manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

15.

if you haven't prayed yet, please do so before reading this chapter.

note: manal and achraf have signed the nikah contract, which means that they are married. however, people in the book will refer to them as engaged because they have not yet had a proper ceremony.

—

6/1/2023

—

[1585 words]

—

she was back at the school, although she kept being stopped by students and teachers alike, congratulated for her engagement to the footballer. it felt strange and foreign to her.

she decided to make the niqab a permanent decision, because she liked blending in with people. she felt like her engagement had suddenly pushed her into the limelight, and she knew that she would be kept in the shadows if she continued to walk around like this. at least it would help.

'miss faez.' she hummed as she looked at the little boy who was trying to draw a tree with his pencil.

'yes faris,' she asked, placing a hand on his little shoulder, urging him to speak.

'are you going to leave me?' he innocently asked, not yet facing her. manal's face changed suddenly, not understanding what could have brought on such a question.

'what do you mean love?' she asked, ruffling his flat light brown hair.

'i mean, isn't that what happens when you get married? when my aunt got married she left and went to a different country because my new uncle lived there. will you leave me too?' she was taken back slightly, at the extent of understanding the boy had. he was a sweet boy, and a thoughtful and creative one, just not as advanced in his studies as the rest of the class.

the pang of sadness that suddenly grew within her made her realise the extent of her relation with achraf. while she had given thought to the fact that she'll have to move in with achraf and live together, she hadn't even considered it would be far from this little town in morocco.

'well,' she tried to think of an answer when the little boy curiously looked up at her, 'well, you can't get rid of me that easily. and i'll video call you often, if i go, okay faris?' she lifted his chin, as if to convince the boy. she ruffled his hair again as he moved on to talk about other things, like his drawing of trees that he wrote numbers above.

she bit her lip, wondering what would happen to the career she had been so fond of building here in this town. she wanted to become a teacher.

another hour passed and manal occupied herself with other things around the classroom to keep herself from overthinking about everything.

the class was dismissed and she felt the boy tug on her abaya, asking for her attention. she quickly complied and then helped faris get his bag that was in another class. the rest of the class was gone, and she was waiting for faris to put everything in her pencil case when she was startled by the stature that stood in front of them, blocking their path.

for a second, her heart soared thinking it was fahed again, here to bother her like he did every afternoon. but she was pleasantly surprised to see achraf, with a small smile on his face.

'assalam alaikum.' he said, greeting them both. he looked between the boy and his... wife. he closed his mouth to stop himself from saying that would be too scandalous for a little boy to hear. he didn't feel any restrictions at all, knowing that technically they were married, just without the grand event to prove it.

he was too busy focusing on how attractive her eyes looked with its hazel colour in between the layers of black fabric to notice that the little boy was tugging on him.