55
Maryam's POV
"Maryam I'm sorry, believe me I later regretted it....for not listening to my heart, I...it was not my fault believe me"
I don't care! I just don't want to listen to him. How could he swallow all the pain and heartache I was feeling before by pretending that he didn't love me?
"Close the door when going out". I said turning my back at him.
"Safeenah"
At the mention of her name,it made me stopped on my track. That name,she was the reason why I go through so many things in his house, it was because of her he hated me.
"Since safeenah died, I had been feeling that I was a lifeless body"
I steadied my eyes on him and he continued talking "she was everything to me,like everything. Her smile,her mannerism, her gesture,she was just so perfect"
"She and I was the closest of all,she would always put me first in everything. When she was alive she lavish me so much with love. She was the one who introduced me to drawing and sketching.
Oh my God! He can draw? Oh my God! He's opening up,he was really opening up. He was trying to communicate with me. Brushing some tears in my eyes, I found my self sitting resting on the table in front of where he was sitting.
"Safeenah and I shared the same interest. We both dream of becoming a famous artist and having our first painting exhibition together. She was the sweetest girl in the world and I would do everything for her" Kareem said pausing for a while.
Finally he glanced up at me and I saw tears in his eyes.
"I met her when I was fifteen years old"
"Fourteen years ago when I met her in school, she was a very lovely girl with a bright smile always plastered on her face.
"I was a very introvert guy, I don't talk too much or probably I don't give people more chance into my life"
My parents was always busy with work. My twin sister was in a boarding school. I hardly have my parents attention, if I needed my parents attention, I don't get the slightest chance from them. Then, I know I lacked love, I've always wanted my parents love but I was not given a chance"
/// Fourteen Years ago\\\
I was sitting at my usual spot,thinking about so many things. All of a sudden, I sense someone presence,I turned and saw her smiling at me. Instead, I frowned my face at her. "Why was she smiling like an idiot? and moreover how did she know this place?" I thought.
"Hi...can I sit with you?" she said softly.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" I glared at her.
"Well, I'll take that as a yes " she said smiling like an idiot.
How nerve of this girl!
"I'm Safeenah by name and you? "
"I don't have a name" I answered bluntly.
She laughed, a heart warming one. I found her smile lovingly. I looked at her and I noticed that she have a very deep dimple at the side of her cheeks.
"You're funny, how can you lie that much that you don't have a name? Well, I know your name is Kareem Abdulazeez,the son of the next suppose Governor of this state"
"How dare you?! Are you spying on me?!"
"Hey calm down I was not spying on you,everyone knows you in this school...and I like you that's why I'm here" she said flatly. Like it's nothing to be worried of.
"What? You must be crazy" I said mockingly after scanning her from head to toe.
"Yes I'm crazy, I'm crazily in love with you " she said smiling again.
"Look here lover girl,don't ever come near me OK? I don't like you and I'll never like you, you're not that beautiful and I have no interest in girls like you" I said standing up and so she did too.
Well I just lied,she's really beautiful. No man would see her and won't fall in love with her right away.
"Just move out of my way" I said trying to walk out on her but she stretched both of her hands preventing me from going.
"I like you" she said again.
"And I said I don't, now out of my way" . I said getting irritated already.
"I'll...only if you kiss me" she replied dreamily.
"Now I see you must be very stupid,not only were you crazy and stupid but you're also dumb... What made you think that I would like someone like you?".
"Coz I'm beautiful and no guy could resist my charm"
"Well, they must be stupid also for liking a girl like you"
"Wow you just wound me love".
"Don't call me that"
"What?"
"That...."
"You mean love?"
"No!"
"Sweetheart?"
"No!"
"Love it's then!" She exclaimed.
"I don't have time for all this rubbish " I said to her before pushing her out of my sight. That moment I heard the ringing of the bell to go back to class.
"Thank God " I muttered.
"Hence from tomorrow, you should always be prepared because you will be seeing this pretty face everyday, I made a promise to you! " she yelled so I could hear her. Instead, I shook my head at her craziness.
"Why are some school just so stupid? Why would they accept a crazy girl like her?" I thought before going back to my class.
*****Next morning*****
"Kareem Abdulazeez" I heard a voice. I looked up and saw a guy at my age.
"Yes?" I answered rudely.
"You're been called, your attention is needed at the president office".
"OK"
I hang my bag on my right arm and went out of the class. On my way going, I felt someone tickled me from the back, I turned to know who dared that person is to touch me and was totally shocked when I saw that same spoilt brat again.
"You again, lover girl" I said irritatedly.
"Yes me" she answered smiling.
"Where are you going to?"
"Non of your business " I answered not bothering to look at her.
Instead, she followed me like a lost puppy. I deliberately walk faster coz I don't want her to catch up with me but to my surprise she walks faster than me.
"What do you want?" I asked irritated by her behaviour already,I really hate people like her.
"You".  She answered honestly.
"I want you to be my boyfriend ..I really like you a lot"
"Are you crazy? That line is for guys! why are you telling me that?"
"Coz I like you,you're handsome and I like how you act in this school"
Gosh! why can't this girl just leave me alone?
"So what do you think?"
"I told you already, I don't like you"
"Well, can we be friends?"
"No!"
"Lovers?"
"No!"
"Be my fiancé?"
"No!"
"My future husband?"
"I said no...do you really want me to spell it out for you?"
"Fine" . She finally said.
I breathed out not knowing how long I've been holding it in.
"Thank God!"
"Hey! why are you thanking God? I never said I'm tired or I back off already. I only said fine because it means, I still have to work harder to get your attention"
What?!
"Look here lover girl, this is my last warning to you, stop following me up and down, I don't like you and I'll never like you"
"But I like you"
"And I don't like you"
"But I really like you"
"And I really don't like you"
"But I really really like you"
"And I really really do not like you" the next thing I heard was her laughter. She always laugh beautifully.
"No... no what are you thinking Kareem? you shouldn't fall for her charms" I scolded my self right away.
"Here, take this".  Without letting me decide whether to take it from her or not she shove it into my hand .
"This weekend is my brother's birthday and you're invited...make sure you come, I'll be very glad...bye" she said before she kissed my cheek and walk away.
In a blink of an eye, she was right in front of me again. "Oh! I forgot to say something. I won't be in school tomorrow so don't miss me too much...bye my love" she said as she winks at me.
It took me a while to regain my composure, "this girl is really something... " I thought shaking my head. I decide to make my way to the president office .
_____///Present Day\\\____
It only took her two weeks because I fell madly in love with her,she was so supportive to me and always gives me advice on so many things. Our relationship started two weeks after that and I felt alive again,all the love I never receive from my parent I got it from Safeenah,she stood by me,though I was the best student in school but I hate doing home work or any school activity, but with Safeenah by my side, I changed and to everyone surprise, I became the most obedient student in school,all the anger I had for my parent vanished and was filled with love for them because she always told me that my parent loves me and the reason they were both working so hard for so many years is for me and my sister. I believed her and asked for a forgiveness from Allah for hating my parent thinking that they never loved me.
She thought me how to draw and so many things. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months and months turn to year. After a year I met a guy, he was one of those guys you met in my room the following weeks of our wedding. He....he smoked and drink a lot ,little by little I got infected too.
When Safeenah finds out, she was so angry,she was very angry which she never talk to me for a month. I begged her and promised not to drink nor smoke again,but who was I kidding, it was already in me,I'm used to it,I'm already addicted to it.
I always tried to make sure that she doesn't suspect that I'm still a drug addict,and everything was going flowly for us.
On one faithful day, Mom traveled and decide to lodge in a hotel, she saw Safeenah and her friends,I'm very sure it was her friends but she believe that Safeenah was also a bad girl and she believe she is a bad influence on me,since then Mom never wanted to see her around me,I tried all my best to explain to her but she never listen to me.
I propose to Safeenah and she agreed to marry me. I was so happy only to reach home the day I proposed to her and heard from Mom that in two weeks time, I'm getting married to you.