22~DenseDenial? #2
"And you think telling her the truth alone will make her come back to me?" Najib asked with a tired sigh.
"To her, I'm not only a murderer."
"I'm also the husband who cheated on her and brought his mistress into our home."
"And even if I tell her everything, she'll never believe me without proof."
"My team still hasn't found Musa or Zaitun."
"It's as if they've both vanished from the face of the earth."
"Have you tried contacting Zaitun's family in London?" Abdul asked.
"I have."
"Several times."
"They keep saying she never returned and they don't even care."
"That's rough." Abdul muttered.
He was quiet for a few seconds before speaking again.
"But seriously, bro... you need to act fast."
"Whatever Hanan and Faruk are calling their relationship could become real."
"And I'm not going to lie to you."
"I'll always choose Hanan's happiness."
"If she finds that happiness with another man... I'll give them my blessing."
Najib smiled faintly.
"The only blessing you'll be giving." He replied confidently. "Is to our relationship."
Abdul smiled.
"I hope you're right."
"Assalam alaikum. I'm home." Hanan announced as she walked into the house.
She headed straight for her room, tossed her handbag and veil onto the floor, and collapsed onto her bed with a groan.
"Why can't I ever have a normal day without drama?" She muttered, kicking off her shoes before sitting up.
"My life is so exhausting."
A gentle knock came from the door.
"Nanny Ann, come in. And since when did you start knocking before entering? My room is always open to you."
"You looked upset, so I thought I should knock first." Nanny Ann smiled as she sat beside her. "Your face says something happened. Did things go badly at the hospital?"
Hanan shook her head. "No."
"That's a relief. How is Alhaji? And where's Abdul?"
"I left him at the hospital. Alhaji was still in surgery when I left, so I don't know how he's doing. Hopefully he'll be fine."
"By God's grace." Nanny Ann nodded. "But then... why do you look so troubled?"
Hanan sighed deeply.
"Maybe going to the hospital wasn't such a good idea."
"What happened?"
"Hmm..."
She forced a nervous smile.
Sooner or later, Nanny Ann would hear everything from Abdul anyway. There was no point hiding it anymore.
"Nanny Ann..."
"I'm listening."
"You remember the kiss we talked about earlier? The one I said happened to my friend?"
"Yes. Amira."
Hanan rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"It wasn't Amira."
"It was me."
Nanny Ann's smile widened.
"I know."
Hanan blinked.
"You... knew?"
"I figured it out a long time ago."
"Oh my God..."
Hanan covered her face with both hands.
"This is even more embarrassing."
Nanny Ann laughed softly and gently pulled her hands away.
"What's so embarrassing?"
"I made a complete fool of myself."
"No, you didn't."
"It's perfectly normal to get flustered over something like this."
"I'm fifty years old, Hanan. Did you really think I couldn't tell?"
Hanan groaned.
"You could've at least told me you knew."
"And ruin the fun?" Nanny Ann teased.
Hanan rolled her eyes before laughing.
"Fine... you win."
She sighed.
"But things got even worse."
"Worse?"
"He confessed."
Nanny Ann raised an eyebrow.
"He didn't just confess to me..."
"He announced it in front of everyone at the hospital."
"He called us a couple."
"And..." She admitted quietly, "...It affected me."
"How?"
"My heart races whenever he gets close."
"I become nervous."
"I lose my words."
"And honestly..."
She looked away.
"I don't know what's wrong with me."
"When did you first notice this?" Nanny Ann became curious.
"At the beach when he treated my injured foot..."
"Then after he kissed me..."
"And again today at the hospital."
Nanny Ann smiled warmly.
"I'm happy."
"Why?"
"Because you're finally allowing yourself to feel something again."
Hanan frowned.
"I still don't understand my own feelings."
"I don't know if I'm just incredibly dense..."
"...or simply in denial."
"I would say denial."
Nanny Ann squeezed Hanan's hand.
"Those aren't signs of fear anymore, Hanan."
"They're signs that you like him."
"I do?"
Hanan immediately shook her head.
"No."
"I can't."
"He's my friend."
"And what's wrong with friends becoming lovers?"
"It's awkward." She pouted.
"Besides... I don't want to rush into another relationship."
"Rush?"
Nanny Ann chuckled.
"You've spent three years being single."
"How much longer do you plan to punish yourself?"
Hanan went silent.
"You still haven't completely let go of the past, have you?"
"Is this because of Najib?"
"Eww." Hanan's face immediately curled in disgust. "I despise him."
"I know that." Nanny Ann sighed. "And I'm not talking about loving Najib again, I forbid it for you, he was toxic..."
"Now, I'm talking about the fear of falling in love again that he left behind."
Hanan couldn't answer.
"Not every man is Najib, you know." Nanny Ann continued gently.
"He hurt you."
"But Faruk... He's different."
"He cares for you."
"He listens."
"He supports you."
"He tries to make you happy."
"Tell me honestly..."
"Isn't he a good man?"
Hanan smiled faintly. "He is."
Memories flashed through her mind.
Faruk patiently putting up with her moods swing in university.
Supporting her when she left home having no support.
Giving her a place to stay without expecting anything in return.
Offering her a job on a platter of gold.
Even choosing her despite knowing her painful past.
Everything she once imagined her ideal partner would be... Someone who chooses her unconditionally.
Faruk somehow embodied that.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
She did have a little crush on him.
"The first day I saw him at the airport." Nanny Ann continued with a grin. "I secretly hoped you two would end up together."
"And now look."
"It feels like destiny keeps pushing you toward each other."
Hanan laughed.
"You really believe that?"
"I do."
"So give him a chance."
"I'm scared."
Her smile faded.
"I don't want to get hurt again."
"And I don't want to hurt him either."
"I don't even love him."
"Love doesn't always arrive the moment two people meet."
"Sometimes... It grows."
"It starts with kindness."
"Trust."
"Friendship."
"And before you realize it..."
"It's love."
Hanan smiled. "What about love at first sight?"
Nanny Ann laughed. "I'll leave that to novels."
"I prefer the kind that survives real life."
Before Hanan could reply, her phone buzzed.
She picked it up.
"It's him."
"Faruk?" Nanny Ann's eyes widened.
She nodded.
"He wants me to meet him at his mother's restaurant."
"You should go."
"That's his mother's restaurant, I really don't want to run into her right now."
Nanny Ann stood up and walked to her wardrobe.
"What are you doing?" Hanan asked.
"I'm looking for something beautiful, so you can stop hiding in this room and go meet the man who's waiting for you."
Hanan laughed.
"I never knew you could be this persuasive."
"When it comes to your happiness?"
"I absolutely can."
She pulled out a dress and handed it over.
"Go."
Hanan looked down at the clothes she was already wearing.
"Isn't this outfit fine?"
"It is."
"But a fresh shower and a new outfit won't hurt anyone."
Hanan accepted the dress with a smile.
"Fine."
She headed toward the bathroom before stopping.
Turning around, she found Nanny Ann already searching for a matching veil and shoes.
"Nanny Ann."
"Hmm?"
"I don't know what kind of magic you've been using lately..."
"But somehow..."
"Everything you say always convince me."
Nanny Ann laughed.
"It's not magic."
"But you can consider me your fairy godmother."
Hanan laughed. "Then your magic wand must be your words."
"I'll happily accept that." Nanny Ann laughed back then she glanced at the wall clock.
"It's already past six."
"Go and get ready."
Hanan smiled. "Yes, Fairy Godmother."
With that, she disappeared into the bathroom.
.
.
.
***