City Lights and Magic Nights with Ali and Jazz

When the Prince crosses the line

It was a typical sunny afternoon on campus, and the usual buzz of conversation filled the air. Ali was finishing up a light gymnastics practice, his muscles warm and stretched from the routine, as he caught sight of Jazz approaching with her usual confident stride. Sara and Ahmed were not far behind her, waving to him as they made their way across the courtyard.

Ali wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes lighting up as Jazz neared. The past few weeks had been nothing short of perfect; they had settled into their relationship comfortably, and Ali was embracing this new chapter of his life with pride and confidence. But what he didn't know was that the tranquility of these days was about to be interrupted.

Prince Salman—ever persistent and cocky—was making his way onto campus, just like every other time he came to pester Jazz. The arrogant stride, the entourage that trailed behind him like he was some sort of royal deity, made it clear that Salman hadn't changed one bit.

Ali hadn't noticed his arrival yet, but Jazz had. Her entire demeanor shifted when she saw Salman walking toward them, his eyes already locked onto her like a predator sizing up its prey. Her usual air of confidence became rigid, her jaw clenching as she muttered under her breath, "Not again."

Sara, who noticed Jazz's change in posture, followed her gaze and groaned. "Oh, no. What's he doing here again?"

Ali, oblivious to the tension at first, finally caught sight of the prince as he got closer. The look on Jazz's face told him everything he needed to know—Salman had crossed her path far too many times.

Without hesitation, Ali made his way toward Jazz, his face set with determination. He reached her just as Salman did, slipping his arm around her waist in a way that was both protective and possessive, sending a clear message: she's with me.

"Ah, Princess Jazz," Salman's voice oozed arrogance, as if nothing had changed. He completely ignored Ali's presence, his eyes fixed on Jazz. "I've been meaning to catch up with you. How about that dinner we talked about?"

Jazz's eyes narrowed. "There was never any talk about dinner, Salman. And I've told you before—I'm not interested."

Salman scoffed, waving off her rejection like it was nothing. "Come now, Jazz. We both know you can't resist—"

"I think she made it pretty clear," Ali interrupted, his voice calm but laced with warning.

Salman finally turned his gaze to Ali, his expression filled with disdain. "And who exactly are you to speak for her?"

"I'm her boyfriend," Ali said, stepping forward slightly, shielding Jazz from Salman's looming presence. His calm exterior belied the storm brewing beneath. He was not going to let this slide.

The words hit Salman like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, he looked genuinely taken aback. But then, as if regaining his composure, he smirked. "Boyfriend? You?" He looked Ali up and down, clearly unimpressed. "You're nothing but a peasant. You think you can compete with me?"

Ali didn't flinch, his jaw tightening. "I don't need to compete with you. She's already made her choice."

Salman's smirk twisted into something darker as he stepped closer, his voice dropping. "We'll see about that." His eyes darted to Jazz, his tone full of menace. "Are you really going to waste your time with someone like him? A commoner?"

Jazz was about to speak, but before she could, Salman reached out, grabbing her wrist in an attempt to pull her closer. "You deserve better, Princess."

That was it. The moment Salman touched Jazz, something snapped in Ali. His hand shot out, gripping Salman's wrist in a vice-like hold, forcing him to release Jazz immediately. The entire courtyard seemed to freeze as the tension reached a boiling point.

"Don't ever touch her again," Ali growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Salman, taken aback by Ali's sudden aggression, yanked his arm back, his face contorting with anger. "You'll regret that."

Before anyone could stop him, Salman threw a punch toward Ali. But Ali was faster. He ducked just in time, and with the agility he had honed through years of gymnastics, he retaliated with a swift, calculated move that knocked Salman off balance. The prince stumbled backward, fury burning in his eyes.

Students nearby gasped, and a crowd quickly gathered, eager to witness the unfolding drama. Ahmed and Sara, who had been watching from a distance, rushed forward, but they were too late to intervene.

Salman, humiliated and enraged, lunged at Ali again. But this time, Ali didn't just defend himself—he fought back. A clean, powerful kick sent Salman sprawling to the ground. The prince's entourage stood frozen, too stunned to react.

"You really should learn to take no for an answer," Ali said, his voice cold. "And you should definitely learn some respect."

Salman glared up at him from the ground, his chest heaving with anger. "You'll pay for this," he spat, his voice trembling with rage.

Ali didn't back down. "Try me."

The courtyard was dead silent, the entire university watching in shock. No one had ever stood up to Prince Salman like that, let alone defeated him in front of a crowd. But what shocked everyone the most was the way Ali held his ground—not just for himself, but for Jazz.

Later, in the university's administrative office, Ali stood with Jazz by his side. The dean, an older man with a stern expression, looked at Ali with both surprise and respect.

"I've spoken to the witnesses," the dean said, folding his hands on his desk. "And it seems clear that you were provoked, Mr. Ali. Normally, a physical altercation like this would lead to suspension, but given the circumstances... I'm willing to let you off with a warning. Just this once."

Ali nodded, grateful but still tense from the confrontation. "Thank you, sir."

Jazz, who had remained quiet up until this point, finally spoke. "Salman has been harassing me for months. Ali was only protecting me."

The dean sighed, nodding. "I've heard similar stories from other students. We will look into Prince Salman's behavior, though I can't promise anything... given his family's influence."

Jazz's expression hardened at the mention of Salman's family. She knew that was going to be a problem. But for now, she was just relieved that Ali wasn't being punished for defending her.

As they left the office, Ali glanced at Jazz, his expression softening. "You okay?"

Jazz nodded, smiling softly. "I'm fine. But you... that was something else." She squeezed his hand, her voice full of admiration. "I didn't know you had that in you."

Ali chuckled, though there was a hint of seriousness in his voice. "When it comes to you, Jazz, I don't care who they are. No one's going to hurt you."

Jazz's heart swelled with emotion, and she pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm glad you're mine."

Ali kissed the top of her head. "Always."

As the news of the fight spread across campus like wildfire, the respect for Ali only grew. Students who once only admired him for his academic and athletic prowess now saw him as someone who wasn't afraid to stand up for what was right—someone who would protect the people he cared about, no matter the cost.

But while Ali's reputation soared, there was an underlying tension that couldn't be ignored. Prince Salman wasn't going to let this go, and Jazz knew that. His family had influence—enough to cause trouble. And now that Salman knew about their relationship, it was only a matter of time before Jazz's family found out as well.

As Ali and Jazz walked across the campus together, hand in hand, Ali glanced down at her. "We're going to be okay, right?"

Jazz looked up at him, her eyes full of determination. "We'll handle it. Together."

And in that moment, Ali knew that no matter what came next, they were strong enough to face it—together.