The red and the soldier

Chapter thirteen

His eyes flicker with a mix of jealousy and anger as he reads the letter, his expression darkening. "Who is Hamza?" he asks, his voice a low murmur.

His eyes are fixed on hers as he waits for her response, his heart racing as he struggles to keep his emotions in check. He is torn between his desire to protect her and his jealousy at the mention of another man's name. He hates the idea of her being with another man, but he cannot allow himself to let his emotions get the better of him.

She can see his mood shift instantly, the gentle, friendly tone she had come to know replaced by something more menacing and intimidating. And yet, despite the fear she feels at his sudden change in demeanor, she can't help but feel a thrill of satisfaction knowing that her plan is working.

"He's my brother," she says, her voice steady despite the fear she feels. "Why do you ask?"

His eyes narrow as he studies her face, searching for any sign that she's lying. His grip on the letter tightens, as if he's trying to crush it in his hand.

"Tell me the truth," he says, his voice low but firm. "Who is Hamza to you?"

She hesitates for a moment, her eyes flicking to the side as if looking for an escape route, although that would get her nowhere. She looks back up into his eyes, noticing the change in his expression and the spark of jealousy that ignites.

"Hamza is-" she begins.

"Hamza...is...a friend," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. She can feel the tension in the air as he looks at her, his eyes narrowed as if seeing through her.

"I should have known," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "I knew there was something you weren't telling me."

" what do you mean? I told you he's a friend. Besides that's non of your business"

He looks at her for a long moment, his eyes never leaving her face as he considers his next words. "A friend, is he?" he says, his voice dripping with venom. "A friend, or something more? It's clear to me now that you've been hiding things from me. What else are you lying about, Anna? I need to know."

" why are you asking me about him? Are you jealous?"

He looks at her, his expression suddenly changing from anger to one of mild embarrassment. He blinks a couple of times, his face turning bright red as she points out the obvious. "Jealous?" he repeats, his voice barely above a whisper. "Jealous? No, Anna. Of course not. I'm not jealous of some...some random guy you know."

But even as he speaks the words, he is not sure if he completely believes them. The truth is, he is feeling a strange mix of emotions - a tug of jealousy, a pang of anger, and a twinge of guilt at the thought that he may have been trying to push her away.

He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "I'm not jealous," he repeats, his voice more firm this time. "Anna. I am here to protect you, not to feel jealous of anyone."

" I'm that case, make sure it reaches my brother " she said goodbye and left to her room.

He looks down at the letter, his expression turning sour as he reads the mention of Hamza. He scowls, his fists clenched tightly as the jealousy and bitterness inside him boils over. He cannot believe that she could be interested in someone else, especially as he's risked everything to keep her safe.

He snatches the letter from the table and heads towards his room, his heart pounding with rage. He takes out his pen and scratches out the name Hamza, and scratching everything written about him - what he should have done in the first place. He seals the letter and sends it to her brother without telling her. He's not going to let her have anyone else in her life but him.