"Everything is slipping beyond control…"

#"Everything is slipping beyond control… and the real chaos hasn't even started yet."🥃

Written By : Af_ofa

Marwa slowly regained consciousness, finding herself in her bed at home. Her mother stood beside her, holding her phone in one hand, her face clouded with worry as she tried to reach her father.

In a faint voice, Marwa whispered: "Mom…?"

Her mother turned to her quickly, visibly shocked: "Sweetheart! Are you okay? What happened to you?"

Marwa looked around, as if trying to understand where she was: "What am I doing here? Wasn't I at…?"

Her mother gently interrupted her: "Yes, your friend brought you home in a taxi. You fainted at school. I was trying to call your father so we could take you to the hospital."

Marwa replied weakly: "There's no need for that, Mom… I'm fine now."

But her mother shook her head stubbornly: "No, this wasn't normal. We're going to get you checked. Your father is busy, but I'll call Jihan to come with us."

Marwa called out: "Mom…"

But before she could finish, her mother had already left the room. Marwa pressed her hand to her head, her expression filled with confusion.

—————————————

Somewhere else…

Diab slowly opened his eyes in the completely white hospital room. His breathing was heavy, and his features looked exhausted. He found Jihan standing beside him, watching him with concern.

Jihan: "Are you feeling any better?"

He didn't answer. He simply stared at her with a silent, vacant gaze.

Jihan reached out to touch his forehead: "Your fever is still high… the doctor will be back soon."

He smiled faintly and then gripped her hand tightly, as if afraid she might slip away. Jihan silently smiled back, but—

In reality, the doctor had just entered the room and found Diab smiling alone, with no one beside him. He was hallucinating—imagining that Jihan was there—because of the high fever. Jihan, in fact, was standing outside the room, talking to herself.

"Why am I still here? I've done what I was supposed to… He can take care of himself now."

She turned to leave, but the doctor's voice stopped her.

"Are you a relative?"

Jihan smiled slightly, sarcastically: "God forbid I'd be related to someone like him." (The doctor stared at her in surprise.) She added to clarify: "I'm just a classmate from the university…"

The doctor spoke again, this time with clear concern: "His temperature is dangerously high, and we still don't know the cause. We'll need to run some tests, including a blood analysis. Someone from his family must be here."

Before Jihan could respond, a voice interrupted from behind.

Aisha: "I'm his mother."

Jihan turned to see an elegant lady speaking directly to the doctor, completely ignoring her.

Aisha: "How is my son?"

The doctor (calmly): "We've given him medication to bring the fever down, but we still need further tests—"

Aisha (interrupting sharply): "That won't be necessary. Just make sure his fever goes down. I'll take him home after that."

Jihan spoke calmly, trying to keep her voice steady: "But… wouldn't it be better to understand the real reason behind what happened?"

Aisha looked at her with clear disdain, scrutinizing her appearance before saying coldly: "And who are you exactly? A nurse, perhaps?"

Jihan answered firmly: "No. I'm the one who brought your son here."

Aisha's disdain was obvious. She gave Jihan an unapproving glance and muttered: "Strange… What kind of girls is my son getting involved with these days?"

Jihan: "Why?!"

Before Jihan could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension—it was her mother. She was standing beside Marwa, and both of them were staring at her in surprise.

Jihan rushed toward them.

Jihan: "Mom? What are you doing here? Are you both okay?"

Her mother looked at her with confusion and asked: "The real question is: what are you doing here?"

Jihan (after a brief hesitation): "Just… a girl I know from the university fainted, so I brought her here."

Her mother raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Wow. Seems like fainting is contagious today!"

Jihan: "What do you mean? Who else fainted?"

Her voice dropped slightly, tinged with concern: "Your sister, Marwa. She fainted at school. Her friend brought her home, so I came to check on her."

Jihan looked at Marwa, her eyes filled with worry: "How are you feeling?"

Marwa gave a faint, forced smile, and then said quietly: "I'm fine… Mom is just exaggerating."

But her mother wouldn't listen: "Enough talking. We're leaving now." (She looked at Jihan firmly.) "And you—you're coming with us."

————————————

Night had fallen, and the sky was covered with heavy clouds, hiding its stars as if it too shared in the weight of this somber day. Jihan stood by the window, staring into the stillness, while she could hear her mother speaking with Marwa downstairs.

Mother: "Why are you refusing to do the tests? You've truly worried me, my daughter…"

Marwa answered with a frustrated sigh: "The doctor already checked me. She said my blood pressure is low, and it's because I haven't been eating well lately. What do you expect is wrong with me?"

Her mother didn't waver. Her voice was firm as she placed the plate in front of her: "You won't leave this seat until you've finished every bite. Come on, eat."

Marwa (with a childlike groan): "Mom…"

Jihan (laughing): "Next time, don't faint on us again."

Then, heading toward the door: "Mom, I'm heading to the library for a bit. I won't be long."

As soon as Jihan closed the door behind her, Marwa placed her trembling hand over her mouth and ran toward the bathroom, where she vomited violently. At the same moment, her mother returned to the table and found her seat empty.

Mother: "Marwa? Where did you go?"

Marwa (weakly, while washing her face): "I'm here… just washing my hands."

Marwa looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were filled with confusion and fear. Gently, she placed a hand on her stomach and whispered to herself with dread:

Marwa: "Oh God… please, don't let it be what I fear… please, God…"

—————————————

On the other side of the city, Diab slowly woke up to find his mother's face before him, watching him with an unusual intensity.

Diab: "Where am I?"

He said in a faint voice, as his mother moved closer to him.

Aicha: "Thank God… your fever has gone down."

He gave a faint, sarcastic smile.

Diab: "That's the first time I've ever heard that from you."

She looked at him in surprise.

Aicha: "What do you mean?"

He sat up slowly and spoke quietly,

Diab: "Nothing…"

Then her voice turned firm and anxious.

Aicha: "Aren't you tired of rebelling? I've told you a hundred times—stop these filthy habits! Do you want to die before your time?"

He looked at her with empty eyes.

Diab: "I'm not an addict… I just try to escape this world from time to time."

Aicha (shouting): "You're not escaping the world—you're running from yourself! The doctor was about to run tests. If I hadn't arrived in time, the police would have been standing by your bed!"

He remained silent, lost in thought, as though his mind was somewhere far away. Then he muttered in a low voice…

Diab: "I thought I'd open my eyes and find someone else standing here…"

Aicha (confused): "Who?"

He suddenly asked:

Diab: "Who told you I was here?"

Aicha hesitated, but before she could answer, a nurse entered the room with a bright smile.

Nurse (looking at Diab with admiration): "Thank God you're okay now, Diab."

He looked from his mother to the nurse, then said in a low voice with a sarcastic smile curling on his lips:

Diab: "Now I understand… For a moment, I forgot who I was. I forgot that all news finds its way to you."

Aicha gestured for the nurse to leave, and when the door closed, she turned to him and asked directly:

Aicha: "Who was that girl standing at the door?"

He looked at her, surprised.

Diab: "Is she still there?"

Aicha: "No, she's gone. Why do you look so eager?"

He lowered his gaze.

Diab: "I just wanted to thank her. The doctor said she was the one who brought me here."

Aicha stared at him in disbelief, as if the fever still clouded his mind.

Aicha: "Since when do you thank anyone, Diab? Looks like the fever affected you more than we thought…"

He didn't answer. He wasn't in the mood for any discussion. His eyes were staring into nothingness, as if something inside him was quietly collapsing.

Then, in a soft voice, he asked:

Diab: "When can I leave this place?"

Aicha: "Tomorrow."

Diab: "No… I'm leaving now."

He rose from the bed with stubbornness that barely hid the storm raging inside him.

————————————-

An hour later, Jihan was flipping through books in the quiet library, filled with the scent of paper and ink. Suddenly, Shaima appeared out of nowhere.

Shaima: "There you are! Finally found you."

Jihan: "Let me guess—you're here for more romance novels?"

Shaima: "May God forgive you. Of course, I am here for that! I have a heart, you know… and emotions."

Jihan laughed, shaking her head gently: "Sometimes I wonder how we even became friends."

Shaima: "Wow, does that mean you're ungrateful? Have you really forgotten everything?"

Jihan : "No, I haven't. Just don't get mad…"

Shaima handed Jehan a small book with a warm-colored cover and a shiny, elegant title.

Shaima: "Read this one. It's my treat."

Jihan looked at the title: "The Heart Never Forgets." She then said:

"Is this a love story?"

Shaima: "More than that—love, crime, secrets, action… but the second season hasn't been released yet. I'm so curious to know if the hero will fall in love with the heroine, or if it will remain a one-sided love."

Jihan : "Sounds like you're really suffering…"

Shaima laughed, shaking her head, then murmured: "Oh God… when will I meet my prince charming?"

Jihan (jokingly): "Please, spare me the drama. I'll see you later."

Jihan walked out of the bookstore, the book still in her hands. She walked slowly, enjoying the breeze, then stopped near the sea—a place she always loved to stand. It provided a kind of peace that nothing else could offer.

Then, footsteps were heard behind her. Soft. Hesitant. Familiar. Jehan quickly turned. "Diab?" He stood there, hands in his pockets, with an unreadable expression on his face.

Jihan : "It's you?"

Diab: "I saw you while passing by… thought it would be polite to thank you."

Jihan : "No need. Anyone else in my place would have done the same."

Diab hesitated for a moment.

Diab: "Do you want a ride?"

Jihan looked at him for a moment, surprised: "Of course not. I prefer walking alone."

He gave a faint smile, returned to his car, glanced at Jihan once more, and drove off. Jihan continued to watch him until he disappeared.

Diab drove straight to the nearest bookstore, searching madly for the same book Jehan was holding. When he found it, he bought it and headed to the villa. But before entering, he noticed Marwa standing there, waiting for him.

He sighed, ignored her, and drove past her into the house. She stood frozen, burning with rage.

Marwa: "Jerk… you'll be punished for this."

She pulled out her phone and searched for ways to take a pregnancy test. Then, an idea struck her: a home test from the pharmacy.

—————————————

Jihan returned home and did not find Marwa in her room. Nihad told her that Marwa had gone out to get a book from a friend. Jihan went to her room and closed the door. She opened her laptop and started reviewing her lectures… and suddenly, she found herself typing "Diab Al-Nasrawi" into the Facebook search bar.

Dozens of pages appeared—filled with his photos and his fangirls. She entered his official page and started reading the comments. She couldn't stop laughing. The girls were fawning over him as if he were a celebrity.

Jihan: "What am I even doing here?"

She closed the laptop, only to find the book that Shaima had given her lying beside her.

Jihan: "Shaima… always following me!" She picked up the book and began reading.

At that moment, Marwa returned home and immediately went to the bathroom, locking herself inside. She took the pregnancy test, nervously reading the instructions on her phone as she waited.

After long, tense minutes… the result appeared.

Marwa: "Two red lines…"

As soon as she read what it meant, the phone slipped from her hand. She leaned back against the wall in shock, covering her mouth to hide her sobs so Nihad wouldn't hear. But Nihad sensed that something was wrong.

Nihad (standing behind the bathroom door, calling out with concern): "Marwa? Are you okay?"

Marwa (wiping her tears and tossing the pregnancy test into the trash): "I'm fine…"

She walked out with a forced smile, avoiding eye contact with Nihad to keep her from noticing the tears. She sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone, looking for any way to contact Diab—to tell him about the disaster he caused.

All she found was his Facebook profile… so she decided to send him a private message.

Meanwhile, Diab was at his place, lying on the couch, deeply engrossed in the book he had bought. He continued reading until sleep gently took over.

————————————-

☀️ With the rise of a new morning, came new events…

Diab slowly opened his eyes to find Jihan beside him, smiling softly. He stared at her for a moment, then smiled back and reached out his hand toward hers…

But just before touching her, he tumbled off the couch.

The fall was enough to snap him out of his hallucinations.

He sat up, laughing as he rubbed his face. He picked up the book that had fallen beside him, slipped it under his pillow, then grabbed his phone and began scrolling aimlessly. He opened Facebook and checked his messages.

A message from Marwa appeared:

"We need to talk… urgently. Or I'll expose everything. I can't take this alone anymore. I'm pregnant."

He froze in place.

His eyes were fixed on the screen as if the words had slapped him across the face.

————————-

At that moment, Jihan was preparing to leave for the university. She was about to step into the bathroom when her mother called out:

Mom: "Use your brothers' bathroom upstairs—this one isn't working. Your dad will fix it when he gets home this evening."

Jihan: "Alright."

Jihan nodded quickly and rushed upstairs. She passed by Nihad, who was still asleep on the bed. As for Marwa, she was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for school.

Jihan entered the bathroom… and moments later, she called out loudly:

Jihan: "Marwa?"

Marwa froze in place.

… And in that moment, the truth hit her all at once.

To be continued…[ The next chapter holds an unexpected twist!

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