Chapter 6: Looking for Rayan
The next day in the morning, Jasmine put on her running shoes to go out.
“Where the hell you think yourself is going?” Lilly asked while she put on her training suit and held her running shoes with her hands, trying to catch Jasmine.
“Running on the coast.” Answered Jasmine.
“Wait for me,” Lily said, and she was tying her shoes, holding her phone with her teeth.
“No,” Jasmine said quickly and closed the door.
“Hey, wait,” Lilly opened the door and said,” You want to go out without me, to meet the handsome guy, but no way, not without me.” She tied her ponytail hair, adjusted the running suit, and said, “I am ready.”
She noticed that Jasmine’s face got reddish, and she looked uncomfortable… “What is wrong?” Lilly asked. Jasmine pointed with her eyebrow to the left, and then Lily saw a guy waiting for the elevator next to Jasmine with a wide smile on his face.
“I believe you are talking about Rayan. I am sorry to inform you that he is not here today. He will not be here for a week.”
Then he came closer to Lily and shook her hand. “Hi, neighbour No. 2, it is nice to meet you. This is Alex.”
Lilly smiled back. “Thanks. It is nice to meet you, too. This is Lilly.”
“You sound friendlier than my neighbour No. 1”.
“Yea, she acts silly sometimes.” Lilly giggled.
Jasmine looked at her friend and then said, “Lilly, I am using the stairs.”
“Coming with you,” Lilly followed Jasmine, and she asked her, “Is this the ugly guy? He is so cute.”
“Thanks,” Alex replied.
“Stop talking. He heard you,” Jasmine said.
Lilly laughed. “So what? I did not say something bad; I said he is cute.”
“He heard you when you talked about the nice guy, and now he knows I called his friend a handsome guy. You are unbelievable, Lilly.” Jasmine sounded irritated.
“You are unbelievable, Jasmine. Why are you making a big deal out of it? Act normal, be yourself. If I were you, I would have acted nicely with Alex and asked him about his friend. Befriend Alex; he does not mind sharing information about Rayan.” When Lilly mentioned the name, she looked at Jasmine. “By the way, why is this name popular in your family? There is a mystery, I guess.” She chuckled.
Jasmine immediately said without facing Lily, “Yea, weird, isn’t it? Sue’s mysterious boyfriend is Rayan.” Jasmine laughed and continued, “This is a sign.”
“By the way, do you still have not met him yet?” Lilly wondered.
“No.” Jasmine answered, and she felt a further explanation was needed, “He works in a different city, and his visits are short. He always visits Sue at her college." Jasmine went on, "I guess I did not tell you that. He met my parents recently at one of Sue's art galleries. Dad liked him a lot, and Rayan was our day and night talks.” She looked at Lilly and said, “I cannot help it, Lilly; I envy Sue a lot. She is successful in everything. And now, with this guy who adores her, Sue cannot be luckier! He never missed out on any opportunity to meet Sue, even if he has to come only for few hours to meet her and leaves". She paused a little, turned her face to look away from Lily, and said, "and last week, he proposed.”
“That is awesome. So, it is serious between them?” Lilly asked.
“I guess so,” Jasmine said without looking back at Lily.
“So, when will the engagement be?” Lily asked.
“Dad disapproved. Even though he likes Rayan, he thinks it is too early to get married. Sue is still young, and he wants to know Rayan more.” She paused again and then said sarcastically, “You know, to ensure if he is worthy to Sue.”
She looked at Lily and added, “But believe me, if Sue wants something, my dad will never refuse. I will not be surprised if tomorrow I will get a wedding invitation.” She said so and faked a laugh.
Jasmine always felt that Sue was her dad’s favourite, despite being adopted. Sue lost her parents in a car crash when she was a year old. Since her parents were close friends of Mr Knights, Jasmine’s father, he decided to take care of Sue and raise her as his child.
Sue and Jasmine grew up like real sisters, and they never knew that they were not till they entered school. Their schoolmates started asking about their different family names. It was shocking for both of them to know that they were not related. However, with their father’s fair treatment for both of them, nothing ruined their sisterhood.
Their mother, though, had a different view. She never accepted Sue to be part of her family.
“She is not my daughter; please don’t push too hard on me. I cannot treat her like one.” She kept telling her husband the same words. “She is a copy of her mother, whom I never liked.”
When Jasmine and Sue grew older, Sue turned to be smarter. Although she was two years younger than Jasmine, Sue was expected to graduate next semester. She was a law student, and during her summer vacation, she worked in a law firm as a trainee. She was preparing herself to do post-graduates.
Jasmine felt that Sue was superior to her in everything, which made her jealous of her little sister, even though she adored her. Sue was Jasmine’s real close friend. At the same time, Sue was Jasmine’s source of low self-esteem.
Lily listened to Jasmine and wondered how it was possible not to meet her only sister’s boyfriend. Lily always doubted the real intention in Jasmine’s actions and felt that Jasmine was avoiding meeting Rayan intentionally. And now, Lily was worried about her friend. How would she feel or act if Sue got married? Lily was even more concerned about Sue, as she saw jealousy in every word Jasmine spoke and bitterness in Jasmine’s face that she was trying to hide.
Lilly and Jasmine walked in silence for a while, and then Lilly broke this silence and said, “I mean it, Jasmine. Alex is friendly. Be nice to Alex; he is the roommate of the handsome guy after all.”
“You sound like Alex. Yesterday he told me the same. “Jasmine said.
“See, men appreciate women who act friendly with their friends.” Lily said so with a smile, and she was about to talk more, but Jasmine interrupted her and said, “You know what, just shut up.”
Lily ignored Jasmine’s rudeness and said, “I am giving you some advice, be nice to this Alex, else Rayan will not be comfortable with someone who does not like his friend.”
Jasmine stopped walking for a while and looked at Lilly. “I guess you are right. You know what; let us have our lunch at Rayan’s café today.”
“Rayan’s café! Gosh, even the café has this name.” Lily said.
“No, but Rayan owns the café.” Jasmine replied. “Let us go back and get ready for lunch.” Jasmine headed to their apartment.
“Wait, what? Lunch. We just had our breakfast,” Lilly exclaimed.
“I know, but I need time to get ready and look perfect,” Jasmine said while walking in the opposite direction returning home.
In the afternoon, Lilly and Jasmine went to the Café. Jasmine let her wavy golden hair down and wore her finest perfumes. She put on her favourite skirt and high heels. She looked so elegant and attractive, especially with the light makeup she wore.
They entered the cafe, and the waitress showed them a nice table overlooking the sea.
Lilly kept looking around, searching for Alex.
“Lilly, stop acting silly. If the ugly guy sees us, he will think we are here to meet Rayan,” Jasmine said.
Lilly looked back at Jasmine. “He will think we are here to see your Rayan.” Lily exclaimed.
Jasmine looked at her and said, “Yesterday I came here without knowing that Rayan owns this café. I had a plan to visit this café, anyway. But if you keep looking for them, they will think that we are here for Rayan.”
“I see. You really believe what you just said." Lily wondered.
“Yes.”
“But the reason we came here was to bond with Alex, to know more about Rayan. Plus, Rayan is not here, remember?”
“We are not. Plus, I have not believed Alex. Rayan is here.”
“Why would he lie to us?” Lilly sarcastically asked.
“He wanted to have a conversation. He thought by telling me so, I would ask him about Rayan. I know how these types of people think.” Jasmine answered confidently.
Lilly looked at Jasmine’s serious face. “You really mean it? You are losing it, Jasmine.”
Jasmine ignored Lilly’s comment and asked for the menu.
They had their lunch, coffee, tea, sweets, and there was no sign for Alex or Rayan.
“Jasmine, I am full. I feel my stomach is about to explode. Let us leave.” Lilly said so and opened one of her blouse’s buttons to breathe.
“Let us have a snack. What do you think?” Jasmine asked.
“Jasmine, did you hear me? Let us leave. They are not here.” Lily said.
Jasmine looked at her watch. “Yesterday, later in the evening, they came.” She said.
“Are you planning to stay here till evening?” Lilly yelled and then got up, took her purse, and said, “Sorry, I am leaving.”
“Wait, Lilly, he may come.”
“No, he will not. You heard Alex; Rayan is away for a week.”
Lilly said so and left.
“Ok, Lilly let us walk on the coast for a while.” Jasmine said so hoping to meet Rayan somewhere.