Chapter 35 / Part 2

After arriving in Kebleker, Habbab and I checked into a hotel under a fake name. I don't feel entirely comfortable with the idea of hiding and lying, but I decide to keep quiet. We go up to our room, and I'm pleasantly surprised to find it spacious and cozy.

There are two separate rooms, so I won't have any problem spending the night here. I feel bad about the condition Habbab ended up in after the fight, so I make the decision to heal his wounds.

Habbab sits on the couch in the main room while I walk to the bathroom, where I find a medicine cabinet stocked with supplies.

“Do you need help with those wounds?” I ask, looking at the marks on his face and body.

Habbab nods, and I approach him carefully. I take a damp towel and start cleaning the blood from his lower lip. Our eyes meet, and I feel a mix of conflicting emotions.

“Damn it, Melek,” Habbab whispers, looking at me intensely. “I can't believe how reckless I was to drag you into all this. I regret leaving a day after our wedding