chapter 14
1662 Words
Mirna’s eyes widened in shock.
“Are you insane?! My God… you should have asked for permission, you i***t! Why do you always stir up trouble?”
Masa sighed, frowning as she grabbed her notebook and began to write:
“Believe me, I never intended to cause problems. But he angers me… his behavior provokes me. I hate being controlled by anyone—except my mother.”
Mirna exhaled dreamily and said with a faraway look in her eyes,
“If only he would control me and dominate me… oh, that would be wonderful…”
She suddenly jumped toward Masa, cupping her face excitedly like an adorable little puppy.
“Aren’t we friends? Please help me… I beg you!”
Masa huffed in annoyance, picked up her cup of tea, and escaped to where Mirna’s mother was sitting in the living room, knitting a red wool sweater. She sat beside Umm Qusay, gesturing enthusiastically that the cake she’d eaten was delicious—interlocking her fingers and blowing a kiss into the air, flashing a thumbs-up.
Umm Qusay laughed and patted her head affectionately, while Mirna followed behind, glaring reproachfully and calling out loudly,
“Mom?! What do you think about finding Qusay a bride?”
Masa glanced at her indifferently. That i***t really thinks I’m in love with her brother.
She ignored Mirna and focused on her tea, not even caring to hear Umm Qusay’s response—it meant nothing to her.
Suddenly, Mirna sat beside her and pulled her arm close, exaggerating her lip movements so Masa could read clearly:
“My favorite friend and my only brother… I’m sure they’d make a perfect couple.”
Masa choked on her tea. Mirna had gone too far. Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment. She jumped to her feet, nodding apologetically to Umm Qusay, then dragged Mirna behind her into the room.
Once the door closed, Masa exploded—scolding, explaining, blaming—using her hands, eyes, and even her breath. But Mirna understood very little of her furious signs. She waited… and waited… until Masa exhausted herself completely, while Mirna sat calmly filing her nails as if none of this concerned her.
Finally, Masa exhaled heavily, pulled out her notebook, and wrote:
“Take back what you said to your mother. Now. I don’t want to be misunderstood.”
Mirna raised her eyebrows and turned her head in refusal.
Now it was Masa’s turn to beg. She sat in front of her, clasped her hands together, mimicking the same puppy-dog expression.
“Please 🙏🥺”
After nearly half an hour of pleading, Mirna finally relented—on one condition:
“You’ll help me attract my brother and win his attention.”
Masa shook her head vehemently. That would be unfair. What about his poor fiancée?
Seeing Mirna’s expression harden with anger, Masa hurriedly wrote:
“Then come stay with me for a week! We’ll study together and have fun. If Qasim’s love for his fiancée isn’t real, he’ll fall for you and leave her. What do you think?”
Mirna frowned thoughtfully, weighing the benefits, then suddenly clapped her hand against Masa’s excitedly.
“Alright! Deal!”
Masa sighed in relief. Now Mirna would be with her—Qasim wouldn’t bother her much. He’d likely be busy with work and his fiancée, easing the pressure on her.
She smiled slyly. Two birds with one stone.
---
Her aunt snapped irritably,
“Why should we care about her? Why must we suffer because of her? Her parents are gone—let her return to them!”
Qasim rolled his eyes in frustration. He didn’t want to lose his aunt and uncles over his parents’ wishes, but she made everything difficult.
“Aunt, please understand. It was my mother’s request—her last wish. I can’t ignore it. She trusted me, and I won’t betray that trust.”
His aunt softened slightly after nearly an hour of discussion without any sign of yielding. She inhaled deeply and said,
“Fine. There’s only about one month left until she finishes her exams. We can wait one month.”
She looked at her brothers, seeking agreement.
“What do you think?”
They had fewer objections, agreeing quickly—except the youngest uncle, who added slyly,
“And during that month… you can’t stay alone with her.”
He hastened when he saw the fury flash in Qasim’s eyes.
“I mean—our religion and society don’t allow it.”
Qasim’s jaw twitched angrily. He was already under immense pressure.
“And what do you suggest, dear uncle? Shall I hire a chaperone—or would you like to volunteer?”
His aunt intervened quickly, unwilling to let this escalate like last time.
“Why don’t I move in with you? I’ll manage the house and take care of things until Masa finishes her studies.”
Qasim seethed inwardly. Anything but this. She hated Masa—she’d turn this critical month into hell.
The eldest uncle approved enthusiastically,
“Excellent. That solves many problems.”
They left Qasim no choice. He nodded reluctantly and stood to leave, one question ringing in his mind:
How will I protect Masa from my aunt’s venomous tongue?
---
Masa and Mirna sat in the car as Qusay drove them to the palace. Masa recalled his reaction to her luggage—packed as if for years, not a week.
“Sis… are you sure you’re only staying a week?”
Mirna shot him a glare while struggling to load her bag.
“Let’s see you object when it’s your wife.”
Masa hid her smile, unwilling to provoke Mirna’s sharp temper.
When they arrived, the gates stood wide open. Maybe Qasim is back, Masa thought nervously. Qusay rushed to open her door, igniting her cheeks with embarrassment. He treated her like a princess—and it was deeply uncomfortable.
As she helped Mirna with her bag, Qusay hurried to take it.
“It’s heavy—I’ll carry it.”
Mirna stared at him in disbelief. He hadn’t helped her earlier. She snatched the bag back angrily.
“It’s heavy—I’ll carry it myself.”
Then muttered,
“A knight without a horse… and no princess.”
He ruffled his hair awkwardly. His sister couldn’t keep a secret to save her life.
Masa gestured politely for him to enter. He seized the chance to show off his sign language.
“She loves arguing—she’s been like that since childhood.”
Masa laughed and signed happily,
“I’ve lived with her long enough to know. You know sign language! Where did you learn it?”
Qusay answered fluently, while Masa watched him with admiration—unaware of the burning gaze fixed upon her.
---
The moment his eyes landed on her, everything froze.
She stood there laughing softly, leaning slightly toward a stranger—a stranger he didn’t know. From afar, the man looked annoyingly handsome.
Qasim cursed sharply when he realized the man knew sign language too. Just what I needed.
Volcanoes of jealousy erupted in his veins—made worse by her radiant smile, a smile he couldn’t bear to see directed at anyone else.
A choking ache squeezed his heart as an overwhelming urge seized him—to tear apart the distance between her and that man.
He ignored poor Mirna, frozen in admiration, waiting eagerly for his greeting. His eyes saw only her.
His precious Masa.
He approached with heavy, furious steps. Standing between them, he turned his back to Masa, glaring at Qusay with raw menace.
“Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
Masa startled, confused—she hadn’t seen his words. She rushed to Qusay’s side to translate.
A fatal mistake.
Qasim lost control when he saw her choose the stranger’s side. He grabbed her arm painfully and yanked her back.
“Who is this?! Since when have you been meeting him?! Damn it—since when have you been deceiving us all?!”
Her eyes widened in horror. How could he think that of me?
Qusay intervened quickly, trying to shield her.
“Mr. Qasim—you misunderstood—”
Qasim punched him hard, knocking him to the ground. Mirna screamed, rushing to her brother. The aunt came running.
“What’s happening?! Who are you?”
“I’m Mirna—Masa’s friend. This is my brother, Qusay. He just brought us here.”
Qasim’s shock was unmistakable.
Before Masa could help, Qasim grabbed her violently and dragged her inside.
“Aunt—welcome the guests.”
Inside the room, he shoved her and slammed the door.
“What have you done?! How could you hit him?! He did nothing!”
She still defended him.
He snapped,
“I’ll hit him again—every time he looks at you or you smile at him. And I’ll never regret it!”
Her disbelief turned to fury. She signed angrily:
“You will never touch him again! Your filthy thoughts are nothing but imagination. You cannot accuse us of a sin we didn’t commit!”
He yanked her close, breath scorching her face, eyes blazing like a madman.
“Why should I believe you? When I left, you were a needy child begging me not to go. Who knows how far your desire went in my absence?”
His words cut her like knives.
Something snapped.
Before she realized it, her hand struck his face with a resounding slap—shattering the silence with every ounce of her pain.
He froze. Shock widened his eyes.
Then—rage.
He grabbed her face and crushed his lips against hers in a violent, punishing kiss. When he released her, his voice was hoarse, savage:
“I hate you… because you left me no choice but to love you.”
He stormed out.
She stood trembling, lips burning, heart shattered.
How could one person destroy her—and rebuild her—in the same breath?
- Writer
