manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

11.

please pray if you haven't already done so, and are planning on reading this.

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[984 words]

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31/12/2022 - whoops sorry i was meant to post this yesterday, actual published date 1/1/2023

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'i know. i know.' achraf was gritting his teeth at the sound of andres' voice over the phone. he was getting increasingly controlling over his life. and achraf had had enough.

'listen, achraf, you signed a mutual agreement. you have to keep up the appearances until the end of the year.'

'and what if i don't want to do it anymore? there has to be a buy out clause.' he rubbed his temples. the signal where his aunts house was located was pretty strong, and he wished it was weaker so that he wouldn't have to listen to the man anymore.

'buy out clause? they'll sue you!' andres' voice shouted over the phone, to the point that iman could hear the conversation from outside his door.

she had been confronted by the many things that manal had brought up in defence of her reluctance towards achraf. she had been thoroughly surprised that manal had done research on the guy, which was strange yet exciting to see in her eyes.

maybe she was rubbing off on her after all these years. even if it was the slightest bit.

she wanted to listen more but then reminded herself that she didn't want to be caught doing the same crime she had been accused of and just knocked on the door instead. achraf looked to the fire briefly and nodded his head while speaking rapidly over the phone.

iman could only decipher small bits of spanish he spoke but it was obvious that he was stressed. the glass of water in her hand appeared to be even more of use.

she walked up to him and offered the glass which he slowly took, keeping eye contact with iman. her never stopped speaking but he nestled the phone between his ear and shoulder. he took the glass in his other hand and gently held on to iman's elbow and guided her to the seating area.

'your career will be in flames!'

and after taking a deep breath in, achraf cut the call. he closed his eyes for a second and then turned to look at iman, who was looking at him with a distant look in her eyes.

he waited for her to speak but then realised that she was the one who needed an apology from him.

'iman, i'm sorry, i didn't mean to take my frustration out on you.'

'it sounded pretty planned.' iman curtly said with a raised her eyebrow. he bit his tongue, he knew that wasn't enough. iman only ever wanted grande apologies because it was so hard to offend her that you must have gone the extra mile to have made her upset. 

achraf shook his head and patted her shoulder, as if gradually convincing her.

'no. it wasn't. you must know that. you're my sister, i would never get tired of you.' he suddenly got up and reached for his phone.

'look, this time when we go back, i want you to come you and aunt laila to come with us. stay in madrid for a few days until i head back to dortmund.' it wasn't a part of his apology. he had planned this beforehand, before he even visited.

'that's big talk achraf. i don't have a visa and neither does mama. also, you can't buy my apology.' she countered with the same uninterested expression on her face.

'i'm not trying to buy your apology, besides you're not that cheap.' he tried flattery at the end, which had the corners of her lips lifting unwillingly. iman knew it was a bad attempt, but she knew she couldn't resist.

'you have to know that i didn't mean any of it.' he said after a minute of silence, which eventually led to her nodding. she was thawing and it looked like her peace offering worked.

iman couldn't stay mad for long anyways.

'so, what had you so angry over the phone?' she asked, putting the glass back in the little tray.

'andres. he's my manager, the agent type. he's bothering me about some agreement i stupidly signed last year.'

'oh, and does this by chance have anything to do with the girl that you're always dancing with at some house?' iman asked, indirectly getting to her own point. the conversation with manal, who seemed utterly unimpressed with the situation.

achraf froze, suddenly unable to look his cousin in the eye.  this was not meant to reach family, although it was stupid of him to think that now. of course it would reach his family. he hadn't told his mother, or father, so iman was a long shot.

'how'd you know?' his mind went into overdrive although it was pretty obvious. he figured it must have been hard not to see once anyone searched his name up online. the disappointment was so evident in her eyes, once he confirmed it.

'i'm afraid you won't like the answer.'

'what's wrong?' he leaned forward, clasping his hands.

'aunt amina sent a proposal for manal.'

'well i very much like that answer.' the smile that lit his face suddenly was infectious, but then he thought about what iman had said. 'what do you mean 'i won't like the answer'?' he asked.

iman didn't know what to say. so she said exactly what manal had said. 'manal doesn't think you're serious about all this.' the confusion on his face meant that she had to elaborate. 'well, i mean, somehow manal finally learned to pay attention to her proposals and may have done some research...' iman trailed off, not knowing how to end the sentence.

'and?'

'and she didn't like what she saw.'

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i feel like these chapters are becoming more and more meaningless each time i write :( . please do comment and vote.

happy new year,

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