II. You wouldn't believe it if I told you.

“I totally agree” Myla answers.

“Nooo. I don't want a lot of people in my birthday party. Just a few guest . . . Like you” Patricia utters.

Myla faces her correctly, eyes wide. “I can't come to your birthday party. Common Patricia. You know your mom and . . .”

“Jamal?”

Myla seals her mouth.

“You have no idea how he wants to meet with you. He'd definitely pretend to be mad but . . . It'd be his greatest gift from me.”

“Keeping that aside Patri. I can't. I have dozens of work. And . . . Well”

“Are you seriously going to stay away from me forever? You know how this will be important to me. If you don't come I'd cancel the whole party. Because I can't be celebrating if you're not with me. ”

“No Patricia. You don't have to”

“I will. I promise you that.”

Myla sighs. “Fine! I'd be there.”

Patricia hugs her tight. “Thank you so much Myla. You won't regret it”

“I'm scared that I will”

Patricia giggles tugging her arm playfully.

“By the way I was wondering who gave you my personal contact?”

Patricia baths her lids. “I-I promised not to give out the person's name”

“But I'm asking you to tell me who that is for security reasons”

“It's not important. Is it?” she reaches for chips in a bowl.

“Don't play with me girl. I need to know now!”

“Are you really sure you'd not freak out if I tell you were I got it?”

Myla hisses and crosses her legs on the other, leaning against her seat.

“Jamal gave me”

Myla's eyes almost bulge out of their suckets. And her heart drums against her chest.

“Fuck no! There's no way he has my number and never thought of messaging me”

“So you're not mad because he gave me your number. But because he has never texted you” Patricia's lips are parted as she waits for Myla's responds.

Myla frowns and shakes her head. “I-I don't care. It just baffles me”

Patricia gives her a side look. “I don't think so. I think you care a lot and it hurts to know that he never for once called you. I will feel the same in your shoes so no need hidding.”

Myla rolls her eyes. “But how did he get my number?”

“Why don't you ask him when next you see him. I'm sure he has a better explanation to that”

Myla sighs, sinking in her chair. Patricia suddenly burst out into laughter.

“Did you seriously believe what I said?”

Myla smacks her arm. “You liar!”

...

“Has everything been arranged?” Mrs. Mehdi inclines.

“Yeah. Just a few more decor and everything will be good” a man tells.

Jamal walks into the kitchen. “Mom If there's anything else to buy then let me get it for you. I'm going to get Patricia's gift”

“You're a life saver” she smiles.

“We need this material to complete the decor and don't forget her cake”

He nods and kisses the crown of her head before leaving.

Gabriella enters the scene just in time and his mom says. “Wait”

He pauses towards the stairs. “Anything?”

“Why don't you go with Gabriella. I'm sure she'd be of help”

Jamal understands that his mom is trying to rebuild the connection they had but he can't feel that way anymore.

On the first day of her arrival he thought he might get awakened by her. Instead he was flushed by the worse scene of his life. Seeing the woman he can't deny he has feelings for with his favorite artist.

Then he could truly testify that not even Gabriella could make him forget about Myla.

But he wouldn't say no to his mother's proposal because deep down he knows she can't make him feel anything.

“Ok.” he replies and Gabriella senses the lack of interest in his tone.

She silently follows him to his car and they drive away.

...

Myla didn't tell her Manager she'd be going to the mal but she took along Brehilda.

“And what did you say?” Brehilda questions staring at Myla.

“That's why I'm heading to the mal. To pick up a gift for her”

“Aww . . . You're a good sister-in-law” she stares away like she said nothing.

Myla plays along as they drive away.

Some minutes later they arrive the mal and she puts on a cap and a face mask before jumping down.

They get into the building and look around for a gift for over ten minutes before Myla decides to split.

“I'd go check this way”

Brehilda nods and she dissappears into another section.

After going through a few stuff she decides to head back but falls face in front of someone.

She lifts her head to see who she hit and her eyes glue on one spot.

Jamal narrows his eyes at her. And she frowns. “Don't you have eyes to see? How can you work like a blind man in your very tender age”

“Why do I always have to meet with you?”

She rolls her eyes. “Maybe you're following me around just like you did the other day. Not always wanting to mind your business”

“You're such a slow talkative. Besides, have you forgotten you're suffering from shortsightedness. You needed to pump over me before you saw that I was human.”

Her brows knit towards him. “How dare you use my words against me”

He sighs. “It's the truth. I'm not using your words against you. I'm just telling you where you're wrong”

“Stop claiming to be right about everything Jamal. You pumped into me because you were busy on something else not because of my medical condition.”

“Can you accept something for once . . . without making a scene. Like just for a second.”

Myla chuckles. “You think I'm making a scene? You're so unbelievable!”

He looks at the sky then bends his neck to stare down at her. “I don't have time for this”

“Of course you don't. You've never had time for anything. And that's why nothing stays with you.”

She tries to walks pass him and he grips her arm, clenching his jaws. “What did you say?”

“You heard me right. You're just some heartless man up there” she pods her finger against his left chest.

“Nothing will stay in there because it stinks. You disgust me Jamal. You have no idea how irritated I am whenever I meet you”

Jamal blows his cheeks and closes his eyes trying to intake what she just said.

“You will never meet someone like me Myla. Because I gave you my all. But what did you do in return? You took everything I worked for. Just because I didn't accept to be with you in the movie industry. You're just too selfish to see that ever since you stepped into my life you bought nothing but bad luck.”

Myla eyes glitter and she let a tear roll down her cheek against her will. His words turn to hurt her so much beyond the ordinary.

She bit her buttom lip and he opens his eyes to watch how his words peal off her scars.

“I should've known that you never wanted my success. You did all those things to me because you expected I did same for your enterprise. I cannot be the type of woman you want me to be. I was willing to support you but only if you would've opened up to me than told me all those hurtful things.”

“Enough of your lies. You boldly told me you accepted the proposal. You were ready to leave me. Stop acting as if you cared. And stop saying I helped you to receive the same. I'm not a hypocrite. All I wanted was for you to be there for me. That's all!”

She shakes her head. “I can't believe you're acting a victim here. What about me? Where you there to support when I needed you? You didn't even call or text after that day. My friend died and you didn't show up.”

“I was merely unaware that you had problems with your enterprise. Latif's mom threatened me when she came to my house uninvited. Yet, I didn't hesitate to show up. Do you still think I wanted to stay away from you? Latif's family ruined my life. They murdered my friend all because they tried to use her against me and didn't succeed. All these because of you! I went through all these alone because of you! And when I truly needed you . . . you told me to never come back into your life.”

Jamal creases his forehead, totally demented.

“Mrs. Kesh came to your house and you didn't tell me.”

“You wouldn't believe it if I told you. She warned me to stay away from you after she took away Eliz's life. It was then I knew she killed her. I was hoping to tell you everything in your office. But you didn't me give the chance.” Myla sniffs her tears and Jamal let her hand free.

He forks his hair with his hands. It bounces and returns against his face.

“H-how is that possible?”

“You know they never liked me. They wanted you to get married to Latif. And since you declined everything because . . . I don't why you did that. So they didn't hesitate to get me out of their way. What part of it is not possible?”

“That's not what I meant. I mean . . . how did you keep this from me?”

She glares at him with swollen eyes. “I should go”

He holds her wrist. “Hey. I'm . . . sorry”

She sniffs again and takes her hand off his. “I know. But I'm too hurt. I really need to leave”

She walks away and Gabriella shows up from over his shoulder. “Gush Jamal! I was scared I got miss-”

She hangs on her words when she sees Jamal's facial expression.

To be continued . . .