Chapter 19

The joy of happiness is like seeing the world as a vibrant spring garden. The return of harmony with Faisal made everything seem brighter, and even my friend Ahlam appeared eager to restore our old friendship. I thanked God that she finally understood the situation, or maybe it was her engagement that clarified things for her. The reason didn’t matter as much as the result: the return of my dear friend Ahlam.

We spent days together, laughing and joking like old times. She was constantly talking about her fiancé and her happiness with him. Meanwhile, I, naturally reserved, even if our relationship hadn't gone through that period of tension, would never have shared the details of my relationship with Faisal. Perhaps just a few highlights, but I detest the habit of some neighbors who frequent my mother and share every little detail about their lives with their husbands. I’ve never understood their purpose.

But let’s leave the neighbors aside, and let me tell you about Faisal’s surprise visit to my college. My joy was immense, yet restrained, when I saw him standing before me while I was sitting with Ahlam in our usual spot. His greeting, marked by a handshake, clearly showed his eagerness and longing. As for me, caught between the joy of seeing him, my longing for him, and my embarrassment in that situation, I lost my ability to focus.

I felt a burning sensation in my chest as I watched Ahlam extend her hand to shake Faisal's. I knew well that Faisal disliked this form of greeting with women, but for Ahlam, it was completely normal. It seemed that Faisal had become accustomed to this with her and didn’t want to embarrass her.

I knew about this issue before, but it was the first time Faisal and Ahlam had been together in front of me. He spoke to her with the politeness of a colleague, as if she were a partner at work, while with me, he barely spoke, limiting our conversation to simple questions about my studies and my family. Afterward, he politely asked Ahlam if he could take her friend away for a while.

There was some back and forth, with Ahlam joking in a way that I did not appreciate at all. Was it my jealousy that painted the situation as unnatural, or was it my awareness of Ahlam’s previous feelings that controlled my emotions? I won’t bore you with more details; we went to where I parked my car. Faisal hadn’t brought his, so he drove mine instead. As soon as we got into the car, Faisal held my hand and kissed it after making sure the area was clear. I pulled my hand away, flustered and embarrassed, not by Faisal but by the setting. As usual, he laughed at my shy reaction, a habit he greatly enjoys.

This visit from Faisal was one of the most delightful; perhaps it was because we understand each other better now, making our conversations smooth and without any misunderstandings.

I never imagined that anything could change in this solid relationship, nor did I think Ahlam still harbored resentment. Everything she had been doing was merely a preparation for revenge that consumed her. But reality made itself known.

One day, Faisal came to our home as usual, and I welcomed him warmly, as I always did. He was very quiet, while I was unusually talkative. After a while, I realized I was talking to myself and asked, "Faisal, what's wrong?" He replied, "Did you ask Ahlam to give me something that belongs to you?"

I answered, "Yes, she told me she had something of mine. She asked if she should send it with you or bring it to the university." I told her to send it with Faisal. He responded coolly, "Do you know what it is?"

I was puzzled and replied, "I’m not sure, maybe a book she borrowed from me? Our relationship is strong; it could be something I left at her house when I spent the day there while her father was traveling."

I then asked, "Faisal, did delivering this item bother you?" He replied, "No, what bothered me was the item itself." I was shocked—what could it be? My mind raced to wild thoughts, fearing it might be some embarrassing piece of clothing, but I dismissed the idea, knowing Ahlam wouldn't do such a thing, and I couldn’t recall leaving anything like that behind.

Faisal was lost in thought, his gaze fixed on me. I asked, "Faisal, what is it?" He ignored my question, took out his phone, and pressed a few buttons. Suddenly, I heard the voice of a girl speaking rudely, flirting with one of her professors in a very inappropriate manner. As soon as I recognized the voice, a gasp escaped my lips. Faisal remained still, his focused gaze intensifying like a hawk eyeing its prey, waiting to see its reaction.

Shall I tell you what happened to the prey? It fell into shock, disconnected from reality, lost all hope for the future, and came to despise the past, whether it was filled with sorrow or joy. Do you want to know who that flirtatious girl was? It was me, in a moment of playful banter with a group of friends, just a joke, nothing more!