An Echoing Race.

Chapter Three.

#Chapter Three#

I internally groaned. Of course, there had to be people in this room. It couldn’t very well have been, oh I don’t know, empty. 

It wouldn’t be a common day in my life if I didn’t somehow humiliate myself. It was a part of my routine now. 

Wake up, get grilled by uni, get grilled by Mr Ridwan, eat, humiliate myself, then slowly cry myself to sleep. OK so it’s possible I’m exaggerating, but honestly, why did these things happen to me so often?

“Are you OK?” Mystery Man asked, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked at the other two people in the room - a man who was seated in one of the beds, a small smile playing across his lips and the other his wife, who stood to the side, glaring me down. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, getting impatient with the whole situation. She wasn’t even the sick one here!

“Erm,” I started, my eyes jumping between the three and eventually landing on a still, very amused Mystery Man. “Sorry, but there’s a slight issue…outside.” I pointed my thumb backwards, at the door, but then realised that didn’t really explain why I had barged in here like an animal. 

“I don’t see how that relates to us,” she sneered, only getting angrier by the second. 

Before I could say anything, Mystery Man spoke up. “Please mam, calm down. This is my, um, friend,” he stumbled, before continuing. “Sorry for the intrusion.” He then continued the conversation with them in hushed whispers. I assumed he was carrying on from before I arrived unannounced and aware that it was supposed to be confidential, so I occupied myself by looking out the window for any paps every few seconds.

“The one time I tell Salem to stay behind, this happens,” I muttered angrily. I’m sure I looked like a lifesaver, sitting in one of those booths, binoculars in hand and staring down at the people in the water. 

“Is it a frequent habit of yours to talk to yourself Miss Ahmad?” I jumped at the sound of someones voice so close to me, bringing the whole blind up with the gesture of my hand. 

“No,” I responded sheepishly, before clearing my throat. “No, it’s not.” I thought I saw his eyebrows lift in mirth, but I was too busy looking away, embarrassed beyond belief at this point. 

“Well, is there something I can help you with?” he questioned with some slight concern. So chivalry still does exist. 

“Well, I don’t particularly see how you can help me with a pack of vicious journalists, who won’t give up without an arm and leg,” I joked. Mystery Man chuckled but remained quiet. “But you should get back to work,” I commented, looking past him at the couple who were now talking amongst each other quietly. “I don’t want to disturb you anymore. I’ll just um…hide in the corner here for a while.” Unfortunately, I had left my phone and bag with Sarah, so I couldn’t even ring anyone to assist me.

“Do you mind?” He asked, signalling towards the door. I shook my head and moved out of the way, curious as to what he was doing. He unlocked it and slightly opened the door to scour the area outside. “Looks like it’s clear,” he observed, before closing the door again. “But just to be safe - here.” Bewildered, yet pleasantly surprised, I watched as he took off his doctors coat and held it out to me. I hesitated - was it really appropriate for me to take it? Then again, I was desperate.

And, I really, really, needed to go bathroom.

I could just return it to him after I used it to escape. 

I realised that all my thought processes were taking too long, so I reluctantly pulled the coat from his hands. “JazakAllahu khair. I will return this to you.”