Bending Edges

Nine

Mamoona

Dakota was sitting on my bed as I skimmed through my sketchbook to find any flaws in the design for the dress I drew that I spent many hours and long nights on. I felt Dakota eyes on me as I did a small adjustment to the final design. "Are you done yet? I really want to see," she whined playfully.

I peered up from my sketchbook, her eyes met mine and chuckled lightly. "Art takes time," I made fun of the stereotypical fancy artist, making Dakota laughed hard.

Her laugh is what made me feel nervous. I smiled to hide my sudden nervous reaction. "Ready to see it?" I asked her.

"Yes, I was ready ages ago," she replied enthusiastically and for once this was someone so excited to see my designs.

"This is what I got," I told her as I flipped my sketchbook to her revealing my work and I waited for Dakota's reaction.

The dress was ankle length and was long sleeved. It was navy blue and contrasted with popped out pink skirt of the dress; to top everything off was a navy blue bow. She examined my sketch slowly and thoroughly. "Moona, this look so beautiful! I love it so much. You are going to be a great clothing designer," she told me.

I paused to her remark. I could be a great designer, but why am I giving that up to something that means nothing to me? Dakota caught what she just said. "Mamoona I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. What I-" she mumbled.

And it finally dawned on me. "No, you are right. I am going to be a great clothing designer, I just need to make it happen," I cheerfully said.

Dakota beamed. "Wait, so does that mean you are going to accept Kristen Aura's offer and go meet with them?" She asked.

I nodded and replied with a slight smile, "yes, I am. I can't miss out on this, Dakota."

She was genuinely happy for me. "That is great, Moona. I am glad to hear that."

I stood from my chair to my closet to grabbed my measuring tape and notebook. "Come on, I'm gonna get your measurements," I motioned her to the center of my room.

She stood up accordingly. "Okay then," Dakota said and moved herself to the spot I pointed her to.

I opened my notebook to a fresh new page. "Spread out your arms, please,"I directed her.

I unwind my measuring tape and placed it on her wrist to her right shoulders and recorded the measurements on the notebook. There was a silence in the air that was unsettling. "You are very pretty, Moona, there must be a lot of guys after you," she said while biting her lip.

I flushed red. "Thanks. I actually haven't dated a guy before, it is within my religion for me to wait for the one to get married to" -I went on to measuring from her ankle to her collarbone- "and what about you? Is there a man that sweeps your feet?"

There was a long pause. I stopped measuring and we made eye contact. I frown at her slightly stunned face expression. "What's wrong, Dakota?" I asked her.

Her mouth opened and clammed shut like she wants to say something but has a hard time doing it. "What is it?" I asked again.

Her shoulders drew down. "Mamoona, I don't know what to say," she said.

"I am sure whatever it is it would be okay," I told her gently.

At this point, I am very curious and worried on what Dakota wanted to say. Is it that serious that it is so hard for her to say?

"Trust me I don't want to hide this from you," she started, "I'm gay, Moona. I'm not into men."

I don't feel threatened by the fact that she is gay. I don't have a problem with gay people, but I know for that my family is anti-gay. "I don't mind it, Dakota," I told her softly.

I went on to measuring her waist. "Really is it cool for you?" she asked.

I nodded and recorded the numbers into the notebook. "But my family is not okay with it. Please understand and don't bring it up to my family, Dakota," I pleaded.

She immediately nodded her head. "Yeah totally, I could do that," she said.

"Thanks for understanding," I said to her sincerely.

I was playing with the measurements I recorded in the notebook. "Since you are into women, I should rephrase, do you have a girl that sweeps you off your feet?"

Dakota laughed out loud and again it made me nervous again. "Currently? No, not yet I guess."

I started to measure around her diaphragm. "So what are some qualities you are looking for in a girl?" I asked while occupying myself with the tape.

"I actually don't have the slightest clue. I guess one thing is that she has to be a nice person," she answered.

"Have you ever been with men?" I asked her and somehow another hundred of questions followed in my head for her.

"Yeah, I tried the whole straight thing before. It didn't work out,"

"Well, I have never been with neither men or women before. I never had my first kiss. What's it like?"

"I had my first kiss with a guy and it was meh, but when I had my first kiss with a girl it was like fireworks going out all at once," she explained as she opened up.

I went to wrap the measuring tape around her chest and I immediately noticed how close I was to her. She continued, "it feels like your heart is competing in a race and it is going off very fast" -I felt my heart pounding as quick as light- "you feel your face heat up and everything will fit like a puzzle."

And out of nowhere everything that Dakota said was happening to me and everything was tuned out until I felt a soft touch on my hands. The distance between me and Dakota was jaw opening close. She stopped talking and we stayed staring at each other for a while and she inched forward. We were nearly nose to nose. All of a sudden, my bedroom door flew open, both I and Dakota backed away from each other like two bouncy balls that hit each other and bounced away. In an instance, Sabrina flew in. "MOONA! MOONA!" I heard Sabrina screeched in the top of her lungs.

I cleared my throat and gave her a glare. Motioning her that I have a guest, and I noticed that Dakota stood there stunned. It was either from the nose to nose moment we had or when Sabrina was screeching to break mirrors. "Yes Sabrina, don't you know how to knock?" I sighed as I put down my measuring tape.

Dakota stayed stationary and didn't make a single peep. Sabrina flashed a look to Dakota. "Oh, it's you again," Sabrina said unassumingly.

"Hey," Dakota waved.

Ignoring her, Sabrina turns her attention to me. "My wedding a ruined!" Sabrina said dramatically.

I crossed my arms looking skeptical, Sabrina tends to always over dramatize things. "Uh-huh, how so?" I asked.

Sabrina was complaining to me how the chef messed up the desert to Pavlova for regular cream cake, but all I could think of was what on Earth was just happened moments ago. I took a second to glance over at Dakota who fidgeting with her long velvet thin sleeves. 

She caught my stare and I shyly smiled at her as she did back. What the heck was all that about? What have we done?