DALIA (Book 1 in the ISWAJI series)

|13|

Dalia's POV

A few days pass sand Waleed and I keep getting a little bit sneaky at school, just like teenagers. Stealing kisses whenever we can, long hugs and so many 'I love yous'.

We haven't been able to go out together, like normal people. Mum has been a pain in the ass, being extra about everything. Don't do this, don't do that.

Makes it feel like I am the first and only person who has ever been engaged.

Today is the last day of the week, I couldn't wait for the weekend to get the chance to go out with Waleed.

I walk around school and one of the male teachers, Mr. Hatem, stops me.

"Ms. Dalia, a word?"

I nod my head and gesture for him to come over to my classroom.

I take a seat at my desk and he sits on the other side of the desk.

"How can I help you?" I ask.

"I was wondering if you can come up with a different exam idea." Mr. Hatem says.

"Hmm, what subject?"

"English." He says, crossing his legs and leaning back.

For some reason, his presence makes me uncomfortable.

As if Waleed can sense my feelings, he's suddenly by my door, but his eyes are not the soft ones I know.

"What in the fucking fuck, are you doing here, Mr. Hatem?" Waleed's voice comes out very harsh.

"I was asking Ms. Dalia for a favour." He responds.

"You do not, I repeat, do not fucking sit with my wife alone like this."

Mr. Hatem glares at Waleed.

"Get the fuck out." Waleed spits and Mr. Hatem leaves.

"Really, Dalia? Really?"

"What?"

"You're sitting alone with a man, without me there?" Waleed eyes me up and down.

"It was work, Waleed." I say softly.

"That doesn't make it okay." He huffs.

"I'm sorry." I stand up and try to reach him.

"Don't touch me." He steps away and leaves the classroom.

When it was the end of the day, I decided to stay mad at Waleed instead of being an adult. So I head to my car and drive home.

When I got home mum was making steak for dinner.

I rushed to my room to change into some plain light blue skinny jeans pairing it with a black hoodie that had the New York City skyline on it. I made my hair into a messy bun and went downstairs to the kitchen with mum.

She asks me to make some gravy and some mashed potatoes next to the steak.

"How was your day today?" She asks me, breaking the silence in the kitchen.

"It was good. Yours?" I don't want to tell her about me and Waleed, so I talk about anything but Waleed.

I set the table as if in a restaurant because I am that extra when it comes to making steak.

I let my hair down just before everyone comes downstairs from their rooms. I like eating with my hair down, it allows me to be more careful when I eat. Weird psychology, I know.

It was dusk outside by the time everything was prepared. When my whole family sits on the dinner table I hear the doorbell ring.

"I will go check it." I tell them and get up from my seat.