Chapter 76

-----------------Los Angeles, California.

---------------------------------Two days later, Freehand hotel, Los Angeles, 11:00am.

Maybe I should just turn back and leave. I wasn't exactly the person he wanted to see or even talk to in his life so why bother?. He opened the door and I scowled at the sight in front of me. I was once in his shoes.

" Why are you here?" He asked with a growl as I played with my hands in my pockets. " I came to check up on you" I tried my best to stay cool but all I could feel was pity for the guy. No wonder Faryah was sad that they didn't get to talk to properly. " so you came to mock me?"

" Oh no, not at all. I just came to talk to you, man to man" he frowned and tried to slam the door at my face but I was quick to stop him. " Look. I know I am someone you don't want to ever talk to in your life but please hear me out. I really need to talk to you" He squashing me between the door and the wall.

This was all for Faryah's happiness and peace of mind and mine as well.

I had reconciled with Faryah. The love of my life, we were happy again. I never thought it was actually going to happen, you know that I'll see her around me all the time again. She was trying her best to be happy with me but I knew she needed to talk to this dude here before everything could actually be very fine with her before Najmah was found at least.

" What do you want to talk about?" He asked as he let me inside his hotel room and I closed the door right behind me as sat on the neat bed and rubbed his eyes. " First. I owe you an apology and don't think Faryah asked me to come here. She doesn't even know I'm here" I said as I sat beside him, giving us small space apart from each other. " an apology for taking my fiancée away from me?" This was going to be a long talk.

" well yes and no. I owe you an apology for thinking my wife cheated on me with you. I was just so crazy about her and I just couldn't imagine her in the arms of another person apart from me at that time"

" I understand but if you truly loved her, you would have calmed yourself down and listened carefully to what she had to say. You should have trusted me person you claim to love" I have heard that a million times and they were all right.

" I made a mistake and Allah knows I truly love Faryah"

" So you've converted to Islam because of her now?" He laughed a bit and rolled his eyes at me. " No. Well she helped me, she convinced me but I realized everything myself and I've been searching up videos on how to become a better Muslim. How to perform Salah and also how to recite the Qur'an. I actually grew up as a Muslim you know" He was listening to me. There was no harm in sharing my childhood with him. I have already learned to accept it but I still really couldn't bring myself to forgive my father. " You see my father used to beat my mother up and she always prayed to Allah to get her out of the misery back then. I thought Allah wasn't listening to her and accepting her prayers so I gave up on him"

" but Allah got you out of the situation right?"

" Yeah. That's how I became Khalid Olyster"

" Allah's timing is always the best"

" indeed and his plan is always the best also" I added and watched him look at me with a small smile. He wasn't annoying after all. " Man I know I hurt Faryah big time but to be honest it was all because I loved her so much and I still love her very much and I am willing to sacrifice anything for her. She loves me and I love her, we are going to make a great family but the thing is, we can't move on without you accepting us being together again"

" Well I'm trying to accept it but I guess I can't. Well it's hard. I was already planning everything you know, the wedding and where we going to live and all that. I had high hopes for them not being shattered but guess what you did"

" I already know. I don't need to guess" I answered and watched him nod. " Good. I was ready to make her forget about you and move on with me but I guess she's right. She has never stopped loving you Khalid Olyster and I can't force that feeling out of her. I can't force her to love me" He was accepting it.

He was a cool guy.

" Yeah you can't" I answered and watched him get up from where he sat and walked to his fridge. He brought out two cans of Capri Sonne and handed one to me. It was the pineapple flavour." They still sell these in the market?" Capri Sonne was a good part of my childhood. I loved the pineapple and strawberry flavour and I thought they had gone extinct. " Well yes. They've actually started making them in cans as well, you know due to the high demand from adult consumers"

" Well that's good news for us" I answered and opened up the can. I honestly really missed the perfect taste. " I actually thought you were a jerk you know, an asshole, douche bag, a freak...."

" Okay, okay that's enough. I get it, and I was all of those things and I actually thought the same thing about you"

" But Faryah helped you and I can see that deep down you're a good guy and you were a victim of your childhood circumstances " He answered and sipped from his can. Well he understood me.

Ehh.

Slightly.

" Yeah I was and you, you loved the wrong woman"

" Don't you ever hurt her. If I hear that you laid your finger on her, I'm going to fly back here and break all your limbs. I promise you that"

" I'll break all of yours before you get the chance to break mine" if only I was this free to people back then. I would have made a lot of friends but Ethan was enough for me and maybe this dude that was sitting right next to me.

" Cheers to Faryah's happiness" He raised his can and I looked at him. " what about my happiness?" I asked and I found myself pouting. This really wasn't how I expected my talk with him to go. It ended up much more better than I expected. I thought we were going to end up killing each other or something worse.

He spilled some of his drink on me and I wrinkled my brows at the taste of orange juice. " You needed that. You were showcasing your gay-ish talent" He was funny.

" Cheers to everyone's happiness" I raised my can and watched him raise his and we bumped them together.

" Can I ask you for a tiny favour?" I didn't know how to go about it and I wanted to surprise Faryah. He could help.

Hopefully.

------------------------Masjid Umar Ibn Al-Khattab.

----------------------1025 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90007. 1:00pm.

" La Ilaha illalah Muhammad- ur- Rasululah, sallal lahu alaihi wa salam ( There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger peace and blessings be upon him )" I said the Kalimatul Shahadah (testimony of faith) out loud with my heart. I believed deeply in the words I let out.

I was a Muslim again.

My body and soul were calm as I inhaled the pleasant smell of the mosque.

" Allahu Akbar (Allah is great)" I heard people in the mosque say in unison after I recited the words with Khalifa by my side. " Congrats Brother" The imam of the mosque said as he came closer to shake my hand. " You have made a very good decision today. May Allah guide and protect us all" He added with a big smile. " Ameen" I and Khalifa answered in unison.

" How do you feel?" Khalifa asked as we left the mosque. I had prayed Salatul Zuhr along with another four raka'ats, to ask Allah for forgiveness and that I could get married to Faryah soon. " I feel good. Different but a good kind of different. I feel new I guess"

" That's good. I'm happy for you actually" This was the favour I wanted from him. To accompany me to the mosque so I could revert to Islam again and also to set a date for my wedding with Faryah there. " Don't let your past life bring you down while trying to be a good Muslim okay?"

" Sure. I won't let that happen" I answered and watched him smile at him. " Did you ever think me and you could ever be like this?, trying to help each other out?"

" Nope. Totally no"

" Well look at us now. I'll be leaving for Dubai tomorrow in the afternoon"

" oh safe trip"

" Thank you. Please make Faryah happy, she honestly deserves that"

" Her happiness is mine as well, so don't worry. I'll do everything in my power to always please her" That was a promise I made to myself and I was going keep it, if Allah wills.

" Good. I'll see you some other time, hopefully never" Khalifa said with a small laugh. " Hopefully never"

Everything was bound to fall in place with time.

If it's meant to be, it will be.

--------------------------Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

----------------------------------Next day, 8:00am. Kuala Lumpur Central Police Station.

Shim Seon Ah

" She's in Los Angeles, California" my English wasn't perfect but I was determined to use any language to tell them what I knew.

I thought Miss Ji Hae Soo was going to protect me in jail. One of the inmates tried to kill me last night and I was more than sure Miss Ji Hae Soo paid her to do it.

I was a security risk but I was willing to keep shut and not say anything to the police about her plans and the people she's working with now. But she tried to kill me.

I was her right hand after HaenBong so I thought she was going to protect me and find a way to get me out but she tried to kill me instead. She failed once but I know she's going to try again. She didn't deserve the loyalty I offered her all these years. If she was going to kill me, I was going to bring her down. I was going to tell the police everything I knew about her.

" So you are speaking up because she sent someone to kill you last night huh?, well go on. I am glad you have come to your senses" The man interrogating me commented and I rolled my eyes at him. I didn't have time for their bullshit.

" She's working with a cartel that's not popular but very sneaky. The Martinez Cartel. It's headed by Alejandro Martinez and they're in Columbia, Medellin." Fuck English.

It wasn't my mother tongue. They were going to be able to translate my words.

" 그녀는 Olysters 가족을 하나씩 제거 할 계획입니다. ( she is planning to get rid of the family of the Olysters one by one.)" I said as I wrote down all the addresses of her hideouts on the sheet of paper that was provided for me. " 아기도 로스 앤젤레스에 있으며 그 아이를 굶주리고 있습니다. 최대한 빨리 그녀를 구해야합니다 ( The baby is in Los Angeles as well and they're starving that child. you need to save her as fast as you can)" I added as I scribbled letters on the paper as fast as I could.

" 그녀는 지금 자신을 위해 총잡이가 충분하지 않기 때문에 그녀를 잡기가 어렵지 않을 것입니다. 그녀가 가진 유일한 힘은 카르텔과 함께하는 것입니다.

(She doesn't have enough gunmen for herself now so it's not going to be hard for you to catch her. The only power she has is with the cartel so if you bring them down, she's down as well.)"

" Was she behind the bombings of the multiple branches of Olyster Textiles, The bombing of Georgia Motors LTD and the kidnapping of Najmah Edwards?"

" Yes she was. She wanted to kidnap the baby at first but failed then Alejandro Martinez sent one of his men to do the job for her. The name of the man that was sent is Tyler"

" Is this him?" The detective showed me a well sketched face of Tyler and I nodded in affirmation. " yes that's him"

" She sent you to kill the woman who gave us information about this man? "

" 그렇습니다. 그녀는 도처에 눈과 귀를 가지고 있습니다. 당신은 매우 조심해야하고, 나는 또한 보호 받아야합니다. 그녀는 한 번 나를 위해 왔고 이제는 내가 말 했으므로, 그녀가 나를 다시 찾아 오지 못하게하는 것은 아무것도 없습니다. 그녀가 정시에 발견되지 않는 한 (Yes she did. She has eyes and ears everywhere, you have to be very careful and I need to be protected as well. She came for me once and now that I have spoken up, there's nothing stopping her from coming for me again. That's unless she's found on time)."

" Can you identify some of the people that are helping her get information on the Edward and Olyster family?"

" No not really but there's one person I heard Miss Ji Hae Soo and Alejandro Martinez talk about. Her name's Alexandra Martinez or I think she also goes by the name Zarah. She is the adopted daughter of Alejandro Martinez, they are watching her every move and she's what's helping them get information on the Olysters. That I'm sure very of"

" Good. Thank you very much for cooperating with us"

" Just guarantee me safety"

" Sure, we were supposed to transfer you to Seoul today. I'm sure you're aware of that but with this, we're going to take you Los Angeles for trial and you're going to be acting as a witness to all the crimes of Miss Ji Hae Soo"

" 나는 무엇이든 준비가되어있다 (I am ready for anything)"

-----------------Los Angeles, California.

------------------------------ Valentine's Residence, same morning, 10:00am.

" Here, just the way you like it" Khalid's coffee has never tasted better. " Thanks a lot" He answered as I sat beside him on the six-seater dining table. We were having breakfast. Pancakes and syrup with tea or coffee, with fruit bowls and fried sausages with eggs and bread.

Healthy breakfast.

" I'm still finding it hard to believe my favourite couple are actually back together again" Sophia commented and I smiled and took a good look at my soon to be husband again. It was hard to believe honestly but here we were.

Together again after everything we've been through.

I was happy to be honest but I still felt bad for Khalifa. He was angry when we last talked and I don't know how he is doing now. I didn't call him cause I knew even if I did he wasn't going to pick up, so why bother?.

I talked to Raihannah about it and she was happy I actually followed my heart and she also added that it was not only Khalifa that's going to be heart broken, their entire family back in Nigeria were going to be heart broken as well.

But I had to choose my happiness right?

I wasn't being selfish or anything of that sort. I wasn't going to be genuinely happy with Khalifa so I made the right choice.

His family was going to understand my decision at the end of the day. They were quite nice and understanding people. Abbah, Ummi and Ummah had no choice but to accept my decision and support me.

There was nothing more they could do right?

" I thought we were your favourite couple?" Ethan asked with a frown. " We are but I can't deny that they're my favourite couple too. I am permitted to have more than one favourite right?" Sophia answered as we watched her feed him some pancakes. " Sure fine, whatever"

" There's something I want you to read after we're done here" Khalid whispered in my ear and it tickled me. " alright" I whispered back and watched him smile at me again.

I never wanted him to stop smiling. His infallible smile always made my heart flutter.

It was so Ma Sha Allah.

" The police haven't found anything yet from that diner and from those people that tried to harm Faryah?" Sophia was talking to Khalid. " Well yes, the owner of the diner says she doesn't have any connection with Miss Hae Soo and that the diner has been closed for a while"

" There was no closed sign on the door and if it was closed why would the door be open for me to enter?" They were obviously lying.

" they're still interrogating her and the men that tried to hurt Faryah actually helped us. Remember the man that took Najmah?, the man I saw at Zarah's place?" wait, what. The name was familiar.

" Well they said that man paid them to do what they wanted to do with Faryah"

" Who's Zarah?" I asked and watched all of them look at me. " She's Khalid's friend"

" Your friend knows the person that kidnapped our daughter?" I was confused. " No wait. Let me explain things to you" Khalid said as he dropped his fork on his plate.

" Zarah is the girl I was with during the anniversary of the Orphanage home" Ohhh yeah. His fine secretary. " she is somehow connected to the person that took Najmah. You see Zarah is the adopted daughter of Alejandro Martinez, he's the head of the Martinez Cartel" He began and I listened to him carefully as I tried to enjoy my papaya.

Seriously, the delicious taste of papayas are so underrated.

" Wow" I exclaimed as Khalid finished telling me the story of Alexandra Martinez.

It was sad.

Very. " She can't keep running from them. They know her every move isn't it reasonable for her to surrender and help us find Najmah?" I was done with my fruit bowl. " She isn't ready to face him. She could kill the man" Sophia answered.

" She hasn't made a choice yet I think. I haven't talked to her ever since the last time I saw her" Khalid answered and I sighed deeply. " We need to convince her to help us find Najmah. She's your friend right?. We should advice her to do the right thing and face her past once and for all"

" That's what mother said" Sophia added. " She shot you also?" I asked Khalid worriedly. " Yes but it's nothing. It still hurts a bit but I can manage. It wasn't a deep wound so I'm healing fast"

" Okay then. We still need to talk to Zarah. Can you call and ask her if we can meet up with her?"

" I'll see if I can do that" He answered and took his phone out from his pocket.

Abbah was calling my phone. " Hello Abbah. Assalamu Alaykum" I said as I got up from the table. " Wa’alaykumussalam Darling. How're you over there?"

" I'm fine Abbah Alhamdulillah and you?, how's Ummah as well?" I asked into as I walked further into the living room. " We're fine Alhamdulillah"

" Ma Sha Allah"

" Faryah, the woman that tried to kill Aidah spoke up and her statement has been sent to those handling your case in LA" oh my Allah.

Finally. " Oh my Allah Abbah. Are you serious?" I was delighted. I finally had a concrete lead to where Najmah was.

" I am very serious. I'm sure the police over there have received the information and are already planning on raiding her hideout. The woman totally exposed that Korean witch. Miss Hae Soo tried to kill the woman last night and she just had to speak up, she didn't deserve her loyalty" This was more than good news.

Finally!