I Fell In Love With My Beautiful One

Chapter Four: The First Heartbreak

Tahani entered the lecture hall, greeting her classmates with such grace that it melted Rabi's heart when he saw her gentle nature. She was happy, especially because she noticed his eyes following her every move. She took her seat in the hall, and as soon as the professor began his lecture on "Pharmacology," her mind wandered, preoccupied with her sister Iman's task of observing Rabi. She anxiously glanced at her watch from time to time, watching the minutes and seconds tick by until the lecture ended. Her mind was consumed with questions about what was happening, while her heart was filled with hope for Rabi's love... she was confident that she would hear good news.

After more than an hour and a half, she left the hall eagerly and entered the lounge, her heart fluttering with joy. She rushed to her sister and grabbed her hand excitedly.

Tahani: "So, tell me, what did you see? Didn't you notice how he looked at me with love when I left the hall? And how he followed me all the way here?"

Iman yanked her hand back harshly and burst into mocking laughter.

Iman - mockingly: "You're really so naïve!"

Tahani felt her heart sink at her sister's laughter and words, which did not seem to promise anything good.

Tahani - fearfully: "Why are you saying that?!"

Iman - with jealousy in her tone: "You went into the hall, and he went off to chat with another girl from his country. He was talking to her, laughing like she was his girlfriend, maybe even his fiancée. After half an hour of their romantic moments, the girl left for her lecture, and then he met up with his friends. When I got closer, I heard them making fun of you and your foolishness, how you actually believe he's interested in you!"

Tahani felt the ground shake beneath her, the world spinning around her. She couldn't hide her shock, and tears streamed down her face.

Tahani - bitterly: "Are you sure about what you're saying?"

Iman - seriously: "Why would I lie to you? You're my sister!"

Tahani - hesitantly: "But I never gave him any attention for him to laugh at me with his friends and call me foolish! We've never even spoken a single word!"

Iman: "You're just too easy to read; your feelings are all over your face. He must have noticed your obvious affection."

Tahani nodded in agreement, wiping away her tears, trying to hide her sadness. She left with her sister, and when they reached the college gates, Iman turned to her.

Iman - with spite: "Where was your mind when you thought someone like him could be interested in you, looking the way you do? Be smart and don’t let him or anyone else play with your feelings!"

Tahani was stunned by her sister's harsh words, but she assumed they were the truth because she was her sister and only wanted what was best for her.

That night, Tahani tossed and turned in bed, silently crying, blaming herself for allowing him to deceive her. Her tears flowed even more when she remembered her sister’s words. Despite their cruelty, she believed they were true, so she decided to forget about Rabi completely. If he tried to approach her again, she would push him away.

The next morning, she walked through the university gates and saw him standing there as usual, waiting for her. She felt sorrow for his deceit and completely ignored him as he silently followed her to her lecture hall. She entered and sat next to one of her classmates, seeing him enter behind her with a smile and his eyes watching her. For the first time, he dared to sit close to her, beside one of his friends from his country. But Tahani was determined to ignore him, so she focused on the lecture and didn’t look his way at all.

After the lecture ended, she left for the lab with her classmate, only to find him waiting for her outside the door. It seemed like he had finally decided to confess his feelings. As she neared the lab, he approached her shyly.

Rabi - hesitantly: "Um… Excuse me, may I speak with you for a minute?"

Tahani cut him off, raising her voice sharply.

Tahani - defiantly: "What do you want? You have no respect! Following me everywhere like a monkey! Go away before I call my classmates to deal with you!"

She walked past him, continuing with disdain.

Tahani: "You're so annoying!"

Rabi was stunned. He hadn’t expected such a harsh response from her. He had thought she shared his feelings, that she had noticed his deep love and how he followed her day after day. But he couldn’t respond, feeling helpless in the face of her cruel words.

Tahani spent the rest of her day in the lab, her heart shattered... in her first experience of love.

After that encounter, Rabi disappeared for days. Tahani assumed he had been scared off by her threat and stayed away. But a week later, she saw him sitting alone among the trees, looking worn out. His beard had grown, his body looked frail, and his clothes were tattered. The sadness on his face was unmistakable.

Tahani - to herself: "Ha! Does he think I’ll fall for his act? Thank goodness my sister exposed him!"

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