Fickle

Chapter 12

Still coughing hysterically, Kulthum couldn't say anything to her daughter until Abdullah managed to compose himself and answered her. 

“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, sharing glances with Kulthum. “Princess, you shouldn't say things like this. You have your father, Ismael..” 

“Ismael is..” she was saying with a furrowed brow when Kulthum cut her off. 

“Jenna, stop running your mouth. What did I tell you about talking too much?” She scolded. 

“I am sorry, mummy, I just like Uncle Abdullah too much. That was why I asked him to be my daddy” her once vibrant smile was now replaced with a sad expression. Kulthum was about to scold her some more when Abdulah stopped her

“It's alright Kulthum, she's just a child who said what was on her mind. Don't scold her too much, okay?” He hugged the frightened girl as tears threatened to roll done her cheek. “It is alright, Princess, don't cry, okay? Mummy is just being a little bit tensed at the moment. Don't worry too much” he careesed her head.

Kulthum felt a little bit guilty for scolding the little girl unnecessarily and decided to leave the place to have some air. 

“Where are you going?” Abdullah asked, looking at her

“Outside, I need some air” she said flatly and left.

“Did she leave because of me?” Little jenna asked on the verge of tears. 

“No Princess, she didn't. She's just a little bit tired, that is all. Don't worry, I will talk to her” he patted her head and followed behind her. 

“Is there something you are not telling me, Kulthum?” He asked. She was standing at the balcony staring into space with a distant gaze and didn't even notice who came behind her. She was so focused on her reverie that even when he came by her side, she still didn't blink until he called her name a little bit too loud.  She turned in fright with hitched breath and exhaled when she noticed that it was just him.  “Care to share?” He asked 

“What are you doing here?” She asked, focusing her attention back to the buildings below them. 

“I was worried about you, are you alright?” She spared him a glance, saying nothing. “I know I am the last person you want around you now, but I just can't go because of this” he handed her a piece of paper.

“What is this?” She asked, collecting it reluctantly 

“Open it,” he ordered, and she did. Suddenly, her expression changed, and the blood in her face drained drastically. She gazed up at him slowly as if she was scared to see his expression, and by God, she was. She wasn't expecting what she saw on the paper, and she knew there was no way out for her. “Why?” He suddenly asked. His voice was mixed with anger and devastating asked but she couldn't bring herself to tell him. After all the lies she had told him, finally, the truth is out. 

It was a DNA test result.

“Why didn't you tell me they were mine? Why did you hide that truth from me and keep me away from my kids Kulthum? Why?” His voice was as calm as the breeze flowed out of his mouth, but the tone was something she wasn't willing to explain yet. The last time she heard that tone was when they first got married, and she could alloat swear that she had forgotten how it sounded until now. She had no excuse to give now whatsoever, but she lied to him and blamed him for everything that had happened in her life, yet she followed right in his footsteps. 

“I need an answer!” He demanded angrily. She was too shaken up to speak, and he took two angry steps towards her. “Ummul-Kulthum” he called threateningly, looking at her. That was the first time he called her name since her life together with him, and she loved it. It sounded almost not like her name at all, and she made a mental note to tell him after their quarell now.