The Captured

Chapter 17

Dear y'all,

A few more episodes until the season finale and the last episode before everything goes upside down. With that spilled, buckle up for today's episode.

I kind of lost songs when I republished the chapters so you may help me remember what songs those were lol.

Upon arriving at the mall, I marveled at its grandeur, its towering structure gleaming in the sunlight. Stepping inside, I was greeted by a sense of familiarity, reminiscent of the malls back in Cardiff.

As I wandered through the shops, memories of happier times flooded my mind, and I found myself smiling uncontrollably. However, my joy was short-lived as Sylvia's cryptic remark left me puzzled, and Linus's explanation only served to deepen my confusion.

As we waited for the lift, Rim's exuberance threatened to deafen me, prompting me to scold her gently. Her adorable pout melted my heart, distracting me from the handsome stranger walking behind Sara. My curiosity piqued, I whispered to Sara, but she remained silent, leaving me to ponder the identity of her companion.

As they walked ahead, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy, wondering why Pakistani boys seemed so effortlessly attractive. Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, I watched as the group disappeared from view, leaving me to grapple with my flushed cheeks and racing heart.

I panicked, desperate not to lose sight of my cousins amidst the bustling crowd. Surprisingly, we had reached the top floor already. Only four floors? It seemed much larger from the outside.

We wandered aimlessly at first, exploring the floor before finding an empty table miraculously reserved for us. Every other table in the bustling area was occupied, indicating it was a favorite spot for many.

As we settled in, I found myself seated next to the girls, while the boys took their places across from us. Tamimi left to fetch chairs for the kids, leaving me alone to grapple with my nerves. And there he was, that inexplicably attractive guy, sitting directly across from me. Damn! How am I supposed to handle this? Shit.

I couldn't even bring myself to look in his direction; the nervousness was overwhelming.

Think, Anna, think...

Keep calm and ignore.

Ignore? How could I? He's sitting right there! How am I supposed to do that?

Is it because he's attractive, or is it because his smile reminds you of Adam?

I froze.

"Can we exchange? Palewase!"

Startled, I turned toward the voice and was met with the most adorable puppy eyes.

"Umm... sure, of course we can."

I swapped the drinks on the table, taking a quick sip to calm my nerves. I didn't mind sharing with Rim; she was like a little sister to me, and her presence always brought me joy. But as I glanced around, I realized something was missing.

My phone!

Have I forgotten it at home?

Shit.

"Tamimi bought them," Olivia answered my unspoken question, her attention momentarily diverted from her phone. My heart skipped a beat. Where was my phone? I had no idea.

"No worries. Hey, do you eat burgers?" Olivia asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. I nodded in response.

"Good, Magnus just texted that he's ordering burgers and hotdogs for everyone."

"Where's Sylvia?" I asked, realizing I'd lost track of her and Linus amidst my internal turmoil.

"Oh, they went to buy food for the kids. Magnus and Sara are busy teasing her boyfriend, Adam," Olivia replied, effortlessly keeping me updated on the happenings around me.

But wait... Adam? Did I hear that right? No, it couldn't be. I gulped, trying to push aside the sudden anxiety. And then, I caught a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye. He was looking at me.

But he's not Adam. He can't be. I need to let go of this irrational connection. Breathe in, breathe out. I need to focus on finding my phone instead.

Where did I leave it?

But he looks so much like Adam, and that smile... Stop it! Focus! I mentally scolded myself, feeling a hand on my shoulder. Olivia was frowning at me, her concern evident.

"Is everything alright?" she whispered, her voice filled with genuine concern.

I nodded, releasing a deep breath as I tried to push away the intrusive thoughts swirling in my mind. There was nothing I could do about it now, except wait until I got home and confront the two ladies in my head. Were they trying to drive me crazy?

The table quickly filled with an array of dishes - burgers, hotdogs, lasagnas, pastas, chow mein, sandwiches, ice creams, barbecue items, and much more. The sight alone made my mouth water with anticipation.

"Yummy!" we all chimed in unison, a wide smirk spreading across Tamimi's face as he glanced at me.

"What?" I asked, confused, my heart still heavy with fear.

"WELCOME BACK, BUNNY!" everyone exclaimed simultaneously, startling me. I forced myself to fake a smile and mumbled a thank you, feeling the weight of many frowns directed at me. Thankfully, Tamimi interrupted, diverting their attention.

"Guys, let's finish this quickly and not take it into the theater. The food smell makes me uncomfortable in there.," he declared, rescuing me from the awkward situation. With that, I focused on the food, sinking my teeth into the delicious burger.

As we finished eating, Magnus took charge, literally dragging everyone to the cinema hall. I entered last, finding my cousins already seated, some still holding onto their food items. Tamimi had chosen a seat at the far end after swapping with someone to avoid the food smell.

"Guys, where should I sit?" I whispered to a pair of eyes staring at me.

"There's enough space on my head. See if you fit in!" Sylvia whispered back, followed by laughter from the others. I shot her a glare and began searching for some light source to read the seat number.

"Well, there's more empty space inside your head," Magnus teased.

"Hey, come here, join me. I think this is your seat.," a soft, melodious voice invited.

I hesitantly made my way over, the darkness making it difficult to see. As I settled in and tilted my head to thank the person, our eyes locked, causing my heart to skip a beat.

Should I get up?

Yes, get up NOW!

Tell me a part of you relieved this was a normal day in her life and tell me if you are having second thoughts.... It could be just the beginning of so much worse. Jkjk ;)