Chapter 4

--------------Indonesia, Palembang

---------------------- Night after the wedding

Everything about her screamed innocence. From her looks down to her quiet movements, I really, honestly couldn't believe that someone as beautiful as she was, was mute. She probably had the voice of an angel and the angels were jealous so they took it away from her, just saying. I tried being as nice as possible to her earlier today, GrandPa wanted me to and the glorious smile on her grandfathers face made me realise that it was worth it. The sacrifice was totally worth it.

"Khalid" Sophia called as she walked over to where I stood beside the car. Sophia was the child of my mother and Brandon, she was still in college, UCLA, studying medicine. She looked a lot like my mother. She was beautiful, just like her. "Hey" I answered as she stood beside me. I was waiting for Faryah to say her good byes to her family members, we had an early flight tomorrow. "You were nice to her today, keep that up" I was rarely nice to outsiders, I couldn't trust anyone. "Well GrandPa wanted it, so here" I answered and ruffled her hair. I could be playful sometimes, but with the right people. " She's prettier than Pamela" she was at it again. Her and mother never liked Pamela, even for once.

I couldn't compare Pamela with anyone, I couldn't bring myself to ever stop loving her. " Stop that" I shot at her. " Does she even know that you're now a married man, she broke up with you?" She said while smirking evilly. I couldn't bring myself to talk to Pamela ever since my proposal went wrong. It's been a month and it was killing me. I badly wanted to hug her, kiss her, hear her voice, but I couldn't. " She doesn't know and remember what mother said, don't post any photos, or else I swear Sophia, I'll beat you" I shot back at her and sent her the stink eye. " What ever, we have a flight to catch, we'll see you guys tomorrow okay and please be nice to her Khalid, don't hurt her" Sophia pleaded. I didn't hurt women, intentionally. " sure, I'll treat her like a fragile foetus" she could understand that. It was one of the few things I knew in Biology. " Won't you go in and greet your in-laws?" she asked before she left and I rolled my eyes. I didn't want to pretend again, being nice to her was enough for grandpa. "Nope" I answered and watched her roll her eyes. " Khalid, come in here" I heard Mother call as she stood by the front door of their house. Their house was quite small, but it looked comfortable. I had to go in, I had to pretend again. " Here he is" Mother called as she literally pushed me into the house. " Masha Allah, he is so handsome" A woman that looked like she was in her early 40's said as she came over to cup my cheeks. She was too close to me. I felt welcome, her touch was like my mothers'.

I smiled at her genuinely and she smiled back, she was a beautiful woman and she looked quite similar to another feminine figure that was seated across from where I stood. "Khalid, this is Faryahs' mother, Sumayyah and that's Faryahs' sister Firdaus" they both looked nothing like Faryah, she was completely different. "It's a pleasure to meet you all" I answered and smiled at them. " Oh my, he is so charming" Sumayyah complimented and laughed. " That's my son, you see Khalid, Faryahs' grandfather wants to see you two before you leave" a lecture. I nodded at them and I was led to another room.

The room was small, with a small bed by the side and a small mat on the floor. There was a small ceiling fan and a wardrobe in the room and that was it.

"Khalid just sit here, Faryah and her grandfather will soon be here" Mother said as I sat on the mat the centre of the room. " What are we talking about?" I asked mother. " I don't know son, and yeah, son, thank you for being nice to her, I really think you and her can.." I cut her off, she was like Sophia. They looked alike and thought alike. " Mother, I love Pamela, she's for me, we are meant to be, Faryah’s just pretty and looks nice" that was what I really thought about her. " oh come on son" mother rolled her and sighed.

The door creaked open and a wheel chair carrying GrandPa Musa rolled in with Faryah helping him. " I'll leave you all to it" mother said as she smiled assuring me that everything was okay. " Thank you Zainab" Faryahs' grand father said as she walked out smiling at them. " Faryah let go, go seat down" she was quite tall, skinny. She was wearing dark purple baggy pants with her cute socks and a baggy black shirt over her pants. She was wearing a purple Hijab. Her makeup was gone, she looked really beautiful, more beautiful, at least I wasn't stuck with a mute ugly bitch.

She sat a few metres beside me, avoiding my gaze, so innocent. My heart was softening towards her and that wasn't good at all. "Khalid, Faryah, thank you for making my last wish come true, I'm going in for surgery in the next two weeks, and even though I don't make it, I'll die knowing I wasn't a hypocrite" he was just like GrandPa Julius. No wonder they were best friends. " Faryah, I know how it feels to have a disability, I completely understand you better now, and you've been strong for the past sixteen years, please keep that up, even though you won't be with us anymore, I know you can handle it with Khalid by your side" Her grandfather had no idea of my plans. The idea of always being by her side made me cringe. Pamela wasn't going to like that.

"Khalid please protect my grand daughter, please she has gone through some horrible bullying here, she can't adjust to anything like that again, please take care of her, learn to cherish her, I am leaving her in your hands, please make me happy" I felt horrible right now, I didn't even really care a bit about her. "I'll try my best Mr Musa" I said and gave him a fake smile. " Thank you very much and call me GrandPa Musa, may Allah bless you" I couldn't say anything. He reminded me of how My mother always prayed to Allah to protect us from my father, but he didn't. " You two have an early trip tomorrow, I'll let you two go now, Faryah are you ready?" GrandPa Musa asked her, her eyes were stuck on the mat. I could see some tiny drops of tears rolling down her cheeks. Why are girls too emotional??

She nodded and rose her head, standing up. " Good then, Khalid take care of her please" GrandPa Musa said as Faryah got up to help him with his chair. " I'll do my best GrandPa Musa" I said as I got up from the mat and followed them outside the room. " they're leaving now" GrandPa Musa said as we walked into the small living room. " Have a safe trip Faryah, your bags are already in the car and I also packed some cake for you two" Faryahs' mother said as she hugged her again. " Firdaus, please get your sisters bag from your room" She added to the lady that looked like her. " Why do I have to do that?, she's not like GrandPa, she can walk, at least it's better than not being able to talk" she said and rolled her eyes at her mother. She was being too harsh. " Firdaus" Mama Sumayyah shot and Firdaus hissed back at her. How was she so different from Faryah.

I watched as Faryah smiled at her and walked to another room. " Firdaus did you have to do that?" mama Sumayyah asked her sternly. " I was just being truthful and I didn't want to get it so let me be" Firdaus said and took her phone from beside her. " But Firdaus there's no harm in getting it for her" Mother added to back Mama Sumayyah up.

"Oh please excuse me, mind your own business, just because you had your son marry my dumb sister doesn't mean you're family, for all I know she doesn't carry our..."she was cut short by GrandPa Musa. " Firdaus get out of here" he snapped and she rolled her eyes and got up to walk out. The whole room was quiet. " I am so sorry for that" mama Sumayyah apologised to us. "It's okay, Khalid Neill, Sophia and Brandon are at the airport now, I'll go ahead okay, we'll see you two tomorrow" she said as she pecked me. " Good bye mother, sleep well okay" she had work by 11 or 10am tomorrow. She worked in the same hospital with Pamela, she was a cardiologist. " I'll be leaving now, good bye Sumayyah, Mr Musa" she said as Faryah came out of the room. " Faryah I'm leaving now, I'll see you two tomorrow okay" Mother said as she hugged Faryah. I watched as Faryah smiled at her. She had a pretty smile. " Mother, let's go out together" I said and walked out with my mother, with Faryah and her grandfather and mother behind us. "We'll miss you Faryah" GrandPa Musa said as she bent to hug him. It was a pretty long hug. " Faryah" Her mother said as she joined them. " It'll be alright, don't cry" Mama Sumayyah said and patted her back. I repeat, why do girls really have to be too emotional?

We finally said our goodbyes and I helped Faryah into the car. Mother had already left for the airport. Sophia had booked two hotel rooms for me and Faryah, it was only for one night. It wasn't going to be too long. The car was so peaceful, very quiet, well as expected. I rolled the car window down, the night breeze was so fresh and nice. Palembang was a beautiful city, trees and beautiful flowers were everywhere.

It took us thirty minutes to reach the hotel which was very close to the airport. We got down and the chauffeur helped us with our bags. The hotel was quite big and fancy, as expected of Sophia. Faryah followed behind me like a baby duckling. I stopped at the front of the receptionist that was smiling at me like a three years old. " Good evening, welcome to Savannah Hotel, how can I help you?" She was pretty, tall. Her name tag said she was Emylia. " Well I have two room reservations under the names of Faryah Mustapha and Khalid Myles Olyster?" I said and waited as she checked for our reservations. " Well Yes here it is, but it's a one honeymoon suite reservation" I should have expected this from Sophia. " There must be a mistake, we booked two rooms here not one" I argued, Faryah must be feeling uncomfortable." No Sir, you reserved a honeymoon suite for you and your wife" oh my goodness. She really shouldn't call her that in public. I sighed and turned to look at Faryah, her eyes were stuck to the fancy hotel tiles. " Miss Emylia, can we get two rooms for the night?" I asked again. " I'm sorry sir, we are fully booked" She answered whilst still smiling. I had a feeling Sophia paid her off, but I didn't want to cause a scene. I looked at Faryah again. "Uhm Faryah, are you comfortable with me and you spending a night together in the same room?" I asked calmly and watched as she rose her head and nodded it with a fake smile on her face. " We'll check in now, can I get the keys?" I asked and the Emylia chick handed them over to me. " You'll be shown to your room, feel free to contact the room service for anything" she said and I followed the hotel chauffeur with Faryah at my back.

We stopped at the door and I collected our bags from the chauffeur. I tipped him and he walked away with a happy face. I slowly opened the door and peaked in, candles were lit everywhere, rose petals were on the bed, goodness I didn't want her to see this. I hurriedly walked in and slammed the door at her face. That wasn't nice but it was safer. I hurriedly got rid of the candles and turned on the lights, I put the petals in a trash and hid the bottle of champagne. Everything was in order now. I sighed and went to open the door for Faryah. She was right there, so small and cute, she was looking around the hallway. " I am so sorry for that Faryah, you can come in now" I said and watched her walk in as I took our bags inside.

I could asses the room now, it was painted mint green and grey. The large bed was at the centre of the room and there was a big TV screen in front of it. There was also a big bathroom and some couches. The air conditioner was turned on. The room was chilled.

" Here, you can take a bath and prepare for your sleep" I was becoming really hungry. I couldn't eat anything much at the wedding reception. " Are you hungry?" I asked again and watched the poor girl nod. I needed to find a place where we could feast. " I'll go downstairs and find somewhere for us okay, take a bath now" I said and watched her smile at me genuinely. She was so beautiful. Like an angel. " I'll be back " I said and walked out of the room shutting the door quietly. I got on the elevator to the last floor. I got down and walked around the lobby. I could find something, there was a sign that clearly, boldly said Restaurant, with an arrow pointing towards the left. I followed it and found some stairs that went up wards.

The restaurant was not so full, it was pretty nice, and cool. It looked like a place for proposals. It was dark with small white lights, the surrounding was cool. There was an opening that revealed the balcony and had an amazing view of the stars. It was beautiful. A man walked up to me as I admired the place. " How may we help you sir?" he was a waiter. " I need a table for two, where I can clearly view the stars" I said and smiled at him. " Sure, I'll show you to your table" he said and I followed him. There were some few tables in the balcony and I choose one that was right under the stars. " I'll be right back, then I can order, reserve this table for me" I said and walked back into the restaurant and up the stairs and into the elevator.

She should be done by now. I slowly opened the door and my heart melted. She had amazing, dark long hair, with some side burns, she was beautiful. She was in a cute Pyjama and she looked so tiny, like a small baby. I coughed and caught her attention. She froze and immediately wore a very long dark blue hijab. She smiled sheepishly at me. She was too cute. " Uhmm, I reserved a table for us upstairs, let's go eat" I said and smiled at her, she was blushing. Her cheeks were rosy. She followed me out of the room and back to the restaurant. I helped her sit and watched her carefully as she admired the stars. " You like it?" I asked and she nodded. I was pleased with myself. " Here's the menu, Sir, ma'am" the waiter from earlier said as he showed us the menu. I went through the menu and settled for some spicy turkey, fried rice and sauce, with sparkling water.

I watched as Faryah showed me her menu, tapping at what she wanted. Beef meat loaf and fried rice garnished with garlic and chicken sauce with Orange juice. She ate a lot for a person with her physique. I ordered for us and the waiter left to get our meal. I loved the scenery. It was beautiful, the stars were beautiful. " It's really beautiful, nature is really beautiful" I said to Faryah as we both admired the night. I always wanted to have a date like this Pamela, I wanted my proposal to her to be something like this but I guess it wasn't time for us to settle down.

Our food arrived and I dug in instantly. The fried rice was really tasty and the turkey was so great. Faryah seemed to be enjoying hers too. " You're enjoying your food?" I asked as I smiled at her. She nodded with her mouth full and smiled at me. She was so cute. I loved the way she smiled, she smiled with no worries. " You eat a lot" I said as I watched her eat, but she didn't seem bothered. She just smiled and ate.

I wish I had her life at a point, always smiling, no matter the circumstance, she wasn't shy of who she was. I liked her.