“From confrontation to confession ..”

#"From confrontation to confession, and an unexpected spark." 🥃🔥

Written By : Afo_fa 

Jihaan stood still, watching him from a distance, fear creeping into her heart as she realized he hadn't turned around even though she had called out to him.

Jihaan: (Stepping toward him with slow, hesitant steps) Who are you?

Diab remained silent, lost in thought, planning his next move. Jihaan didn't wait for a response and moved closer until she was standing right behind him.

Jihaan: (In a quiet but firm voice) Turn around…

Before he could, he suddenly pushed her away. She fell to the ground, scraping her elbow against the scattered rubble of the old, crumbling building. She winced at the pain but forced herself to sit up, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. But he was already running, showing her nothing but his back.

Gathering herself quickly, she got up and chased after him, but he had disappeared.

She clutched her injured elbow, scanning her surroundings in frustration, searching for any trace of him. Meanwhile, Diab had already left the building, jumped into his car, and sped off before she could spot him. Upon reaching the university parking lot, he slammed the brakes, gritting his teeth as anger surged through him. His hands slammed against the steering wheel repeatedly until he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder—he was bleeding.

Diab: (Through clenched teeth, seething with rage) I'll find out who that bastard is… and I'll kill him with my own hands…

——————————————

🌤️ Evening Arrives

Jihaan sat in her room, absentmindedly folding her clothes and placing them in the wardrobe. She was completely lost in thought when Nihad entered suddenly.

Nihad: Jihaan, I knocked so many times, but you didn't answer…

Jihaan: (Looking up with a faint smile) Sorry, I was lost in thought…

Nihad: Can I talk to you?

Jihaan: (Smiling warmly) Of course, you can talk to me whenever you want…

They both sat down on the bed. Jihaan watched as Nihad's eyes filled with unshed tears, her lips trembling as she tried to hold them back.

Nihad: (Her voice breaking) I miss Marwa…

But she couldn't hold it in any longer. She broke down, throwing herself into her sister's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jihaan: (Running her hand over Nihad's back, her own tears slipping silently) I miss her too… so much…

Nihad: (Looking up at her with tearful eyes) I feel so alone… I can't stay in my room anymore. I can't sleep…

Jihaan: (Gently stroking her hair) And what about me? I'm here… You're not alone. Come sleep with me tonight.

Nihad: (Her eyes widening in surprise) Really?

Jihaan: (Wiping away her tears) Of course. Why would you even ask?

Nihad finally smiled, despite her tears, and hugged Jihaan tightly. Jihaan struggled to hold back her own emotions, the weight of Marwa's absence pressing on her chest.

Suddenly, the sound of knocking echoed through the house.

Nihad: Someone's at the door… Maybe it's Auntie, she went to the market… and Mom is sleeping.

Jihaan: I'll go check…

Jihaan walked to the door and opened it to find Shaimaa standing there.

Shaimaa: (Walking inside and shutting the door with a smirk) Well, aren't you going to welcome me?

Jihaan: (Chuckling lightly) What brings you here?

Shaimaa: I missed my best friend! Can't I just visit you? Or should I turn around and leave?

Jihaan: (Shaking her head with amusement) Of course not. Come in, you're always welcome.

Shaimaa's eyes landed on Nihad, scanning her with mock admiration.

Shaimaa: Wow! The little one has grown up… Mashallah.

Nihad: (Blushing) Thank you…

Shaimaa: "Thank you"? (Turning to Jihaan) She's so polite!

Nihad smiled shyly.

Jihaan: Mom is resting. She's been feeling tired… Do you want to sit in my room? I'll make some tea.

Shaimaa: No need, just sit with me.

Nihad: (Looking at Jihaan with warmth) Go ahead, I'll make the tea.

Jihaan exchanged a glance with her younger sister, smiling softly.

Shaimaa: (Grinning) She's such a sweetheart…

Jihaan sat beside Shaimaa as the latter gently placed a hand on her arm.

Shaimaa: (In a gentle voice) How have you been?

Jihaan: (After a moment of silence, sighing deeply) I don't know… I seem calm on the outside, but inside… only God knows what I feel.

Shaimaa watched her with sadness, sensing the weight of her emotions.

Jihaan: We found out that Marwa was pregnant…

Shaimaa: (Eyes widening in shock) What?!

Jihaan: (Lowering her gaze, her voice breaking) Our family has shattered. My father… he barely speaks to us anymore. He keeps his head down when walking in the neighborhood. He spends his days locked in his room. Mom… every time she steps outside, she ends up fighting with the neighbors because they won't stop gossiping. Then she gets so angry that her blood pressure rises, and she collapses. We have to give her medicine so she can sleep. And Nihad… she's just a child, living through all of this. And me… I can't do anything.

Shaimaa: (Shaking her head) There is no power nor strength except with God… May He bring justice to the one responsible…

Jihaan: (Murmuring, as if clinging to the last bit of hope she had left) Ameen… They say it might have been suicide, but I know my sister. She would never harm herself… Not while she was pregnant… Impossible.

Shaimaa: (Looking at her firmly) The truth will come out, Jihaan. Just stay strong… God is with you.

Jihaan: (Nodding slowly) Ameen…

———-

Shaima looked at the blue box placed on the table—the gift Jihan had received from an unknown person—then asked in a surprised tone:

"You haven't gotten rid of it yet?"

Jihan turned to the box, understanding what Shaima meant, and replied calmly:

"No."

A faint smile formed on Shaima's lips as she tilted her head slightly and said playfully:

"Hmm… and why not? Hehe."

Jihan simply smiled before responding:

"Because I liked it, and I see no reason to throw it away."

Shaima raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Has the secret admirer sent you anything else?"

Jihan let out a sigh of boredom as she leaned back in her chair.

"I'm not interested. But no, he hasn't, and thank God he didn't, because I'm not in the mood for such things."

Shaima gave a small nod, but a certain thought flashed in her eyes. She didn't comment on it.

At that moment, Nihad entered, carrying a tea tray with glass cups emanating a warm mint aroma.

Shaima took a deep breath and then smiled.

"The lovely one has made us tea. Thank you, dear."

Nihad smiled as she placed the tray on the table.

"You're welcome. I'll go upstairs to study now."

Jihan nodded in agreement, and Nihad left the room.

But Shaima didn't stop watching Jihan from the corner of her eye as she sipped her tea slowly.

Jihan noticed and turned to her with a mysterious look before asking directly:

"Speak. What is it you want to say?"

Shaima took a deep breath before dropping the bombshell:

"Diab asks about you from time to time at the university."

Jihan's expression froze for a second before she furrowed her brows, puzzled.

"Strange! Why?"

Shaima averted her gaze for a moment before looking back at her and saying:

"I don't know. But ever since you lost consciousness and he took you to the hospital, my opinion of him has changed."

Jihan stared at her as if she had just heard something completely illogical.

"What? How did I lose consciousness? And he took me to the hospital?"

The signs of panic became clear on Shaima's face, as if she had just realized she had revealed a secret she wasn't supposed to. She tried to correct the situation hesitantly:

"Well… he was the one who took you to the hospital when you fainted after hearing about Marwa's death. He called me to inform me, and that's why I came. He asked me not to tell you anything."

Silence hung in the air for a moment before anger clearly surfaced on Jihan's face. Her voice was sharp and firm.

"So, you were managing things behind my back and lying to me! I was in such a shock that I didn't even ask how you found out I was in the hospital!!"

Shaima lowered her gaze, then spoke softly:

"Forgive me. I didn't want to overwhelm you with all this while you were in that state."

But Jihan didn't calm down; instead, her tone grew sharper.

"You have no right to hide things from me or lie to me! And also, what does Diab want? What was he doing there? Is he following me? Or what?"

Shaima grew more flustered and stammered:

"I… I don't know…"

Jihan suddenly stood up and held out her hand.

"Give me his number… I want to understand what's going on."

Shaima hesitated for a few seconds before pulling out her phone hesitantly and handing it to her.

Jihan took it, but she didn't take her eyes off Shaima. She narrowed them and asked cautiously:

"Are you still hiding something from me?"

Shaima quickly shook her head.

"No!"

Jihan stepped back slightly, her gaze still fixed on her, then added in a warning tone:

"If you ever lie to me again or hide something, I will never forgive you."

Shaima remained silent, watching as Jihan dialed the number and made the call.

——————————————

Elsewhere, Diab had just arrived at the villa. He parked his car in its designated spot, then pulled his phone from his pocket when he saw an unknown number ringing.

He answered silently.

Jihan: "Hello?"

Diab: "Who is this?"

A calm voice came from the other end.

"It's Jihan."

He froze for a few seconds before responding, his tone laced with clear hesitation.

"Jihan! Are you okay?"

She replied coldly:

"I didn't call so you could ask about my well-being. I assume you already know everything."

He frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Her voice grew more confident this time.

"I want to meet you. Where are you now?"

He hesitated briefly before replying:

"At home… but I can leave now. Where do you want to meet?"

Jihan: "The same place where you saw me by the sea."

Diab: "Ah… I know it."

Jihan: "I'll be there in two hours."

Diab: "Alright."

Jihan ended the call, then looked up at Shaima, who was watching her anxiously.

Shaima: "What's wrong? Are you still angry at me?"

Jihan shot her a sharp look before speaking in a quiet but warning tone.

"If we were outside, I wouldn't have let you get away with this lie."

Shaima watched her closely, while Jihan kept her gaze on her with a sidelong glance…

—————————————

🌙 As night fell…

Diab stood before the mirror, adjusting his clothes, feeling an excitement he had never known before. For the first time, he had a meeting with Jihan.

But his enthusiasm didn't last long when he opened the door to find Aisha standing there.

Diab: "When did I allow you to come in?"

She tilted her head with a sly smile.

"You've been away since the evening, so I thought I should check on you." (She studied him for a moment before crossing her arms.) "You seem happy and all dressed up. Do you have a date?"

He shot her a displeased look and replied coldly:

"Move aside. Everything you touch, you ruin."

Leaving her standing there in shock, he quickly walked out, got into his car, and drove to the meeting place.

He arrived before Jihan, sitting by the sea, watching the waves with an unfamiliar sense of tension.

Minutes later, Jihan arrived. She stood behind him for a moment, observing him in silence before stepping closer.

Diab: "Jihan!"

Jihan: "What do you want from me? Why are you following me?"

Diab: "What do you mean?"

Jihan: "Why were you there when I lost consciousness and took me to the hospital?"

Diab: "It was just a coincidence."

Jihan: "Aren't these coincidences too many? You saw me here—coincidence. You took me to the hospital—coincidence. I saw you at the cemetery—coincidence." (She stepped closer.) "What do you want from me?"

He stepped toward her, locking eyes with her before whispering:

Diab: "What do you think I want from you?"

Jihan: "Show some respect!"

He lifted a finger and placed it gently against her lips, silencing her. She stared at him in shock.

But she quickly pushed him away, flustered.

Jihan: "Why are you doing this?"

He looked at her steadily and spoke in a calm yet dangerous voice:

Diab: "Because… I like you."

Silence fell.

He smiled.

She stared at him, stunned…

To be continued…