FOREVER WITH YOU

Chapter 5: The Abuse Shattered Her world

Asabe rose, and together they headed outside.

...

Amira rapped on her brother's door, the knock echoing through the silence. When met with an obstinate quiet, she called out "Open the door, I need to talk to you!" She pounded on the door again, her voice rising.
"I know you're in there, stop pretending." But the only response was the stifling silence.

Rayyan smirked.

Her brother's non-response was a palpable thing, a shield of pretence that Amira knew all too well. a deliberate ignorance.

Amira's voice, laced with exasperation, "Can you please open up?" She paused. "Come on, I know you're in there!" She pleaded, her tone a fragile bridge between her frustration and his feigned oblivion.
"I know you're mad about Amra, I promise I'll never say yes to her without asking your permission, please open the door, I'll never do that ever again."

"Alright, you can leave." he shouted.

"I'll leave but open the door first."

The door creaked open a little. "You're noisy."

Amira squeezed through, snuggling into the room. Rayyan's face twisted with frustration. And walked back to his desk, refocusing on his laptop screen. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he continued typing. He occasionally glanced at the files and paperwork scattered across his desk, oblivious to Amira's persistent presence.

"Are you still angry?"

"I'm not."

"Then smile."

Rayyan looked up, "you're so childish."

At that moment Khalid came into the room. Looking at them, he laughed and said, "arguing again?"

Amira looked at him, "Ya Khalid" she smiled.

Rayyan glared at him "I don't argue with kids."

She scrunched up her face, her lips protruding in a childish pout. with a huff, she reached out and playfully poked Rayyan's forehead and left the room.

Rayyan Smiled and continued with his work.

Khalid clapped his palms together and said, "how enviable. I really wish to have a smart and a workaholic son like you."

Rayyan coughed a little and told him without holding back, "I'm afraid you won't have a chance."

"Why?" Khalid sadly asked.

"Genes are important," he succinctly pointed out.

What he meant was that in order to have smart children, the father needed to be smart first.
This was indirectly telling Khalid that he was stupid!.

Khalid was dumbstruck.

This man might appear harmless and quiet, but he could hit a person's heart with words alone.

"You're as venomous as a snake."

Rayyan smirked.

"Let's go out." Khalid said.

"To where? I still have some unfinished business here."

"You can finish it later at night. And my mom complained that she hasn't seen you for weeks now."

"Oh! How's Ummi?"

"Do you remember her now? I'll tell her you're here but you refused to see her."

Rayyan said "alright, let's go."

Reaching out, they saw Yasim in the garden using his phone. Khalid called his name, he slowly looked up and said "Rayyan, Khalid."

"How's your trip?" Rayyan asked.