The Price Of Revenge

Ten

"I'll call you back as soon as I can. Don't freak out. Maybe he doesn't know. Why do you still worry about him? Look, I'll come see you later, okay?"

Mutassim ended the call.

Sarah, who had been standing just outside the door, stepped inside.

"You called me?" she asked casually.

"Yeah," he replied, lowering his voice. "I need you to talk to someone, and I don't want Rumaisa, or anyone else, hearing about this. You understand?"

She nodded immediately.

"I understand."

•

Rumaisa was lying on her bed, watching Superfly on her laptop when Sarah walked in.

"Let's talk," Sarah said, sitting beside her.

"What? Don't disturb me," Rumaisa replied without looking up.

"It's about Yaya Mutassim. I think something is off."

Sarah pressed pause and turned toward her eagerly.

"What? Tell me."

"I heard him talking on the phone," Sarah explained. "He said something like, 'Stop freaking out. It's not like he knows. Stop worrying about him. I thought you don't care about him. I'll talk to you later.' Then I went inside."

"That's really odd. But who was he talking to?" Rumaisa asked.

"I don't know. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

"But why were you there?"

"He asked me to get something from his car."

Rumaisa studied her for a moment.

"He was talking to someone who was probably freaking out about something, that's for sure."

"Maybe."

Rumaisa shrugged lightly.

"It's probably nothing. I shouldn't bother with it."

She picked up her laptop again and resumed the movie.

•

Flashback.

Rumaisa and Fuad were seated together in the living room.

"Do you know how many times I called you and you didn't even pick up your phone?" she asked, pouting.

"Sorry. I left my phone in Walid's room," he replied.

"Why do you always leave your phone in Walid's room? All your friends meet there. You never know who might get hold of it. But you have a password, right?"

"What? You know I don't have one. We're guys. We know everything about each other, so I don't really need to keep my phone with me all the time."

"Really? The last time you left your phone with your friend and went home, you didn't retrieve it until two days later."

"Were you worried?"

"Of course. When it comes to your phone, you're so careless. What if someone saw something?"

She frowned.

Fuad chuckled.

"There's nothing to see. I don't keep anything inappropriate on my phone. You never know who might pick it up."

"Then at least don't leave it lying around," she said firmly.

"Look, Rumy, I get it. But sometimes you just forget you have a phone when you have nothing to hide. My sister leaves her phone lying around when she has no subscription, and I leave mine because there's nothing to hide. You know that, since you've taken my phone before to check it."

He gave her a teasing smile.

Rumaisa turned her head, slightly embarrassed.

"Yeah, I noticed," she admitted softly.

"But how am I sure you didn't clear anything before I came?"

"Touché," he said, grinning. "Well, you're not entirely wrong, but I think you know I have nothing to hide."

"But at least try to keep it close from now on."

"Sure thing, beautiful. How about we go to the cinema?"

"Which one?"

"The one near your house. It's better. Maryam and Sarah can come too. I'll invite Walid and Jabir."

"Okay, I'll call them."

She got up and reached for her phone.

When she returned, Sarah was already seated beside Fuad.

He looked annoyed, while Sarah simply smiled.

"I'm back," Rumaisa said.

"Oh, do you need anything else?" Sarah asked, still smiling.

"No, thanks," he replied through gritted teeth.

Sarah got up and walked away.

"Is everything okay?" Rumaisa asked, watching him.

"Nothing I can't handle. Did you call them?"

She nodded, smiling.

After that, Rumaisa began noticing a subtle change in Fuad's behavior. It was almost imperceptible to anyone else, but she knew him well enough to notice.

She asked Sarah about it, but Sarah only shook her head and insisted that nothing had happened.

Rumaisa eventually decided to let it go.

•

Present time.

Mariam was sitting in the backyard on a rug, her son Kamal sprawled in front of her as he played with his toys, when she spotted Sarah walking toward them.

"Oh, Sarah! It's nice to see you. What brings you by?" Mariam asked, smiling as she brushed her hair back.

"I'm not here for pleasantries," Sarah said quickly, her expression serious. "I came because it's about Rumaisa."

Mariam frowned.

"Okay... what about her?"

"It's about her revenge plan," Sarah began, taking a seat beside her. "I don't think it's a good idea anymore. I think she's taking it too far."

Mariam blinked, surprised.

"Wait, what do you mean? Of course it isn't a good idea. I've been saying that all along. But why are you suddenly agreeing with me?"

Sarah hesitated before lowering her voice.

"Because Rumaisa and Fuad are getting married."

Mariam froze, her mouth falling slightly open.

"What? They're getting married? Are you serious?"

"Yes," Sarah said firmly. "It's part of her plan. I don't know exactly what she's trying to do, and she won't tell anyone. I just know that if this continues, it could hurt her more than anyone else."

Mariam brought a hand to her mouth.

"Over dinner last week? That's when it happened? She planned this all along?"

Sarah nodded.

"I think so. I just wanted you to know before it's too late. I don't know what she wants, but it's bigger than anyone realizes."

Mariam leaned back on the rug, running a hand through her hair as she processed the news.

"I can't believe it. She actually did this and didn't tell a soul?"

"No," Sarah said softly.

She looked down at Kamal, who was happily building a tower with his blocks.

"He's growing so fast. He's such a sweet little boy."

Mariam smiled as she watched her son.

"Yes. He's my little chocolate sunshine."

For a brief moment, the tension lifted from her shoulders, but neither woman spoke about what Sarah had come there to reveal.

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