The Billionaire's Past

CHAPTER 20

6:00 am. Monday, in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo International Airport.

Atif drive his grandfather Haris to the Airport.

They are already on the airport's parking area.

They stepped out the car.

Atif help his grandfather Haris to get his luggage at the trunk of the car.

They are now heading inside the airport.

One hour later,

Haris is on the plane heading to Asia.

While Atif is driving back to Zenica.

10:00 am.

H & A Summit Holdings, Inc.

Atif is in his office now.

Again and again he is busy doing his paper works.

He is so busy talking to one of their client on the phone when he received a chat from Aliyah.

He seen the notification on his computer.

The message said "Goodbye."

Atif don't reply to the message.

Hoping that it is just wrong sent.

But he received the same message.

And now his name is mentioned.

The message said. "Goodbye, Atif."

Now it's is clear the Aliyah really wants to said goodbye to him.

Atif don't know what to say at this moment.

Atif don't want to end their friendship but there's nothing he can do because Aliyah wants.

Atif feel so sad.

He don't want to send the same message.

He don't send the word "goodbye".

Hoping that if he don't send that word he will received another message from Aliyah.

Instead he send this message;

"Look, I'm busy right now. But we can talk. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Aliyah replied.

"Nothing? But why you want to say goodbye?" Atif asked.

"Because I think I'm falling for you." Aliyah replied.

Atif is shocked.

At the same time he is flatter.

He feel happy because he feel the same way too.

But what Atif knew it is wrong to feel this way.

For what he knew was Aliyah is married.

Aliyah have a husband.

Aliyah have kids.

But what he knew are all lies.

The truth is Aliyah is single.

No husband.

No kids.

But Aliyah didn't said the truth instead she continue telling lies to Atif.

Atif is thinking the best answer to the message of Aliyah.

He don't want to ruin Aliyah's life.

But he don't want to end their friendship because of what Aliyah said.

Atif thinking that maybe Aliyah is just mistaken of what she feel right now for him.

Maybe that feeling is just for a friend.

After an hour Atif replied.

"You knew that you have a husband. You have your life there. So it is not right for you to have feelings for me. We are just chatting as friends and nothing more than that." Atif replied. "Yes, I know that. Maybe I'm just mistaken." Aliyah replied.

"So we can still be friends?" Atif asked.

"No. I have to go. Maybe it is better we end up this way. Why I have this feeling that you don't want me to say goodbye. What do you want me to do?" Aliyah replied.

"Nothing. I'm not asking you to do anything. It's up to you. Do what you want." Atif replied.

"Goodbye." Aliyah said.

Atif take a deep breath before sending his reply.

"Okay. Goodbye." Atif replied.

But he cannot send his reply.

The messenger app said; "You cannot reply to this conversation. Learn more."

It only means that Aliyah block him already.

He cannot talk to her anymore.

Atif felt so disappointed.

He can't imagine that Aliyah will do that.

Few hours had passed.

Still, Atif cannot concentrate on his work after their conversation.

He made some error when signing some papers.

Many of their employee notice that Atif is not in the mood.

Yes, Atif never see Aliyah in person but he consider Aliyah as a real friend even though they just met in social media that's why Atif feel sad when Aliyah said goodbye to him.

Also Atif develop an emotional attachment to Aliyah. He slowly falling for Aliyah also but he can't admit it.

But Atif can do nothing about it just like when his friend Haya said goodbye to him when he was a little boy.

Aliyah done to him right now only reminds Atif about what Haya done to him long time ago. Haya also left him.

Haya also end their friendship.

Haya also said goodbye and stop talking to him.

Haya never talked to Atif again when she said goodbye.

Then Atif heard the sad news one day that Haya was dead.

Even though Haya left him Atif never forget Haya even until now.

And maybe he will never forget Aliyah just like Haya.

5:00 pm. End of office hours in H & A Summit Holdings, Inc.

Atif is preparing to go home.

At exactly 5:30 he go out on the office and drive home.

Atif is on his way home.

While driving he still think about what Aliyah done to him.

Because letting her go is never easy.

He feel the same feeling just like what he felt about when Haya said goodbye long time ago.

Letting Haya go is never easy.

Aliyah reminds Atif of that feeling.

It's the same old feeling that back again.

Atif remember the past years when Haya is still with him.

When Haya was always there for him as a friend that care he felt so right.

But when Haya said goodbye, Atif felt lost.

He don't know what to do.

Each and every day he wish that Haya would comeback.

But Haya never did.

Haya totally left Atif standing all alone, facing tomorrow, his future on his own.

Because the news spread that Haya was gone.

Remembering those things made Atif decide to pass by before he go home to the place where he first met Haya.

Atif parked his car on the side of the street near the fast food building where Haya used to buy him food when he is still a little boy.

Staring on the building, Haya appear on Atif's imagination that she is standing in front of the fast food waiting for him.

But Atif knew that scene will only exist in his imagination at present and that will never happen again.

Thinking about that reality made him almost cry.

He's holding back his tears with all his might for him not to cry totally.

And now he is mumbling.

Saying the words that he wanted to say to Haya.

And maybe as well as to Aliyah.

"Yes I know I got to face tomorrow on my own because you gone and left me. But before I let you go I want to say you'll be forever in my heart. I miss you each and every day because letting you go is never easy but I know someday I have to find a way to leave your memories behind me. I guess I will never really move on but it wasn't meant to be for life must go on even without you now."

"Hope this will be my last cry and I can put these things out of my mind." Atif said to himself as he started the engine of his car and decided to go back driving home.

12:00 am, in Asia

On the other hand. Atif grandfather Haris reached his destination in Asia.

He is already taking a rest in one of the luxurious hotel in Asian country.

Haris decided to make a phone call to Atif.

Atif is already at home when he received the phone call from Haris.

Haris just checking if Atif is already at home because Haris receive a text message from Jasmin.

Jasmin seen Atif visiting his old dwelling place during his childhood years that's why he text Haris.

Haris forbid Atif to visit that place.

For dis obeying Haris, Atif received a sermon from him.

Because Atif receive a sermon from Haris he got the feeling that he wants to talk to Aliyah again for comfort but he can never do that. He can never send message to Aliyah again. Aliyah already end their communication totally by blocking him in her social media account.

Yes, before he also tell his problem to Aliyah and Aliyah gave him advice too just like what Atif did when Aliyah tell him her problems.

But now he cannot for their friendship is over.

He lost another friend that's why Atif asking himself these questions:

"Where did I go wrong? What did I do to make them said goodbye?"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐