FOREVER WITH YOU

Chapter 65: He Felt Helpless

She stood up and went to the bathroom. But before she could get in, Rayyan held her hand. "Should I help you?" He gently asked.

She shook her head at him and said. "No, I'll be done soon." Her voice barely above a whisper.

She withdrew her hand away from his grip and she went into the bathroom.

It has been more than fifteen minutes but Tasleem hasn't come out of the bathroom. Worriedly, he pushed the door open and stepped in.

A wave of warm steam wrapped around him. The bathroom was large, almost echoing, with cold marble floors and soft lighting that reflected off the misted mirror. All he could hear was the steady rush of water and a faint voice. 

He followed the sound, until he reached the shower. 

Tasleem stood beneath the shower, her back to him, scrubbing her arms and neck with urgency. Her skin was already red, rubbed far beyond clean, yet she kept going.

"I'm so dirty." She murmured in a crying voice. Over and over again. She felt disgusted.

Rayyan's breath caught. He felt a sudden pain in his heart. His eyes were bloodshot and dark, as if he hadn't slept for days.

He suddenly grabbed her and hugged her tightly from behind and kissed her earlobe. "Stop it, you're hurting yourself."

"Let me go!" She choked. "I'm so dirty." She struggled from his embrace. As she tried to rub her skin again. 

He hugged her more tightly and held her hand. Her skin felt numb to the touch. Her eyes were red and her face was pale. "Baby, calm down, you're not dirty." He looked at her face but he couldn't tell if she was crying or if it was the water. 

Rayyan felt his eyes tearing up. He had never been in a situation like this. He didn't know what to do, he felt helpless.

She turned around and hugged his waist. "No, I'm so dirty..." She wailed. Trying to suppress the disgust and sourness from her heart. 

His white shirt was wet and it clung to his skin. But he couldn't be bothered at the moment. He should have beaten Khalid more. That's the only thought that came to his mind.

He grabbed the back of her head and kissed her, the kiss was unusually long, as if silently telling her that she's not dirty. After a while he let her go and carried her away from the shower.

Tasleem held his neck and shivered. Her face was burning as she rubbed against his chest.

Rayyan pursed his lips and swallowed hard. His breath was irregular. He didn't say anything and tightened his grip around her waist. Waiting for her to calm down.

He took the towel and gently dabbed the drop of water from her skin, then carefully wrapped the towel around her and he carried her out.

He gently put her on the bed and looked at the clear nail marks on her collar bone and arms. His eyes dimmed.

He lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead and then her eyes. "Wait for me here." He said. He went out and soon came back with a tube in his palm. 

Tasleem's emotions had already calmed down when he came back.

He went to the closet and brought out her sleeping wear. He helped her wear it and blow dry her hair. She lay on the bed and he covered her with the blanket.

He gently rubs the medicine on her swelling cheeks and then her neck and arms.

He went back to the bathroom and freshened up. And he hugged her. Only then did he feel that his soul had finally returned to its place. 

Tasleem's heart warmed at the sight of his face. After surviving a disaster, the person she wanted and loved the most could be by her side.

Rayyan wanted to touch Tasleem's face, but he did not dare to. He was afraid she would feel pain. "Does it still hurt?" He asked.

Tasleem nodded. "Yeah, it does hurt. I just smiled and the corner of my mouth and face hurt a little."

Rayyan's heart arched. "I should have come earlier...." He said. 

He regretted it very much. No matter how busy he was with the company, could it be more important than her?

Why didn't he come over earlier? Why did he have to wait until something happened to her? 

"Don't mind it too much," Tasleem consoled, "I'm fine now, aren't I?"

"I can't help it, you were in the most dangerous time, but I wasn't there." Rayyan's voice was hoarse, unable to hide his regret and self-blame.

"We didn't expect Ya Khalid to do this, so... Don't blame yourself. You see, I'm so lucky. You came at the right time and saved me. I'll just be more careful from now on."

"It won't happen in the future." He reassured her.

Tasleem went quiet for a moment and suddenly said, "I want to spend every day with you,"

"Me too." Rayyan said.

After today's events, they both decided to cherish each other even more. Even if they were still young.... Misfortune might still fall on you at any time.

Life was short, but the most important thing was to be able to spend every day with the person you love without any regrets.

Tasleem was so sleepy that she soon fell asleep.  

He noticed that Tasleem's nails were a little long. He got out of bed and went to the dressing table to get a pair of nail clippers.

This dressing table was originally his personal computer and a table that he used to work on occasionally. Now, it was occupied by Tasleem's skin care and cosmetics. Completely turning it into her dressing table.

Unknowingly, their lives had slowly melded together. 

The table was a little messy, but Rayyan felt warm inside. Wasn't it like this at home? If it was too clean and tidy, it would be a hotel.

He took the nail clipper and held Tasleem's hand. 

She opened her eyes and looked at him, his face lowered, his long eyelashes hid his expression well. "What are you doing?" He was so focused and so gentle.

He looked up and asked. "You're awake? Your nails are a little long and I'm afraid you'll scratch yourself again."

Tasleem's face reddened. "I... I won't." She shyly said. 

Rayyan couldn't help but kiss her on the lips. "I'll be done in a moment." He said and looked at her. "Why didn't you go back home?" He asked.

It's not like she didn't think about going back. But Khalid was there and she remembered that Rayyan told her to stay away from Khalid, "I wanted to, but I remembered that Khalid was there. So I didn't dare to." She answered.

He nodded and said. "There won't be a next time."

After cutting all of Tasleem's nails and grinding away the uneven areas. Rayyan threw the nails into the bin. He hugged Tasleem and said, "Alright, go to sleep."

Tasleem buried her head in Rayyan's arms and fell asleep in a daze.

Rayyan, on the other hand, could not fall asleep. He was thinking about what happened. There were too many things happening recently. 

When Tasleem falls into deep sleep. He slowly gets out of bed and heads to the door. He stepped out and closed the door behind him.

*****

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