Zahrah's POV
"So. Zahrah."
I let out a weary sigh and looked up at Baba, who was waiting expectantly for me to give him the report of my day. I shrugged and played with the seam on the overstuffed chair I sat in at the Lebanese restaurant beside the mall as I occasionally glanced to Mama Noura who sat in front of me beside Baba complaining about the menu. Fahad sat beside me as he irregularly gave me a caution sign.
I see Emilia with Youssef as he is holding multiple shopping bags. And a smile appears in my father's eyes as she approaches from behind him and kisses his cheeks. I caught the sight and let out another breath.
Of course, she'd be here.
"Did you get what you need?"
"Yes," She grinned and took a seat at the six-seater table beside Baba and in front of me, "Why did we come here, we could have saved money if we stayed home, and I would prepare!" Mama Noura complained as she looked over to Baba, "Unbelievable prices," She ridiculed again as Youssef opened his happy meal.
"Don't worry about money!" Emilia commented, eyeing Baba.
Mama Noura scoffed.
"I wasn't expecting you to be here." Emilia looked at me, greeting, as she took off her jacket and opened the yogurt she ordered from outside, "Normally, you will be in the library on weekends."
Baba was very miserable before he met Emilia. It was evident in his smile now. So, I promised myself that I was more than ready to like her when he gets remarried. That was until I saw Emilia.
He's so happy. I told myself over and over again as she talked and ate, trying to ignore the sick, sinking feeling in my stomach. 'Age is just a number.'
'she didn't make my life a living hell,' But while I know that's the first part is real, and my dad's happiness is the most important thing, it is hard to cope with Emilia in the way.
To say I loathe her would be the understatement of the century, but I needed to act civil not for her's but my father's sake, so I just nodded.
Ever since I smashed her nose and she went to fix it, she and I avoided each other at all costs. She spends most of her days in her room or cafe, so I avoided the house and stayed in the library most days until it was closed and the shopping mall was something I didn't like from the start, so it was easy.
Everything changed when my father noticed a lot since he doesn't detect Anything and can force me to do anything even at twenty-three. That brings us to this moment as I sit with my family instead of spending my time in the library with Junaid, Karmel, Safia, and Yolanda.
"I don't know where my heels are, so I am going to go buy a new pair!" Emilia stated as I struggled to make eye contact with her.
"I will go with you," Fahad adds.
"What about the food that you two ordered?" Mama Noura worriedly asked, "These are Allah's blessings you guys are going to waste!"
"Don't worry, Mama Noura. I will eat it ALL Inshallah!" I replay as my appetite came back when I regard that Emila will leave, but now my father knew.
My father isn't great at small talk, and when I say he isn't great, I mean he doesn't bother with them, "Ya Zahrah, Go with them, shop instead of sitting here, eating."
I grunted and glowered at him, uncomfortable with his proposition, "I don't want to. Isn't it enough I am here!" I mumbled.
Emila didn't seem uncomfortable with my father, and he didn't seem annoyed with her while I was. The tables surrounding us seemed to hear the conversation since my father's voice is anything but quiet. "Go, shop, here my card."
I rolled my eyes as the waiter comes, and Emila's public show of affection is anything but typical in this restaurant, at least. I sat as I was zeroing in on the chair seam again.
"Come on, Bnaity, go" I want to refuse again, but Fahad eyeing me is enough to convince me that I need to go.
"Fine," I spat out.
"Zahrah, I want you to try for me." He said, and I knew what he means, but I didn't know how to breathe the same air as her. To be truly impartial, she didn't either.
When I walked out of the restaurant, all Hades broke loose. Emilia kept pointing out the things she likes and went to buy every single one of them with Baba's hard to earn money even though she has money of her own.
"Does this go with this?" She said as she holds two pieces in her hands, waiting for something. I look at Fahad and laugh uncontrollably, which makes her furious, and I knew that, so we left the shop. Every time I am around her, it takes me back to when we were in high school.
Fahad threatened he would tell Baba if I don't act pleasantly, which I knew he would and calm. The first five minutes were torture; she kept picking stuff out as I finally left her with Fahad and went to the food court. After thirty minutes, Fahad called, saying they were done.
When I passed by a store, I saw a simple but cute jacket. It might look good on me. But Emilia might have maxed out Baba's card already.
I was too distracted by the jacket. I didn't see where I was going.
"Oof" I had bumped into something substantial but soft. I stumbled, I could balance myself, but Emilia's shopping bags were an extra weight.
Before I could fall, an arm wrapped around my waist, prevented me from falling.
Then I found myself looking at shocked but familiar black eyes. Those eyes were precisely like... I removed my gaze from the eyes. I was looking at none other than Adam Saif. My crush.
"Adam?"-"Zahrah?" We both said simultaneously.
"What are you doing here?" We both asked at the same time once again.
We laughed. I think I forgot how to Laugh and remembered when I saw him.
I was about to answer, but then Emilia and Fahad showed up.
I would never admit it to him, ever, but my heart still beat at the same rate it used to just by seeing her. Then, my stomach was filled with butterflies when I saw him. I tried to look away from him, but my eyes couldn't help it.
"Are you okay?" Fahad asks.
I nodded as my smile didn't fade. "What are you doing here?" We both asked at the same time again. Fahad and Emilia were getting really annoyed with it, but they were listening and looking at us.
Adam gestured for me to go first, which is just like him even after everything.
"I should ask you that question. This is San Francisco; I should be here." I couldn't help but smile. He had gotten taller; he now had a short beard.
When he smiled, I couldn't help but admire him.
"Actually, My father and I were invited to give a lecture in Usool At Tafseer as brother Soulman invited him, and I tagged along, Bluetooth."
His father is Sheikh deen, and he must have prayed from him a lot, and it was evident on him. The scars of the past didn't seem to define him, and if I had passed by him, I would say he was utterly ordinary.
"What about you? I thought I'd never see the day Zahrah goes shopping."
"Haha," I rolled my eyes, but my smile was still plastered on my face like an idiot, "I live here with my dad and study at Stanford."
Fahad chuckled nervously, "Please, for god's sake, don't ask her about Staford; she will repeat Stanford at least 60 times if you ask anything."
Adam chuckled politely as Emila was looking at him, and Adam was waiting for an introduction. I think, "You remember Emilia,"
We hadn't seen each other in years, and my therapist strained our relationship. The therapist recommended both my parents to cut me from anything reminding me of those days.
They did.
Emilia and Adam indulged in the conversation as well after Adam politely refused to shake hands with Emilia, and he quickly became bashful.
"Zahrah, is this why you won't get married?" Emilia asked.
"What?" Adam accidentally blurted it out with a specific tone that indicated something. Then I looked at him questionably. He blushed. "I mean what? What is that all about" Adam stalled.
Emilia stated, "Because you already have a boyfriend" She then jerked her chin to Adam.
I fumed for a moment and spoke through gritted teeth, "No, Emilia. Adam and I are just friends" Then Fahad looked at Emilia. "This reminds me, you said you loved those shoes'" Fahad seemed to want to move Emilia as he goes with her away.
I then turned to Adam and laughed nervously. "So, Adam, Nice to see you again," I said, attempting to say our goodbyes and leave.
He went along, "Yeah, You too."
I was about to leave him as I took the bags, "Wait, I want to confess something!" He looked down.
I looked at him with a bewildered expression, "I crashed into you, purposely."
"What?" I looked confusingly at him, "Why?"
"We need to get wedded!"
Silence.
Authors Note
Salam guys! Please don't forget to share and vote to know how you feel about this story so far... Jazakallah a million!
The next Update is on 19-5-2020