THE UNEXPECTED MEET: A whirlwind royal romance

The Reach out

SAIDA’S POV
A couple of days after the art show, life went on normal for me. The usual busy day freelancing, taking and selling pictures. I need a trip somewhere but the fact that I have never gone abroad makes me take my time so I can think of a place that will be memorable. A place that will make my first time out of Nigeria memorable. After I am done with work, mostly done in my room. I go and hangout with my mother and sister in the parlour, Sometimes my dad joins in whenever he is back from his work reunion. My father Abdullah Mafindi is a retired civil servant who still keeps the contact of his former co workers turned into friends. They have this reunion once every three months to keep the bond they have. My mom Aisha Abdullah on the other hand was a former teacher at a secondary school, now she just stays at home and enjoy what life has to offer with her two kids. My sister Amira is still in the university, her second year. This people right here, if they are not doing whatever it is that makes them busy, they are busy making me happy.

So on this faithful day, We, me, my mum and my sister are in the living room when my phone rings. It is from an unknown number, not even a Nigerian number. I showed it to my mum who tells me not to pick it up. Telling me that it could be scammers or cultist who are trying to suck my blood through my phone. I don’t pick the phone mostly for the first reason. 
But after a while I go back to my room to nap, because this afternoon is the perfect afternoon to nap. I changed into my black shorts and a white tank top in order to sleep comfortably. As I rest my head on my pillow I receive a text. I grunt as I pick up my phone and open up the message. It is from that unknown number

Message

“My distant friend, I missed you. I apologize for my late reaching out but as you know I am very busy person”


At first I was clueless as to who it might be but it clicked instantly after rereading the message. But could it be?
I dial the number to be sure its him, He picks up the call and I waited for him to talk

“You wanted to be sure it’s me right?”
I can not say a word, My feelings can not be described. He reached out to me!! I can’t believe it, I remained cool on the outside but I could feel my soul throwing a party in my body….. I could feel those butterflies crawl up my belly, Oh My God!
“Hello.. Hello… Saida” I forgot I was on a call but when he draws my attention back to the call I quickly cut the call which is the most foolish thing I did through out today.


HUSSEIN’S POV

She cut the call, and I don’t know whether to call her or not. I wanted to send her an Instagram message but my Instagram is being managed by my social media manager Arif and we wouldn’t really have a private conversation without Arif being all up in our business. So I decide to send her a text from my phone. I didn’t even think before contacting her with my private phone number. Nothing like what if she shares the info to the public, I felt like I could trust her for some reason.

TEXT
“You don’t have to pick now just wanted to let you know that this is my private number if you want to chat…. Don’t go through my IG”

I am about to drop my phone when her message comes in

“I am sorry, I just couldn’t believe that it was you reaching out to me”

I smile and start writing my reply

“Why wouldn’t I? I hinted to you that you haven’t seen the last of me Miss Abdull, You should know that I will reach out to you”
I stare at my phone patiently waiting for her reply

“I couldn’t even imagine you ever reaching out to me, this only happens to Meghan Markle”

“Well I guess your theory is wrong because I am reaching out to you right now and you are not Meghan Markle but Saida”

“Hussein why did you reach out?”
“Because I missed you”
“We only met and talked once, what could you possibly miss?”
“You gave me a lot of things to miss about you Saida”
“Like what?”
“Like your blunt truth, your admission of your crush for me”
“Yeah well, you get such admissions everyday on your social media pages or your different engagements”
“I do but yours is different”
“That is the most cliché thing I read today”
“I like you Saida, I just want to get to know you”
“What if it goes beyond that? I cannot control my feelings Hussein. I’d let you remain my distant crush than fall for you and face rejection”
“See what I mean! Don’t you think I might end up falling too? Do you know that only family and a tight knit group of friends are the only ones that have this number. But I didn’t think twice before reaching out to you with it because I want our friendship to go beyond friendship”

I look at my screen waiting for her reply, but she doesn’t reply. I hope I did not scare her off in my bid to be as direct as she is. Her call disrupts my thought as I pick up the phone.

“Are you ready for this?”
“I started this, I called first remember”
“No you didn’t I made my move at the art convention”
“Yes but nobody has to know”
“Well prince charming who didn’t make the first move, I am planning a work trip for myself, I will be traveling with my parents and siblings. Like a vacation/work trip and I have been searching for the best destination…”
“Come to Awsan, I’ll be your tour guide”
“I knew you would say that but, I don't want things to be that easy for you”
“Ooh I sense you trying to ask me to join your fun adventure disguised as job trip”
“You shouldn’t sound this sarcastic because your senses are correct” I could hear her excitement as she confirms my words
“Saida, you do know I am the crown prince right?” I say
“Yes, you are the one who said you wanted to get to know me better. Lets go on this trip, You will have no title in my eyes, you will just be Hussein to me.”
“You sure know how to make a man the woman in a relationship, you made the first move and now you ask me to go on our first trip” We both laugh at my what I said
“What can I say, I am a modern woman Who goes for what she wants”
“Okay say I have convinced my father on going for this trip, Where would we be going and we should make it around June because I will be less engaged around that time”
“That Is the problem, of which I hand over to you. I did a lot I planned the trip, brought the idea, please help me find a perfect holiday spot. Believe it or not that is the theme of my work project.”
“I wish I have your liberty”
“What liberty?” She asks me
“Look at you mixing work with pleasure, It is beautiful how you get to do fun stuff with your family but it is still work”
“You will get a taste of that too, trust me this trip will be awesome”
“What about your parents, wouldn’t they want to know who I am”
“You are my friend who I invited on the trip, its not like we are sharing the same room or we are doing anything bad. I have had friends mostly females come for these trips so it wouldn’t be something new”
“We are seriously doing this then, I can not wait!”
“You know I always thought you are the boring kind of prince”
“I am, But you see with you I am not… that is what I mean by the admission of your crush for me is something different and dear to me”
“I see what you did there, Nice save, Nice save” I laugh
“I would love to stay and talk to you all day but I have to go”