Red Love

Contrast.

A/N: Going back in time, when Kaseema was still only 17 and hadn't met Michael. From this chapter onwards the writings will be in the past in order to allow you to see the development of Kaseema and Michael's relationship.

I was nervous. It had only been a couple weeks since i started work at this new job. It was a small shop, on the quiet side of the busy centre. We sold little ornaments, some gold, some accessories. It wasn't the best place, but hey, for a 17 year old a job is a job. As long as i had money in my bank account at the end of the month, i did not care.

My colleagues were great! They always spoke to me, we had discussions about different things but today i was meeting someone new. Another colleague.

I literally thought, eurgh. I hate when you get comfortable working with a couple of people then suddenly someone new comes along and you got to start getting to know them, too. That's why i was nervous. I was going to have to get to know Michael, the deputy manager of the place. Yuck.

I'd heard good things about him so far. About how he had a love for languages and his love for different cultures and people. My other two colleagues, Joe and Adam, had told me that we'd get along great! The more they got to know me, the more they kept saying it so despite being nervous i was sort of excited. A little.

I breathed and walked in. I was wearing some baggy trousers with a swirly flower pattern on them, a plain black top, a black blazer and of course my hijaab, covering my hair, my neck, my ears and the most part of my chest. I had no make up on. I hardly ever put make up on, mainly because i hardly ever had time in the mornings. I HATE mornings. I physically struggle to get out of bed and stay in the comfort for as long as i possibly can.

He was there as soon as i walked in. Stood behind the counter, smiling at me. I gave him a tired smile back and walked over to him to shake his hand out of respect. The first thing i noticed was probably his height. He was about 6"3, towering over my 5"2 self.

"Hi, i'm Kaseema. Nice to meet you."

"Hello, i'm Michael. Nice to meet you, too."

Our hands met in a quick shake, showing the contrast in our skin tones.
He opened the door and let me walk into the office area where Joe and Adam were. Joe was the manager. He was also very tall, about 6ft, had blue eyes, brown hair and a full brown beard. He was a nice guy, except for when we had discussions and he gave some very ignorant opinions which irritated me.
Adam... well, he was just Adam. He was the smallest out of all the 3 guys that worked there. He was only slightly taller than me but boy, was he bossy sometimes and very annoying. I didn't mind though, considering i hadn't been there long.

For the rest of the day, i made an effort to get to know Michael more and i think he was doing the same. We both spoke, about a lot of different things. From politics to personal things. I found out he was 24, of Jamaican descent and had a girlfriend called Betty who happened to be Asian which really surprised me, but of course, i didn't show it. They'd been together for 2 years but i noticed he didn't seem excited or extremely happy when he mentioned her. I thought nothing of it, though.

That cold evening, as i walked home i thought about work and how happy i felt after being messed around in my last job by the manager and owner of the company. I thought of how nice Michael was to me and how easily i could talk to him. He made me feel comfortable and i felt like i had just made a new, good friend. It felt nice. I put my hands under the bottom of my hijaab and pulled my coat around me to keep myself warm.

Yeah, i thought, what a nice man.

A/N

Hijaab - Islamic head covering that women wear. Literally translates from Arabic to English as "veil."

Not too sure about this chapter but i wanted you guys to briefly know how Kaseema and Michael met and what their original relationship was.

THANK YOU FOR READING. I LOVE YOU GUYS!