Royalty Gone Bad

***

Asahd’s POV:

The next afternoon, I made my way to the park where Allison had called and asked us to meet. I was a little nervous at what she was going to say and hoped she wouldn’t be very angry.

I got there and met her sitting on one of the benches, staring at the lake. The frown she had on meant nothing good.

′Oh boy. Here goes nothing.′

I approached her and she looked up as I did so. I sat close to her.

“Good afternoon, dear,” I kissed her cheek. She stared blankly at me. “I’m sorry Ally. I’m so sorry I forgot. I didn’t mean to have you waiting.”

“Asahd, why are you treating me like this?” she started with a little frown.

“Allison, my intentions weren’t to hurt you. I promise. I forgot.”

“Not only this, Asahd. If I don’t call, you don’t bother calling. You peck and kiss me like you’ve been forced to. There’s no passion, there’s nothing. All I ask is a little affection. True affection and not something forced,” she complained and I kind of felt bad for her.

“I’m very sorry, Allison.”

“Tell me something, Asahd,” she rubbed her forehead.

“Yes?”

“Do you love me? I mean, do you like me as much as I like you?” she asked slowly.

“I like you Allison.”

“No. Let me say it in a different manner. Do you have true feelings for me? Do you like me more than a friend? Cuz it seemed like you did at some point but now, everything’s different. I’m confused Asahd. Be honest with me.”

I stared silently at her. I wasn’t going to lie and give her false hopes. This was the time to tell her the truth but without having to mention the fact that I was into another girl.

“Asahd, answer me.”

I exhaled.

“I’m sorry Ally, but I don’t share your feelings. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t feel same.”

Her expression saddened and I felt terrible, now.

“Then why did you make me feel like you’d developed something??” she asked, annoyed.

′Because at a point, I did. But I’m not gonna tell her I suddenly outgrew my feelings for her.′

“Ally, I’m sorry. Remember I’d told you from the start that I saw you as a very good friend. I behaved like that because I believed that if I put in more efforts, I would eventually fall for you. See you in a different light but it didn’t turn out the way I expected it to. I’m sorry.”

Her eyes watered and she closed them.

“Please, don’t hate me, Ally. I’m begging you. You mean a lot to me and I don’t want you to hate me,” I told her, meaning every single word.

She shook her head in disappointment and wiped her eyes.

“I think we should break up, now that things are clear,” she muttered.

“I didn’t want to hurt you. I wanted to make you happy but I did it the wrong way. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she wiped her eyes. “It was my fault anyway. You told me from the start but like an idiot I still wanted to give it a try, hoping you would return my feelings soon enough.”

“Please, don’t hate me, Allison,” I begged with hands joined.

“I don’t hate you, Asahd,” she sniffed. “We’re both to blame for trying to make something that probably wasn’t meant to happen, happen.”

“I’m sorry, Ally.”

She wiped her eyes and nodded a little, looking up at me.

“It’s fine,” she gave me a little sad smile. “Hopefully I get over it real soon. I don’t wanna stop talking to you. I can’t. We’ll remain good friends then.”

“Thank you,” I hugged her tight. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she raised her head and smiled a little before stepping back.

you tomorrow at

“Okay.”

kinda felt relieved, like some weight had been

***

Saïda’s POV:

hung up and I

did the

just given another full report on Asahd and his behavior to the

I’d said before, Asahd’s back on the

to Zagreh, soon?” I asked

Wednesday. We’ll board a flight. I’ll get the tickets

squealed. I’d missed Zagreh so

I get the tickets, then we’ll tell him

going to be so

to this new life and has evacuated all the bitterness and negativity he used

“This is great.”

spoke, Asahd knocked and

replied. He then sat with us. “Guess what,”

“What?” we asked.

up

at him in surprise. I was

“Why??” my father asked.

friends and have always been. I couldn’t stay in a relationship with her. I was unintentionally making her suffer

better too,” I

both of you would be something real.

I realised it couldn’t last. And I’m quite relieved that she broke up first. I was doubting on how to approach her,

for you both,” my father shook his head and

the end of the world. Asahd will definitely find

I felt my cheeks burn and so I looked

right,” my father finally agreed. “He’ll

***

Asahd’s POV:

the money I had to come up with. It included the price of the tickets, the taxi fairs I would be grabbing, some money to buy snacks on the way and some side money just in case something unexpected came up. I

what I was able to make,” I muttered to myself, grabbing a shoe box underneath my bed in which I kept all my savings. I also grabbed a little bag in

and saw a lot

′Hopefully it’ll be enough.′

and counted the money. I almost skipped when I realised that the money was enough to accomplish my

hissed and kissed

Yes! Tomorrow I’ll go

retired to bed,

***

was up at six. I took a bath and got all ready. I grabbed the money and was soon going to leave but I wasn’t feeling okay. I wasn’t feeling like what I was

do this. It will be like betraying my parents, Djafar

I’d adapted to this new life after all and it wasn’t like I

It’s maybe still far away. Boy, go buy your ticket! You didn’t save up for

and shook my head. Grabbing the money, I left

***

Saïda’s POV:

has men’s shaving cream in his room, my Darling?” my father asked that

we would soon be going back to Zagreh, I saw no point in

doesn’t have a beard and probably never

can shave,” my father mused

The armpits too,” I replied and we laughed. “Go check. Maybe he has

I continued doing my stuff. A minute or so later, he stepped out with a frown and a little

is it?” I asked worried,

open book down

at this,” he said

calculations on one

this?” I asked,

He’s secretly been planning to go back to Zagreh! And I who thought he’d changed,” my father was very

I found it hard to believe and I felt

know if he’s been

But I thought

probably gone to by himself tickets,” my

father. Maybe

“Call and verify.”