Affinity

Chapter 3: What's in a Name?

" Such a pretty name."

" Thank you." I passed him a fake smile and tried to gather my books at a faster pace than I originally had.

" What does it mean?" I cringed but stopped myself midway once I decided imparting the origin of my name was never an opportunity to pass up. Pride in it wouldn't have been the word nor the tone but a sad understatement.

" There's a story, a old Arabic tale really. It's called The Romance of Antar, and in the story Antar is trying to win this Bedouin princess named Abla. So if you really wanna be technical your in the presence of royalty." I only said that last line because this man wasn't getting the hint and I had to get him off my tail quick; I had a long awaited love to get to after all.

" It fits you." He laughed a little and threw a look of lust in his eyes. I turned on my heel and started walking, hoping he wouldn't follow.

" You got plans tonight?" Ok, he was following, I was fully aware. Now he was putting me in the position of tearing his ass up for not taking the hint, to be very clear he asked for it.

" Hey look, it's been a long ass day, in fact every time you see me it's after a long ass day. I wake myself up at the crack of dawn and go to work, after which I schlep myself to this three hour class. Where I then force myself to listen to the material and get a jump on my homework. Somehow you decided to insert yourself in my existence here with your attempt to win me over with incessant questions and corny ass jokes. Now had you been less forceful or taken the hint, we wouldn't be standing here at eight-thirty at night discussing how unavailable I am, but you brought us here. I'm going to meet my man, and I don't expect this little flirting shit to continue. Are we clear?"

He stared at me for a long three seconds. When shock turned into a mischievous grin I shook my head incredulously and imparted a final "fuck off", before I walked out the classroom and found my way out the building.

" What happened?" He was now on his feet. Six feet, two inches of man with a bubbling rage for a reason he didn't even need to know.

" Did you order?" I slung my bag on the back of the chair and started to walk to the register. He grabbed my arm before I could make it two steps and prompted me to look at the numbered placard on the table, which signified that he had indeed ordered our food. I sat down in a huff next to him and prayed our food came within the next couple minutes before my stomach took control of my emotions and I either cried or cursed, or both.

" What's wrong?" I stared non-blinking at the bar we were sitting at towards the front of my favorite burger place. I counted the eyes in the wood in front of me, analyzing the knotted swirls in an effort to drown out Raheem's question. To drown out his searching eyes and various face muscles that flexed in irked anticipation. If I were to look up right now his eyes would be directed at me with an irritated silence at what he perceived to be my childish petulance; his lips forming a smirk that he knew me so well and irritation that I hadn't let the habit go. And oh, here would lie my favorite part, the concern in his eyes that overrode all irritation he could ever have towards me. It was a resolve I could never tire of seeing now accompanied with a love I knew was all including, I just might become a mute if it means I'd see this look every day.

" Ab!" I looked up at his daze breaking octave, the look I'd just described accurately plastered on his face.

" Long day is all." I shrugged and bolstered a half-smile, I knew him all too well. He did want to know what was bothering me, and he in no shape or form believed my lie of it being a long day. I knew, just as well as he that as soon as we left this establishment and found ourselves in close quarters there would be no room for such lies. So, for now he let his gentlemanly nature shine through as he let me be.

" Here you go." A server came and sat down our burgers in front of us, it was all I could do not to salivate. I spritzed sanitizer in both our hands and to say the least we dug in. My day hadn't been horrible and I wouldn't allow the last man's failure to take a hint and back the fuck off, ruin my mood.

"Hey-" I was three bites into my burger when I turned to Rah, halfway apologetic for my attitude, with a peace offering on my tongue.

" – I love you." A simple emission I couldn't get enough of saying was returned to me in the tone I couldn't get enough of hearing. His smile drew me in, his slight hesitation in halt of breath made me blush. A kiss had never been so calculated, natural and meaningful as this was. 

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