Cursed With Beauty (62)

Previously:

Khalid: I'm sick, but dare you say a word to Mai.

Amal: What about me?

S3eed: I walked away with Amal's crush as I laughed mockingly, looking back as 7amad helped her with the book.
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Amal:

I watched as S3eed pushed Salma's books to the floor. A move I got used to, mostly to grab my attention. Before I hurried to help, I saw 7amad reach out to her.

Salma: I'm really sorry, thank you so much..

She said almost whispering.

7amad: No, it's ok.. I'll get back at him for you.

He seemed nervous, as if he'd forgotten how to breathe. It was the first time I've heard him laugh hesitantly. Wide eyed, almost charmed. He continued " Need any help with your books Salma? Your class is on my way."

Salma: It is? That would be wonderful.

She said shyly. I remembered the old Salma, the one who'd always been loud enough to grab anybody's attention. She was as if surprised she'd been noticed, without intending to be noticed.

 He held her books as she took the lead. He smiles ever so wide for the first time when she giggles. Perfected white pearls appear.

Just Joojoo and I in the hallway as everyone leave for class.

Joojoo: Skip?

Me: Why not!

We head to the cafeteria for snacks.

Joojoo: 7amad and Salma?! Who knew.

Me: My cousin's a charmer.

Joojoo: Even S3eed sees it, so obvious!

Me: What do you think Salma feels about him?

Joojoo: 7amad? The perfect prince charming with perfect manners who wouldn't fall for him?

After class when we all sat together I asked.

Salma: 7amad!? No waaaay! He's like an older brother.

Friendzoned.

Me: Are you sure? Heartthrob 7amad? Girls swoon over him!

She got up, as he approached us from behind her.

Salma: Come on! of all people you choose 7amad? Not in a billion years.

We all wear a blank expression on our faces. Shocked, and embarrassed for her.

7amad: Is that a challenge I hear?

Salma grimaced.

7amad: A billion years? Too long Salma. Wait on me.

Salma: Get over yourself.

She walked away annoyed.

S3eed:

I was invited to a formal dinner with Joojoo and her parents. They were very sweet, welcoming people. It was a great dinner with a very light conversation about school, the projects, and the funny stories we had to say. Whenever Joojoo knew I got high marks, her father would call to congratulate me.
 At the dinner, I got a pat on the back as he hears about my improving grades. He was my father when my father wasn't there, too bad Salma never had that.

They left us alone at the Majlis, just Joojoo and I. She served me desserts that she had made herself, bakes, chocolate mousse, caramel, you name it! Then, she sat back to use her laptop.

Joojoo: OMG! What the hell is she thinking. No, no, no! She's off my list.

Me: What are you talking about.

Joojoo: As my job to know people, I have to actually communicate with them.

Joojoo had always been the secret well, guaranteed secrets wouldn't get out. It intimidated me, but it worried me how she knew. She typed into the laptop furiously.

Me: Why do they always come to you?

Joojoo: Somethings you should wonder much about.

Me: Isn't it a headache?

Joojoo: I need to help.

Me: But it's none of your business actually.

Joojoo: S3eed!

Well, it wasn't. I don't know why she wouldn't just close the laptop and get over other people.

Joojoo: People trust me, I appreciate that.

I nodded then apologized. Women, always got to be right..

Me: Joojoo do what do you think about 7amad?

Joojoo looked at me, as if to question me, and then continued typing on her laptop.

Joojoo: There's nothing to think about him S3eed, he's perfect.

A bit offended.

Me: And I?

Joojoo: No, I mean, he tries.

Me: Joojoo, explain.

Joojoo: His smile, his charisma, his clothes. He tries to perfect himself.

She mentions him as if bored.

Me: If he's perfect, why don't you like him?

Joojoo got off her laptop and sat close to me.

Joojoo: He tries, but you just are. Naturally, perfect for me.

I gave her a slow kiss on the bridge of her nose. She let her hand rest on my shoulder, and then gently with her fingers she barely touched my neck, and gave me a peck on the cheeks. She brushed my face with her smooth hands, damn it made me wish I'd shaved.

Cursed With Beauty (61)

A Note to the readers. 

Dear N, 

Your patience and kind words are my energy. Love, C.B. 

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previously:

Khalid: I missed her. A lot. 

7amad: Hmm? Yeah.. I mean, no! It.. Doesn't matter, she hates me.

Amal: He knew I was hurt, but I forgot all the pain while writing them down to him.

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Amal: 

So, who was he? God knew. I had blindly trusted him on the terms that he was an anonymous, but to him, so was I. We never shared the names, but the stories we shared were beyond that. What were the chances of meeting a stranger online who wasn't up to hurting me? 

There were definitely some things that were off limits. It was a dangerous act I was committing, but I didn't regret it. I had fallen in love with a mind that was so intelligent and patient with my own impatience. Though he was a character I was dying to meet, our conversations remained online.

S3eed: 

We were at the farm, just Salma and I while father had work to do, he always did. The thing with Salma was that she didn't mind spending hours alone, not just that, but she would sit ever so calmly, and wouldn't even bother to move.

She used to be just that, but always up to no good. It used to worry me, but not anymore. I sat in front of her, and she already knew what I was thinking. 

Salma: There's space in my head to think now. 

I wondered what she meant, but not for long as she continued. 

Salma: I have my peace of mind. I'm not glued to my phone. nor am I anticipating someone's arrival. I'm not keeping secrets anymore. I feel free, I feel focused. 

We weren't the kind of family to hug or show affection, I've seen Khalid hug Amal or kiss her forehead, so I thought about it. I sat next to her and wrapped my arms around her gently. She hugged me back tightly, and suddenly I heard wailing. It was her. It was as if she saved all those hugs over the years and she was giving them to me at once, letting it all out at once. Fairly new to this I hesitated whether or not to keep her near or push her off. I patted her shoulders awkwardly giving her the choice to stay.

Khalid: 

I was feeling a bit light headed one morning, so I decided to skip a lecture, I also finally got the chance to just call Mai and it was as if it was my first time to call a girl. I stared at my phone looking at her number, fixed my voice and cleared my throat. So, I called. 

Mai: Hello?

Me: Mai! Hi!

Mai: Khalid! How are you?!

Her voice raised in surprise.

Me: I'm doing well, I've missed you..

Mai's voice lowered. 

Mai: I did too..

Me: What're you up to? How've you been?!

Mai: I'm currently shopping, 3asha and Amal are with me. 

Me: I was calling Amal next actually, how're they ?

Mai: Everyone's doing well. Shouldn't you be studying right now? 

The second my vision blurred, I knew. 

Me: Could you pass the phone to Amal? 

Amal: Hello? 

Amal: 

the second I heard his voice, I knew something was wrong. 

Khalid: Stand far. Remember how you never told about that accident at JBR?

Me: Yeah? What about that?

Khalid: I'm sick, but dare you say a word to Mai.

Me: But- 

Khalid: SHUT UP! Don't let her hear you.

Me: What are you going to do?

Khalid: Visit a doctor obviously. I'll update you. 

Me: Are you okay?

Khalid: I am, I'm sorry. Just take care of her for me..

He hung up. In my head I thought, what about me? Am I no longer significant to him? I wished I continued and argued about that, but I knew it wasn't the right time at all.

Yes, he did text to keep me updated, but no, I wasn't a concern to him anymore.I was just a passive a messenger, and a secret keeper. 

S3eed: 

Walking around school with 7amad and Amal's whatever, we came across the girls. Salma, Amal, and Joojoo by the lockers with Dalal, the new girl. 

Salma: S3eed can I talk to you?

" Sure" I said as 7amad and the other guy walked a few steps ahead, but stopped to wait for me. 

Salma: Have you seen Reem around school? 

Me: Nope, why?

I noticed Amal making intense eye contact with her.. Crush? 

Salma: Doesn't matter. 

I pulled Amal's crush away, and right before Salma walked away, I flipped her books over.

Salma: Middle school move S3eed!

 

I walked away with Amal's crush as I laughed mockingly, looking back as 7amad helped her with the books.

Cursed With Beauty (60)

Cursed With Beauty (60)

Note to the readers:

Apologies for the delay, I'll make it up to you! Promise.

-CB

Previously:

Amal:

I was surprised at 7amad spending time with S3eed.. Voluntarily? What happened, I wondered..

S3eed:

I stood to watch her but the next thing I knew, 7amad had fed me a football..
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Amal:

I sat back when I saw how caught up S3eed was with Joojoo, she had definitely worked her charm over him.
I let out a gentle smile to 7amad who was helping me out determining just that, whether or not S3eed had forgotten

Later then Salma joined us in the glass room.

S3eed:

We sat on the grass after our game was over, I stared at Salma as she was joining the girls. 7amad watched her closely.

Me: You realize you're staring at my sister.

7amad: Hmm? Yeah.. I mean no! It.. Doesn't matter she hates me.

He shook his head in denial. Naturally I would've angered me, the mere thought of someone thinking of my sister, but I didn't believe he had the same intentions as the ones before.

Khalid:

It wasn't just the fact that I was away that made it hard. It felt like I'd left one half of my soul to protect Mai while the other half got me through.
I texted her when I could, which was very rare.

Though it wasn't much of a time difference, Paris was only three hours earlier than Dubai.

It was me, I didn't have the time. The professors, the lectures, the work and extra work. Not to mention the meetings that were hours long. I missed her, a lot.

Amal:

Every now and then when the thoughts in my head stopped making sense, I made sure I had them written down somewhere and most likely I would tweet them down.

Surely, I was much more interactive as less events happened, and only more school work came in. Every time I'd tweet, he'd be there, and I told him everything, simply because I had no idea who he was, neither did he.

He knew I was hurt, but I forgot all the pain writing them down to him. Who was he? & was I foolish for blindly trusting him? I didn't know, and I didn't think so.