Assalamualaikum 2011, Another Love Story, Apology and New Resolution.

Assalamualaikum 2011 and to all my readers. I hope it's still not to late for me to wish my readers a happy new year. Sorry for the rare updates -- like you really care, duh. I've not been updating my Khakihaku just because I've been busy, really busy. I wish you guys a happy new year, may this year bring us more luck and happiness. Amin.

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Note : This is another English story originally written by me with grammatical errors all over the place. It's my sixth English story and I will be writing more and more. English experts are always welcomed to correct the errors for my betterment. Thank you for reading.

Author : Khaleeqa Idrus
Title : You Never Know

Getting up in the early morning to attend classes is the toughest thing I have been continuously doing with success ever since the second semester got started. It is a new-year resolution of mine that my roommates have been amazed by. Formerly, I would rush to the bathroom and have my bath taken as hurried as I could at this hour. At this particular hour when the birds have just gotten themselves out from the nests, flying hither and thither in the fleecy sky – looking for worms to feed the baby birds that have started to chirp in hunger as anticipated.

There was this one day when I educated myself to always predict the unpredictable things and expect the unexpected things that might have not even for once come across my mind. I was getting myself prepared to class when my heart without warning palpitated uncontrollably. Ignore and keep loading my bag with a number of files and books was what I did but no matter how hard I tried, trembling hands by no means can be void when you are catching your breath.

What was wrong with me? I quizzed myself soundlessly. Would anything bad happen today? Was anything going to happen to family who was miles away that I could never reach them in the blink of an eye? Would my classmates and I be taken aback with a sudden law test?

As sickening question by sickening question banged my head, butterflies that seemed lost started to flutter in my stomach. I became woozier to think of what was actually going to happen that I out of the blue, became terrified of getting out from dorm and making a move to the class. I glanced to the watch and knew, I had no other choice than to start to walk to class or I would be late otherwise.

I felt calmer when I set my foot out of the dorm. Seeing other students waited for their companions chilled the bottom of my heart. There were other people too, lass. The world did not revolve around you, I had thought. The icy I felt didn't seem to last for long as it had melted when this one posh car which didn't only past me by but it had even made a U-turn before it stopped right where I was standing, causing other students who were about to attend their respective classes in the morning to draw their attention on us – me and the posh car, and the posh car’s driver.

I could tell they were asking silently with their eyebrows furrowed, “What the heck is going on here?” through their facial expression. As a matter of fact, neither did I myself know what was going on that time. I felt sorry I could not answer their marvel.

The driver could be barely seen that made me brave enough to raise my right-middle finger up for snatching my breath early in the morning as well as putting me at the center of attention which girls like me never liked and never would. I would bet the public would feel safer if there were a law entitling these breath-snatchers legal sanction such as giving a free ride to the victim who would be me if my case were to be referred – which of course, beyond absurdity.

Who would give a damn about breath being snatched? If there were, it would be me. Merely me.

Letting myself fooled or astounded by the perfection of the posh car, I never would. Thus, I made some steps forward, leaving the undeniably tempting car behind whose driver was probably dead as no movement was detected in there. Did the driver intend to flaunt his posh car or something? If yes, he or she had chosen a wrong person to brag about his posh car to.

Sound of door being slammed hit my ears. I intended not to turn but the voice that sounded very familiar had caused me to. I could not insist not to turn when I believed the voice was speaking to me. The voice was asking me.

I had Goosebumps and heart palpitation once I turned to the owner of the voice.

‘Oh my gosh! It’s him!’ my heart squealed.

All screws on my knee started to loose. My blood circulatory system didn't seem to function properly any longer. There was no blood managed to be pumped to redden my pale face. It was my friend who I just noticed her presence, supported me to stand straight and gain my strength back.

I never knew I was this fragile! What happened to me? Where was the Allie that everyone had been respected for her rare daringness?

“Baby, would you give me at least a chance to explain?” he asked with some steps toward me.

He had called me with that name again! And it caused me to sweat worse than pigs did.

“Would you?”

I was too surprised by his unexpected presence to reply even a word. Speechless, I really was.

‘Girl, come back to your senses? You’re not gonna let this meet-up relentlessly be seen by others, are you?’ I alleviated myself.

I peeked to my friend who had been loyally standing beside me. I knew she had been so because she was demanding an explanation of what was actually happening at the moment. She would not have been so if the happening involved me and other person from the same sex. It was because the happening involved two persons from different sexes that caused her to stay and allege she was my friend.

Gosh, how could I have such thought in me? That was so mean of me!

“Allie?” the voice hit my eardrum again, indirectly brought me back to the reality.

“Huh?” was all I could give as an impulsive response.

“Can we talk for a minute or two?” he seemed sorry for being here unexpectedly that was kind of similar to attacking a seemed-to-be-innocent person like me.

“I am sorry. I’ve got a class to attend,” I replied.

“I’ll give a ride and we can talk in the car,” he paused and seek for my eyes before he added, “I really mean it.”

I felt my hand squeezed. I thought it was my friend who intended to reassure me but out of awareness, it was him who squeezed my hand. I had no idea when he reached it but I could tell even he was anxious. He managed to hide it, though – which never could be done by people with honest faces like me.

And beyond expectation, the squeeze was truly heartening!

“I’m sorry. I – we’ve got to go!” I pulled my hand before grasping a hand of my friend’s and trying to leave him behind again which led to no avail again.

He did not grasp my shoulder but my friend’s instead. She was taken aback but I would bet she was happy to be seized by him even she had no idea what this fella had to do with me and even only on the shoulder.

“Are you Allie’s close friend?” he had asked with his eyebrows raised.

I was shocked to see her nod. She had nodded to the question and she had claimed to be my close friend! I was also shocked to happen to notice that I did not protest her for so which could not be happening! She just came from nowhere and stood by me with a gaze at him and claimed that she was my close friend? Hell no would I admit she was because the fact is, she wasn’t!

‘Why did I keep still? Say something, lass!’

But would I dare to embarrass my just-happened-to-be-close friend whom I could guarantee that I would meet her more than I meet him? Would I?

“You’re not going to give her a ride as well, are you?” I managed to voice my marvel out, finally.

I saw him smile and my new close friend grimace on impulse.

“No, I’m not. I just wanted to ask her to help me tell your lecturer that you would probably be late for five minutes or ten but not more. You can hold me to my words, seriously,” he said with a smile which I could probably say I had been missing since I could remember.

I did not know why I nodded but it was a relief to hear him say that and I saw his smile widen even though he tried to cover it. I was not blind not to see it.

“So pretty lady, could you help me tell her lecturer, err – are you guys classmates?”

She nodded.

“So, could you help me tell your lecturer that Allie would probably be late for five or ten minutes?”

For umpteenth times, she nodded. I never knew I had a soundless friend.

“Thanks, may God bless you.”

We both watched her go before he opened an arm directed to his car, politely inviting me to set myself in his posh car. His car was really posh, you!

“Shall we?” the smile drawn on his face seemed to get wider bit by bit.

I was secretly amused. I hoped that I could keep my face static but as honest as my face had always been, a smile slowly drawn on my lips. I quickly pursed my lips so he would not know I was amused by his smile.

“I’m guessing she isn’t any close to you,” he raised his eyebrows with an eye-catching smile at the end of his lips.

I took at glance at him.

“You should have known. She came from nowhere and suddenly claimed to be my close friend? What was that all about? Nonsense!” I was stunned to know that I could spit it out.

He chuckled while leisurely turning the air-conditioner on.

“I missed you. I’m glad you haven’t changed a bit except you seem to get speechless very easily now and you’re now a bit, err – flabbier.”

I was stunned for like again. It was not because of his comment on my body figure, but his honesty in confessing his true feeling. I had received such comment regarding my flabbiness since day one. I was used to it already.

“Despite me missing you too, how on earth can you be here? This is not UK, this is Sungai Petani, you know? When did you get back? And why are you here?”

“See, I knew this conversation was essential. Okay, let me answer one question at a time.” He paused.

“I just got back here three days ago and right after I got here, I was told lots and lots of stories about you that I couldn’t wait to see you. I’m here because I want to meet my baby that I have missed like hell. Are all your questions answered now?”

I threw my glance to the front just to realize that he was driving at a snail’s pace.

“Could you drive any slower?” I mocked.

Again, he amused me with pleasing chuckles.

“Why are you in this suit?” I asked, looking at him from head to toe.

He was wearing a black collared shirt with a black slack suited with a pair of black shoes that looked really exclusive. Was he a CEO of a company or something?

“Do you think the guard at the gate would allow me to enter if I didn’t wear proper attire?”

I raised my eyebrows.

“You’ve got yourself in this suit just to be allowed to enter here just to see me?”

He grinned.

“Am I that 'somebody' to you?” I asked in disbelief.

“It should have been more obvious that you’re somebody to me that I was willing to travel all the way long just to get here merely to meet you.”

Out of consciousness, I had stared at him for a moment, saying nothing but just gazing. Silent started to draw us apart. I did not know what else to say but I would bet he did. He owed me an explanation, if I was not mistaken.

“Allie, I know you’ve been so mad because I went to UK without telling you and neither did I write you any letter," he said as if he just scanned my mind.

Okay, that was terrifying!

"I know you had resigned from being a member of our society because you’ve been mad and no one was there to reassure you. I tell you what, there wasn’t any second you were off my mind. You were stuck as if I had you imprisoned in there.

If I have disappointed you, I truly am sorry. I left without notice because honestly, I was hurt when you said I wouldn’t have felt jealous if I did not let the feeling grow in me. I was a bit mad because you refused to accept the idea that the growth was inexorable. It was out of my control, Allie. Then, I thought you wouldn’t care if I just left so I went away on my birthday, when you refused to wish me after the despicable fight of us. Only three days ago I happened to find out that you had actually baked three birthday cakes for the past three years with my name written on them and kept them up till now in your refrigerator. I don’t know what the ingredients were but they have not got rotten even a bit, really,” he paused, letting me to drown with my thoughts.

Speaking of resigning from the dancing society he just talked about, I had lost all the dancing skills and movements. With my body getting chubbier, making some thrilling dance moves would for sure be difficult. It was three years back when I was still in high-school, I had joined the society to kill my ample time.

I did not mean that I had clean-forgot about him but I had had so many assignments I did not manage to spare him a thought. It was my bad, I admitted.

“I wasn’t mad,” I interjected before he continued.

“You weren’t?”

I shook my head.

“I’ve been loaded with tons of tasks. I didn’t manage to spare you a thought,” I admitted.

He nodded and did not seem as delighted as he was just now.

“I apologize profusely for leaving you. I should have waited a bit longer till both of us had calmed down. I suppose we both were too young that time to think that way. It’s not that I think we’re now matured enough but we are at least grown-ups now, aren’t we? But I hope, I do really hope that I’m not too late to cherish our relationship and win your heart back because I love you, Allie. I really do,” he sounded so regretful in the first place but I could see a ray of lights in his eyes which was filled with hopes.

I did not know if accepting his presence back in my life would be right. But if it was wrong, I wouldn’t want to be right.

“I’ve been really muddled-up, trying to blend in with the new environment. At first, I wished you were here but this is the reality I have to face. I’m going to face the world, alone. No matter how many loved ones I have, I still have to face it by myself. I had a good start, though. As time goes by, your face had slightly faded away from my mind then, I honestly admit that. Nonetheless – I don’t mean to flatter you by the way – but I had only you back then. Only you – and my mind was filled and heavy enough that I could not endure any more loads. You filled every inch of my brain and heart that no more space left for others. Your name was like transparently written all over my body. It was only you I thought of," I made a clean breast.

"However, I knew I had a long way of journey to go. I couldn’t simply rely on your love which I hesitated would last forever even though you kept telling me that it would. I even thought it had lasted since you just went away without any notice left for me. And now, you yourself are still trying to stabilize your financial even though you don’t have to because your wealthy background and I just started my study here which I have no idea I would stuck or not later. For sure, I hope not but life always goes against the plan. I plan to finish my studies successfully but anyhow, God always has better plans for us. I am afraid my plan isn’t good enough.

Thus, I started a new life with a belief there was nothing else missing. I held that belief tightly till you showed up and I saw you just now, and the belief vanished right away. I never knew I missed you so much that I did not want to say a word but to have your arms around me when I saw you.

I don’t care nor do I want to care about what happened between us three years ago. All I know now you won’t let me go away from you anymore because I’ll make sure I am eternally attached to you and have no chance to even escape a step from you.

I know I haven’t told you this but I’m going to tell you know that I love you immeasurably. The speechless state I was in when I first saw you just now showed so, didn’t it? I am sorry too for …”

“Shhh …,” he cut in.

“Say no more word or I’ll kiss you straight away because that’s how I feel right now,” he narrowed his gorgeous eyes and shut me up.

I did not know what else I should say.

“I better send you off to class now. Otherwise, we might end up at Tok Kadi’s office,” he said with no sense of humor which it was supposed to have but instead, he had said it seriously as if he really meant what he said. Did he?

When we reached the class, he did not unlock the door. Instead, he threw himself back to the couch, leaning groggily backward and I could tell he was under duress as if there was something in his mind.

“Fakhriez?”

His opened his eyes and set himself properly before he faced me.

“I don’t mean any harm but would you let me hug you only for this time because I couldn’t be more grateful that God has given us another cha…”

I pulled the collar of his black shirt and hugged him close to me, very snugly that I did not want him to go anywhere anymore – before he managed to finish his words.

He was dazed a bit before warmly returned the hug, pulled my waist closer to him and laid countless kisses on my shoulders and neck. I believed he won’t cross the line. He put both of his bare hands on my cheeks and heartwarmingly kissed my eyes.

“I’m sorry for taking your love lightly back then. I’m sorry I was …,” I did not manage to finish my words when he silent me by putting his lips on mine with no tongue slipping. It was just lips-touching. His lips were warm, just as warm as his love.

He then leaned his forehead against mine, letting the point of our nose to touch each other. He had said over and over again that he loved me till his phone rang, signaling a message received and which had abstractedly crashed the sweet moment that was just about to assemble, into pieces.

Gently, he set me free and the hassle I saw in him just now disappeared to nowhere could be found. I smiled gleefully.

“Off you go now. I’ll see you after your class and we’ll discuss our future after that. God might have a better plan for us but we can pray for the better of this relationship, can’t we?”

Being surprised by unpredictable and unexpected happenings had taught me not to be afraid of making decisions beyond prediction and expectation. People might have thought that I would not hook up with him, for him has left me but you never know what future actually would reward you. If you don’t take the risk, you would never move forward in exploring the mysterious world that is way more complicated than it may sound.

I was actually 30 minutes late when I entered the class but it was another blessing from God that the lecturer herself could not make it because of a sudden meeting which meant the class was cancelled and I did not miss any class.

Even more, I had spare time to be with him and draw our future together before turning the drawing into reality in no time.

Spontaneous things always lead to exciting expeditions and outcomes, don’t they?

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For those who have been asking what my new-years resolutions are, I would name the resolutions here but I will elucidate the reason I resolute so in next post, InsyaALLAH.

1) I don't want to be pious but I want to pray five times a day.
2) I want to post an English story every month, at least.

That's all! if Take a good care, guys.