manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

.23

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

note: i am not familiar with morocco's covid policy at all so i'm going to sideline corona completely x

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19/01/2023

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[1752 words] (longer chapter :) )

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a few days later

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manal had tried calling her friend, but she was unsuccessful with the way her friend had completely ignored her. she hadn't mentioned anything to achraf, given the instruction iman had given her. she was conflicted, should she keep to her word or should she tell her husband who would definitely do something about this better than she could?

it was a question that kept ringing in her mind, like an incessant bell that could not be ignored. she felt weird talking to achraf over the phone and not talking about iman, someone who was a big part of both their lives.

at least this way it would feel like she wasn't lying to him, but rather keeping the truth from him.

'iman how could you keep something like this from me?'

'manal i'm an adult i can deal with it.' iman was speaking like it was a script, completely disregarding her friend's concern for her.

'clearly not if this is how shaken you are! i'm going to tell achraf!' manal replied without any malice.

'you will do no such thing and you're going to promise me that you won't. i swear i won't see your face again if you do.' manal was stunned, she had never had an argument like this before, especially with iman. she felt that stinging feeling in her heart at the harshness of her friend's words.

iman's face contorted as if she processed what she said, turning to desperation.

'no one can find out about this or else he'll do something worse than what he is doing to me now! he'll ruin you and he'll ruin me! both of us!' iman sounded helpless, and manal had never heard her plead like this before.

'iman have faith it'll be alright. he cannot ruin us, i don't understand what you mean and i won't pretend to either. but i think it's stupid to hide it from achraf. he will help us!'

'manal stop bringing him into this! stop interfering, for once!' she said which suddenly flipped a switch in manal. she was truly angered now at her friends antics.

'me? i'm interfering? you just said this involves you and me. you can't be making decisions for the both of us.' manal replied sternly shaking her head. she was beginning to feel the irritation seep in for the first time in this conversation, but tried not to lose her cool. that would not benefit either of them. iman could be headstrong sometimes, but she never behaved like this.

'manal you need to stay out of this. i don't care what your intentions are.'

'i know he's bothering you, misbehaving with you. he did it to me, and he does it to all these other girls. do you not think it's unfair to not report him? everyone would be able to breath a sigh of relief-' she was cut off midway by iman, who angrily shook her head and dismissed her.

'i am telling you for the last time to stay out of this. you will not approach me on this topic again, do you understand? i will not allow you to ruin this for me too.' iman said firmly, pointing a finger at her friend in a threatening tone.

manal didn't know what to say so she chose to stay quiet and watch her friend leave through the bedroom door.

'manal we need to go choose your dresses if you want them to be fitted before the wedding.' her mother called from across the courtyard where manal stood.