12. BOY PROBLEM

Taliya stepped out of her car, her body heavy with exhaustion after the long day. The meeting with the school officials and students of Redwood High had been draining, leaving her feeling mentally and physically spent. As she walked into the lobby of her building, all she could think about was getting to her penthouse, changing into something comfortable, and finally unwinding.

But as she approached the elevator, she froze. Murad was there, standing by the elevator doors, his expression unreadable. He straightened up when he saw her, a flicker of determination crossing his face.

“Taliya,” he began, his moving with urgency. “Can we talk?”

She didn’t respond, her eyes narrowing slightly. Without a word, she stepped into the open elevator, hoping he would take the hint and leave her to be. But Murad followed her in, the elevator doors closing behind him with a soft chime.

“Taliya, please,” he said, his face pleading. “I need to talk to you. About earlier. About my behavior.”

She pressed the button for her floor and kept her gaze fixed on the elevator panel, ignoring his words. The tension in the small space was palpable, the silence thick and oppressive.

Murad took a deep breath, his frustration evident. “I’m sorry for how I acted,” he continued, his eyes casted down. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just... I don’t know how to deal with this, with you.”

Taliya remained silent, her expression hardening. She didn’t want to deal with this now, not after the exhausting day she’d had. She just wanted to be alone, to escape the confusion and frustration that Murad seemed to bring with him.

Seeing that his words weren’t getting through, Murad’s patience snapped. In one swift movement, he stepped closer and pinned her against the elevator wall, his hands on either side of her, caging her in. Taliya’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in shock. Her stomach churned seeing the intensity of his gaze unnerving her.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes searching for the evil glint in his eyes but all could she found was raw emotions.

Murad’s eyes bore into hers, a mixture of desperation and determination in his gaze. “I’m trying to make you understand,” he signed leaning closer, barely giving her place to escape. “I don’t know how else to get through to you.”

Taliya’s heart pounded in her chest, a mix of fear and something else she couldn’t quite name. The proximity to Murad, the intensity of his gaze, it all made her head spin. She wanted to push him away, to escape the storm of emotions he stirred within her, but she found herself unable to move. Her fingers fisted by her side as she tried to regain her composure.

Murad’s expression softened slightly as he saw the fear in her eyes. He took a step back, releasing her from his grip, but not moving far. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, his features gentler now. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just... I need you to understand how much this matters to me.”

Taliya swallowed hard, her mind racing. She didn’t know what to say, how to respond to the intensity of his feelings. Part of her wanted to lash out, to tell him to leave her alone, but another part of her, a quieter part, was drawn to the vulnerability he was showing.

“I don’t know what you want from me, Murad,” she finally said, her voice trembling. “I don’t have the answers you’re looking for.”

Murad’s shoulders sagged slightly, the fight draining out of him. “I just want a chance to apologise,” he signed quietly. “I shouldn't have said that and I really don't know how did that happened. It just slipped from me. I am sorry, if my words hurt you.”

Taliya closed her eyes, trying to steady her erratic breathing. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, but neither of them moved. They stood there, caught in a moment of raw emotion, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

After what felt like an eternity, Taliya finally opened her eyes and looked at him. “I forgive you,” she said softly, her voice barely audible. “Please don't waste your and my time, please leave.”

Murad nodded, stepping out of her way. He poked his tongue in his cheek as he felt embarrassment reddening his cheeks

Taliya stepped out of the elevator, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. As she walked to her penthouse, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to change, in ways she couldn’t yet understand.

~☆~

Taliya paced back and forth in her penthouse, her mind racing. She had changed into her comfortable clothes, but comfort was the last thing she felt. Murad’s words, his proximity, and the intensity of their encounter in the elevator were all swirling around in her head, making it hard to focus.

She stopped in front of the large window overlooking the city, the night sky dotted with stars. Taking a deep breath, she tried to center herself. "You can't fall for this, Taliya," she muttered to her reflection. "Stay strong. You’ve been through worse. You can handle this."

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to remember why she had to stay guarded. The hurt, the betrayal she had faced in the past, the walls she had built to protect herself—they were all still valid. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down now, not with Murad, who had already caused her so much confusion and turmoil.

“You’re stronger than this,” she whispered, her voice firmer now. “Don’t let him break through. Focus on your goals, on your work. You’ve built this life for yourself. Don’t let anyone take that away.”

She took another deep breath, straightening her posture. “You’re in control. You decide what happens next. Remember that.”

Meanwhile, in his own mansion, Murad was feeling anything but in control. He paced his living room, frustration bubbling inside him. His encounter with Taliya had left him more confused and agitated than ever. He wanted to break through her walls, to show her that he was sincere, but her resistance was stronger than he had anticipated.

“Why does she have to be so stubborn?” he mouthed to himself, running a hand through his hair. “I’m trying to make things right, to understand her, but she won’t let me in.”

He sat down heavily on the couch, staring at his hands. “What am I doing wrong?” he wondered, throwing his hands in air. “How can I get her to see that I’m not the enemy, that I just want to understand her?”

The frustration of it all was maddening. He felt like he was hitting a brick wall every time he tried to reach out to her. Her tight behavior, her guarded expressions—it was like she had built an impenetrable fortress around herself, and he had no idea how to breach it.

“I need to find a way,” he resolved, his jaw tightening. “I can’t give up now. There has to be something I can do, some way to show her that I’m sincere. Is it that hard to be just a friend?”

~☆~

Taliya was sitting on her couch, staring at the flickering lights of the city below. The cityscape, usually a source of inspiration and solace, offered little comfort tonight. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of Murad’s words and her own resolve to stay strong.

Suddenly, the front door burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang. Taliya jumped, her heart racing as Haroon stormed in, his face a mask of anger and frustration.

“What the hell is going on, Taliya?” he demanded, his voice echoing through the penthouse. “Why was Murad here?”

Taliya’s initial shock quickly turned into irritation. “Haroon, what are you doing here? You can’t just barge into my place like this.”

“I can and I will,” Haroon snapped, his eyes blazing. “I saw him leave the building. What’s going on between you two?”

Taliya stood up, squaring her shoulders. “There’s nothing going on, Haroon. Murad came to talk, that’s all. He wanted to apologize for his behavior earlier.”

Haroon’s jaw clenched. “And you just let him in? After everything he’s done?”

“He followed me into the elevator,” Taliya replied, her voice steady despite her irritation. “I didn’t invite him in. And I listened to what he had to say because I wanted to understand his perspective.”

Haroon took a step closer, his anger simmering just below the surface. “You’re playing with fire, Taliya. Murad is dangerous. He’s unpredictable. You shouldn’t be getting involved with him.”

“I’m not getting involved with him!” Taliya shot back, her own frustration bubbling up. “He’s trying to make amends, and I’m trying to navigate this situation without making things worse. But that doesn’t mean I’m involved with him or you in that way.”

Haroon’s expression softened slightly, but his eyes remained hard. “You need to be careful, Taliya. I don’t want to see you get hurt, again.”

Taliya sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I know you’re worried, Haroon. But you have to trust me. I can handle this. I don’t need you or Murad dictating my life.”

Haroon’s eyes searched hers for a moment before he sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “I just... I care about you, Taliya. I don’t want to see you get caught up in something that could hurt you.”

Taliya took a step back, her voice softening yet having her firm grip on her tone. “I appreciate that, Haroon. I really do. But you need to understand that I’m not anyone’s to control or protect. I’m my own person, and I’ll handle things my way.”

Haroon looked at her, a mix of frustration and concern in his eyes. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

Taliya nodded. “I promise," but rolled her eyes inwardly.

There was a long silence between them, the tension slowly easing. Haroon took a deep breath, trying to rein in his emotions. “I’m sorry for barging in like that. I just... I didn’t know what to think.”

“It’s okay,” Taliya said, her tone conciliatory. “Just, next time, maybe knock?”

Haroon managed a small, wry smile. “Deal.”

As Haroon left, Taliya closed the door behind him, leaning against it with a sigh. The confrontation had left her feeling drained, but also more resolute. She knew she had to stay strong, to navigate her own path without letting anyone else dictate her choices.

The night was far from over, but Taliya felt a renewed sense of determination. She would face whatever challenges came her way, on her own terms, and she wouldn’t let anyone—Haroon or Murad—sway her from her course.

As the night wore on, both Taliya and Murad found themselves lost in their thoughts, each struggling with their own emotions. Taliya, determined to remain strong and not fall for Murad’s words, kept repeating her affirmations, trying to solidify her resolve. Murad, on the other hand, wrestled with his frustration and the overwhelming desire to break through Taliya’s defenses.