DECE-P-TION

DXXIV

Falah's point of view.

"Stop trying to fool me! I'm no toddler! Withdraw or you'll be bidding your family goodbye with the amount of lawsuits you'll be getting." I hang up, throwing the phone on the floor. I turn to see sultana looking at me with worry. I look away, sitting on the chair.

"You seem tense, everything okay?" She leans on the table. "I'm fine, he's annoying." I defend, letting out a sigh. "Something's wrong, tell me what it is."

"It's nothing." I dismiss her, leaning back on the chair. "I am not going anywhere, you are going to tell me what's going on with you." She walks to me, standing in front of me.

"There's nothing wrong, I'm just exhausted." She leans towards me, cupping my face. "You're not ready to say it but I'm here if you need me. Whenever." She places a kiss on my lips, tasting the strawberry and mint flavors in her mouth.

She pulls up her dress, sitting on my thigh as I stand up, placing her on the table while kissing her. She wraps her legs around me tightly, pulling me to her. I press the button, closing my door.

**********

The cups are placed in front of me and I tip the waiter. Jaffar sips his drink, staring at me. "Thank you sir." The waiter grins.

"You called me for?" Jaffar impatiently asks. "I know you're furious with Alya for withholding crucial information from you." I start as he looks away. "I'm not interested in this conversation."

"What conversation were you expecting apart from this?" He looks at me. "Alya is not to be blamed in this. She's the victim."

"She has made it very clear that it's her business and I'll abide by it. If she's the victim, it's her choice. She let it." He shrugs, shaking his head. "She's your sister and you hear she might be a victim but you don't care because she didn't tell you she wasn't married? You call yourself a brother?" I snap making Jaffar glare at me.

"I think you should hold your horses."

"I forced Alya to marry me for my selfish reasons and I blackmailed her into marrying me, fooling her father into thinking she loves me. She hated it at first but now, I think she's used to it but never mind that, let's focus on the food you missed out on the wedding." I take a sip of my tea when he lunges at me, gaining attention from the rest of the customers in the cafe.

He clutches my blazer with his hands before punching me. I stagger backwards, feeling pain on my nose. I feel a wet substance around my nose and I touch it to see blood oozing out of my nose.

I raise my head to look at him being held by the waiters as he struggles. I take out my handkerchief, cleaning my nose. "I thought you said it was her business and not yours. You should respect that. Next time, you should check more on her well-being rather than your feelings." I wipe my nose carefully so I won't make my nose worse.

"Get back here! You will pay for this! Just you wait! You'll regret setting your eyes on her!" I suck my teeth.

Alya's point of view.

The lights go off as I open the oven, taking out the pan of brownies I made. I place the pan on the island, taking off my mittens. The aroma of the brownies, filling the kitchen.

I let them cool, leaving the kitchen as I see Falah walking towards the stairs. I walk towards him when I notice the band aid on his nose. "What happened?" He continues walking.

I follow him to his room while he takes his clothes off. "What happened?" He turns around, unbuttoning his shirt. "Nothing, I hit myself with the door." I tilt my head.

"Jaffar called me, what were you thinking? Why would you tell him? That's not what I wanted."

"It's not about what you want, Alya. I did it, I'll pay for it besides, that's what husbands do." He defends as I walk to him, looking at how his nose is broken. "It must be really painful." I agonize. "It's not."

I sigh. "Sit down, please." He hesitantly sits. "I wish you didn't do it. I didn't want any friction between you and him but what's done is done." I look at it, seeing it getting swollen.

"I want to thank you for having my back but you need to look out for yourself too." He glances at me. "What do you mean?"

"You spoke to me about looking out for yourself first and I want you to do that. You're not yourself." He looks away, standing up. "Im fine."

"No you're not, you're spiraling and I noticed because I know when someone is spiraling." I hold his arm. "I'm not spiraling or being different. I'm being me, you don't know me." He spats with a cold look. "Okay, I want to know you."

"Alya, I'm tired. You should go." He pulls his hand away, taking off his shirt. "Im not going anywhere Falah." I sit back on the bed, crossing my legs. He continues taking off his clothes and I look away, shaking my foot.

I lie down on his bed, thinking about my brownies.

**********

I open my eyes seeing myself in Falah's room. I curse under my breath by my incompetence. I groan, stretching my arms. My brownies. I rush down to the kitchen to see Falah eating a piece of it already.

We both smile. "I couldn't resist." He admits, taking the cookie and brownie slice. "Does it taste as good as it looks?" I open the fridge to see how he arranged the brownies on a tray roughly. I pick a piece and take out the jug of fruit juice I made. "Very delicious." He takes a bite and I take a saucer, placing the brownie on it. I pour the juice into the two glasses of cups I brought out.

I put the jug back in the fridge before handing the cup to him. "Thank you." He takes a sip. "You're welcome." I sit down, taking a bite too.

"I didn't know when I fell asleep, I really tried my best." He chuckles softly. "It's the intention that matters." I defend, grinning. The kitchen falls silent with only the fridge buzzing. He seems to have calmed down now.

"I meant it, you know."

"What?"

"Me wanting to get to know you. I meant it." I notice the crumbs around his mouth and wipe it while he stares at me. He holds my hand, looking at it. "Why are you suddenly interested in knowing me?"

"Considering the times you've helped me, I need to reciprocate. Besides, if I'm to take down the number one firm, I'm supposed to know my rival." He smiles, letting my hand go. "Sure."

"But I want us to strike a deal." He raises a brow as i extend my hand for a shake. "If we're to start this, you won't push me away and you don't hide how you feel, just like I don't."

"What do I get in return?"

"A therapy session." He chuckles, shaking my hand. "Good. We're not going to start introducing ourselves like toddlers but we'll talk and open up to each other." I take the plates to the sink.

"Sure, whatever you say." I turn to look at him sipping his drink before his phone rings. "Excuse me." He steps out of the kitchen while I continue washing the plates.

It will be nice to get to help him from himself and also get information about the case.

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