Lailah Dk

I laid my head on my pillow. My body was feeling sweaty. We had a power outage and I had to just stay there. It was hot and was 2 am. I was trying my best to sleep but it wasn't easy. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I felt the urge to eat, I was hungry and it was late at night so I didn't know what to do. I was sure it was my hormones kicking up and down. Nevertheless, I got out of bed and walked straight to my door. I twisted the door knob and walked out. To my surprise, Haidar was seated in the mini living room
And was on a call. And I was certain it'd be Nailah. I felt a bit annoyed hearing him laugh at something she had said. I simply stood there staring at him calmly from behind. A smile immediately crept upon my face when he laughed out loud. He was so happy while he spoke. I felt jealous, not because he was speaking to Nailah. But because I knew love would never find a person like me, I mean look at me. I'm a man in a woman's body.

"I miss you so much Nailah." He said. "And I love you more than anything in this life, I can't wait for us to marry." He said happily. Another pang, yes that was what I felt in my chest. I didn't know why, but something was wrong with me. I felt lonely and I feel as though I crave something more.

I had listened to enough of their conversation for today, so I turned around to walk away. I couldn't cause myself more pain, it's unhealthy to cause yourself pain knowingly. With my hands about to twist the doorknob, I heard him call my name and my heartbeat immediately skipped a beat. I swallowed a lump. "Lailah, why aren't you asleep? Is it your stomach again?." I heard him say. I immediately felt shame wash over me, I had forgotten about the incident that occurred that evening.

"N..no," I said. I hadn't turned around. I pushed the door open to walk in when he said. "Can you escort me out? I feel like having shawarma." He said. I didn't know how, but I turned around with a smile gracing my face.

"Of course, I'll come. And I think I'll buy as well" I said. I was smiling like a primary school girl. He chuckled.

"Go change into normal clothes, I'll be right back as well." He said. I smiled and entered my room, I got dressed immediately. I was compelled to wear a golden Abaya, I didn't know why but I wanted to look good. At least Haidar shouldn't see me looking like a mess all the time, am I right? But then, I still question myself as to why I think about him nowadays.

"Lailah, are you ready?." I heard him say from outside. I was spraying some perfume on my body at that moment.

"Yes, I am," I said. I threw my perfume on the bed and took fast strides towards the door. I twisted it open. My eyes met with a handsomely dressed Haidar. He was wearing a black Jalabiya that hugged his broad shoulders. He smiled at me while he scanned my outfit from head to toe. I couldn't help but feel a bit bashful. I had to mask it up with a fake smile, I didn't know what was wrong with me but I suddenly felt my legs weakening, not from stress but from what was going on in my heart.

"Let's go, I'll drive us." He said. I simply nodded and we both ambulated outside the beautiful city of Dubai.

When we got outside, I offered to drive but he insisted he wanted to. So I let him. I sat in the front along with him, he played Dandelions on the speaker, and my mind couldn't help but drift to the dance. I smiled and mistakenly opened my big mouth and said something absentmindedly "The dance was amazing." First of all, he turned to look at me. I thought he was going to say something insulting but instead, he said, "Yeah, it was quite amazing. but you are a bad dancer Lailah DK" He said. I chuckled.

"No, you are bad at dancing and not me." I defended. He simply smiled. He parked in front of a big Pastry shop. We both alighted out of the car and entered the pastry shop.

"I thought you wanted shawarma. Why are we here?" I asked. As we both walked over to the counter.

"My cravings changed." He simply said.

"Hello Haidar, you are here?!" The man behind the counter said.

"Yeah I came for the Big Get Together, Our MBA class arranged it here In Dubai, it's tomorrow" He smiled cheerfully.

"Oh my, that's very good. Congratulations" He said to Haidar and then turned to me, "Wow Miss. Nailah, how are you?." The man said. Haidar chuckled. I simply raised a brow at him.

"No, she isn't Nailah. This is Lailah" Haidar said.

"Masha Allah, they look a bit alike. Are you guys sisters?" The man asked and I slightly felt irritated. Nailah, That bitch. Never. In my defense, Nailah was dark and I was fair.

"No we are not sisters" This time, it was I that responded. The man chuckled lightly.

"What would you both like to have?." He asked.

"I want a chocolate and vanilla cake mix. And please it should be warm!" Haidar said.

"Noted. And you Mi lady?." He said to me.

"Uhm, The same please," I said. Haidar gave me a quizzical look before turning to the man.

"No, she won't be having that." He said to the man and then turned to me, "It's as if you girls are dumb, your stomach is hurting and you still want to take cake?." He said. The man seemed confused but he masked his confused face up with a smile. I felt embarrassed but Haidar looked serious. I decided not to say a thing.

"Please get her your naturally made apple pie." He said while staring at me as though asking if I would prefer that. So I just simply nodded.

"Alright then, what drink do you want to go?" The man asked.

"I want a warm chocolate milk and get her the same, but with honey." He said to the man. "Are you okay with honey?" He asked me. All I could do was nod. I was simply staring at him. In all my life, after my parent's death, no one has ever cared for me. I felt a bit special. He wanted to clear out Bills but I immediately spoke up "No Haidar, I have my card with me. I'll pay for mine" He hissed as usual and went ahead to pay.

"Jamal, we'll be seated at that table." He said to the man, whose name is Jamal.

"Haidar don't you think it's too late, why don't we just get a to-go order? I'm sleepy." I said. We were practically the only people here. Which left me wondering why the man was still open at this hour.

"Alright." He said "Jamal please can you just put it in a bag? We'll take it home" He said to Jamal. He nodded.

In not less than fifteen minutes, Jamal had put everything together. In those minutes, I was busy typing away on my phone. Haidar just sat idle but I could feel his eyes on me sometimes.

After we collected it, Haidar collected all the leathers, I offered to help him but he said I wasn't well. I still insisted and he only handed me the milk. Ergo, we immediately sat in the car as soon as we arrived at the parking lot.

The drive back to Sahib's house was a fast one, mostly because I fell asleep. "Lailah, wake up." I heard Haidar say. I wasn't that deep in sleep so I immediately jolted up.

"You are sleepy" He chuckled.

"Yeah," I said. We got down from the car with the bag in our hands. I was holding the Milk which had turned cold. Something didn't feel right, I knew that sound. It was dangerous.

"Haidar Move." I pushed him.

Kparrrrrrrr!

Yes, a bullet came crashing on the car's windscreen. "Lailah," Haidar said. I had pushed him to the floor. He immediately got up and held me.

"Are you okay?" He asked. He looked very emotional.

"Yeah," I said. I was still feeling confused. What had just happened? Was it the anonymous person trying to kill me or what?

"What if the bullet had hit you? What if you had died?" I wanted to speak. But he hugged me tightly.

"You are very stubborn, risking your life to save me is not part of the job." He said. Still holding onto me.

"It's part of my Job. I'll die for you if it is necessary" I said. He let go of me immediately and said.

"You are f*king mad, your life is also important. You have to be alive for your parent's sake, at least." He said.

"I..." I wanted to speak but my phone rang. I immediately picked the call up. It was a private number and I knew who it was.

Unknown for sure.

"Lailah Dawud Khalid, I missed this time only because it was a warning. The next time, I'll blow your head up and feed you and that prince to the pigs" The man said.

"I know who you are, you bastard," I said.

I knew this was war, and I was willing to lose my life to fight it. A soldier never gives up.