Part 13: she hurts, he feels

The whole week passed like this as their classes were off after final exams. Alex offered Helena to meet with him at a restaurant for dinner.

It was Saturday when Helena was all ready to go to the Truffle Terrace for dinner with Alex and mixed emotions took over her heart.

She approached the restaurant and entered the restaurant while taking a deep breaths then she saw Alex was already there. Alex's gaze fell on Helena, he stood up from his seat, waved his hand to Helena, Helena stepped near his standing figure.

She bowed to him slightly and said,

"Assalamu'alaikum."

Alex bowed in returned but didn't answer, he just smiled and gestured for her to sit.

After placing their order Alex said,

"Helena I want to say something."

Helena felt a strange sensation as her mind was signaling something but she didn't get that what Alex was about to say that would surprised her.

She gulped down her saliva and replied,

"What is it Alex?"

"Um actually I've wanted to say something for a long time but I didn't because I didn't know how you would react."

Alex continued, Helena got more puzzled, then heard Alex say,

"I really like you Helena , and I want you to be my girlfriend."

Helena felt her heart skip a beat for a moment as everything seemed to fade away except for her and Alex, a flicker of anticipation mingled with uncertainty danced in her chest, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside her.

She wasn't sure what was coming next, for a moment she didn't trust in her ears to understand what she heard.

Alex, sensing Helena's silence, said, "There's no hurry. Take your time to answer me, but Helena, don't say no. I want a positive response from you. I sense that you like me too and you won't reject me. I know you're Muslim and this is forbidden for you but I really like you from the core of my heart."

Helena couldn't help but feel her cheeks burning as blush was visible on her cheeks. As Alex was expressing his feelings to her.

Meanwhile a girl was calling on Alex's phone. He quickly cut the call, turned off his phone, and continued to talk, then looked back at Helena, who was already staring at him with longing eyes.

She felt as if what she desired was happening now. There was a moment of silence. Then she cleared her throat, gathered courage to reply, "I...i need some time to think."

Alex poked his cheek and hummed in response. Then he moved a bag of Cartier towards Helena, saying, "I bought a watch for you. I hope you will like it." Helena moved the bag back towards Alex, saying, "I can't take it Alex. Don't make things difficult for me."

"I already bought it, Helena. Either you take it or throw it. The choice is yours. But if you throw it I'll feel that you don't have feelings for me even for once,"

Alex said, making a fake sad face. Then Helena grabbed it back.

After completing their dinner, Alex dropped Helena off at her house.

Helena took a week to give Alex an answer. During that week, she was mostly lost in her thoughts about Alex, her happiness evident on her face.

She stayed happier than before, believing her desire was about to be fulfilled. However, she also knew it was Haram for her to be in a relationship with a non-Muslim. She prayed in Salah and asked Allah to make him Muslim, but she couldn't control her feelings and decided to give him an answer.

After the vacation, when everyone was sitting in the university library, Alex was curious to know her answer. He wondered why Helena took so much time, and sometimes he got annoyed, thinking about how many girls around him would die to be with him, yet Helena was taking so long to say yes.

Sometimes he got pissed off that he did a mistake to proposed a typical girl like her.

When John and Zaim were about to leave, Alex remained seated with Helena. Zaim asked him to come with them, but he declined, saying,

"Bro, you go. I have some work to complete, then I'll join you both." They hummed in response and left, leaving Helena and Alex alone.

Alex looked at Helena with a desperate expression and asked, "Helena, what did you think? I can't wait any longer. Just speak up and tell me your answer."

Helena felt strange after hearing him, but she ignored it because she had fallen in love so hard that she didn't want any negative thoughts to control her mind. Gently gulping down her saliva, she replied while looking at her lap, "It's a yes."

Alex chuckled at her reaction and said, "Look at me, Helena." She raised her head and looked up at him. Alex asked again, "It's a yes? Really?" Helena hummed in response, then said, "But Alex, I don't want to reveal it to anyone. Don't tell anyone about this. We will hide it from everyone."

Ok, babe," Alex remarked. Helena looked at him, feeling her heart raced at his words. Then she heard Alex say, "Meet me after class. We'll have lunch outside together and I want to talk about something too."

She denied because she couldn't go with Alex in front of the students, and said, "Is this important? I don't want to give anyone a chance to gossip about us."

Alex said, "Okay, I'll text you the location. You reach there, hmm?" After that, they left and met at the cafe.

As the days passed, Helena found herself falling deeper in love with Alex. They met often, whether in cafes or restaurants, and amidst it all, Helena began to neglect her prayers. Alex started giving her expensive branded gifts, further drawing her closer to him. She began to believe that no one could make her as happy as Alex did.

It was a usual day, Helena was sitting in the library with Mia and Zaim. Mia was discussing a task with Helena. The entire class had been assigned to intern at multinational companies individually for a week, create a weekly profit and financial report, and submit it.

Mia, not needing any help due to her father's connections, as his father was also a business tycoon she offered to assist Helena Initially, Helena declined, wanting to do it on her own.

Then, Zaim suddenly suggested,

"I know some companies, so I can help you with this, Helena, you can't go alone as you are not familiar with multinational companies, I'm not decreasing your confidence I just want to assist you.

He stopped for her respond then he said again,

"As I'm not your classmate you can take help from me as a friend or a guidance."

Helena hesitated at first but, feeling unfamiliar with any companies, ultimately decided to accept Zaim's help after he convinced her.

Suddenly Mia asked Zaim about Alex while writing something on her notebook,

"Zaim, why didn't Alex come today? I had something to ask him."

Zaim replied, "He went to Daegu for a week for personal matters." When Helena heard about Alex's trip, she was surprised because Alex hadn't informed her. Despite staying in contact, she felt upset with him.

However, she decided to confront Alex on phone about it at night.

It was 11 at night when Helena was busy chatting with Alex.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were going to Daegu for a week?" she asked.

"Babe, was that important ?" Alex replied.

"But Alex, we are in a relationship, and I should have known about your whereabouts."

"Uh Really? But I don't think it's that necessary. I can't tell you every breath I take, where I go, what I eat, or my every minute news. Sorry, but it's not in my rules." Alex retorted.

I didn't mean it like that, Alex, but at least you should have informed me." Helena said, feeling disappointed at Alex's words.

She didn't say much because she didn't like the tone of Alex, Helena got disappointed at Alex's words.

"Okay, okay, I'll inform you next time. Well, babe, talk to you later. I've got something to do."

Alex said abruptly, ending the conversation.

Unbeknownst to his friends and Helena, Alex was indeed in Daegu for important work but at that moment he was enjoying the warmth of another girl in bed.

It had been a week since Helena completed her report in the particular company, and with Zaim's help, she managed to accomplish it.

As they were ready to head home, they walked towards the elevator and entered in. After a few minutes, they noticed a light blinking. Zaim moved forward to press the exit button to check, but the elevator started making strange sounds.

Suddenly, the elevator stopped and it became all dark. Helena began to feel suffocated, she felt as if her heart had stopped and a sensation of breathlessness washed over her.

Because she had claustrophobia, she quickly tried to calm down her heart by patting it with her hand, but it didn't help. She couldn't bear staying in confined spaces for more than a few seconds. Sitting down on the elevator floor, as a fear was evident on her face.

She started reciting with trembling lips. Taking deep breaths, tears started streaming down from Helena's eyes."

'Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-Wakil.'

"Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."

After reciting then she pleaded to Zaim with shivering lips,

"P.....please let me g...get o...out of here Z... Zaim."

After her beloved ALLAH, Zaim was all she had in that moment.

Zaim got more worried after seeing her like that he quickly sat at her level then Helena grabbed his wrist tightly in fear, he felt the tight grip and Helena continued while her eyes were closed,

"I...I can't s...stay h...here g..get me.... out.....of.... h..here Zaim."

Zaim started comforting her by saying,

"Don't panic rose."

Just then he saw that Helena had become unconscious he shouted, patting her cheeks rapidly, willing her to awaken from her slumber. His heart ached as he watched her like this,

"Hey don't, stay with me Helena open your eyes, rose, I will get you outside trust me, yahhhhhhh Just give me few minutes Rose, you are my brave girl na?" with that he pounded on the elevator door with his hand for help while shouting loudly,

"Is anyone here? please helppp."

Then he moved towards Helena, hugged her tightly and continued to pat the elevator door continuously while tears streaming down from his eyes in fear.

His palms turned red from the continuous pounding, but he didn't stop, he shouted continously. After some minutes he heard two lift workers arrive and trying to open the elevator door.

After opening the door, Zaim picked Helena up in his arms and rush straight to the hospital, He was completely terrified upon seeing Helena unconscious figure. Tears were already streaming down his face and he feared he might lose Helena today.

It was just a minor incident, but Zaim loved her like crazy. He couldn't bear to see Helena like this, even in the slightest. When he saw her unconscious, he couldn't control himself.

°°°°°

Helena was having a drip while she was still unconscious and Zaim sat beside her, gazing at her with longing eyes and the tears were still in his eyes but he managed to hold them back.

Just then a male nurse came near Helena, intending to remove the cannula from her hand Zaim swiftly stopped him and commanded, "Don't touch her. Call your female staff." His voice was firm and resolute.

"But Sir, everyone is busy, and I'm on duty." the male worker protested.

"Go and call your female nurse and doctor, don't you get that huh??"

Zaim shouted, his tone demanding compliance.

The male worker got scared while everyone started looking at Zaim, and assuming that Zaim was Helena's husband that's why he was doing this.

"But sir....."

"Call your fuc.....

He stopped, closed his eyes in frustration,

"call your female doctor right now."

He shouted again.

Soon, a male doctor approached and inquired,

"What's the matter, sir? Why are you shouting? Is there something wrong?"

Zaim moved towards the doctor and replied,

"I just want a female nurse or doctor to check on my girl. whether I have to pay more money, I'll do, but just call your lady doctor to check her."

Each word he said was sharp and straight.

"Okay, okay, sir. I'll call her. Don't worry," the doctor assured him.

After a few minutes, a female doctor arrived and began examining Helena and her drip. As Helena regained consciousness, she saw Zaim and the doctor by her side. Zaim promptly stood up, asking, "How are you feeling, Helena hmm?"

Helena didn't reply but doctor saw Helena, the doctor smiled and remarked while checking Helena,

"You're very lucky, Helena. Your husband loves you so much, he didn't allow any male staff to touch you. Don't ever let him go."

Zaim chuckled at the comment, but Helena didn't fully grasp its meaning. Before she could inquire further, Zaim interrupted and asked the doctor about Helena's discharge.

Once the doctor gave permission, they left the hospital. Zaim dropped Helena off at her house without asking for her address, leaving her puzzled. She narrowed her eyes and asked him,

"How do you know my address huh?"

"I just guessed randomly, remember we met the other day."

Zaim evaded the truth, stealing a glance away from her, However Helena didn't pay much attention and after dropping her off Zaim headed to his villa.

°°°°°

A month passed in their relationship, Alex and Helena were in a café for lunch. Alex had booked a partitioned area for them to have privacy. When the waiter served the food, Helena ordered halal food for herself, while Alex ordered crabs, pork, and branded wine for himself.

Helena suggested while looking at the food, "Alex, why don't you stop eating these Haram foods?"

"You know I can't live without them, they are my favorite meals," replied Alex, while cutting into his steak.

"But Alex, you know it's forbidden in Islam. I'm not forcing you, but as I love you, I want you to practice Islam." Helena responded, as the concerned was visible on her face.

Alex scoffed, annoyed by Helena's words then he said but maintained his expression. "I'll try later. Until then, eat your food, baby. Let's not spoil our time together."

Helena said nothing further, but her disappointed expression was evident.

Alex noticed that she got upset and was not eating nothing.

He then caressed her hand. Helena looked at him and quickly pulled her hand back, but Alex held onto it, saying,

"Babe, you know I love you the most. You know I'm not used to this, but I promise I'll give it up. Don't feel uncomfortable around me. We're going to get married soon. Why would it be uncomfortable for you if I hold your hand now? After all, we'll be touching each other once we're married anyway."

Helena let him hold her then but she felt a strange sensation when he held her hand in that manner but she remained silent because she didn't want to get any negative thoughts in her mind. After finishing their lunch, Alex dropped Helena off a little far from her house.

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