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Chapter 1 : Please read here

Chapter 2 : Please read here

Chapter 3 : Please read here

Chapter 4 : Please read here

Chapter 5 : Please read here

Chapter 6 : Please read here

~~~~~~ Chapter 7 ~~~~~~

Lina was a nervous wreck while sitting at the corner of the restaurant. She was too early and had a lot on her mind. She could not keep still so she decided to browse through her phone to hide it.

"Hey Lina. I am sorry for being late." Lina nearly dropped her phone. 

"Ohhhhhhhh .... hey. That is okay. I know I was early. Have a sit." Lina knew she sounded like a nervous teenager, but that was how she really felt at that moment. Her throat suddenly parched and dried. Hakim did not change much. Maybe he looked more self-assured and had a few grey hairs near his temple, but otherwise he still looked the same. 

"You look wonderful" Hakim said while shaking her hand.

They exchanged a few nervous smiles. "Lets order first, and then we can speak more freely". Lina was conscious of the nearby waiter who was hovering to take their orders.

After placing their orders, Lina decided to speak first. "Tell me what you have been up to all these years." "How are you?" Hakim said. They nearly spoke at the same time. After a nervous laugh, “Go on, you first.” she asked him to tell her his story.

When Hakim started to tell her his story, the years seemed melt away. Here was the same boy who she grew up with. Here was the same boy who had stolen her heart and broke it at the same time. He told her how miserable he was in the first few months while in UK even though he was staying with his brothers. They did not have the time to baby sit their baby brother. While in his second year, he decided to change his course and the university, to the dismay of his parents. After that he learned to be independent. He met his late wife Samantha while he was in his fourth year. They had a good life, but then she was killed a drunk driver.

Lina remained silent through out his story. Once in a while, she would sipped her drink, but did not say anything. "Hey, I have been telling you all about my life. I am sorry. You must be bored to death to hear me yapping. Now it is your turn to tell me all about you."

She was relieved when their food arrived. It meant she could delay the inevitable. "Why don't we eat first, and then I will tell you all about what I have been to. It is not as interesting as yours". Lina forced her voice to sound cheerful.

Their meals were pleasant, and only being interrupted once in a while when their waiter refilled their drinks. Lina was grateful for the silent. It gave her the time to gather her thoughts. After the waiter cleared up their plates, reluctantly Lina knew she had to tell Hakim what had happened to her. "Told you, nothing interesting happened to me" She tried to make light of her story at the end of the conversation. Hakim did not say anything for a few moments. "I am sorry Lina. You never told me all these in your letters. I wished I knew. Even Mom and Dad never mention anything."

"Hakim, even if you knew what was going on, there was nothing you can do to help me. My parents were right to ask me to help my siblings in their studies, especially with Dad's poor health. I may not become the Doctor as I want to be, but I have a good job. My siblings are successful." 

"But ... I am sorry that you had to go through that alone" Hakim sounded genuine in his regret. 

Lina knew Hakim felt remorse over the things that had happened to her. She also realized that she wanted him to feel remorseful. How could he left her and go to UK and on top of that get married? She realised all this while she perceived that Hakim had abandoned her when she had needed him the most. Suddenly, she felt childish for feeling this way. She knew she needed to forgive Hakim, and ask his forgiveness as well.

"Hakim, I am sorry too for feeling that you had abandoned me when I needed you. I knew deep in my heart that we were too young ....... too dependent on our families to change anything. Please forgive me" Lina felt as if a big boulder had been lifted from her shoulder after she said that.

After that Lina felt more at ease and they started to talk about general things. She found she could still laugh with Hakim as easy as before. 

"Excuse Sir and Madame, we are sorry. We are closing the restaurant." 

"Oh ... gosh ... it is nearly 11 at night. We have been talking for hours. I am sorry for taking your time so long." Lina felt a bit sheepish.

"I am glad we have this conversations. Can we meet again?" Hakim asked Lina. It took her a heartbeat moment to answer. How does she feel? She had to admit that she was happy that they were connected again. But he was no longer the big part of her life. "Sure, if time permits." Finally she answered. Her non-committal answer was the best she could give at that moment.

------------------To be continued in Chapter 8 -----------------