sighed. "I'm no longer a child."
"I have the right to choose who I want to spend my life with."
"We're in love so what's wrong with that?"
Hanan's jaw dropped as she stared at him in disbelief.
What on earth is he saying?
"Mom." Faruk continued. "I've overlooked the way she's been treated because of you, but not anymore."
"Now that everyone knows where I stand, I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting her again."
"Thank you."
"We're leaving."
Before Hanan could protest, he firmly took her hand and led her away.
His father called after him repeatedly, but Faruk didn't look back.
Only after they reached the hospital entrance did he release her hand.
He exhaled in satisfaction.
"I feel much better now."
"You've lost your mind! You're sick!" Hanan snapped, rubbing her wrist where his grip had tightened.
"That's why we're at a hospital." He joked. "Maybe I should get my heart checked."
"Lately it only beats for you."
Hanan stared at him.
"Faruk, enough."
"The more you keep doing this, the more frustrated I get."
"Why did you lie to them?"
"Since when are we in love?"
He smiled and slowly stepped closer.
"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't see me the way I see you."
"If you still don't understand..."
He paused.
"...then let me make it simple."
"I want you."
The words caught Hanan completely off guard. Taking her a few moments to find her voice.
His piercing gaze held hers, making her heart pound against her chest.
She swallowed hard before finally speaking.
"I don't feel that way about you."
She stepped back.
Faruk closed the distance again.
"Really?" He asked, a faint grin playing on his lips.
Before Hanan could react, he leaned closer, his face hovering near hers. He paused for a brief moment before lowering his voice.
"The scent of your perfume..." He murmured with a small smile. "It's strangely addictive, it pulls me in."
Hanan's eyes widened in disbelief.
His gaze never leaving hers, he whispered.
"Does being this close make you nervous?" He asked quietly. "Your heart is racing, I can hear it."
His words only increased her shock as she shook her head.
A faint smile immediately crossed his face.
He leaned closer until only a small space remained between them. His closeness made Hanan instinctively hold her breath.
Lowering his voice again, he asked calmly. "Then why do you look so flustered every time I get close?"
Her pulse quickened.
"Does my presence really affect you?" He asked softly. "Does being this close make your heart race this fast?"
Hanan's eyes widened again.
Before he could say another word, she shoved him away with all the strength she could muster
"Stop it!"
She turned away at once, only to realize several people nearby had been watching them.
A few were already whispering among themselves, making her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Look at them, shamelessly displaying affection in public. Get a room! Does this place look like a hotel? This is a hospital. Have some shame!" Someone scoffed.
More embarrassment flooded Hanan's face. She immediately tried to walk away, but Faruk caught her wrist.
"Learn to mind your own business instead of gossiping." Faruk shot back before leading Hanan toward the parking lot.
Once they reached his car, he unlocked it while opening the passenger door, he gestured for her to get in.
"Let me drive you home."
"Faruk, please... just let me be."
She turned to leave, but he gently grabbed her arm.
"I'll let you be for now." He said. "But remember, you owe me a favor."
She frowned.
"Tonight, by seven. I'll text you an address. Meet me there."
With that, he finally let go of her.
"You okay?" Abdul asked, handing Najib a can of Coke.
Najib sat alone in the reception ward, staring blankly into space.
Abdul walked over and sat beside him.
"I've been looking everywhere for you. Why are you sitting here alone?"
"I just needed to get some air and a break from everything."
"Then let me help with that."
Abdul took the unopened can, popped it open, and handed it back.
"I bet you haven't eaten anything."
"Thanks, man. I appreciate you being here."
Najib took a few slow sips from the can.
"Anytime, bro. But honestly... this is the first time I've seen you genuinely worried about Alhaji. It's good to see." Abdul smiled.
"No matter how complicated our relationship has been, he's still my father. It would be inhuman not to worry."
"I always thought you hated him so much that you wouldn't care."
Najib let out a quiet sigh.
"Truly... I don't think I hated him."
"I was only angry."
"Angry that I bottled up all those bitter feelings for years."
"So... you finally told him how you felt?"
"I did, and unfortunately, it landed him in the hospital."
"I don't know if he'll survive. The doctors said he suffered a massive heart attack."
"He'll pull through." Abdul assured him. "I believe he will."
"I hope so."
Najib fell silent for a moment before changing the subject.
"As for what happened earlier... Habiba and Faruk, are they really dating?"
"I honestly don't know."
"I was just as shocked as you when Faruk announced it."
"If they were truly dating, I think Hanan would've told me."
"I'm surprised she didn't."
"Would she?" Najib asked quietly.
"From what I saw, they didn't look like a couple."
"She seemed... uncomfortable."
Abdul chuckled. "I think she looked uncomfortable because of the way you were glaring at her."
"I saw your face and silently prayed you wouldn't cause a scene."
Najib let out a dry laugh.
"I've got too much on my plate already."
"But even so... I can't afford to lose her."
"If you don't want to lose her, then you need to act fast... Why don't you just tell her the truth?"