As Iyad stood there in front of her, his face took on a sudden flush of color, betraying his emotions.
His eyes averted from her gaze, as if he could not bear to look upon her any longer. It was clear to her that something was amiss, and she could feel a pang of sadness in her chest.
Despite his obvious discomfort, Iyad remained composed, attempting to hide his turmoil beneath a veneer of calm.
But she knew him too well, and could sense the storm brewing beneath the surface.
It was only a matter of time before he would break, and she wondered what it was that troubled him so.
Without warning, Iyad spoke up, his voice steady but strained. "I think it's best if my driver takes you home now," he said, his eyes still avoiding hers.
She knew then that he could not bear to be in her company , therefore she just stayed silent after that .
Kamilia felt a deep sense of guilt and responsibility for Iyad's reaction. She couldn't help but wonder if she had said or done something wrong that had caused him to become so visibly uncomfortable and embarrassed.
She replayed their conversation over and over in her mind, trying to pinpoint where she might have gone wrong.
As the car pulled away from the curb, Iyad didn't move to join her in the back seat. He stood there, watching the vehicle disappear into the night.
Kamilia couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment as she settled into the plush leather seat.
She had hoped that he would have at least accompanied her for the ride back home, but it seemed that he was in no mood for small talk or pleasantries.
When Jada, the maid assigned to keep an eye on Kamilia, saw her returning home alone, she was taken aback.
Jada was the only young maid inside Iyad's house, she was in her thirties, and it seemed that she was assigned there because she would take care of Kamilia in a better way.
Jada's instincts kicked in as she observed Kamilia's demeanor upon her return.
The young woman's energy was replaced by a somber countenance, and her makeup was smudged as if she had shed some tears. Jada's curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't resist asking Kamilia what had happened.
Jada, sensing Kamilia's distress, approached her and asked, "Is everything alright, Miss Kamilia?"
Kamilia shook her head and replied, "No, Jada. I ruined everything."
Jada sat down next to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What happened, Miss Kamilia? Can I help in any way?"
Kamilia took a deep breath before explaining what had happened between her and Iyad earlier that evening. Jada listened attentively, offering words of comfort and encouragement.
"Don't blame yourself, Miss Kamilia," Jada said. "Perhaps Mr. Iyad just had something on his mind, or maybe he's not feeling well. It doesn't necessarily mean that he's upset with you."
Kamilia sighed. "I hope you're right, Jada. I just feel so foolish for letting my emotions get the best of me."
Jada gave her a reassuring smile. "It's alright, Miss Kamilia. These things happen. You're a strong and capable woman, and you'll get through this."
Kamilia managed a small smile in return, feeling grateful for Jada's kind words and support.
As Jada left the room, Kamilia let out a heavy sigh and slowly made her way to her bed. She lay down and closed her eyes, hoping to drift off into a deep sleep that would make her forget about the embarrassing encounter with Iyad.
However, her mind was racing with thoughts and she couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment in herself.
She replayed the scene in her head over and over again, wondering what she could have done differently.
Eventually, exhaustion took over and she fell into a fitful sleep.
Kamilia's eyes flew open as she felt a weight pressing down on her. She gasped and bolted upright in bed, heart racing with fear.
It took her a moment to register the figure next to her, illuminated by the soft glow of the lamp on her bedside table.
Relief washed over her as she recognized Iyad's familiar features, but she couldn't help feeling a tinge of confusion mixed with her fear.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Iyad didn't answer immediately. He simply gazed at her with a mixture of sadness and longing in his eyes.
Kamilia could feel the intensity of his gaze, and it made her heart skip a beat. She had never seen him look at her like this before.
Finally, Iyad spoke, his voice low and husky. "I couldn't stay away from you," he said simply.
Kamilia's breath caught in her throat. She had been so sure that he was angry with her, that he would never want to see her again after what had happened earlier.
But here he was, looking at her as if she was the only person in the world that mattered.
Slowly, hesitantly, Iyad reached out a hand and brushed a strand of hair from Kamilia's face. She shivered at his touch, a rush of electricity coursing through her body.
"I know I shouldn't be here," he murmured, his gaze never leaving hers. "But I couldn't help myself"
"Since when have you been here?" she managed to stutter, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and confusion. She couldn't believe that he had somehow snuck into her room without her noticing.
Iyad remained silent for a moment, his dark eyes studying her face before he finally spoke.
"I've been here for a while," he said quietly, his voice low and husky. "I didn't want to leave you alone after what happened earlier."
Kamilia's heart skipped a beat as she processed his words. She couldn't believe that he had come to her room, of all places, after their earlier confrontation.
Kamilia's voice was laced with a mix of surprise, confusion, and perhaps a hint of fear as she looked at Iyad sitting on her bed. "But still...Iyad...you just can't be here," she reiterated, shaking her head in disbelief.