Royalty Gone Bad novel Chapter 59

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Asahd’s POV:

The next afternoon, I made my way to the park where Allison had called and asked us to meet. I was a little nervous at what she was going to say and hoped she wouldn’t be very angry.

I got there and met her sitting on one of the benches, staring at the lake. The frown she had on meant nothing good.

′Oh boy. Here goes nothing.′

I approached her and she looked up as I did so. I sat close to her.

“Good afternoon, dear,” I kissed her cheek. She stared blankly at me. “I’m sorry Ally. I’m so sorry I forgot. I didn’t mean to have you waiting.”

“Asahd, why are you treating me like this?” she started with a little frown.

“Allison, my intentions weren’t to hurt you. I promise. I forgot.”

“Not only this, Asahd. If I don’t call, you don’t bother calling. You peck and kiss me like you’ve been forced to. There’s no passion, there’s nothing. All I ask is a little affection. True affection and not something forced,” she complained and I kind of felt bad for her.

“I’m very sorry, Allison.”

“Tell me something, Asahd,” she rubbed her forehead.

“Yes?”

“Do you love me? I mean, do you like me as much as I like you?” she asked slowly.

“I like you Allison.”

“No. Let me say it in a different manner. Do you have true feelings for me? Do you like me more than a friend? Cuz it seemed like you did at some point but now, everything’s different. I’m confused Asahd. Be honest with me.”

I stared silently at her. I wasn’t going to lie and give her false hopes. This was the time to tell her the truth but without having to mention the fact that I was into another girl.

“Asahd, answer me.”

I exhaled.

“I’m sorry Ally, but I don’t share your feelings. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t feel same.”

Her expression saddened and I felt terrible, now.

“Then why did you make me feel like you’d developed something??” she asked, annoyed.

′Because at a point, I did. But I’m not gonna tell her I suddenly outgrew my feelings for her.′

“Ally, I’m sorry. Remember I’d told you from the start that I saw you as a very good friend. I behaved like that because I believed that if I put in more efforts, I would eventually fall for you. See you in a different light but it didn’t turn out the way I expected it to. I’m sorry.”

Her eyes watered and she closed them.

“Please, don’t hate me, Ally. I’m begging you. You mean a lot to me and I don’t want you to hate me,” I told her, meaning every single word.

She shook her head in disappointment and wiped her eyes.

“I think we should break up, now that things are clear,” she muttered.

“I didn’t want to hurt you. I wanted to make you happy but I did it the wrong way. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she wiped her eyes. “It was my fault anyway. You told me from the start but like an idiot I still wanted to give it a try, hoping you would return my feelings soon enough.”

“Please, don’t hate me, Allison,” I begged with hands joined.

“I don’t hate you, Asahd,” she sniffed. “We’re both to blame for trying to make something that probably wasn’t meant to happen, happen.”

“I’m sorry, Ally.”

She wiped her eyes and nodded a little, looking up at me.

“It’s fine,” she gave me a little sad smile. “Hopefully I get over it real soon. I don’t wanna stop talking to you. I can’t. We’ll remain good friends then.”

“Thank you,” I hugged her tight. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she raised her head and smiled a little before stepping back.

“See you tomorrow at work.”

“Okay.”

We hugged again and she left. I kinda felt relieved, like some weight had been removed from my shoulders.

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Saïda’s POV:

My father hung up and I immediately asked:

“What did the sultan say, papa?”

He’d just given another full report on Asahd and his behavior to the sultan.

“Well, just like I’d said before, Asahd’s back on the right track.”

“This means, we’ll be going back to Zagreh, soon?” I asked with a smile.

“Exactly. Latest, Wednesday. We’ll board a flight. I’ll get the tickets tomorrow.”

“Oh my!” I squealed. I’d missed Zagreh so much! “We’ll tell him when he returns?”

“Let’s wait until I get the tickets, then we’ll tell him and show them.”

“He’s going to be so happy,” I laughed.

“True true. He’s changed a lot and we’re witnesses. He’s adapted completely to this new life and has evacuated all the bitterness and negativity he used to feel. I’m happy for him.”

“This is great.”

As we spoke, Asahd knocked and walked in. We kept quiet.

“Hello,” he smiled a little and we replied. He then sat with us. “Guess what,” he started.

“What?” we asked.

“Allison broke up with me.”

My father stared at him in surprise. I was amused rather.

“Why??” my father asked.

“I didn’t have feelings for her, Djafar. We’re very good friends and have always been. I couldn’t stay in a relationship with her. I was unintentionally making her suffer because we didn’t share the same feelings. It’s better for both of us to remain friends.”

“I think it’s better too,” I agreed.

“Oh that’s sad,” my father said. “I really thought the both of you would be something real. Guess I was wrong.”

“At a point I realised it couldn’t last. And I’m quite relieved that she broke up first. I was doubting on how to approach her, for real. If I’d been the one to break up, maybe things would’ve been worse,” Asahd replied.

“I was really for you both,” my father shook his head and I laughed a little.

“Don’t worry dad. It’s not the end of the world. Asahd will definitely find someone else,” I told him.

“Right,” Asahd replied, looking me in the eyes. I felt my cheeks burn and so I looked away immediately.

“Ah maybe you’re right,” my father finally agreed. “He’ll surely find someone else.”

***

Asahd’s POV:

That night, while everyone was asleep, I grabbed my note book and calculated the money I had to come up with. It included the price of the tickets, the taxi fairs I would be grabbing, some money to buy snacks on the way and some side money just in case something unexpected came up. I summed up all expenses and they gave me a final price.

“Time to see what I was able to make,” I muttered to myself, grabbing a shoe box underneath my bed in which I kept all my savings. I also grabbed a little bag in which I put all the money I’d received from mowing lawns and as well as the tips I would receive at work.

I opened them and saw a lot of money.

′Hopefully it’ll be enough.′