DECE-P-TION

DXVI

Alya's point of view.

"I'm going to miss you." Zulaika hugs me, seeing Kehinde and dahlia smiling. "Not really." Kehinde shrugs jokingly and I roll my eyes, zulaika pulling away. "You're going to miss me so bad." My words makes her scoff.

"I'll be expecting an invite to brunch or dinner soon." Kehinde informs me. "If I feel like it." I respond as she chuckles. "I don't know when but we're going out soon."

"Don't you worry. See you guys." I wave walking out of the hotel. I decline a call, seeing Falah in the car while sultana shut the trunk. She looks at me then turns away.

"Hey."

"Good day, sultana." I respond formally to her when we almost bump each other to reach for the passenger's door handle. I see the confused expression on her face. "I thought you'll be at the back."

"No, I'll be sitting here."

She nods, opening the back door and I get in the car. Her action made me smile, her confidence is amusing. I take a deep breath before turning to look at Falah. "You're done with your goodbyes?"

I chuckle, pulling the seatbelt but it's stuck. "It's stuck." I pause then continue pulling. "Let me." He leans to me and I smell his cologne. He pulls it once and it gets unstuck. I feel myself getting flattered by his actions.

"Thank you." He gets back to his seat, putting on his seatbelt. "You're welcome." He answers as he starts driving. The weather being sunny and beautiful. The crops grown, the farmers working and the hays stacked. It's interesting passing villages and seeing them working or playing, how every single person has their lives to live, the future that is unknown.

"It's crazy." I mutter, looking out of the window. "What is?" I turn to look at him. "How they all have different stories and futures."

"And Allah knows it all." I nod, leaning back on my seat. "Yeah." I look at the mirror to see sultana sleeping already.

**********

I open my eyes when the car comes to an immediate halt. I furrow my brows noticing the rain pouring heavily on the wind screen. "I need to go out and check the car." He shares, taking off his seatbelt. "Why?" I ask trying to understand the situation.

"I need to pour a bit of water in the radiator." He takes a bottle of water, reaching for the handle. I hold his arm as he turns to look at me. "Let's wait for the rain to lessen. It's too heavy now."

"Ill be fine. I have to do this."

"Be careful." Sultana warns. "I will." He pats my hand before getting out of the car. I can't see him because of how heavy the rain is. I turn to look at sultana with worry all over her face, getting a nagging feeling. I reach for the button for the trunk, pressing it before getting out of the car. "Alya, get back in the car!" Falah shouts loud enough to hear him through the spattered sound of the rain hitting the ground.

The raindrops hits my skin so hard it hurts. I run to the trunk, searching for it as my dress gets soaked. I lift my luggage to see the umbrella. I take it, closing the trunk. I walk fast while opening the umbrella so the Falah would work with a better vision.

I get to Falah as he opens the bottle of water. I cover the both of us with the umbrella. "Why did you come out?" He stops to ask me. "You can't be able to see clearly with this rain and I want to help."

He stares at me for a few seconds before getting back to pouring the water in the radiator. He closes the radiator and bonnet. "Let's go." He holds the umbrella, walking me to the door. I get in the car, Falah shutting the door.

My veil, clothes, face was dripping. I was getting the seats wet as I take off my veil, shirt and bolero. I look around, not seeing a sign of Falah. "You're going to catch a cold. Where's Falah?" Sultana asks, looking back. "I don't know, he should be back."

"He's by the trunk, he's coming." She turns back and the door opens. Falah gets back in the car with something in his hand. "Put this on." He hands me a  jacket. I wear it on top of my vest, noticing how Falah's also soaked.

"Did you get a shirt for yourself?"

"I don't need it." He turns on the seat warmer. "You're shivering." Sultana points out the obvious. I reach for his hands, holding it in mine. "You're going to catch a cold." He looks at me with a smile on his face. "I know it doesn't help but this is the only thing I can do now since the console is in the way."

"Thank you." I hug him, flinching the minute his skin touches mine because of how cold he is. "You're cold, really cold." I feel his arm caressing my back. "I don't need it, you do."

"Next time, stay in the car. I'll go through the cold alone." I smile, caressing his back as well. "What will your mom say? I'm neglecting her son."

He chuckles and I pull away. I touch his face, feeling his warmth. "We better get to a hotel." He holds my hand, turning on the car.

*******

I walk out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed. I walk to the mirror when I remember how Falah was in the car. I chuckle, walking to the closet to check my luggage for my night gown.

"I can't." I hear sultana from the closet. I furrow my brows, walking closer to the drawers. "I felt so useless today, out of place." I lean on the drawers to hear it clearly. "I thought this could work. I want it and it hurts seeing you with her." I raise my brows, letting out a soft scoff.

"Could you please tell me what's going on?" Her voice in a pleading manner. "We're acting like a couple so you shouldn't worry." I hear Falah say which is disappointing. "So everything is a lie?"

"An act, yours isn't. You'v-". I walk out of the closet to the room so I can't hear what they are saying. I bite my inner lip, sauntering slowly to the bed. I sit, glancing at the jacket I neatly folded.

************

Falah knocks on the door as I open it. I hear the door shut while I carried his duvet and pillow. I hand it over to him, crossing my arms. "You should go back to sultana." I lower my volume so she doesn't hear. "What?"

"I want to be alone tonight, I know you don't mind sleeping with sultana. You can go anywhere, just not here. The facade is over." I saunter to the bed, pulling the blanket to cover myself. "It's not your decision to make. I'm sleeping here, I don't have time for your tantrums."

I close my eyes, getting annoyed by his voice. "It was all an act, but hers isn't." I sit up, looking at him. "Alya."

"No, Falah. You know yay I've never told anyone about our situation but you told her. Isn't it a slap on my face that I'm travelling with your girlfriend around? Respect me at least, I deserve that since I've done nothing to disrespect you."

"You seemed fine with it when we were going to the resort." I shrug, letting out a chuckle. "I was before I thought you were a reasonable guy. I'm not going to lie, I actually thought there was a chance for you and I to actually work but it's all an 'act'". I air-quote, smacking my lips.

"You said yourself that we should act like a normal couple." I nod, letting out a heavy sigh. "That's true, I was that one that was way in over my head. What a joke." I scoff, shaking my head. "I'm sorry for doing all of that. This marriage isn't legit so you can date who you want."

"It was a miscommunication and I will stop bringing sultanas close to you. It's not respectful." He admits and I press my lips to a thin line, looking away. "Could you please go somewhere, even if it's sultana's? I really want to be alone."

I hear the door shut as i close my eyes. I am stupid. Too stupid. I pick up my phone and dialed his number.

"Hello, Alya." I chuckle lightly at his tired voice. "You sound terrible."

"What's wrong? Something happened."

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