Chapter 17

To say I'm not guilty for lying to Hassan would be an understatement. The truth is that, I'm really messed up right now. I'm not thinking straight. 

Naf.

Naf.

Naf.

I can't stop thinking about him. 

When he looked at me it was as if every ounce of breath was taken from my lungs floating into the air like midnight smoke. Every time we talked it felt like the we are the only ones left on Earth. I don't want to admit it, but I think I'm falling in love with him. Just the thought makes me panic, and scares me to death. 

Haifa suggested that we should have a girls night tonight so here I am standing infront of my closet, trying to pick out an outfit. I'm not exactly in a mood to go out but I guess it's for my own betterment.

"Ready?" Haifa asks.

Nodding, I link my arm with hers, and together we stride in through the door of the restaurant. 

"What do you want?" 

"Anything. Pizza sounds good and some sprite," I tell her, and she places our orders to the waiter.

"You go find a place to sit. I'll bring the sprite."

I kiss her cheek, and giggle. "Okay! Don't start flirting with the waiter." 

She rolls her eyes, and I laugh uncontrollably.

Making my way through the sweaty and cigarette smoke smelling bodies, I find an empty spot and hop on the stool. 

"And here I was thinking that Abeera had to sort out her cupboards." 

I jump out my skin, and almost fell from the stool, but I steady myself before embarrassing. 

Crap.

"Hassan," I whisper, my voice dripping with embarrassment. 

He plops himself down on the stool beside mine. Bracing his arm on the table, he props his chin in the palm of his right hand, and pouts. "I'm wounded." He fake hurts by placing his other hand on his chest. 

Oh my God. He's being so cute. His chocolate brown eyes are sparkling with happiness. I know he's teasing, because I can see the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Umm.... I finished early," I lie, again. And start to feel guilty again. 

"Quit the lying, Abeera. I know why you're ignoring me." He rolls his eyes at me. 

He does? "Yeah? And why's that" 

"Because Naf told you everything. So yeah, that's why you're feeling all awkward and weird with me."

"Nafayh told you that?" I'm shocked.

"Ahan. After all, I still am his father’s wife's son." 

"But, I thought you guys didn't get along well."

"Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we do. It just depends on his mood." 

Before I could ask anything, Haifa joins us.

"And who is this gentleman?" she asks eyeing Hassan. 

"You must be her sister. I'm Hassan, Abeera's friend." He passes my sister a boyish grin .

Friend? 

She sits down opposite to us, and places my sprite on my side. I quickly pick it up, and gulp down large amounts. Hmm, I really, really needed this.

"Easy there. You don't want me to carry you, do you?" He smirks at me, pretending this isn’t sprite I am drinking. “I mean, there must be some huge amounts of calories in it.”

I don’t even try to hide the gasp that escaped my lips. 

He just called me fat—indirectly. 

Wow.

 "Nah, I can carry her, but I doubt this one glass of sprite would make her gain even one pound of weight. She deserves all the calories at the moment." Haifa cooes, looking at me affectionately, while a twinkle lights her face.

"I doubt that. She is sort of... I mean she is not that fit," he teases, and then looks away like he has not said that I'm fat. 

Oookayyy.

"I am not FAAAAAAt!" I whine, slamming a hand on the table. 

They both throw their heads back and laugh out loud. Argh. Idiots. 

Haifa’s phone rings and she excuses herself informing that it is an important call so she has to take it. 

I look away from Hassan, trying to show him I'm wounded but I'm actually not, because I know I'm not fat. 

Curvy, yes. But fat? No.

"Aggressive much, huh?" he amuses. 

I still don't look at him (but I am smiling). 

"Oh come onnnn! You know I was just messing around. Stop being all moody now," he whines. 

Giving up, I tilt my head and give him my *puppy dog face*. He mirrors my reaction and I try my best not to laugh. He does actually look cute. A lot cute. 

Nafayh is all arrogant, demanding, control freak, possesive, and who can't hear someone replying him 'no', whereas Hassan is the complete opposite. He acts cute, he is not demanding, or possessive (but how would I know that he isn't), and behaves normal (unlike Naf). 

...

The time passes quicker than I anticipated. I thought Hassan was just gonna say a little hello hi, but when he just made no move of leaving the table, I just stopped hoping he would leave. 

I don’t make guy friends, well, with the exception of Nafayh. I think—nope—I am pretty sure we are not friends. What he had done was just something I needed time, lots and lots of time, to soak in. 

Petter had joined us shortly afterwards, and while he and Hassan continued on some conversations about cars that I was really not interested in, Haifa and I checked out some Instagram profiles of some students from our school. 

“I think we should get going,” Haifa expressed after we all were done eating our food. “I have to be at work early tomorrow.”

Although I didn’t have work, I still had school. I stifle a groan, wanting to take the day off tomorrow. 

“Yeah, same,” Petter backed her up. “I have work, too. Must be get going because don’t wanna be late.” 

“Do you guys want me to drop you off?” Hassan says, raising his eyebrows at me. 

Why would he do that?

“Nope,” I reply quickly, “We have our car parked outside.”

Somewhat dazed, he looks down and smiles painfully, as if I have just hurt his feelings. I mean, what? Why is his behavior so confusing? All I did was tell him our car was outside and that we didn’t want his help.

We exit the restaurant after Haifa sorted out the bills to the waiter, and an awkward silence hangs in the cold, chilly air that snakes around me. Haifa and Petter start talking about their wedding—which has to happen soon now—while Hassan looks me over and smiles.

“I had a good time.”

I nod. “Yeah. We all had a good time.”

He moves closer, as if he’s about to. . .hug me? I inwardly cringe, ready to take a step back and tell him to keep his distance when a familiar voice fills my ears. 

"Don't you dare touch my girl."