Traffic Lights {20}

This post is dedicated to Ray & Your Secret Admirer! Enjoy Xo

I couldn’t sleep I was so excited about tomorrow. Too excited. Revenge. Justice. All on my side. El7emdellah (Thank you Allah). I looked at the time, 4:47AM. There’s no use with all this excitement I know I won’t be able to go to sleep. So I changed into a bikini and wore a kaftan on top. I decided to take a walk by the beach and then perhaps swim. When you put your faith in something or someone, then things will go on easily and workout the way you expected it to and even better. And that’s exactly what I did. There’s something special about that Rashed and I’m not sure what but there’s this positive strong vibe, like some kind of aura that he creates, him and his killer confidence.

There was nothing as breathtaking as watching the sunrise, the shy streaks of the sunrays slowly rising. Once I was by my house, I removed my kaftan wore a lifejacket and went kayaking. Something I’ve wanted to do for so long but my obesity has stopped me from doing so. I went on kayaking until I felt my arms were no longer able to paddle, so I went back. I still had some energy left, so I placed one of the float beds in the pool and lied down on it.

Jawaher. Jawaher.  How annoying, I wanna sleep!

JAWAHER! I jumped from my place

WHAT! Shit! Aibileen you freaked the hell out of me.

Rashed called a couple of minutes ago and said he’s coming over.

Oh my god! Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?

Because I’ve been trying to wake you up! Now hurry he’-doorbell rings- he’s here.

Ufffffff that must be him. I jumped in the pool and swam across then got out. I ran and got my kaftan then ran up again. I went into my room then locked the door. I had a shower then I wore my bathrobe. I walked into my closet and had to pick the suitable outfit, something house-y. Jawaher, who are you kidding, pick something chic. No no no, then he’ll think that I’m trying to dress up for him, I should go for something house-y. Urgh, something house-y and chic. That’s more like it. I blow-dried my hair and skipped a few steps down the stairs. Aibileen prepared the table outside for breakfast.

Sorry for being late, I went kayaking then forgot about our appointment.

Kayaking! We should do that sometime together.

Yeah, that’ll be fun. Awkward. I couldn’t think of a better reply.

Jawaher, I’ve got to run some errands. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.

Sure. I gave her the fake smile and the widest smile spread across her face. I watched her leave then we began.

So, first I need you to find the will. The actual one, the one he wrote with his own handwriting to prove the fact that he wrote it. Because all the money you used to buy this house could be take away from you if you don’t find that papers.

I’m not sure where my dad kept his papers. He did have an office back in London at home but I don’t know where all of the confidential stuff is. I have to go back to London and look for it.

I need you to find anything, the will, whatever it is that you can find I need you to bring it with you. At the moment I do have the email your father sent to his attorney, it’s a photocopy of the original, which isn’t enough. When can you go to London?

I’m supposed to attend my stepsister’s wedding that is in a couple of days. I’m not sure if I want to, or if I should. You know, after what happened I don’t think anyone wants to see me again.

Why did you come here?

Because they told me I had to attend her wedding. And the instant I came back I went to the salon and got ready to go to your father’s house. I guess that was the dumbest thing I have ever done. I should’ve known it was a trap. He didn’t say a word. We remained silent for minutes until he took a deep breath and let it all out.

I know what you did was wrong. But, they can’t put all the blame on you when there’s no one there to guide you and tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. I looked at him, studying his face.

Can I ask you a question? I- my phone rang; interrupting a question I should’ve asked since the day he came to my house. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the caller’s name on the screen. I bit my lip trying so hard to control my emotions.

I have to take this; it’s a phone call from Tokyo.

Sure.

I walked so fast, I went into the guest bedroom that was downstairs and closed the door behind me.

Yousef.

Hey. I saw your message, I’m sorry I couldn’t reply I had a lot of work to do. How are you?

I’m fine, how are you?

I’m good. When are you coming back?

I don’t know, I thought it’ll be a short trip but I’ve got so many things to do. I miss you so much.

Me too… I heard someone say something in Russian. I think it was his mom. I have to go, I’ll talk to you soon. Mom says Hi.

Oh… Send my regards to her.

Bye.

I love you.

Me too.

He hung up. I looked down at the screen, and stared at the picture of us for so long. My heartbeats were loud, until I felt a tear trickle down to the screen. I miss him so much. I wiped my tears then went back to Rashed.

You okay?

Hmm? Umm.. Yeah yeah I’m fine. Where were we?

You were saying something about the wedding. Whether you wanted to go or not? I didn’t know what to say.

Do you think I should go?

I know you don’t want to go, but if you do show up they will talk. But that will put an end to it. What more can they say?

You don’t understand. Every move you make, they watch you. Every step you take they watch you. Waiting for the moment you break down or fall or show the tinniest tiniest glimpse of sadness they would run around like savage beasts feeding themselves making themselves better as they spread rumors about you… we live in a world like this…. Sadly..

I may not understand what you have been through; I may not have experienced what you did. But trust me, I’m a good listener…

I looked at him; I could see how sorry he felt. I could not help but smile at his comment.

Thank you.

Don’t you feel like crying when you look at your past?

I’ve wasted enough tears wallowing in my own misery. I’m a new person inside out. I’ve changed a lot. And I no longer care what they say about me.

Then you go to that wedding. And you prove them wrong. Book a flight for the next day and go to London; I need you to find these papers. I’ll come to London as well; I’ll help you look for the papers. Your dad’s attorney lives there, but I’ll have to contact him first, then I’ll arrange a meeting with him in which you must come with me.

Wait, we’re moving on too fast. I need to get permission from my professors to extend my deadlines if possible. It’s my final semester and I’ve got a lot of things to do. I’ll go back to Tokyo right after the wedding; I’ll stay there for 3 days, get the permission, then fly directly to London.

Sounds like a plan. I high5’Ed him and we laughed. I’m looking forward to ending this cold war between you and the family. But we’re going to have to start a fire before ending it.

Oh you have no idea what I have in mind… The devil within wants to come out and play