manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

17.

please pray if you haven't done so already :) shorter chapter

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7/1/2023

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[1001 words]

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'mr faez, you're here again.' faris said once he spotted his teacher's fiancé at the door.

'actually faris, i'm-' achraf almost made the grave mistake of clarifying that he wasn't a mr faez but a mr hakimi instead. manal glared at him before cutting his sentence in half.

'yes dear, mr faez is here to help me clean the classroom.' she looked at him to follow along.

'are you sure you're not here to steal miss faez, are you?' the boy said, almost protectively. he stood in front of his teacher, acting as a barrier between them both.

she could sense that achraf was about to say something stupid, so naturally she answered on his behalf.

'he wouldn't dream of it,' she put her hands on faris' shoulders to turn him around so that he was facing her. she could see achraf winking at her mouthing 'i totally would' which had her smiling with gritted teeth.

'faris, your mother is waiting for you outside na, don't keep her waiting.' she patted his cheek.

'and you'll be here tomorrow?' he asked, his eyes squinting as if daring her to lie to him.

'of course i'll be here tomorrow inshallah.' she nodded as she spoke, reassuring him again.

he looked at her suspiciously before turning around and going to the door to leave. he turned to achraf before leaving and said 'i know you're going to steal her for a while, just promise she'll be back to teach me tomorrow.'

he spoke innocently but the connotations of his words were so loud that she almost blushed.

'thanks bud.' achraf said, pointing his fist in the boy's direction so that he would give him a spud. faris complied and then went on his merry way outside, leaving the couple behind.

as soon as he left, achraf wasted no time.

she let out a surprised gasp when he reached for her hand and spun her around to face him. he pulled her closer and with a thump, her hands were on his chest while his were by his side on the table that he seemed to love to lean on.

'eager, are we?' he commented, which had her cheeks flushing. she instantly pushed herself off, brushing her hands by her side.

'achraf!' she let out an offended gasp, while he tilted his head, looking at her amused.

'what? you're the one who put your hands on me.' he was trying to rile her up, and it was working. he had figured that getting her annoyed got him the best reactions.

'let's not get it twisted here, you are the eager one.' she defended, crossing her arms with her eyebrows furrowed.

achraf reached out and smoothed out the lines that were brought out by her frown. she didn't bother inching away, knowing that he would just follow her closer.

'frowns don't suit you, manal,' he whispered, his hand trailing down the side of her face, to which she looked away.

'you here in my classroom after i told you to not come here doesn't suit you either.' she took a step back, as if reminding herself that this was not appropriate for her work place, a school of all places.

'you know how to wound a guy, don't you? besides i told the little guy i was going to steal your for the night-'

'you need to get a filter, do you have any idea what you're saying?' she got a sort of a glow on her cheek when she blushed, it didn't show on her medium skin as apparently.

'i'm being serious achraf,' she said realising that he wasn't listening. it sounded so strange to him when she said his name. 'if you keep coming here and anyone finds out, they'll-'

'ship me back to madrid. i know. see, i'm finishing your sentences for you.' he said as he picked up her niqab from the table. she was quick to slap his hand off and take the niqab for herself.

she was about to put it on when achraf stopped her.

'i need to talk to you, about something.'

'is it that important? i'm going to miss asr if i don't make it home on time.' she said, pausing as she tied her niqab on her head, reaching for her bag. (late afternoon prayer)

'well,' he saw her expectant eyes, crinkled at the end as though she was tired.

he stood up.

'if it's alright, can we talk about this tomorrow instead?' she said, straightening up.

when he nodded and she turned to take her leave, she suddenly stopped. she had realised what she had just done, and given the knowing smile on achraf's face she guessed he knew too.

she turned around to face him again, her hands twiddling with her bag.

'i meant, as in,' she rambled, not knowing what to say.

'iman was right, we have progressed past the letter stage very quickly.' he grinned a shameless smile, which nearly had her stomping her foot. she didn't like to be teased like this.

she glanced at her phone and took note of the time. she was definitely going to miss asr if she didn't leave now. she muttered alhamdulillah as she readjusted her tote bag on her shoulder and made her way outside.

he stayed where he stood, putting his hands in his pockets, and called out after her. 'assalam alaikum.'

she looked back and replied. only able to focus on her eyes, he found himself dumbfounded at the way they moved as she spoke.

he realised that she had the most expressive eyes he had ever seen.

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sorry for the boring ass chapter. i've been losing a lot of sleep since the year started and i just didn't write the night before. trying to take care of myself!!

drink some water, hydrate, take care of yourself, have fun, pray! do it all!!

thank you for reading,
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