Seven Chances In Another World

Chapter 2: Tickets

Jassem and Shadi stopped in front of the cinema and found a long and brown-haired woman waiting impatiently. Her loose woolly clothes couldn't hide her big belly as she expected her first child. She shot a death glare at Jassem, who smiled awkwardly. "I'm… sorry for being late."

"You are!" She slammed her foot against the cement floor and curled her fingers into fists. "How dare you make a pregnant woman wait?! I'm your wife, not your mistress!"

"M-M-M-M-Mistress?!" Jassem grinned half-heartedly. "You might be a bit too angry, Ahlem… Calm down a little. I obviously don't have a mistress!"

"Well, fine! Shadi, you tell me where you were." Ahlem looked at Shadi as he absently glanced to the side, sending implicit signs not to be involved in the married couple's quarrel.

Too bad.

Ahlem didn't catch the hint.

She insisted, "Answer me, Shadi!"

"We were fighting amongst ourselves, then…" He stopped talking, seeing Jassem's eyes widening and gradually lowered his gaze to the floor. "Then, we had to stop at a clothes shop for me to try on a coat I wanted to buy for a long time. When we found out that there was no time left for us to buy it, we rushed here and decided to get it after the movie ends."

"Oh, is that true?" Ahlem glanced at Jassem, looking guilty. "Did you rush here because of me?"

"Uh… You don't have to feel bad about it." Jassem looked away. "Wh-What movie will we watch anyway? You told me you already bought the tickets."

"Yes! You know that horror movie that was broadcasted across the country last year? The one made by Tunisians. It even gained international fame!" she started.

"Ah, that?" Jassem asked, raising his eyebrows. "We're watching a horror movie on New Year's Eve?"

"What's New Year’s Eve got anything to do with this?" Ahlem frowned. "Time is a phenomenon we can hardly seize and divide with names. For me, today is exactly like tomorrow. No difference. You know it too, don't you? New Year’s Eve has got nothing to do with me. I didn't watch that movie last year, and they happened to be broadcasting it today night, so I wanted to go see it!"

"I really love you!" Jassem hugged her and wiped a tear of joy.

"I thought it was obvious, so I never told you. Don't be weird, now!" Ahlem nudged his belly playfully and smiled. "I couldn't buy the tickets. For some reason, I couldn't find them anywhere online."

"Well, it's fine. Let's check the website. Maybe those who put the announcement provided some information I missed." He spent ten minutes staring blankly at his phone until his wife pulled his sleeve. "Are you dead?"

"No…" He blinked. "I can't find the movie on the programme at the cinema. I even checked other websites. I can't find it."

"Well, it's a movie about supernatural stuff, so maybe, just maybe–"

"No," Jassem cut her off, "Don't start with your angels and jinns stories. Please."

She pouted, "You're no fun. I was just joking."

"How very funny," he said, hardly amused before sliding his phone back into his pocket, "No choice, let's ask around. Stay here."

He asked a random girl walking with another boy. She glanced at him, and he couldn't tell what she looked like after a heavy mask of paint she put on. She seemed much younger than him, probably ten years younger. She was lightly dressed for a December night.

"E-Excuse me… Do you know where the horror movie will be viewed? In fact, where are the tickets even sold? I'm a bit lost. I'm certain this is the cinema, but…" he asked.

"You too?!" Her face lit up as she smiled happily. "I thought I was the only one who didn't find my way!"

He frowned. "Um… No, I guess…"

"Hey, hey, Oubay! Look! This man is also looking for the tickets!" the girl called for the boy and turned back to Jassem. "Ah, sorry, my name is Menyar. This is my little brother. He's Oubay. He doesn't talk much, but he's smart. Say hello, Oubay!"

"Your… brother…" Jassem offered a small smile and nodded. "Good. So we're all on the same boat. I might as well introduce you to my companions."

They returned to Shadi and Ahlem's side. They seemed confused until Jassem made introductions.

They exchanged glances for a while, and before they could start a conversation, they heard two people shouting. Their noise was so loud that it rose above that of the never-ending crowd passing by.

They went to check them out and saw two young men fighting. One of them had short black hair, obviously dyed and black lipstick. His rolled-up sleeves black jacket revealed a tattoo that said Hail Satan and his tight jeans made Shadi feel sore as he narrowed his eyes, resting a hand on his thigh.

The second man was already starting to remove his white shirt to expose his muscular torso. He had three earrings in his right ear and a pierced nose and eyebrow.

Jassem could almost understand what they were fighting about and opted to stay away from them, but the black-haired noticed him and gave him a dark look. "What? Wanna fight?" he yelled from across the street.

Before Jassem gave him an answer, the black-haired was already coming his way, filled with rage. The shirtless man didn't stop yelling and followed him.

They stopped in front of Jassem. The black-haired glared at him for a while before sighing and looking away. "My bad. I didn't mean to get angry with you. This crazy delinquent wouldn't leave me alone!"

"I'm not crazy!" The shirtless man was wearing his shirt again, seemingly offended. "I want to help you out, man! You’re so homeless that you can’t afford to buy decent clothes! And that tattoo… Do not follow the devil; he is a deceiver!"

"I FOLLOW WHOEVER I LIKE!" The black-haired gritted his teeth. "You're a nutcase… GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Your anger is a result of past trauma! You need help!"

"NO, IT IS NOT! I JUST WANT TO LISTEN TO MUSIC! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"Poor child has anger issues!"

"GET AWAY FROM ME, I'LL PUNCH YOU!"

Jassem frowned, unable to interfere with solving the dilemma. Both men seemed a bit too hot-blooded and violent, and he feared for his life. He blinked as Shadi stood in front of the black-haired and showed him his phone. "I don't care who the hell you are," he spoke irritated, "But we're looking for a horror movie that was supposed to be broadcasted in this cinema. We can't find a way to buy the tickets. If you know something, we would appreciate if you can tell us."

The black-haired stared at the phone silently, his features softening and rage disappearing from his face. The half-naked man also calmed down and started buttoning his shirt. After a silence that lasted for five minutes, they both shrugged. "We came to watch the same movie, and then we started fighting and forgot about it."

The black-haired looked around. "Now that you mention it, I don't know how we will get in. No tickets." He pursed his lips and glanced back at Shadi and the others. "My name is Fahd. Since we're all lost, we might as well introduce ourselves."

"I agree with you for once." The second man nodded. "My name is Zain. Very pleased to meet you. I might not look like it, but I'm actually twenty-seven. I was trying to help this twenty-two-year-old young man. As you can see–"

"The only thing I can see is the bruises on your face after I smack you. Spare us the bullshit, if you may," Fahd glared daggers at him and turned his back to the mob to play his music in peace. His peace didn't last as another girl stood next to him. She wasn't wearing any heavy make-up and wore normal winter clothes. She was so normal that hardly anyone in the group noticed her, not even Fahd. After a minute of waiting, she kicked his calf, and he fell to one knee with a whine. "Hello… How are you tonight, Rania?"

She glared at him. "You didn't even notice when I stood next to you! I'm your sister! Don't get all cocky just because you're a giraffe!"

"My bad," he cleared his throat and stood up. "You're late. Did you get the tickets?"

"No? I thought we were supposed to get them here?" Rania seemed confused. "What happened?"

"I have no idea." Fahd turned to the others, taking out a black aviator hat. "Well, this is my sister Rania. I am impressed nobody felt this cold. It's hurting my ears. I don't even want to look at the crazy Zain. He's wearing a cotton shirt, for hell’s sake."

"Yes! I was born with the ability to withstand the toughest weathers. I’m lucky, I know.”

Fard rolled his eyes. "I think I understand better what's hurting my ears."