Rahaf sat on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, hesitating to press the call button. Her heart pounded violently, filled with a mix of longing and anxiety. Finally, she pressed.
The phone rang, and then Karma's voice came through cold, soft, lacking the warmth Rahaf was used to:
Karma: "Hello, Rahaf."
Rahaf: "Hi, Karma. I just wanted to check on you... how are you?"
Karma: "I'm fine."
Rahaf: "What about Yazan... what brought him to the city?"
Karma: "Oh, he's with you now! He simply left me didn't explain anything and left without looking back. Then he came to you, me specifically, and I guess things have become empty for you? You'll take everything from me even after I stood by you?"
Rahaf: "I think I was wrong to try to check on you... I'm sorry."
Rahaf hung up without waiting for a response, gripping the phone tightly as a burning gasp caught in her throat. She hadn't expected her bond with Karma to spiral into such bitterness.
At that moment, Karma was pacing back and forth in her room, screaming inside unsure whether to cry for Yazan… or boil with anger at the image of Rahaf drawing closer to him.
Anas entered the room and observed her with feigned care, asking: "Who were you talking to?"
Karma said coldly: "It's none of your business."
His features changed for a moment, then he said with chilling calm and a burning glint hidden behind: "You should treat your husband better... you haven't seen my other side yet."
Karma looked at him and realized that the danger wasn't just about Yazan or Rahaf, but also extended to the one who chose to marry him.
Elsewhere, in a small city café, Rayan and Yazan sat at a table overlooking the street. Rayan said enthusiastically: "I think it's time you tell me why you came here. I want to know you more."
Yazan replied, flipping through a file in his hands: "Okay, but it's a long story will you listen without getting bored?"
Rayan laughed and said: "Yes, no problem. Start and I'm listening."
Yazan paused, then began to recount everything, from childhood until now.
Despite the short time, the bond between Rayan and Yazan quickly grew into a genuine friendship. What began with reservation soon turned into seamless companionship: they understood each other with a glance, shared conversations and laughter with ease.
That evening, Rahaf sat with her father in his home office. Looking at him, she spoke hesitantly: "Dad, I received a job offer from a major architecture firm Rayan Construction & Development. I think I want to try this."
Her father raised an eyebrow and responded: "But my company needs you and that job I offered is still open."
Rahaf said: "I know, and I appreciate that deeply. But I need to experience something different, just to learn and grow."
Her father sighed and said: "If you're determined, then do what you believe is right."
Rahaf smiled and left the room, her heart aflame with the hope of seeing him again.
She went to her room and arranged her documents to apply at Rayan's firm she was going there tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in Tala's office room, she sat in front of her laptop, reviewing the last lines in her software project. She finalized the test model and sent the file to her professor's email at least, she thought she did.
Moments later, she received a message in her messenger app. It read:
"What is this file? Did you mean to send it to me?"
She gasped, clutching the phone in shock. The name displayed was: Sami Khaled.
Tala wondered: "This is from the class group chat... what happened?"
Quickly Tala typed: "Sorry, sent by mistake. Please delete it and don't view."
Sami replied swiftly: "Don't worry, I didn't open it."
She closed the chat and deleted the number. Little did she know, Sami had opened her profile picture, stared at it for a moment, then closed the app without showing any reaction. He simply smiled and murmured:
Sami: "Very smart..."
The next day, Rahaf arrived at Rayan's firm, walking hesitantly but searching among the crowd for a familiar face.
A receptionist welcomed her with a smile, handing her a file with instructions. She stood before a glass door labeled: "General Manager's Office – Eng. Rayan Magdy."
She raised her hand and gently knocked...
To be continued...