[New] Our Forever After

Chapter 9: Planning a Getaway

It was an ordinary Saturday afternoon, and Djena was at the supermarket, trying to focus on the simple task of grocery shopping. The mundane normalcy of it helped her escape, if only briefly, from the turmoil of her personal life. She pushed her cart down the aisle, scanning the shelves for items on her list when she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Standing a few feet away, examining a jar of pasta sauce, was Meriem, Khalil's mother. The sight of her brought an immediate flood of emotions. Djena hadn't seen Meriem since she'd ended things with Khalil, and the last thing she needed was a confrontation in the middle of the supermarket. But before she could turn and walk away, Meriem spotted her.

"Djena!" Meriem called, her voice filled with surprise. She put the jar back on the shelf and approached Djena, her expression a mixture of curiosity and something else—something more judgmental.

"Aunty Meriem, hello," Djena said, forcing a polite smile. Her heart raced, already knowing where this conversation was going.

Meriem didn't waste any time. "It's been a long time since you came to visit," she said, her tone sharp. "I was wondering why you've disappeared. I thought you were like a daughter to me, but I suppose that changes when you leave my son."

Djena swallowed hard, already feeling the weight of Meriem's disapproval. "I... I didn't mean to distance myself from you. It's just—things between Khalil and me didn't work out."

Meriem's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. "Didn't work out? Or was Khalil not enough for you? You just left him without any explanation. He's been heartbroken, you know. What kind of girl does that?"

Djena took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. She had always respected Meriem, and it hurt to be on the receiving end of such judgment. But Meriem didn't know the full story—she didn't know how much her son had hurt her.

"Aunty Meriem, I understand that you care about Khalil, but he wasn't the man you think he was," Djena said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "He hurt me. A lot."

Meriem's expression shifted, a flicker of doubt passing through her eyes. "Hurt you? What do you mean?"

Djena hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much. "There are things I didn't tell you because I didn't want to cause problems. But Khalil has... issues. He wasn't good to me, and I had to leave for my own well-being."

Meriem's face hardened again, unwilling to accept what Djena was saying. "My son has always been good to you. I don't understand how you could just walk away. And now you're with someone else? Is Malik really better than Khalil? Or are you just being foolish, throwing away everything?"

Before Djena could respond, a voice interrupted the tense moment.

"Djena," Malik's voice called out from behind her. He approached, carrying a carton of almond milk. He had been searching for it in the store after Djena mentioned they were running low. His eyes quickly took in the scene—the tension between Djena and Meriem—and his protective instincts kicked in.

"Is everything okay here?" Malik asked, his voice calm but firm, his gaze shifting between Djena and Meriem.

Djena felt a wave of relief wash over her at Malik's arrival. She nodded, though her heart was still racing. "Yes, we were just talking."

Meriem's eyes flicked to Malik, her expression tightening even more. She looked him up and down, clearly sizing him up. "So, you must be Malik. The one Djena left my son for."

Malik raised an eyebrow, sensing the hostility in her voice but maintaining his composure. "I'm Malik, yes. Djena's told me a lot about you."

Meriem didn't seem interested in pleasantries. She turned her attention back to Djena, her voice cold. "I don't know how you can stand here with him and act like everything is fine, Djena. After everything Khalil did for you."