Second hand hearts

Chapter 12 (You scare me)

She felt as if her heart was sinking to her stomach due to the strangeness and strain in his voice.

"Bassam! You're there? Talk to me please.. Are you okay?!".
She blabbered in a haste with her lips quivering and her heart pounding vigorioulsly.

"I am alright i just..." .

She heard him speak through shallow breaths and abruptly stopped. Her grip on the phone tightened knowing that whatever he was going through there,he wasn't okay.

"Bassam are you there? "

"Uh hello there Amal".
She heard another masculine voice say and her eyebrows immidiately shot up in confusion. But nevertheless tried to maintain some level of calmness anticipating further explanation.

"Hey" ,she replied slowly.

"I am Ahmad,a friend of Bassam".

Relief suddenly washed her upon hearing that and she released a sigh she didn't know she was holding. The man from the other end continued to speak.

"The thing is Bassam is okay now,but he's still recovering from an illness. Nothing serious but when he gets strong enough,he'll call you. I'm sorry if the strain in his voice made you, panic but he was insistent on calling you."

Amal's eyes widened in suprise and at the same time her lips stretched into a small smile hearing the last part. He wanted to talk to her as much as she wanted too.

"Uhmm i hope he is okay there. I've been trying to reach out for days now."

"Well he's okay but he's here being a big baby being whinny and all. But don't worry about that,nothing his best friend can't handle".

She clammed her mouth shut and pressed her hand flat on it trying to stifle her laughter. The mere image of Bassam being like a needy child was funny to imagine.

"That's great. I hope he recovers fully, send my regards to him" she piped in.

"Oh that i will. He's actually brooding because i am talking to you."

"I can call later if he's better,or tomorrow".

"Oh that's a good idea. I've informed him and he's happy about it. Thank you for your time Amal,we appreciate you".

"My pleasure Ahmad. It was nice talking to you".

The line went dead as they both hung up. She stuffed the device inside her bag with a grin forming on her face feeling a sense of relief like she has achieved the tasks for the whole day.

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"Don't give me away like that man. You wanna scare her off?"

Bassam threw his hands scowling at his friend.

"What did i do?"Ahmad asked feigning ignorance which made Bassam's scowl deepen.

"You know too well what you just did. Heck i wanted to talk to her but you beat me to it".

"Well somebody had to step in. You scared her off with your shallow breaths and wheezing and goddamn strained voice. You got her in a panic man".

Bassam's eyes widen in realisation of what had happened. But that didn't kill his longing to talk to her,to hear her voice,to see her smile ,and look into her shy but fierce eyes and to hear her nervous laugh.

"You love her " ,Ahmad's voice cut him through his reverie and stared at him with wide eyes. His friend wasn't fazed by his reaction, he was cool as a cucumber to say the least.