36~Love me.
Half an hour later, Abdul finally found a parking space and turned off the engine.
He stepped out of the car, expecting Hanan to do the same, but she remained seated, lost deep in thought.
"Aren't you getting out?" He asked while opening her door.
No response.
He sighed and snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Where exactly are you lost? We are here."
Hanan blinked, finally realizing they had arrived at Sheraton Hotel.
"Oh." She exhaled and quickly checked her reflection in the mirror before stepping out.
"You seem nervous." Abdul observed. "If this is about your outfit, relax. You look perfect. I was only teasing you earlier."
"I know you were teasing me." She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not bothered about that."
"Then what is it?"
She hesitated. "I just have a strange feeling... like something is going to happen."
Abdul immediately frowned.
"Please, don't start. This is just a party, not a battlefield. We will attend, enjoy ourselves, and go home."
Hanan forced a smile. "Okay. Let's do that."
"Give me your hand."
She placed her hand in his, and together they walked toward the entrance.
After their invitation card was checked and their belongings were scanned, they stepped into the hall.
And then she saw him.
The one person she spent the entire week trying to avoid.
The one person she needed to avoid tonight.
Najib.
For a moment, everything around her faded.
He stood among a group of men, dressed in a perfectly fitted black and white tuxedo. His appearance was effortlessly elegant, his hair loosed, relaxed and tied neatly behind his neck, and his calm confidence making it impossible for her eyes to look away.
She hated how easily he stole her attention.
How could someone she had promised herself to avoid still have this much effect on her?
She didn't even realize she had been staring until he looked in her direction.
Their eyes met.
And then he smiled.
Her heart skipped betraying her completely.
"Najib!" Abdul called out, waving at him.
The sound snapped her back to reality.
"Oh God." She whispered.
Immediately, she released Abdul's hand and looked around desperately until she spotted Amina.
Perfect escape.
"Amina!" She called out and hurried toward her.
Both Abdul and Najib couldn't help but laugh.
"She's avoiding you." Abdul said with amusement.
Najib watched her walking away with a smile. "She must still be embarrassed."
"Embarrassed about what?" Abdul asked curiously.
Najib only shook his head. "Forget that. Tell me something... how did you convince her to come?"
"Trust me, she couldn't refuse once she received Amina's invitation."
Najib smiled. "Thanks, man."
"Don't thank me. Thank Amina. It was her idea."
Najib glanced toward Hanan, who was now talking with Amina.
"I knew she would come."
Abdul raised an eyebrow. "That confidence of yours is something else."
Najib chuckled. "I saw the way she looked at me."
"You mean the way she stared at you?" Abdul laughed.
"Exactly." Najib nodded.
"Well, I won't lie." Abdul sighed taking his time to check him out. "You looked like you were trying very hard tonight."
Najib adjusted his suit with a small smirk. "Absolutely anything for her, I have to look good for her."
Abdul chuckled. "I guess you succeeded, judging the way her eyes were all over you." Then he sighed. "But seriously, you better make your move tonight. Don't forget Faruk is still in the picture."
The smile on Najib's face faded slightly before returning.
"She won't choose him."
"And you're sure about that?"
Najib looked toward Hanan again.
"Yes."
He smiled confidently.
"Because I know her better than she knows herself."
With that, he walked toward the bar with Abdul, ready to face whatever the night had planned.
"Habiba, you look so beautiful!" Amina beamed as she looked her over. She couldn't help but admire how stunning Hanan looked tonight.
"Thank you." Hanan smiled warmly. "You look even more beautiful. I love your dress."
"Thanks, babe." Amina grinned while passing her a glass of champagne, but within seconds, her smile faded into a pout.
"I'm actually a little upset with you."
"With me?" Hanan frowned.
"Yes. You completely shut me out. I came to see you, Amira came too, but neither of us was allowed to see you. Then I tried calling, but your number wasn't even reachable."
A look of guilt crossed Hanan's face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't do it intentionally." She lowered her gaze. "I just... wasn't in the right state of mind to see anyone. I needed some time away from everything. There was just so much chaos going on in my life..." She stopped abruptly, realizing she said more than she intended.
She forced a smile.
"Forget I said that. Where's Amira? I don't see her around."
Amina folded her arms, unconvinced.
"What chaos?"
"Hmm... it's nothing."
"Habiba." Amina gently held her hand. "Please tell me."
After a moment of silence, Hanan finally sighed.
"I've been struggling emotionally these past few days. I was confused... about my relationship. Faruk wants us to get married soon. His mother even came to my house to ask for my hand..."
"What?!" Amina gasped before Hanan could continue.
She grabbed both of Hanan's hands, panic flashing across her face.
"Don't tell me you agreed!" She asked anxiously. "Habiba... do you love him?"
Hanan slowly shook her head.
"No... I don't."
Amina quietly released the breath she has been holding.
"But..." Hanan continued softly. "Is not loving him enough reason to reject him?" She sighed, Nanny Ann's words echoing in her mind.
Amina stared at her in disbelief.
"Don't be na?ve, Habiba." Her voice became firm. "You cannot marry a man you don't love. Please don't make that mistake."
Hanan smiled sadly. "But I did once. I married your brother without loving him."
"That's different." Amina groaned, rubbing a frustrated hand on her dress. "Ya Najib's situation was completely different. You were forced into that marriage. This time, you're the one making the choice."
She stepped closer, her voice softening.
"Please don't willingly walk into a loveless marriage. You'll only end up hurting yourself... and Faruk too."
Hanan remained quiet for a few seconds before a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Relax." She exhaled. "I've already made my decision."
Amina's heartbeat quickened.
"What decision?"
She searched Hanan's face anxiously, afraid of the answer she was about to hear.
"Okay..." Amina said anxiously. "Tell me."
Hanan let out a long breath. "Regardless of everything, I've decided not to marry him."
She paused, taking a small sip of her champagne before continuing.
"I'm going to reject him."
Her fingers tightened around the glass.
"And honestly... I feel terrible about it."
"I don't want to break his heart, but I also don't want to lose myself."
She lowered her gaze.
"I've tried everything to make myself like him, but I just couldn't."
"And deep down... I don't think I ever will."
She sighed.
"For now, I just want to focus on myself."
"My career."
"I've always dreamed of becoming a lawyer."
"I think it's finally time I chased that dream."
"Alhamdulillah!" Amina exclaimed happily, immediately pulling her into a light embrace.
"You have no idea how relieved you've just made me."
She smiled brightly.
"I'm so proud of you."
Laughing softly, she pinched Hanan's cheeks.
Unlike Amina, Hanan couldn't bring herself to smile as brightly.
She still felt guilty.
Quietly, she held up her champagne and emptied the remaining contents in one gulp.
"Can I have another?" She asked.
"I'm suddenly very thirsty."
"Of course."
Amina laughed.
"I'll ask a waiter to bring you another drink."
"And I'll get you some barbecue and sauce while I'm at it."
She was about to leave when Hanan gently held her wrist.
"Don't worry. The drink is enough."
Amina shook her head.
"Absolutely not."
"This is my party."
"You have to eat something."
"I'll be back in a minute."
Before Hanan could protest again, Amina disappeared into the crowd.
Hanan sighed.
"She really didn't have to."
Left alone, she leaned back in her chair and began observing the guests.
The soft piano melody filling the hallroom created a calm atmosphere.
Since she had nothing else to do, she entertained herself by admiring everyone's outfits.
Some left her genuinely impressed.
Others...
She silently questioned their fashion choices.
At least it kept her from getting bored.
"Good evening, Ma'am."
A bartender approached her table carrying a fresh bottle of champagne and an empty wine glass.
"I was asked to bring this to you."
"Thank you."
He gave a polite bow before walking away.
Hanan looked at the sealed bottle and smiled at herself.
"A whole bottle?"
She chuckled.
"Amina is doing too much."
She opened it and poured herself another glass.
Just as she lifted it to her lips...
Her eyes met his.
She choked.
Cough! Cough!
She quickly covered her mouth before setting the glass down.
Picking up a napkin, she dabbed her lips, doing everything she could to avoid looking back.
But she could feel it.
His gaze.
Heavy.
Glued.
Almost impossible to ignore.
Slowly... She looked up again.
He was still watching her.
Najib's dark eyes held hers without wavering.
There was something different about them tonight.
They sparkled.
Soft... Yet intense.
Calm...Yet filled with emotions he seemed to be struggling to hide.
For several seconds...
Everything around them disappeared.
The conversations.
The music.
The laughter.
None of it existed anymore.
There was only him.
And her.
Neither of them looked away.
The longer the silence and eye lock stretched, the more self conscious Hanan became.
Did she spill something on herself?
She quickly looked down at her dress.
Nothing.
She discreetly opened her phone's front camera.
Her makeup was still perfect.
"No stain..."
"No smudged lipstick..."
"So..."
She frowned slightly.