manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

.7

CONTEXT:

1. in case it's not clear, when i use an arabic phrase it will be in italics. at the end of the sentence, it's translation will also be in italics.

2. if you are not familiar with muslim culture, then it is absolutely common to invite people to your house for food even if you do not know them well, or to send food over to peoples houses. you'll understand what i mean later in the chapter 😉

happy read :) PLEASE COMMENT I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE HAPPY WITH THIS :(

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unedited

24/12/2022

[1079 words]
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'so you are iman's brother?' an old man asked the boy who looked lost in the gathering. a few children would go up to him, asking for a picture, to which he agrees. yet he remained confused and lost amongst the crowd.

'yes sir, i am.' he replied. he must have been close to the family if he referred to achraf as iman's brother rather than cousin. not many people knew that he was. he cocked his head to the side as he realised that he was searching for something in his features.

he finally spoke again. 'i think my son was looking for you, he wants a picture.' he guessed that he must have recognised him. he was their towns poster boy after all, the boy that chose to be a moroccan player rather than a spanish one, despite being born and raised in spain.

'if you don't mind me asking, who is your son?' he asked, trying to look for him in the crowd, seeing if he could recognise someone else that he knew from when he last visited. it was his fault that he lost the other friends that he made in the summers that seem distant now. it was his choice not to return and focus on football instead.

'ah there he is. sufiyane! yallah, hurry up.' come one. the man with a pepper coloured beard and a hat called out for his son.

he watched as the young teenage boy with curly hair and hazel eyes that felt too familiar to him come closer and closer until he stood in front of them with a mischievous grin that reminded him of iman. he was older, in comparison to the last time he met the boy. he remembered that day by the well, where he was with his sister collecting water from the well.

it took a moment for him to realise exactly who he was talking to. if sufiyane was his son, then manal was his daughter. his eyes almost widened once it sunk in that he was talking to manal's father, who somehow knew him.

his luck felt incredibly good on this particular day.

'you're back!' sufiyane exclaimed with excitement, realising that it had been years since he had last seen the boy that used to play football with his sister.

'yes, couldn't stay far for long.' achraf tousled his tight brown almost black curls away from his face. his father motioned for him to get closer, and took a picture.

'are you staying with your aunt?' the man asked, not remembering iman mention him coming at all. she was at his house a few days ago, setting the house up for the engagement.

'yes sir, only for a few weeks. my mother wanted to visit and i tagged along.' he tried not to mess up his arabic, seeing as he was talking to someone who would become very very important to him. well, at least he hoped.

'you should come visit with your mother for lunch tomorrow.' again, his luck felt incredible today.

'no there really is no need.' achraf replied, purely out of formality. on the inside, he was giddy.

'what do you mean there is no need? iman is like a daughter to me, and her family is our family. you should come tomorrow, with your family.' achraf internally bit his tongue, he didn't want to be family-zoned this quick. he nonetheless agreed, not wanting to reject the old man's offer.

he extended his hand to the man and shook it happily, agreeing to visit him tomorrow. manal's father patted his back and took his leave towards a different corner of makeshift tent where the grooms side were hosting their celebrations.

with a smile too bright, achraf walked towards the table where there were juices and drinks. 'alhamdulillah.' he muttered under his breath, wondering what other things Allah will make easy for him. 

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'mama i'm going to drop some of these books back at the school.' the young woman aged 21 called out to her mother who was in the kitchen.

'sure hayati, just be home in time for the guests. iman's mother is coming over.' manal wasn't surprised, they came around often.

she called out assalamu alaikum and headed out of the gate. she wore a face mask with her hijab, cursing herself for her forgetting her veil. it was a new habit, to wear a niqab, but she liked how it added to her 'all black' look and also she didn't have to answer to most people.

she knew it wasn't necessary but she liked it. masks broke her skin out slightly and she preferred the cool fabric.

she carried the books by hand, having left her bag at the school.

she was completing a degree, the first in her family, and wanted to become a mathematics teacher at the same school she studied at during her teenage years. she was returning some marking she had to do for the students after taking up an internship style role at the school.

as she was walking, mostly muttering to herself when she felt the sand get to hot under her sandal and keeping a close eye on the books. she looked up for a moment and her eyes momentarily fixed on a man she almost didn't recognise.

after doing a double take, and seeing that he was approaching with some friends down the street, she quickly put her head down and started to walk faster.

the tall boy- no man crossed the road, unknowingly, and continued alone. she held her breath as she walked closer and closer to him, only to pass him briefly.

he didn't recognise her, and she let out a sigh of relief. no one would in what she was wearing. yet, it felt like slow motion, walking past him, smelling his no doubt expensive perfume, seeing him up close like it was only yesterday he was carrying water from the well for her. acting like he didn't declare his attraction towards her 6 or so years ago.

she shook her head, and continued on her way, internally scolding herself for thinking so much of it.

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wow i was NOT expecting thsi to hit more than like 500 reads but you guys did it and now it's at almost 3k!!!

thank you so much for all the love and attention!
sorry the update was slow i'm just busy with other stuff :)

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