Chapter 48：Accepting The Fact

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Writer's POV:

Asahd returned to the apartment at twelve the next day. He was very happy to meet Djafar in the living room. The man was happy to see him as well.

"You were gone a few days but I missed you like crazy." Asahd chuckled and bent over to hug a sitting Djafar.

"Missed you too." Djafar smiled happily, "How was the week?"

"It was okay. Nothing new."

"But you had fun at least."

"Yeah. Saïda and I went visiting places from time to time. How was the place you went to?"

"It was okay. I was able to finish what I'd gone there to do."

"I'm glad. Where's Saïda?" Asahd looked around.

"She just showered. She's in her room dressing up."

"Okay. Lemme go drop this bag."

"Alright, son."

Asahd headed straight for his room.

-

He unpacked the things that were in the backpack and put them back in place in his room. While he did so, there was a single knock at his door and Saïda stepped in. They smiled at each other.

"Finally back." she whispered, closing the door behind her and leaning against.

"Why are you whispering?" Asahd whispered back in amusement and she giggled.

"Cuz it's fun..."

"You're not gonna jump on me?" he smiled, spreading his arms.

"Nope." her lips twisted to the side in amusement, "I'm just gonna hug you."

"I'm fine with that too."

She approached him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer to himself and they hugged tight and warmly, sending the same electric feeling down their spine. Each had their face buried in the other's neck, inhaling the sweet smell. It wasn't an ordinary hug, alright. They remained like that for up to a minute. Then Saïda raised her head and said:

"Still want me to jump on you?..." she giggled lowly.

"Yes, yes, yes." he chuckled against her neck and she laughed a little.

"Okay."

He wrapped her waist and she jumped while he carried her. She wrapped her legs tight around him. He carried her with so much ease. They raised their heads and looked at each other in the eyes, no one listening to a certain voice in their head that would call their actual posture, inappropriate.

Her fingers played softly in his hair, making him feel very relaxed and almost drowsy.

"What did you tell Allison?" she asked with a playful smile.

"Apparently my father's ill."

"Oh, okay." she mused and they both laughed.

They looked into each other's eyes for a long silent while.

"Noure called?" Asahd finally spoke.

"He always does." Saïda smirked.

"How sweet." Asahd mused and Saïda found herself giggling a little.

"He's a sweetheart."

"You say I am one too." Asahd whispered in a more serious manner now and Saïda's smile faded slowly. "Who's more of a sweetheart to you?"

She silently stared at him, her fingers softly trailing down his cheek to his chin which she gently rubbed.

"I don't know..." her reply was low. Very low. But then she added, "...but it's Noure."

"If you say so, Saïda." Asahd replied with a smile that gave Saïda goosebumps. "And I finally didn't sleep with Allison."

"And why are you talking me this?" she teased in amusement, her lips twitching to the side.

"I don't know. Maybe because you asked me not to." he chuckled a little.

"Oh, I did?" she giggled.

"Yes, ma'am."

"I can't recall." she smiled and put her head down on his shoulder again, her face in his neck like a little girl.

They were silent again, cuddling while standing. Well, while Asahd stood with Saïda wrapped around him.

"Saïda, dear?!" Djafar's voice snapped them out of their little moment and she raised her head.

"Yes, father?!"

"Please, come make me some tea!"

"Okay. Coming!"

She faced Asahd again.

"We should hug this way, more often." she mused, "Made me feel good."

"Me too."

She stared at him for a short while but then she leaned over and kissed him on the chin, very close to his bottom lip like she'd once done. She'd surprised herself and didn't really know why she'd done that.

"You missed, Saïda." Asahd whispered and before she could say something, he pecked her real quick on the lips, "That's how you do it. Next time don't miss."

Saïda's eyes were a little wide and her lips parted, not in shock or anger but in surprise and amusement. She touched her lips, a nervous and rather confused smile on.

"You shouldn't have done that." she mused.

"I'm sorry." he smiled and licked his bottom lip in a manner that drew her eyes back to it. Of course he didn't mean it.

"Omg, you're still a sicko." she mused and made him slowly put her down.

"I know. I repeat, don't miss next time Saïda. Or I'll keep doing it myself."

Saïda rolled her eyes, though her cheeks reddened.

"Dream..." she replied and left.

Asahd's POV:

I stood there after she'd left, my heart racing like crazy.

'I kissed her again. I just had to didn't I?

-Yes!'

I felt like laughing at my own thoughts but I didn't.

'Oh my gawd...'

"Oh my gawd..." I muttered in shock mixed with amusement, grabbing hands full of my hair.

"I'm not a naïve teenager or some dumb kid." I mused, sitting on my bed, thinking of the surprising fact.

'I like Saïda... I like-like Saïda... I've been trying not to think of that possibility but it's there. It's so there. Yet, I like Allison, too??'

"I'm so weird." I muttered, running my hand over my face, "How can I like both?"

'And the shocking fact is, I feel like I like Saïda more...'

I was cooked. How had I ended up falling for Saïda? How?? And it was evident that I liked her more than my own girlfriend. Proof, whenever I had to go out with ally, and Saïda asked me to stay with her, I would. But it was never the other way round. There was no way I would plan something with Saïda, Ally would ask me to stay with her, and I would call Saïda off or give her an excuse. It had never happened.

'She likes me too. I know she does. But she LOVES Noure. Oh boy. I forgot about that dude.'

"Oh Noure, I'm sorry." I mused. I was supposed to feel bad, but honestly I didn't. I wanted Saïda and now it was a fact. She'd haunted my nights for the past week and days. I knew deep down that I wanted her. Yet I'd refused to admit.

'Maybe I should stop these games. If I go after her, I will be ruining her perfect relationship with Noure.'

"He had her first. Man, I need to chill. He already treats her like the Queen she is. I should focus on Allison a little more. I really should."

'It is going to be hard as fuck! I want Saïda in my arms whenever I see her. How did this come about?'

"I'm fucked." I muttered and collapsed on my bed, covering my face. "How did I leave from disliking Saïda, to being her friend and now crushing, or more than crushing, on her! Who am I kidding? She– she drives me nuts in a way."

I stared at my ceiling, my thoughts getting more and more mixed up and confusing.

"I'm in trouble. She's in trouble. Will I succeed to leave her alone?"

'I know I won't. But I should try...