Kareem's POV...
I looked up at the clock for probably the fifth time that minute. Why wasn't she back yet? Was the only thought racing through my mind. I knew it wasn't a good idea to let her go out there all alone so late at night.
I picked up my phone and dialed her number. No response. I called her up again, same thing. Was she deliberately ignoring me, or was she actually unable to answer my calls.
Was she in trouble? Hopefully not. I didn't want to ponder too much on that thought, but what if something else happened ? What if she came across that guy...
I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh before throwing my head back to rest on the top rail of the chair. It's weird to think that I'm the one sitting here all worried when she's probably out chatting with her friends. It's best not to think too much about it, she'll come home whenever she wants anyways.
I got up from the chair and made my way to the kitchen . I turned on the tap and filled my glass with water before rushing it down. I glanced at the my watch, it was past ten o'clock. I should probably call her again, maybe this time she'd answer the call. I made my way back to the dining table and placed the glass of water on the table before grabbing my phone. I was about to dial her number again when I saw her caller ID pop up on my screen.
I felt something like a warmth in my chest. Like a huge weight had been lifted from my chest. I answered the call on the first ring.
"Uhmm, hello. Is this Kareem?" I heard an unfamiliar voice ask.
"I'm sorry, who is this?" I asked . Who was she? Was she the person Laila went to see? If so, then why was she the one calling me?
"This is Natasha speaking. I am Laila's friend?" She said, her voice sounding a little shaky. So it was Laila's friend, but why was she the one speaking. Something was definitely off .
"And why are you with her phone? Anyways, I want to speak to Laila". I couldn't believe it. She wasn't answering any of my calls and now someone else is calling me with her phone. Maybe it would've been best if I didn't let her leave.
"Uhm, Laila is currently not in the condition to speak to you. Anyways, can you like come to the alleyway a few blocks away from Everbrew's Café. Please, it's urgent ".
An alleyway? She was in an alleyway? "What happened to her? Is she okay?" I asked. This whole thing seemed a lot more serious than I thought. I grabbed my car keys and headed out the front door.
"No. Just come quickly". I said as I cut the call. I opened the car door and hopped in, not hesitating to start the car.
I drove hastily to the alleyway that Natasha mentioned, thoughts racing through my mind as I put my foot on the brakes. I got out of the car , the sound of my heartbeat echoing in my ears as I hastily approached the alleyway,.
I the midst of the darkness, I was somehow able to spot Laila resting her head on someone's shoulder. As I looked carefully enough, I was able to notice the tears on her dress and the bruises on her arm. For a moment I felt numb, like as if I was still trying to process what I'd just seen. She was bruised and had probably been here outside in the cold for so long.
I rushed back into the car and came back out with a shawl . I wrapped the shawl around her and carefully led her to the car. With more light shining on her from the street lamp, I was able to notice her messy hair and the dust all over her hair and torn dress.
The two of us entered the car and I was about to start the engine when I noticed Natasha standing in the same spot where Laila was when I'd found her.
"Thank you". I said, loud enough for her to hear. I saw her smile before driving off.
The drive home was silent. I opened my mouth to speak several times but no words came out, instead I'd just kept glancing at the rearview mirror. She sat quietly staring forwards but at nothing in particular. What could have possibly happened to her? And who is responsible?
I pulled the car over once we'd arrived at the driveway. Without wasting anymore time, I stepped out of the car and opened the back door for Laila. She sat there idly, not noticing the fact that I'd opened the door for her. Her eyes staring straight ahead but at nothing in particular. I wondered what she was thinking about?
"Uhm, Laila?" I called out to her softly which sounded more like a question . That caught her attention as she slowly glanced in my direction before sticking her feet out from the car and attempting to stand up but slipped on the fabric of her dress, almost falling, but fortunately I caught her by the waist .
She looked down at the floor, avoiding my gaze as she stood up straight. I closed the car door behind her as I helped her make her way to the front door.
She was limping and could barely stand straight. What happened to her?
I opened the front door for her and led her to the couch. She sat down slowly while still avoiding my gaze. Her eyes were fixated on the carpet floor with her hair posing as a shield to cover her face.
I knelt down in front of her, trying my best to ignore the many assumptions running through my mind, but the one that stood out the most, what had happened to her?
"Uhm, Laila, are you okay? I mean, what happened to you?" I looked up at her, waiting for a reply, my heart beating rapidly in my chest.
When she didn't answer, I calmly placed my palms on her lap, she flinched a bit at the contact. "You were outside in the cold for a while before Natasha found you, and you weren't in the best-"
"I want to go up to my room". She said, cutting me off. She didn't look up for a moment to even see my face and that made me worry more about her.
"Uhm, okay", she got up, making sure to use the couch as her aid. "Can I help you?" I asked as she limped a bit when getting closer towards the stairs.
She didn't reply, but I chose to help her anyways. As I guided her further up the stairs, I felt this certain blank hole in my heart that needed to be filled, like as if a big part of my life is slowly drifting away from me.
When we reached her door, she walked in without even a glance at me before shutting the door in my face.
I sat behind her door. Thoughts like, ' what happened to her ?' , ' why isn't she saying anything?' , and ' doesn't she trust me enough to tell me what happened ?' raced through my mind as I leaned against her door.