Ammarah's POV

Hold on-  Chord Overstreet

It's been three weeks since I last saw Rayyan because of my exams. Three weeks of calls, messages, face times and gifts.

Every single day Rayyan asks when my paper will end and every single day I come home to a package. It got to a point where BBC he insisted I send him the whole time table and he stopped asking. So I just come home to meet a package or meet one right before I leave. The vendor have even collected my number and we sometimes communicate. She asks what taste I like next or sometimes she just surprise me.

Rahma and my friends are at a point where they're tired of awwwing and fawning over what an amazing person Rayyan is. Yet I am still in awe every single day of his generosity.

I have put him up with Dr Yahya so they discuss things about the art exhibition since I have exams and Rayyan keeps telling me how supportive and dedicated Dr Yahya is to the exhibition.

Guess he really want to redeem himself.

My mom on the other hand won't stop bugging me every single day. She comes home and ask if Rayyan has visited, she ask if I'm going over to him or why we are not seeing each other anymore. She refuses to believe Rayyan not coming or allowing me to go to our session because of my exams.

Now that she knows who he is, she doesn't want us to let go. I sometimes wonder if I hallucinated the genuine person I saw the other day. The person with whom I had a discussion and the person who showed that they really weren't shallow after all.

Now today, being my last day and the paper I finished being my last paper, I'm sprawled on the bed not knowing what to do.

Should I sleep, watch a movie, call Rayyan or go to our painting session? It's still around zuhr so I have time to go and come home before Maghreb.

Right on cue, Rayyan called. I'm staring to affirm my friend's suggestion on him somehow knowing what I'm thinking about.

"Hello Ray! I said excitedly turning over to lay on my stomach

"Hey princess" He replied and I laughed

"Do you know that word princess is so common and in a way cliché? I said smiling knowing he'll come up with a smart response

"Is it now? He asked with a chuckle

"Yes it is. Why not choose another name?

"Nop" He replied "Princess it is. It might be common or cliché as you put it, but nothing is wrong with that"

I laughed "With the princess or the common?

"Both" He answer every
J

"Ohh well I'm not understanding you but I'm dropping the topic"

"Okay princess"

"How did it go with Dr Yahya?

"He connected me with the owner of the studio and other artist. I told you that right?

I nodded even when I knew he won't see me adding "Yes you did"

"So we talked today and the exhibition should be in two days time"

I quickly sat upright "Two days? That's fast"

"It is? He questioned genuinely confused

"You don't think it is? I asked back

"The owner said a month was enough for all the preparations and if not in two days then we can't have it there"

I sighed "Ughh two days"

"It's okay Ammarah. If there's a problem we can find another place"

My eyes widen "no no no! No! You guys spent so much time and energy on this, we can't just let it go down the drain"

"Then why don't you want it in two days?

I groaned closing my eyes " I don't know. I just feel like it's too fast, I haven't don't anything to help. It's my idea to do this for you not to dump it on you and make it work"

Rayyan was quite for some seconds then he softly said "Princess, you know I'll do this for you. Over and over again"

"I know Rayyan it's just that is not supposed to be for me but for you"

"Ammarah" He called out in a serious voice

"Yes" I replied

"I'll do anything for you. Over and over again"

"You'll? I asked hitching my breath as my heart started a whole night club

"Yes. The only reason I'm doing this is because you made me appreciate and love my art. And you don't even know how grateful I am"

Not knowing what to say, I gulped and whispered "In two days is okay"

"Great. You should start getting ready. And don't worry about anything, is covered"

I smiled "Alright then"

Our conversations continued for an hour before he excused himself and ended the call. I kept the phone beside me, looked up and smiled at the roof of my room.

Happiness is becoming my favorite outfit now. I wear it so effortlessly and never want to take it off.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Rayyan's POV

I couldn't remember much after I slumped on the front porch of my sister's house. Just speaking with Ammarah, getting a call from Bashir telling me Ammarah's parent are in town, walking out, feeling a little headache at first then a punch in my stomach. The last thing I remember was hitting the floor.

Now I lay in the hospital room. It is very familiar but it's been a while since I was here. The last time I lay in this bed was when I made a decision to never return. At least not my conscious self that is.

Binta walked in with a bloodshot eyes and glared so hard at me, my stomach started to hurt again.

"Binta are you okay?

She walked more into the room and stood two feet away from my bed "You have no right to ask that Rayyan. Absolutely no right"

"What did I do?

She raised a brow and continued looking at me with venom "Ask the hospital bed or your stupid health" She turned to walk out

"Binta? I called out in a hurt tone and she whipped around

"Do you have any idea Rayyan? Any idea at all how it hurts? How stupid it is for me to sit here and not help you. Do you?

"Binta I thought—

"No we didn't! She walked back and stood close to me looking me down "No we didn't. You never let me sit and talk to you. You never let me get through your head Rayyan. You never do"

"Binta" I sighed "Why are you constantly worrying?

"Because the world doesn't freaking revolve around you Rayyan Annur. The world doesn't move like the way you mapped it out in your head. That's not how it works!

I tried to sit up and calm her and she thrusted a hand towards me to stop.

"You don't make a decision and then turn around not seeing how much it is affecting others around it. I am sick and tired of this monstrous decision you have placed that is eating away at us"

"Binta I'm sorry-

"Shut up! Just shut up okay. Shut up Rayyan. Who do you think you're? Thinking you have the right to leave the world when you want to? What happens to us then? What will we do? You never stop to think about us do you?

She paused and looked into my eyes as tears spill down her face "Exactly. All you care about is your decision not to fight. Even if that means others will have to loose a part of them. You're selfish Rayyan, absolutely selfish"

She wiped her tears angrily and walked out of the room leaving me stunned and hurt. I've never heard Binta yell this way neither have I ever realize just how much my decision is affecting her.

Minutes later, Sadiq pushed open the door and walked in. I look over to him and asked "What happened?

He kept walking into the room "You fell. Didn't take your drugs"

I smack my forehead slightly, of course I'll go and forget about my medications.

"Binta" I started saying after an awkward silence.

Sadiq nodded "She's angry"

I gulped slightly "Is it understandable?

He leaned into his seat and looked at me "Why do you think mom get mad when we don't take our medications as kids?

I kept quiet and looked at him and he smiled tightly "Did she say you're selfish?

I thinned my lips and nodded

"Good. Because you're"

I refuse to look at him for a few minutes then said "You won't understand Sadiq.

He sat up "Yes I don't. Please help me understand how my brother having a terminal illness and refuse to do anything about it makes sense" He spread his hands "Please do"

I shook my head "What is the use of getting your hopes high then letting it crash?

He leaned close to me "The use is you fighting. You telling us you also don't want to leave and it's either you or this illness, not you succumbing"

"Sadiq I-

"We thought Ammarah might change everything. But guess it's still the same, you are still not budging are you?

I sighed heavily and tiredly running a hand down my face.

"Sometimes we fight not to survive just for ourselves Rayyan. But for the people that will wait with open arms at the end of the war"

He held my hand for a while then stood up "If you fight, you might win against colorectal cancer, you're still at the early stage. If you don't, it will gladly seize you"

He gave me a look and then gently walked out of the room leaving me yet again with my thoughts.