Heart buried treasures

Chapter Forty Four: Grief And Awareness

'We just want to skip to the last page. We don't want to hear stories anymore' -p.p

"How do you feel about it?"

"Truthfully, I don't know. I mean-" Hanan rubbed her hair shakingly. "He never really was a dad. But I still feel.." She felt suffocated and Faaiz held her hand tightly in his grip.

He smiled slightly. "I actually understand.. Because no matter what he did, he's still your dad. That's just a natural affection." Hanan gulped. "Have you forgiven him?"

"What choice do I have? I will have to. Moreover he's dead now, I can't add to his sins and we can't speak illy of the dead." Hanan felt numb. She doesn't even know what to feel.

Mariam rushed in and engulfed her into a hug. "Sweetie. I heard what happened. Take heart dear." Hanan nodded, still feeling numb.

"Let's get going to your house" She could only nod and got dressed.

"Hanan dear." Her mom tearily engulfed her into a tight hug, upon entering their home.

"Oh mom!"

They got inside and Faaiz asked how it happened. "I-I honestly don't know." Balqees' voice shook. "I got a call from an unknown number and they asked if I was his wife. They found his body at an hotel, they had claimed." Tears welled up in  Balqees' eyes.

Hanan rested her head on her mom's lap still feeling numb while Balqees cried silently. Some family members Hanan never knew she had showed up. Mariam and Faaiz proved really supportive as they stood by her, the whole while.

"Baby boo!" Neemah exclaimed pushing through the crowds to get to her. She caressed her cheeks. "How are you holding up?"

Hanan only shook her head. Neemah knew why she asked. She wanted to know how Hanan felt, how she's holding up about the whole situation but she showed no emotion. Neemah hugged her and said words of reassurance.

Faaiz walked up to Neemah and greeted. Surprisingly, her stupid heart didn't beat faster. "Hi.' She muttered back.

Hands in his pocket, Faaiz leaned against the wall as he assessed Neemah before looking away at Hanan, who was with Mariam and her mother. "I just don't understand why she hasn't reacted. No tears, no scream of frustration, no display of anger, Nothing. To show any sign of pain or being affected."

Neemah also glanced over at her best friend. "It's normal to feel the way she is. I mean, her brain is still trying to grasp everything that has happened. It is yet to process it all. Once it has, she'd display all what is expected of her to. By then, the gravity of the situation would've dawn on her." She stared up at him.

Faaiz shot her a quick glance, a smile tug at his lips and Neemah blinked. "Brain meets brain." He smiled slightly. "Two friends with similar mindset, both with brains." Neemah felt flattered, did he just compliment her??

"Why are you giving me that odd look?" Faaiz asked with a raised eyebrow.

She blinked twice. "I've never seen you smile before. Its just-" He looked amused.

"Right! Just what?" Faaiz probed.

"You look breath taking with the smile on your face." Neemah then added, nervously. "Try to smile more often." Faaiz smiled big at that, showcasing his dimple.

Lo and Behold! Neemah's heartbeat accelerated. Her stupid heart picked race instantly. "I'll take that into consideration." She grinned at him "Guess my attention is needed." Faaiz said motioning to Mariam, who was signalling for him to come over. "If you'll please excuse me."