Her and the Basketball Champion

chapter 53

I'm basically shaking as we stand at my front door.

It took exactly one hour and thirty seven minutes to reach my house from central London, and I feel like I'm having a heart attack. My cheek feels like it's making a hole through my face, and the bottom of my scarf is probably fucked up so bad from me wringing it constantly.

I look up to Jonas, his face is the epitome of relaxed, but his shoulders are slightly tensed and his jaw is clenching and unclenching every few seconds. 

He looks down at me and gives me a reassuring smile before the doors open, and I nearly burst out crying when I see my mothers face, surprise and shock written all over it.

She steps out to hug me and I melt into the feeling of her arms. Of home.

I'v forgotten what it feels like to be here because I'v been so involved and busy with work and Uni and stress. I'm just glad to be here right now, though. 

I break away from the hug. "Eliza, Asalamualaikum. How are you? I'v missed you so much." She says, her eyes gleaming as she watches me. "Walaikumsalaam. I'v missed you so much too. Exams are almost done, but I'll tell you about it all later." I look towards where Jonas is still standing outside, and my mum follows my gaze. She automatically smiles, and I can tell that she recognises him. He's still so goddarn handsome. 

"Come in Jonas." She gestures inside, and I'm surprised she remembers his name. 

"Thank you." He walks into the house, and I keep my eyes down. 

"What gives us the pleasure today?" My mum asks politely, but I can tell she's bursting from confusion. 

She walks us into the living room, and my dad is sitting on the sofa, watching TV. Star Trek to be precise. 

I'v come to talk to Mr Nasir, if possible." He says, and I smile reassuringly to him, trying to ease him from the nervousness in his tone.

I remember watching Star trek with my dad as a kid, always laughing at the weird faces, but I loved the space adventure nonetheless.

The sight fills me with nostalgia, and I smile to myself.

When he spots us standing in the doorway, he get's up and immediately embraces me. Again, I melt into his arms and enjoy the smell of his cologne.

Ugh, I'v missed this. 

My dad shakes Jonas' hand and then my mum is dragging me off into the kitchen and Jonas is left with my dad. I send a fleeting last glance in his direction, trying to apologise through my eyes, but I'm met with white wall and then the familiar smell of cooking and spices and food and mouth watering food and it's so overwhelming.

"I sit on the stool against the island and watch as she stirs the pot on the cooker. The action is so familiar yet new that I can't help staring and memorising it.

"So, what is Jonas doing here?" She asks me with a small smile. It's a knowing smile, and I'm momentarily stunned by the fact that, of course she knows why he's here.

I just drove nearly two hours with him back here in the middle of a work day, without any notice. I don't bother hiding anything, and explain everything. I leave out the love confession because I kind of want to keep that private between us without judgement about the fact that we weren't married when we said those things. 

She takes it all in, her smile widening as I speak and that just ignites a stronger flame of hope inside me that, maybe this will work out after all. 

I just really, really hope it does.

"I see. So where does the love confession fit into all of this drama?" She says, and I can't help but laugh.

 Of course. 

"It's in there somewhere, but, Umiji, I don't want to wait anymore. I'm ready and he's ready, and I know it's my last year of Uni and I may seem really young but I have a stable job and my exams are almost over and I'm just so ready for this next step." I confess everything I'v been feeling for the past few hours into those words, and my mum just smiles at me. There's no judgement whatsoever, just understanding, and I love her more for it. 

"I know you're ready, but is he the right man for this? Are you a thousand percent sure of this, Eliza, because you only know I want what's best for you." My nerves settle down a bit, but my heart picks up it's pace.

I think about Jonas, sitting with my dad, talking about God knows what, and I feel nerves for him spike up inside me.

"I've never been more sure than I am right now. I know I want this, and I know he's the right man for this." I look down at my hands, fiddling away with my scarf.

A glass of cold water is placed in front of me and I send an appreciative smile to my mum, downing the glass in seconds, letting the cool water run down my throat, allowing it to soothe my hot skin. 

"Thank you, I needed that." She chuckles and shakes her head slightly. "I know." 

I smile in return.

"I'm really proud of you, Eliza. For doing this the Halal way." She walks around the island and hugs me against her. I sigh out in relief and comfort, mumbling a thank you.

I don't notice the door to the kitchen open until my mum is pulling away and dragging me into the living room.

Jonas is still sitting on the sofa, a small, hopeful smile on his face, and it only grows when he looks at me.

My dad is the one to break the silence as I get comfortable on the armchair next to where he sits. 

"So, I understand Jonas' intentions very clearly. I want to hear what you have to say about this potential engagement." The way he says engagement makes my heart flutter at the thought. 

I conjure up all of the truth and confidence inside me as I explain how Jonas is indeed the right man, how I want to be with him so much it hurts. I don't actually say it but I'm sure from my tone, my parents can tell that's exactly how I feel, and I'm not embarrassed by it at all. 

When I finish, my dad asks Jonas some questions about finances and properties, and then they are shaking hands and I'm being pulled into two hugs and then another hug, all of them by my parents, and then I'm sitting back on the sofa again. 

"I know Eliza's always wanted a small get together for her wedding, but I don't know how she feels about it now. Eliza?" My mum is talking to me, and I'm pulled out of the fogginess that is happiness.

"That's right. Just a small gathering, and I only want immediate family for an engagement. Nikah at the mosque preferably and that's it. maybe a small party for the extended family." I nod my head in confirmation as I speak, and I can see the relief in my parents' eyes, probably because they don't have to spend so much money on a wedding. 

I'v never wanted one of those types of weddings where there are fancy car's showing off, or where I have to sit on stage all day taking pictures with people I don't know. I'v always hated that. I want one day only, and then a long ass honeymoon.

With Jonas, where, preferably all we do is-

Nope, not the time.

"That is very much doable. Jonas, what do you think?" My dad turns his gaze and settles it on the man sitting next to me.

Jonas smiles my way, making my stomach flip. "That sounds perfect. I have a few friends I want to invite and then just my mum and sister." He says and I sink back into the cushions. I'm so glad he doesn't want a big wedding. 

We continue to talk about wedding plans, and the engagement is officially set for two days time. I don't want to wait, and neither does Jonas since he told my dad that we should do everything ASAP. That's all I want at the moment.

Everything finally seems to be falling into place, and I'm just so unbelievably happy I nearly can't breathe. 

I just smile, instead.

GUYS, FUCK IT, IDC I LOVE THIS UGH.

Ya'll are so fucking supportive and i love you all like nothing else in the world.

it's currently 1;10 AM IN THE MORNING AND I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.