70 Days; Chapter 5

Two weeks later; Day #14

"I saw the both of you talking, don't deny it!" Deena said.

"I'm not denying it, but what exactly is your point?" I replied.

"My point is he's so into you, considering you two were almost going to hug right before Nasser interrupted!"

He's so into you.

He's so into you.

He's so into you.

Fake.

And the only reason we were 'almost' about to hug was because Deena was watching us, we just wanted to state the obvious.

If only she knew that this was all pretend.

"Okay and so what if he is?" I answered.

"Oh my god, are you two secretly..?-" she gave me a flirtatious look.

I didn't want to blow our cover off, I stared shyly, after all, Rashed and I are trying to fit in.

"Oh my god! When? Where? And how come you haven't told me earlier!?" Deena screamed, jumping out of joy and excitement.

I made up a quick story right on the spot, clarifying everything.

-

"Hey girlfriend!!!" Rashed messaged me.

"Hello boyfriend hahaha" I replied.

A part of me wanted this really badly, although the other part was screaming in disapproval.

Let me put it this way, I'm being helpful, I'm helping a friend out, that's all.

"Go-karting today, be there!"

"Okay," I said.

"So, what's our plan for today, Queen Jade? Hahaha," his words made my stomach feel funny, he ended it with a laugh in order for my brain to not take it seriously, it's all according to the plan, or should I say, 'game'.

"Hmm... I don't know, I'll think of something," I wrote back.

"Okay, and Jade?"

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to thank you, honestly, nobody would've done this."

I typed, "Don't mention it ;)"

"The passed two weeks were amazing, weren't they?"

Indeed, they were. And I must say, he's a really good actor.

"Yes, yes they were!"

"You're the best :)"

All flattered up, I responded, "I know, hahaha!"

-

I've been thinking for the past half an hour about how to make today's plan a success.

Maybe we should really hug this time?

Maybe he should put his arm around me?

You know, this whole 'fake relationship' thing is really harder than I thought.

I don't see how Deena can manage doing it with more than one guy at once!

It's just not sinking in...

I don't know if I'll be able to keep up, I need Rashed to help me.

-

Rashed's perspective;

The thought of this game Jade and I are playing is spreading guilt all the way through my veins.

I don't know if I should end it or just play along, what if she's enjoying it?

She's a really sweet girl, though.

I picked her because I believe we have things in common.

We're both single and we both want to fit in, I think..

All this pressure on me needed to be released.

I was casually kicking some soccer balls into the net, when I felt severe foot pain once again while thinking about the first day of this 'game'.

I automatically collapsed to the floor, and unconsciously placed my right cold palm, caused by the cool breeze, on the source of pain.

"Rashed!" Faisal shouted across the football field.

"Faisal!" I shouted back, out of breath.

"I'm guessing you found the girl already? Why'd you choose Jade?" he asked, approaching me, he seemed quite excited.

"She's different, I love her," I spilled, lying, my palm still remained on my foot.

"Well, good for you then!" he grinningly replied.

As he left, I slowly walked up to my duffel bag and pulled out my bottle of water along with my pills.

-

I need a plan for today, I need one immediately, I need this to go perfectly.

I spotted Jade at the far end corner of the waiting room. I ran up behind her and covered her eyes.

With Deena and the guys behind me, I felt my palm, covering both her eyes, touched by hers.

"Rashed?" she asked letting out her cute giggle.

"I no hablan Inglés" I said in a Spanish accent, last week she told me she understood their language, "te ves hermosa"

She removed my hand and turned around. I stared into her hazel eyes and watched her lips grow a smile after her ears heard me compliment her, "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," she replied softly.

Hesitantly, as I saw one of the guys from the corner of my eye, I leaned in for a peck on her cheek.

I noticed them turn more red than they actually are.

I heard small gasps but the majority of our group were cheering me on.

It felt great.

-

"I so won you!" I screamed at Jade, Deena, and the rest of the guys, bragging about my victorious win as soon as we were done karting.

After they all seemed quite irritated by me, I announced that we should go eat.

While walking to the nearby restaurant, Jade and I happened to be near each other, the others reached, already.

"You're a good actor, did you know that?" she said.

"Hahaha!" I laughed.

Two minutes later, I noticed the silence between us, I broke it, "But honestly, you do look beautiful."

Once again she stopped, looked at me, and with her shy voice she said, "I need to feel beautiful in order to believe it."

I was about to reply, but instead Deena walks out laughing hysterically, "Where have you two been?! We're all waiting for you!"

-

I had no appetite, which was strange since I haven't eaten anything since breakfast.

Jade and I sat next to each other and the others were facing us.

After most of them were all done with dinner, I caught Faisal staring at the two of us, mysteriously.

I placed my arm around her shoulder and whispered into her ear, "lean on me."

And she did.

With her on me, it lasted fifteen minutes, it was interrupted by my usual leg pains.

I moved, unexpectedly, away from Jade's head.

I held on to the pain, secretly.

I looked at her, her eyes were overwhelmed with worry as they witnessed few of my winces of pain.

"I'm fine," I replied, not wanting anyone to know what's going on with me.

I looked around me searching for my medicine.

It was nowhere to be found.

I stood up, however, somehow, my head felt light.

I felt no weight whatsoever.

Nausea, it was.

I stood up, and walked slowly.

With Jade following me, I experienced the sight of vividness.

Blur, everywhere.

The room was spinning.

And from that moment, Jade grabbing ahold of both my arms was the last thing my mind could look back to.