"Hidden truths are unspoken lies." - Unknown 

~ Before you guys all read this chapter, I need your help. I need you all to tell me how 'cheesy' you want the rest of the book to proceed, cause I know not all of you like cheesy [even though this is a Romance book]. If you could rate it from 1-10, 1 being not cheesy, 10 being very cheesy. Comment here and lemme know!

Chapter 31 - Betrayal.

I woke up the next morning feeling like something had chewed my insides  violently and then spat them out. Pains had me tossing and turning all night. I was lucky to have gotten even three hours of good sleep. 

As my alarm went off for the thousandth time in the last twenty minutes, I groaned and rolled over dramatically, grabbed my phone and furiously ceased the annoying blare of the ringtone. I turned back around, so I was laying flat on my back, and spread my arms and legs out. To put it simply, I felt like shit. 

A knock on the door had me sitting up straight again and I croakily told whoever it was to come in. A serious looking Noah stroll in through the door, hand in hand with a very nervous looking Adam. 

“Sabah elkheir,” Noah said, standing right next to me. I replied the good morning and then quirked my eyebrow in curiosity. I think I knew why these two were here. “Adam has something to tell you.” My eyes drifted to my little brother, who was looking down at his socked feet, twisting his arms together anxiously. “Don’t you Adam?” Noah prodded. 

Adam nodded and with his head still hidden from my view, he spoke in a wobbly voice, as if he was on the verge of tears. “I’m sorry for saying that I hate you Min.” My heart nearly shattered right then and there and before I could grab him and hug the life out of him, he looked up at Noah, crystal orbs in his eyes. Noah nodded, as if urging him to go on. “I don’t hate you, I love you.” 

He finally looked up at me, and I gave him a big smile, letting him know I wasn’t angry with him. I squeezed him in a tight hug and he nuzzled his head against my neck. “My little baby,” I cooed. “I love you too.” I pulled away and wiped his little tears. 

“I just wanted some ice-cream Min.” He hiccuped and positioned himself on my lap comfortably, before resting his head on my chest. 

“I know baby, I know,” I spoke softly, running my fingers through his thick locks. 

“Well, my job here is done,” Noah voiced. He ruffled Adam’s hair and then promptly walked out. 

Boys. 

Even though I was still really tired, I decided I would make this day a productive one. I got Noah to take the kids for a fun day out, whilst I stayed home and cleaned. I knew I was being a little boring on another beautiful day, but I preferred cleaning when absolutely no one was home. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to take the load off mum’s shoulders. 

After I had finished, I showered and made myself something to eat. Thanks to womanhood, I couldn’t decide what I wanted. Since I felt like everything in the fridge, somehow, I ended up with a multitude of foods in front of me. From sandwiches, to cereal, fruits and lollies…within half an hour, I had consumed more than half the load. If Zach saw me now, he’d be proud. Or disgusted. One of them. 

I lay back on the couch, feeling like a whale. I picked up the remote and turned the volume up, as I was watching one of my favourite Bollywood movies, Mohabbatein. It made me cry every single time, without fail, so I had my prepared box of tissues next to me. I don’t know why I do this to myself, to be honest.

After the movie had ended, and I had cried enough to form a river, I groggily got into foetal position.

I had a slight dilemma which kept on popping in and out of my mind all morning. Yesterday, to my dismay, Zach had asked me why I had really been sneaking out the time he had caught me. Luckily for me, I was able to deflect the question and made the excuse that I was too tired to talk about it. I think the only reason Zach had backed off, was because of my foul mood. 

The problem was, I couldn’t tell him the whole story, without revealing the nature of Jacob’s job. I don’t want to start off our marriage with any lies, and me keeping this knowledge from him was already enough, but I had promised Jacob I wouldn’t tell. It was only a matter of time before Zach asked me again and he would demand an answer this time, for sure. He had a right to know, since technically, he was my husband. If the roles were reversed, I probably would not have been half as patient as Zach. 

I sighed and pulled out my phone to call Jacob. He’d have to tell him first, only then could I properly talk to Zach. At the third ring, he picked up. 

“Well if it isn’t my loser sister-in-law,” Jacob quipped. 

I laughed. “You still annoyed I never sided with you?”

“No - guys don’t hold grudges, unlike you girls. You’re just really a loser.” 

I scoffed. “What would you know about girls, huh?” When he didn’t automatically answer, I knew I had put him in an uncomfortable position. “Ha! Don’t worry Jacob, Auntie Heba will be working on you next, no doubt.” 

I heard him grumble incoherently. “Whatever.” 

“Anyways, I need to talk to you.” 

“Duh,” he dryly responded. This is where I felt like strangling him. 

“Poor Zach - speaking of…last night Zach asked me why I was sneaking out and -,” 

“And you want me to tell him about my job,” Jacob finished smartly.

“Well, yes.” I heard him sigh on the other end of the line. “Please, please, please Jacob. I really don’t want to lie to him or make up any excuses. It’s time you told him.” 

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Can’t you just like, tell him for me?” I could hear the pleading in his voice. 

I almost laughed. “No Jacob, it would be better if he heard it from you first,” I stated sternly. 

He exhaled loudly and I imagined him wiping a hand down his face, hazel eyes tired. “OK, fine.”

“Thank you! Can you tell him tonight please?” 

“Look at you, all filled with demands. I’ll do it, only because you’re like my sister.” 

I halted in my speech. It was so unlike Jacob to say something even remotely cheesy. Wait till I tell Zach this! “You’re one and only! Let me know how it goes and thanks again.” 

“No problems, salam.” 

“Salam,” I finished, and ended the call.

I could feel some pain starting up again, so I downed two painkillers and next thing I knew, I had fallen asleep on the couch. 

****

I woke up to the sound of joyous squealing. Yawning, I got up and leaned back on my arms, observing my father and Adam. Adam was on the floor, rolling around and trying to escape dad’s hands as he tickled him mercilessly. I lay back down and just watched them with a small smile on my face.

“That’s enough,” mum commanded playfully. “We don’t want him having a little accident.” I chuckled audibly, remembering all too well the amount of times Adam had peed his pants when being tickled by one of us. 

“Looky here, the ’aroos is awake,” dad smiled and walked over to kiss my forehead. I frowned. 

“I’m not a bride yet.” Dad grinned at my annoyed expression and crossed his arms. 

“Not yet, but you will be soon…I don’t know if I totally like the sound of that.” He walked over to sit down next to me and I sat up straight, both out of respect and to make space for him. “Are you really ready for marriage?” he asked, not in a doubtful way, but as an honest question. 

I nodded my head. “I am dad - if it was with anyone else, maybe not, but it’s Zach. I’ve known him for years and I don’t feel afraid.” 

He seemed to be mulling over my words carefully. “Well that’s good - you shouldn’t feel afraid. I know Zach will take good care of you.” 

“Is that because you threatened him?” I asked playfully, nudging his shoulder. 

“Meh, maybe I did. Maybe not.” He looked over at me and laughed. “I didn’t need to threaten him. I can tell he loves you a lot.” A small blush lit my cheeks, and I promptly hugged him.

“Thanks for being so understanding dad.” 

“Anything for my princess,” he informed, putting his arm around my shoulders. 

“Hey, you never call us that,” Nadia stated, ever the jealous one. 

“Yeah,” Rida added, both of them now sporting ‘sad’ expressions.

“God, you two are annoying.” From across the room, mum gave me a disapproving glance at my comment. 

“That’s because you guys are queens, not princesses.” Dad gestured for them to come over and they did, satisfied smirks on their faces. They huddled in close to him, on the opposite side and he put his other arm around them too. 

“Hey, then what am I?” Mum sassily put a hand on her hip and lifted one eyebrow in question. 

“Umm…” Dad looked to us for help but we all shrugged in response.  

“Great husband I have,” mum sarcastically stated, as she proceeded to fold some clothes.

“Argh, now your mother’s upset. You women are becoming too much for me!” 

“I know dad, that’s why I reckon we hitch a cab and get out of here permanently.” We all looked up at Noah, who was jogging down the stairs. 

“And where are you going?” mum asked. 

“Out with the boys.” He sat and quickly pulled on his shoes. 

“If you smoke or do any argileh, I will know. I can smell it on you!” It was the same lecture she gave Noah before he went out, since nearly all his friends loved to light up. 

He groaned lightly. “Mum, you know I don’t do that.” 

“Hmm,” she said, looking unimpressed. It would take her sometime to fully trust him, as she was a firm believer that friends could have a large influence on you. I knew Noah was telling the truth though - he despised smoke as much as me. 

“I’m out!” he yelled, flying through the door. Just then my phone chimed with a message from Zach. 

Coming over now. 

Furrowing my eyebrows at his dry message, I told my parents he was coming and then got up to get dressed appropriately. I hoped Jacob had spoken to him already. 

As per usual, within ten minutes, I heard the door bell ring. I heard my parents greeting him but I didn’t go down straight away, as I was still fixing a pin on my hijab. 

“Is Yasmine upstairs,” I heard him ask, all the way from my room. There was something wrong - his voice was too strained. It appeared he was trying to remain polite when something was really bugging him. 

Just as I finally mastered the style I wanted my hijab in, I hurriedly walked out of my room. On exit however, I slammed right into Zach. 

“Ouch,” I whined, rubbing my forehead. What was his stupid chest made of? Bricks? 

Without replying, Zach strode in and began pacing the lengths of my room, anger evidently the cause of his clenched fists and bulging veins. Before I could even ask him what was wrong, he began talking, fast and furiously. 

“You know, just as I thought things were getting better with Jacob, he comes home today and guess what he tells me?” 

“What?” I squeaked, knowing exactly where this was going. 

“He’s a tunnel worker Yasmine. A tunnel worker,” he repeated, stopping in front of my bed and grabbing it’s frame in a firm hold. “You know, it’s one thing he lies to me, but he should at least have the decency to tell mum. What kind of a brother am I? I haven’t even realised this whole time and I’ve been letting him take the brunt of everything.” He shook his head and I swallowed anxiously. I could tell he was both angry at Jacob and disappointed in himself. “A tunnel worker - can you believe it?” he asked, turning to directly face me.

“Actually I can,” I whispered. 

His heated green eyes met mine, confused. “What?” 

“I know he’s a tunnel worker Zach. I’ve known for a while now.” As I watched Zach’s expression morph from confused to shocked then angry, I wanted to crumble up and hide in a corner. Believe me when I say, it’s not the best feeling in the world when you’re husband looks at you like you’ve just betrayed him. 

“How?” His voice was stone hard. 

“Remember how you asked me, why I was sneaking out,” I started with a shaky voice, my eyes pleading with him to understand. It was kind of hard, considering he wasn’t even looking at me now. 

He just nodded. “I was out one night, just taking a stroll, when I heard someone mention your name on the phone. Gut instinct told me they were talking about you and I know now, how completely stupid my actions were, but I decided to follow them. I ended up near the border, and since I had lost the person the first time, I decided to sneak out at night to find out who they were. Long story short - that person ended up just being Jacob. I realised it when I went to the border during the daytime, after uni, and found him working there.” 

Zach had an unreadable expression on his face, which I hated with every fibre of my being. “So why didn’t you tell me then and there?” 

“I promised him I wouldn’t! He believed you guys would stop him, if you knew and -,” 

“Of course we’re going to stop him!” Zach cut me off, disbelief in his voice. “Are you telling me just because of a ‘promise’, you didn’t tell me?!” 

“What kind of a person would I be, if I went and told you, without him wanting me to?” I desperately tried to reason. 

“Yasmine.” Zach shook his head, clearly frustrated. “That is my brother. He could have died out there and we wouldn't have been able to do a thing to save him! We wouldn’t even have known! Did you think about that Yasmine? That he could have died, or seriously injured himself? Or is keeping a promise more important to you?” 

“Of course I did! But he’s trying to support you, as a family, I didn’t want to come in between that!” My voice was breaking now and I knew I was on the verge of crying. 

“I would rather live out on the streets, than have my brother earn money from such an occupation. If you had told me earlier, I could have helped him, we would have sorted it out. I thought you at least knew me that well Yasmine.” I let the tears fall freely now. I couldn’t have felt more stupid or ashamed than at this moment. Zach’s demeanour softened a little when he saw my tears but he still turned his face away from mine, jaw clenched. “This is just the cherry on top of an amazing night. I come here, so that my wife, could console me, show me reason and help me figure out this situation and instead I get this,” he spoke softly, defeated. 

“Zach,” I sobbed quietly. I walked up and tried to embrace him, to give him any sort of comfort but he just shrugged me away. 

“No don’t. I-I just need some time Yasmine.” With that, he walked back out of my room, leaving me in a complete mess. 

You deserve it, my brain menacingly whispered to me. 

****

A/N

Poor Zuzu :( Yasmine really stuffed up this time. 

Just letting you guys know, that I have one more assignment and one more exam and then I am finished uni for the semester! Woohoo! Hopefully, after that, I will shower you with more updates, insha'Allah! 

PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT! 

Definitions:

Sabah elkheir: Good morning

'Aroos: Bride