LAYLA

Chapter Six

Our life continued that way, it was like a routine, an unspoken agreement, and we both enjoyed it, at least I did and I think he does too.

We are closer than we were 3 months back when all this started, we always eat together, go for a walk around the estate, watch a movie or play video games, we even talk about guys and girls we are crushing on and have crushed on. He helps in the kitchen sometimes(well most times), he even let me win once while playing video games, I'm sure he let me win because there's no way I could do it on my own, sometimes I even find myself missing him when he goes out for some work, throughout the three months that we've been married, he traveled twice and the house was boring as hell.

I could confidently say that we are friends.

I was going for a walk now, i didn't go yesterday because I was reading a book and Zayyad wasn't home.

I knocked on his room door, i heard some shuffling before the door opens. He was wearing a white shirt and grey sweatpants.

Why do guys look good on sweatpants? Is it programmed to make them look twice as hot as they already are?

  "Are you busy? I'm going for a walk and I thought you'll want to tag along"

  "Sure, let me just save what I was doing on Ms-word"

He walked to were his laptop was and saved what he was doing, picked up his phone, and stepped out not bothering to close his door.

  "Let's go"

I walked out leaving him behind to lock the door, i looked behind to find a grinning Zayyad jog up to my side and adapt his pace to my slow steps, i keep my eyes anywhere but his face as we walk side by side,about half a meter between us.

Why is he smiling like that?

I look around the trees and flowers on the sidewalk, admiring the beautiful houses surrounding us while he searches through the back pocket of his jeans and flicks two fingers getting my attention.

"Do you mind if I... ", he holds up a cigarette between his fingers and a lighter in his other hand.

I was shocked.

"Oh, no, It.. It's total..ly fine"I stuttered, "I didn't know you smoked"

He smiled as I watch him flip the top of the lighter, he looks down at it to carefully light the tip of the cigarette.

He inhales it, looks slightly up and exhales.

"Yeah, it's a bad habit I formed back in the UK, I smoked when I'm bored or stressed.

"So are you bored then"

"No, I just feel like smoking today, I wanted you to know I smoke."

He repeats the motion again.

And again.

And again.

The smoke from the cigarette was choking me but i didn't react to it, i held my breath for some seconds and exhaled.

I feel a familiar tightness in my chest.

I think he noticed my discomfort because he dropped it and stepped on it.

"Are you okay, you don't look okay"he looked concerned.

"Yeah, i'll be fine, i didn't come with my inhaler, i just need a breath of fresh air"

"You are asthmatic, Subhanallah, why didn't you tell me when I asked if it was okay"

"I didn't know it will affect me, i haven't gotten any attack since this year began."

I couldn't breath properly, my vision was blurring slightly and I missed a step. 

"Let's get you back home"I'm off the ground, he is running with me in his arms like i weigh nothing.

"Where is your inhaler, where do you keep it"i heard Zayyad's voice close to me, I am lowered onto something soft and comfortable.

How did he get in so fast, long legs I guess.

"My purse"I croaked out between gasps

He rushed to where my purse, poured the content on the floor, picked my inhaler and rushed back to where I was laying on the bed.

I opened my mouth, and he sprayed it into my mouth allowing me to breath at intervals, when I could properly I told him I was okay. The concerned look on his face was thrilling, he looked really guilty too.

"Zayyad Walahi I'm perfectly fine now, you don't need to worry about it " I assured him,

"How could you be so careless, i told you about my allergy to honey but you couldn't tell me this? Do you know how scared I was"

"It totally slipped off my mind, I'm sorry"

If the situation was different I would be enjoying this moment, the look on his face, he looked like he cared,from his close proximity, i could see every contour of his face, his smell was overpowering, but not the bad type, It was the good type. And then he did something that I wasn't expecting. He hugged me, and my heart swelled. 

"Layla, don't ever do this to me again"he whispered. He pulled back, both hands on my shoulder, the expression on his face was serious, "you should never neglect your health like that... ever" he stressed the last word.

I didn't know he cared this much, we were really close now, we were friends, but I didn't know he will be this scared if something ever happened.

If something like this ever happened to him, i will totally flip and go out of my mind,so I guess it's understandable.

"Let me get you something to something warm to drink

stay here, don't move, and when you want to perform ablution make sure you use warm water, you can't get cold.

He stepped out of my room.

Zayyad

I feel horrible,no horrible was an understatement, i was losing it when she was finding it hard to breathe, i didn't mean for that to happen, I wanted her to know that I smoked, she had to find out one day, I'm never doing that s**t again, what if it had gotten worse.

I like her, she is refreshing, I'm used to girls drooling over me and throwing themselves at me. But we've been living together for three whole months, but today is the first day i hugged her, she never attempts to cuddle while watching a movie even though we do it almost everyday, or do some other cheesy thing that most women will do. And ironically she is my wife.

Wife.

That feels strange, it doesn't even feel like I'm married, it's just feels like we are roommates and friends.

But she is adorable!

If we would have met in a different situation, i would have tried to shoot my shot.

Everything about her was beautiful, she is beautiful, the way she rushes her words while talking, the smile lines that appears when she smiles, her love for fresh ginger tea with natural honey and lemon, even though I think it's gross, the way she pouts when she doesn't like something or isn't getting it right, the way her eyes twinkle when she's talking about something she loves like books, food and makeup, her obsession for anklets and waist beads. Now that last part fascinates me.

Her petite frame was beautiful, even though she was not my usual type, her 5'2 stature was nothing compared to my 6'2. She was really slim which was surprising because the amount of food she consumes was alarming for a girl.

But I still find myself liking all these little things, it was refreshing from the other girls I use to to hangout with.

I prepared her favorite ginger tea with lemon and honey, placed it on a saucer and took it to her room.

She was lying on the bed, just the way I left her, she looked pale, the glow that's always emitting from her skin was dulling. She can pretend to be okay but I know she's not.

I placed the saucer on a drawer beside her bed and sat beside her, i helped her sit up and gave her the tea.

She sipped it and moaned closing her eyes, that brought a smile to my face.

"Thanks, it's just the way I like it"she said smiling, the genuine one that makes those smile lines appear.

I smiled back at her.

And that's when I realized that I adore this woman I call my wife.