NAJMA | Unedited

16.

"You ? Here ? Why ?" I ask, not leaving my gaze on him.

"Najma" he whispers "I missed you so much"

Wait, he can actually talk !? I'm shocked ! Waouh that's crazy.

"Najma who's at the door ?" Mum shouts from the kitchen. I almost forgot I was with her.

"No one" I lie, because I don't know what to say.

"Najma talk to me" he mutters but no words could form in my mouth and I can't blame it "Naj,"

"Ok fine, who showed you my address?" I ask, still shocked.

"Ali"

Of course it can only be Ali ! Who else ?

"Where's he ?"

"Right here" Ali smiles, coming out from behind Ismael's car I guess because I'm sure it's not Ali's except if he bought a new one. "I see you met Ismael" he grins and I give him a dead glare. You don't know what's awaiting you brother "won't you invite us in ?"

"Oh how rude of mine ! Please come in Ismael, Ali I'm sure you'll be good outside" I motion for Ismael to get in and close the door before Ali attempts to get in.

"So what do you become Najma ?" He questions, sitting on the couch.

"I'm still that same old Najma" I smile "you ?"

"Does that mean you still have a crush on me Najma ?"

Wait, why will he remember this ? I mean he was supposed to forget !

"Uhm I've to go tell my mum you're here" I mutter then sprint to the kitchen where mum is and I see her with Ali.

"Ali how did you get in here ?" I ask.

"I used the other door, duh" he rolls his eyes "and don't worry I told aunt Maryam about Ismael's presence in the living room" he smirks.

He takes one last bite of apple then follows me to the living room where Ismael is waiting.

•••

"Najma I'm really serious about it, I really want to do that" he smiles, thinking I'd fall for it.

Anything involving Ali is never serious and so I'm sure he's done something behind this crap.

"Uhm you surely are serious but I'm not sure I want to do that" I take a sip of my coffee.

"Najma" he whispers with his intensive look that used to make me fall more and more for him.

"Ismael"

"Okay fine Najma, I'll let you sleep on it " he keeps the mug then stands up "I'll be waiting for your call" he attempts to hug me goodbye but Ali stops him. 

"No you're not hugging her" was all Ali said that made Ismael back off and the fact that he didn't insist made me smile.

After Ismael left, Ali and I had a little conversation about why he let Ismael come to me after so many years and I got my answer. Ismael has always had a crush on me too apparently and today he wants to make the next step which is asking if I still want him so that he can talk to his parents and mine for us to get married.

Today, he told me his plan and I chose not to believe in him because there's no way I'm letting myself fall for him again then end up with a broken heart. I'm not even yet healed from what Tariq has done, so I'm not ready for any kind of commitment.

"Will you guys stop seeing each other for my sake ?" a yawning Leila comes in, attacking Ali and I.

"And why will we do that ?" Ali furrows his brows and that's my cue to leave this room before I get killed accidentally by one of them.