manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

18.

please pray if you have not already done so :)

—

9/1/2023

—

[1447 words]

—

'i see, he's taking my best friend away from me.' iman pouted as she sat between manal and achraf at the faez's living room.

manal cleared her throat, as if indicating iman to shut up before she caused a problem. she wasn't even surprised that iman knew about her and achraf's secret meet ups at her school. if anything, she felt as if iman had purposely sent him there.

'what?' achraf looked away but made sure to tap iman's knee, telling her to behave.

'gosh it's only been a week and they're acting like this, i cant imagine when they officially get married.' iman complained out loud, but immediately pursed her mouth when she saw manal's mother aïcha walk in.

manal was trying to hide the way her leg was bouncing up and down, and achraf having noticed desperately wished he had been seated next to her. he had tried, but was stopped by a dramatic iman who kept muttering 'how scandalous!' and other variations under her breath at the request. and then proceeded to sit next to in between his wife and him, with a mischievous expression on her face.

he pinched the bridge of his nose at her antics, while manal watched on with a satisfied smile on her face.

'what are they acting like iman?' aïcha asked iman who smiled eagerly, more than willing to spill the secret then and there. it wasn't against their religion to meet up, just culturally it was looked down upon, for a not officially married couple to meet in private.

'oh, they're being so stiff!' iman said, once she noticed the death stare that achraf was sending her. she pretended not to notice, and smiled a sickeningly sweet smile.

'look aunt aïcha, they are in nikah, and this is how they act.' aicha's eyes glanced to the couple that were both facing opposite directions.

'they need to start talking or else i'll die of boredom.' she said dramatically, which had aïcha gasping.

'iman,' aïcha said with a playful tone to her voice, 'we don't say such things.' that was a phrase iman heard often, but she just stood and wrapped her hand around her best friends mother, taking the tray out of her hand and ushering her to sit. she was going to convince manal's mother

'look, aunty, they aren't even talking. it looks like you forced them at gunpoint to be here.'

manal suddenly stood up, claiming that she wanted to get water from the kitchen. her mother raised an eyebrow but manal quickly hurried out of the room, iman hot on her heels.

aïcha turned to achraf, with a quizzical look reflecting on both of their faces.

'i don't know, they're like two peas in a pod.' she said, almost as if she was justifying their strange behaviour.

meanwhile in the kitchen, manal was gripping the sink wondering why her friend was so hell bent on embarrassing her in front of her mother.

'wow look at you, all warm.' iman said, and it took all of manal's strength and faith to not strangle her then and there.

'iman! you're such a cow!' it was a term that was both endearing and insulting for the best friends. 'what do you expect me to do huh? this is not some turkish drama! i'm not going to make out with your brother in front of my mom.' she hurriedly whispered, not wanting to be heard in the living room.