"Oh um.... yeah - so, what other fun things do you guys do?" I attached a mug to my mouth for a sip.

"Well, we keep people prisoner." Bhavesh said, slipping his hands in his pockets.

I chocked on my drink and a mouthful of water spat out from my mouth.

"Hey? You okay?" He quickly rested a hand on my shoulder.

"Oh... err yes! I was just shocked because - because, err that sounds amazing!"

Bhavesh smirked. "Course it is."

"Soo.... who is in prison at the moment?" I tried to laugh.

"R.... hang on - why do you want to know so much?"

I straightened up. "Well, I am your new friend after all so why are you being biased towards me?" I pretended to act angry and I turned my back on him.

He slipped a hand around my waist and spun me around.

The touch of his grubby hand made me shiver but my pretense had to continue. He was on the verge of telling me.

"POLICE!" Someone cried suddenly.

"HIDE THE BARRENS! HIDE THE BARRENS!"

Oh wow. Great timing. *facepalms myself*

I looked around anxiously and Bhavesh pulled me behind a barren which was now completely empty.

We crouched down as low as we could and we exchanged glances.

"It's alright, we have these raids often. Just follow this safe procedure and not even a police can fool you." Bhavesh clasped my hand in his and acted all heroic.

You fool, your stupid procedure obviously isn't good enough because the person you're flirting with, is even more dangerous than the police!

"Oh... really!? Bhavesh I'm really scared!" I acted like a typical damsel in distress.

As my eyes tried to stretch so they could see the police situation I caught sight of a few men.

One of them looked strangely familiar.

What the hell? FAISAL? What the actual hell is he here for?

"Bhavesh. You stay here, I'll deal with them."

"What?! You won't give us away will you?"

"Why would I do that? Just - try and run away with everyone and make sure no-one stays behind. All of you go while I try and distract them."

I had to talk to Faisal but for that we needed privacy.

"Okay, as you say Suriah. Let's go!"

I got up a bit shakily and suddenly, a vast array of guns, short to long, pointed at me like knives.

I gulped and tried to catch Faisal's attention.

He took of his sunglasses in surprise.

I was doing a weird dance step. This was so embarrassing, but he knew this step from University.

"Lower your guns." Faisal ordered.

He walked up to me and I stopped like a small girl who had been told off.

"Pssst!"

"Speak properly!" He made me jump. Gosh - I now realized how scary he was.

"Faisal it's meeeee...." I whispered.

"What?! I can't hear you?"

"ITS ME, REEM!"

He jerked up in shock.

"Reem? What the heck? What are you doing here?"

I rolled my eyes. "I should be asking you that."

"It's my job." Faisal replied.

"So is mine, I was just about to find out something really important when you came and shooed all the bootleggers away!"

"WHAT? Okay then - where's Kalia? You found him right? Where's he then huh?"

"Faisal why would Kalia be here? He wouldnt be drinking drugged beer with these peasants here would he?" I began to lose my patience.

"You." Faisal pointed a stern finger at me face.

"Mind your own business. Don't interfere in what I do. Understood?"

He turned round and his guards followed, leaving me alone in this unsafe place.

I had to talk to him. We had to tell each other our findings....
That evening, we met in my cabin.

💓

"So you're telling me that some creep comes and romances you at a prostitute's bar and you don't know how he looked like?" He smirked and instantly returned to being serious-faced.

"Well - he had a mask on and..."

"Even a five year old must be able to work out basic features...." he grabbed himself an apple.

I stared at him unbelievably. So if I say something bad about him he gets all hyped up and if he says something bad about me he laughs?

"You're just jealous. I know you are."

Faisal stopped and faced me angrily.

"What's there to be jealous in you?"

"My better investigating skills." I blurted out, losing my patience.

"Oh really? Better than a baby's I say!"

I got up and I marched right up to him and our faces were inches away from each other's.

"At least I can manage my relations." I spoke, barely above a whisper.

I saw Faisal's nostrils flaring and he roared, jerking an arm up to hit me.

I closed my eyes, but not turning away. I wasn't a coward.

As I expected a hard blow on my cheek, that moment never came.

Suddenly, I opened my eyes and found Faisal leaning against the wall in shock, with a figure pushing him against it, clasping his neck tightly like he was strangling him.

I tried to free them both from each other's grip and I stood beside Faisal's who was breathing angrily and glaring at the figure opposite us.

The same chiseled cheeks; the glistening eyes as bright as the sun, able to deceive us into thinking him delightfully wicked.

"Sidd?!" I went up to him and wiped his bleeding hand on a tissue.

Faisal looked at me in surprise.
"You know this rascal?"

"He's my friend." I said firmly.

Sidd was still glaring at Faisal while I was tying a bandage to his hand.

"Who does he think he is? Lifting an arm on you!"

"It's fine, Sidd. Calm d...."

"I can't just calm down when someone tries to get physical with my friend!"

"Err, that sounded a little wrong."

Sidd gave me an annoyed look while I pursed my lips to stop laughing.

"You were saved today, but not tomorrow." Faisal lifted his blazer off his chair and shoved past us, shutting the door with a bang.

"Who is he?" Sidd asked me, rubbing his knuckles.

"He's my friend." I said, while pouring myself a glass of water.

"He's not very 'friend-like' if he hits you," Sidd scowled.

I sighed. "For God's sake just forget what happened!"

"Alright alright, hold your horses!"

We both laughed.

There was definitely something going on with Faisal; he was acting so weird. I had to find out...