Chapter 19: Are You Jealous...?

It was evening time and Maria wore a simple lounge wear and went out from her apartment to go and buy some daily necessities from the shop downstairs.

She got down and saw a familiar car and a familiar man beside it. She almost smiled but when she remembered the scene from before, that smile vanished and changed into a dissatisfied and begrudged look. She walked to the familiar car and pouted her lips as she said.

''What are you doing here? I thought you were so busy that you couldn't come here? Are you so free that you are able to see me?"

''I can never be so busy that I wouldn't have the time to come and see the woman I love''. Ad-Din said and Maria pouted.

''Tell me the truth. You are a player right?'' Maria asked and looked at him sceptically.

''I told you already. You are my first girlfriend''. Ad-Din said and looked at her. He wondered why she was suddenly asking him that question again.

''Then, what about that girl? She was all over you at school today. Are you already cheating on me with a younger girl?'' Maria said distractedly and glared at him.

''A younger girl?' Ad-Din remembered Calia and laughed at Maria pulling her into his embrace with a hug.

''Is this jealousy I am seeing? Maria, are you, jealous right now?'' Ad-Din asked and smirked. She looked quite cute when she was jealous.

''No!!! I am not''. Maria refuted.

''I think you are jealous. Tell me the truth''. Ad-Din suddenly felt happy seeing that she was jealous. The way Calia was clinging unto him at school today, any normal woman would have gotten pissed off already. ''So this is how a jealous Maria looks like? You're so adorable my love"

''I said I am not jealous''. Maria frowned and looked away.

' Yes, yes, you are not jealous. You were just concerned" Ad-Din said and Maria looked at him. Weren't they the same thing?

" Well, there is something I need to tell you. Get inside the car, the weather is cold. Why are you wearing so little? What if you catch the flu?'' Ad-Din removed his blazer and put it on her before leading her to the passenger seat. He opened the door and helped her to get inside.

.....

''What? Calia is your cousin?'' Maria asked looking at Ad-Din surprised.

''Yes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that earlier. She was just behaving that way today because she didn't want any girl to go near me. She knows about us''.

''Wait. You told her about me? Us? Ad-Din what would she think of me now?'' Maria asked worriedly.

''Don't worry. She supports us. Calia can be trusted''. Ad-Din held Maria's hand and rubbed it against his gently.

''But, still. I would feel awkward around her now. Won't she think I'm a vixen that seduces younger men? or won't she see me as a gold digger?"

'What? A vixen? A gold digger? No. Don't ever think that way, Maria. But, if anyone dares to call you that, tell them this. Your boyfriend likes you precisely because of that. You are a beautiful vixen that he is totally crazy about''.

''That was so cheesy'' Maria said and they laughed.

"Calia is the last person to judge people. She is a good person. You can trust her. She playa pranks here and there but, she doesn't go overboard. You don't have to be worried about her" Ad-Din assured Maria and she calmed down.

''Oh, I have to go and get some stuff at the shop over there and return back. My aunt isn't feeling too well''.

''Okay. Let me accompany you to the shop. I will leave after you get what you need and go back''.

''Mm''.

Maria and Ad-Din held hands and went to the shop together and bought the things she needed. They soon returned and Ad-Din got into his car and drove off after hugging her.

Maria turned to go inside and saw her father. Marley Suwait gave a sly smile as he watched his daughter.

Maria ignored him and walked past him when she heard him saying ''I wouldn't ignore me if I were you?''

''What do you want?'' Maria turned and looked at him.

''I just saw something really interesting right now. Do you want to watch it with me? I even recorded it''. Marley Suwait showed Maria his phone.

''Are you resorting to blackmail now? You are going to blackmail your own child? You just dropped to a whole new low, Mr. Suwait''. Maria said with folded arms.

''What about you? You are just like your mother. She ran away with a younger man and her daughter is going out with a younger boy. Does your school know that you are dating a minor? A boy that you teach in class? Shamelessness must be in a trait shared in among the women in your mother's side"

''Go straight to the point. What do you want?'' Maria felt her patience was running out.

''Breakup with that boy. He is bad news. You should at least date someone within your level if you are going to date. How could you stoop so low, Portia? Your student? Even your mother will frown upon it much less society"

''It is my business whoever I decide to date. Stay out of my business''.

''You are my child. Your business is my business''. Marley Suwait said impatiently.

''You lost that right the day you put your hands on me. You lost that right the day you stole my university entrance fee. You lost that right the day you started gambling. You lost that right to call me your child a long time ago. So, don't you come here and try to lecture me. You have no idea how my life has been''.

Maria turned to go and her father spoke.

''Don't say I didn't warn you. Breakup with that boy or I will come to your school and create chaos there. You know I can do that, right?'' Marley Suwait said and chuckled.

Maria removed her phone and made a call in front of him.

''Hello, is this the police? I want to request for a restraining order against a stalker''.

Marley Suwait snatched the phone and threw it on the floor before raising his hand to hit Maria. Maria turned her face trying to dodge the slap that didn't come. She looked up and saw Ad-Din holding Marley Suwait's hand with a cold and darkened gaze.

Marley Suwait cried out in pain as he felt like his wrist was breaking.

':Who are you?'' Marley Suwait roared and looked at Ad-Din. He blinked and suddenly felt chills down his spine. Ad-Din let him go and pulled Maria to his side and spoke.

''I don't care who you are but if you ever dare to lay your filthy hands on my woman, you won't be able to use those hands again for the rest of your life. If you ever dare to blackmail the woman I love, you won't be so safe anymore in this city. Do you understand me?''

''She is my daughter. I have the right to lecture her''. Marley Suwait said as he stepped back.

"Your daughter? Which fathers hit their children as a form of discipline?" Ad-Din asked.

"Look, I don't know who you are but is best you leave right this minute. She is not as innocent as she looks. Let me tell you, don't be deceived by her vixen face. She is just like her mother. Hocking up with younger men. She is just 22 and she is already following in the steps of that woman. I must discipline her and bring back to the right path. She is my daughter and I can do whatever I deem fit for her" Marley Suwait rattled on. He didn't noticed the darkened gaze of Ad-Din as he spoke.

"Stop it, that's enough. Stop mentioning that woman in front of me. Both of you don't have the right to lecture me after abandoning me, okay?" Maria said as she couldn't bare to listen anymore.

"See that? I told you not to protect her blindly. Young man, go your way and leave her to me" Marley Suwait said and tried to grab Maria's hand. Ad-Din pulled the latter behind him protectively saying.

"You don't get to touch my woman or manhandle her"

"Oops, turns out you're the boy she is screwing with? Wow, Maria. Way to go. I really underestimated you. You are just like your mother. Falling for every pretty boy you see. Tell me, have you started fucking him already? Aren't you even ashamed? He is just a minor and your student" Marley Suwait barely finished his words when his felt a slap across his face.

Maria took him by surprise as she slapped him hardly on his cheek. She stepped back frightened as she looked at her hand that had just slapped the man she had called her father for the longest time. This was the first time she had done something so fiercely.