Al Nadaha

LAYLA

My eyes widened at what I read. A part of me refused to believe that this really happened, and the other part craved to know more.

I took a glimpse at the alarm clock on my nightstand, and my eyes widened; it was almost dawn. I got so lost in the journal that I lost track of time.

I sighed and decided to call it a day. My eyelids had already become so heavy, and I was fighting to keep them open. I put the journal on my nightstand and turned off the lamp.

Thoughts about Al Nadaha and what happened to Amina and her fiancé were the last thing I thought of before sleep finally started to creep in.

It didn’t take much time before I was no longer able to hear the hustles and bustles of the city.

***

For once, being stuck in the infamous traffic jam in Cairo didn’t frustrate me. I was rather glad about the delay because I wasn’t very enthusiastic about going back to work.

For the past few days, I tried my best to act normal in front of my mother to reassure her that I was really moving on.

And I was really trying my best to do that, but the feelings of betrayal and anger kept weighing down on my chest. I just couldn’t get rid of their suffocating impact, no matter how hard I tried.

Love was only a dilemma that people tended to believe in, and it often left them with a lot of invisible scars—ones they could never heal from.

To love someone deeply meant a great risk of pain. You had to give them full control over your heart and only wish for them to be merciful enough not to break it.

The funny thing was that we always saw heartbreak from miles away, yet we were never prepared for it. You could never believe that someone you loved and cherished could cause you so much pain.

But it always had to be an inside job for the wound to be so deep.

Car horns brought me back to reality. I blinked and looked around me to find that the traffic light had already turned green, and the drivers of the cars behind me were cursing at me.

I grumbled as I put my right foot on the accelerator and sped away.

Arriving at my workplace a while later, I put the car in park and stayed there for a few minutes.

I wasn’t really sure if I could hold myself together while being around him. But I reminded myself that I had to.

I always believed that I was strong enough to handle anything thrown my way after the death of my father.

What I ought to have done was turn all the feelings that overwhelmed me into a motive that would keep me moving forward. I would never let him bring me down.

Holding on to that thought, I got out of the car and walked into the building, then took the elevator to my floor. When I stepped out, I felt that every eye on the floor was piercing through my skin.

I continued walking with my head held high until I reached my office and sat at my desk.

Barely a few minutes passed before the door opened abruptly and someone stepped in.

“You’re finally here!”

I looked up to find Seif. His eyes were full of genuine concern. He was one of my closest friends, and one of the few people I still trusted.

“God, Layla!” He looked exasperated, running a hand through his curly hair. “You have no earthly idea how much I was worried about you. Why weren’t you returning my calls?”

No specific features made Seif very handsome, though his eyes came close. They had a very dark color, almost black, but from them came intensity, softness, and honesty.

Perhaps he was the true meaning of a gentleman—unlike some other douchebag I thought I was in love with.

He had a small goatee, and his hair was curly and messy, always looking as if he had just rolled out of bed. I always believed that it added to his unique look.

“I was in need of some alone time, that’s all,” I replied, making sure to look him in the eye and give him a reassuring look. “I’m sorry if I caused you to feel worried about me.”

“It’s just…” He let out a long sigh and spoke gently. “If you need to talk, you know I’m always here for you.” I could see genuine concern in his dark eyes as he looked at me.

I gave him a thankful smile. He stood there for a couple of moments, seemingly looking for something else to say.

“I will be around. If you need anything, you know where to find me,” he finally said, smiling softly. Then he left the office and closed the door behind him.

I sighed. I appreciated his concern, yet I couldn’t handle the feeling of pity that people were giving me. It was becoming a bit too aggravating.

I took a look at the mountain of files on my desk and realized I wasn’t in the mood for paperwork. So I put on my white coat and decided to head for the lab and proceeded to work on the new medicine.

I was about to leave my office but instantly stopped in my tracks when I opened the door. I was met by a pair of dark-brown eyes that I loathed more than anything else in the world.

Looking at him, I felt anger flaring deep down in my chest. His short-stubble beard was perfectly styled, and he seemed to be in a very good condition, not slightly affected by everything that happened.

I clenched my fists together. “What the hell do you want, Karim?”

“Layla, calm down,” he started, holding his hands up. “I only need to talk to you, please.”

“Talk to me?” A bitter laugh escaped my mouth. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say, you bastard.”

His eyes went a few shades darker. He walked into the office and slammed the door shut behind him.

I took a few steps away from him automatically. “Get out of here, Karim, or I will call security,” I threatened, reaching for my landline phone.

He came and snatched the phone from my hand. “Not before you hear me out.” He ran his fingers quickly through his dark-brown hair, and his eyes softened as he looked at me.

“I love you, Layla. This was a simple mistake.”

“Simple?” I scoffed, looking at him in the eye. “You call cheating on me with my friend simple?”

“Yes, I’m calling it simple. Want to know why?” he seethed. “Do you remember the last time we went out on a date like a normal couple?

“You were always busy, working on the new medicine, writing for your stupid magazine. You even wanted to postpone the wedding, saying that you didn’t have enough time for the preparations and the planning.

“It almost seemed like you were the only one with a work life. And guess what? Farida was there, available at all times.

“And with your busy schedule, you didn’t even realize that your friend was always trying to seduce me and steal me from you.”

Fires of fury and hatred smoldered inside me. “Oh, so you’re putting the blame on me now. Are you blaming me for being good at my job? Something that you’re apparently having a hard time with.

“You’re blaming me for trusting you and trusting that bitch. Couldn’t you say no to her, or was she forcing you by pointing a gun at your head?” I spat, the tears burning in my eyes.

“God, do you even hear yourself? You are mad because I’m thriving at my job. Because what I’m doing right now will land me in huge spots while you’re still stuck with paperwork.

“It hurt your ego so much that your fiancé—and future wife—was going to be more successful than you would ever dream to be.”

“Shut up!” he barked, and my eyes widened. His eyes were cold like I had never seen them before, and his features were intimidating. “Who do you think you are that I would be jealous of you?

“Your success means nothing to me, Layla. You’re a narcissistic bitch who thinks the world revolves around her.

“And who knows, maybe your pretty face is the only reason you landed in those huge spots you’re talking about. I believe the boss is very happy with you…and your work.”

Burning rage hissed through my body like deathly poison. I didn’t realize what I was doing until I had already connected my hand with his cheek—the slap was as loud as a clap.

His eyes were wide, and it seemed like he was still trying to figure out what had just happened. He touched his cheek that was now reddened from the impact and looked at me. If looks could kill.

My heart was pounding rapidly, and I was breathing heavily. He suddenly clenched his teeth and started to take slow steps toward me, and I took the same steps away from him.

His eyes were full of violence, and I wanted to get the hell out of the room because I was hardly breathing.

The door opened abruptly and revealed Seif. I was never more glad to see him.

He was about to say something but froze in his tracks, and his eyes widened when he saw the scene in front of him.

Karim cursed under his breath as he glared at me. “You will pay for this,” he threatened before storming out of the room.

Seif hurried to me. “Did he hurt you?” I shook my head repeatedly.

“N-no, but I need some air.” I hurried out of the office and went directly to my car.

***

Later that night, I was lying on my bed, motionless. I was having a hard time believing what had happened, and I couldn’t believe the man I had once loved was the same man in my office today.

The funny thing was that I was glad it happened, that I saw his true form. Now, I had only one feeling above the others, and it was hatred. Only pure hatred.

I looked at my nightstand and saw the journal on top of it. I let out a sigh as I grabbed it. I needed to keep my mind busy and stop thinking about what happened today.

I opened the journal and started reading from where I last stopped.