AMORE

Princess Diaries

I laid on my bed as I stared outside the window to the lanterns that were swaying in the air. The Persians were getting to celebrate Eid, after the month of Ramada

n. Not that me and Khalid would know about that. We were never really taught about things like that by Baba. He had been a secretive man who didn't want us to know about his culture or Iran at all. Now that I know about our family here, I understand why.

I had been laying here ever since Diego walked out a few hours back. to say that I was angry at Khalid was an underestimation. I knew that he was doing the most sensible thing in this situation, but Baba was always been a helping hand for everybody. The Italians were great people and didn't deserve this. No one did. Why couldn't Khalid be the helping hand or at least let me help them? It just as if he was picking and choosing which version of Baba he wanted to be.

I heard the door creak open, but I didn't turn around to see who it was. If it was Adam, I would seriously kill him with the spare gun Khalid had hidden in my drawer for safety. Even though I had always been sure that I wouldn't use it. I was against violence, remember?

"You are giving me the silent treatment" Khalids voice filled my empty room, to which I so badly wanted to roll my eyes. "No shit" I muttered to myself, so he couldn't hear me.

I heard as he took a few steps towards me and sat down on the end of the bed. I looked at him with an annoyed expression, drinking in the sight of him in his usual black suit that fit him perfectly. The waist coat, however, was funky with a cool Persian pattern. He held on to his intimidating aura, even though it was only us two in the room. It really made me sad how much Khalid had changed. I had finished my studies for four years in England and came to Iran last year. Ali had accompanied me when we were in England, giving Khalid information about me, I guess. It was hard and became even harder when I came to Iran and saw the change in Khalid. I had spent many nights thinking about what would have happened if I had chosen to stay with Lorenzo. I would have lost my dignity, but would I have been happier?

"I have thought about how dumb I have been Isabella" he spoke again, despite the lack of response from my side. I noticed how he said my full name, just like Baba did when he was serious. I guess Khalid had become my father in the last years even though he never liked to admit it. "I don't regret my decision one bit, but I guess you don't agree with it. I am a big man in Tabriz, Isabella. Only Tabriz. The people here have loyalties and their trust in me and I can't see away from that" he continued, taking a breather before I finally opened my mouth to put some sense into his brain.

"Do you love me Khalid?" I asked, without looking at him. I could hear him chuckle before he stood up to take off his shoes and blazer. I looked at him in confusion, but he ignored me completely when he sat down on the bed with his legs crossed. I mirrored his actions, sitting on the other side. It felt nice to see my older brother relaxed in front of me. It felt almost a bit odd actually.

"I love you with my whole heart, Princess" he whispered, looking out the window when his eyes started softening. I shook my head, looking outside the window at the lanterns too when I felt tears start to brim in my eyes. I was being too emotional, fuck. Khalid looked at me in confusion when he saw me shake my head at his answer.

"I wouldn't have searched after you and gone against a whole mafia gang if I didn't love you" he reasoned, diverting his gaze back. It was funny how we couldn't talk about our feelings openly with each other. We could barely look each other in the eyes as we did so. The miserable thought made me chuckle.

"You did that for revenge" I corrected him, pulling the duvet over me and him to keep us warm. Tabriz could get really cold at nights.

"I did it for fairness" He spoke again until silence surrounded us. A light knock on the door, catched both our attention as Jamila smiled sheepishly while holding a tray of chai. She blushed when her eyes met Khalids, but no one dwelled at that. It was obvious that they had a thing for each other.

"Chai makes all emotional talks a tad bit easier" she smiled at us, making me and Khalid look at each. I chuckled as I watched Khalid roll his eyes and nod her way for her to pass the tray to him. He was just acting; he was a chai addict and insanely happy that Jamila made the best chai in the house. I thanked her as she came to give me a peck on my cheek. She was truly wonderful and had earned my trust quickly. She treated me just like her little sister, standing up for me and protecting me from danger.

I spoke again after hearing Jamila close the door behind her. "I really want to celebrate Eid this year Khalid. I want to know how Baba felt getting all prepared in his fancy suits to read the prayer" I spoke softly as I looked at how beautiful the lanterns looked from a distance. They looked like tiny stars some of them. I saw as Khalid opened the window and breathed in deeply before exhaling. He passed me one of the chai cups and held the other himself, blowing it over to make it colder. "Hmm I will plan the eid this year jāné del-am" he muttered as he took a sip of the chai, nodding as he tasted the drink as if it was the first time. I smiled at that, at the sight of him so in love without realizing it. That had been me a few years back.

"I have loved you like a father loves his daughter Isabella" he spoke again. Great, we are back at Isabella. "I have loved you like a brother loves his sister and I have tried my best to love you like a mother would love her daughter, even though I don't even know how that would be like" he confessed, looking at me briefly as he saw me take a sip of the chai. He raised his brows at me for a review almost to which I nodded my head as an agreement that the drink was in fact delicious.

"I must admit that I have in that road forgotten my responsibility to tell you that I love you with words. I have never been a man of those words Isabella, I never even told Baba that I loved him. I just figured that he knew" he spoke, and I listened carefully at how wise my brother had gotten through the years.

"I know Khalid, I know. But sometimes it feels as if you are just happy that I am there so you can consider your win against you-know-who" I told him, not wanting to utter the name of the man who was still present in my heart. He nodded, a frown taking a place on his face. "I feel like a fucking trophy that is supposed to just hear and ignore, but I can't now. Diego and his family protected me when I was with them and I would like to return the favor" I told Khalid without looking at him. He didn't speak so I decided to move the subject to something easier to talk about. I didn't know when I would get the chance to tell him all these things next time.

"Do you remember that you used to quarrel with random little guys who used to tease me in school Khalid?" I asked to which he nodded with a smile. As if he was imagining it in that brain of his. "You aren't like that anymore. I kinda miss it to be honest" I spoke, tears brimming in my eyes again. "Now you don't care about who hurts me, just as long as it isn't your enemy" I told him with a small smile. It is funny how people smile when they talk about the things that hurts them. Khalid looked at me this time, with an unreadable expression. He knew that I was talking about Adam and how belittled I felt when the guys didn't allow me to listen to them because I was a "little girl".

"I may be a woman Khalid and I am a strong one at that. Tell that to your little friends whose manhood is so weak that it cracks at just the thought of a woman" I spat at him, my words much more harsh and edgy than I had intended for them to be. Khalid didn't speak for a while until I asked him to say something.

"I don't know how to go forward from here. I only rehearsed to the point where you tell me that you hate me and throw a fit, to which I say sorry and hug it out. Jamila didn't teach me about this" he muttered, using his hands when he spoke.

"You don't have to say something Khalid, just show me that my brother is still here with me. Because I can't see him" I spoke, watching as he sighed and put his cup on the tray and putting it away. He then took my cup and put it back somewhere, opening his arms and grinning.

"Okay, I respect that" he joked, trying to use his best British accent which mind you, was horrible. "Now let's hug it out yeah? I am absolutely mad at that" he laughed, clutching me to his chest and ruffling my hair annoyingly. I punched his chest, but didn't need a lot of fightingseeing as how his phone ringed with a number from...England?