Converting to Islam

Chapter 15

"I have converted to Islam. Got a problem?"

"You...what...?"

He stares at me endlessly, with disbelief clear on his eyes. When realisation finally hits him his hands curl into fists.

One fist rises, and is about to strike down and crash against me. My hands fly up in a defensive stance. I shut my eyes as I wait for the concussion.

Ring! 

Just then a loud ringing noise erupts in the room. For a moment I am confused. However, I then realise that it’s the sound of my mobile phone when Tyler snatches it from my table and answers.

"Hello" he growls in my receiver. What the heck? That idiot can’t just answer my phone! 

I can only hear a mumble from the other side of the phone.

"Oh hi dad," Tyler replies. It must be my dad. Tyler always calls my dad 'dad'; not exactly surprising since my dad seems to like Tyler more than he likes me.

He then starts talking in a calm and smooth voice, concealing all the anger, "I don't know what’s wrong with Amber today. She’s saying nonsense about converting to Islam or something."

He pauses for a moment, listening intensely. "Really she said that? We did have a fight but we’ve made up now. Everything’s fine, don’t worry." 

He really has a profession in lying.

After a short pause he replies, "Sure" and thrusts the phone to my ear.

Before I have a chance to speak my dad starts yapping.

"Amber your mother told me you came to visit earlier today. It seems that everything’s solved though, yes?"

"No."

He sighs. "Sometimes I really wonder when you are going to grow up."

Tyler smirks. The mocking look in his eyes challenges me: he knows of my dad’s tendency to take sides with him.

Anger refrains me from replying back. 

"So what is this about Islam that I hear?" He begins.

"It's a choice that I have made, and as my father you should support it." 

"And as my child I trust you not to make stupid decisions," he challenges.

"Just because you think its stupid doesn’t mean it is! Look, dad. It’s too late. You can’t force me to depart from something that I am already committed to. And also, I want to just make this clear: I will NOT marry Tyler. No matter what you say, I cannot because firstly, he does not love me, and also he is a non Muslim," I glance at Tyler’s face as I say the words, to see displeasure.

My dad is terribly stubborn. Reasoning with him is impossible. He always thinks he is right and that I am wrong; he would never just trust me. It made me so angry.

But what he did now made me furious. He completely ignored me. "Next week on Thursday we're meeting up with Tyler’s parents to make plans for the wedding. I would appreciate it if you keep all this gibberish to yourself that day. Show up at 6 pm with Tyler."

Before I have the chance to respond he ends the call, leaving only the sound of the beeping of the phone for me to shout at.

"Why won’t he just LISTEN?!"

"Sorry Ami. Seems like your dad doesn’t give a shit," Tyler says with a sarcastic smile.

"Shut up. Don’t you hate me anyways? Wouldn’t it be more to your liking if there was no wedding?"

"Aw Ami is that really what you think? That’s harsh," he grins. I hate it when he acts nonchalant like this.

"I’m pretty sure people don’t normally shout at and hit people they love."

"It doesn’t mean I don’t love you Amber, it just means that I want you to... How should I put this...? Be more obedient," he finishes by flashing his white teeth in a
mischievous smile. 

But something doesn’t seem right. Is he saying he’s willing to marry me? More than that, could he be implying that he...loves me? 

Suddenly the world seems to be in reverse. His harsh, merciless hands that punched me numerous times turn soft as a feather. Slowly he reaches for my cheek and begins soft caressing movements of his fingers. His icy green eyes melt into a warm jade. I am stunned. Why is he suddenly acting like this?

"I still love you," he whispers in a seductive voice. His hands wrap around my shoulders and he holds my head into his strongly built chest. "We are going to get married and have a great future." 

The scent of his shirt is addictive as it passes through my nostrils. I close my eyes, relaxing in this comforting position. It feels like his strong grip can protect me - that I am safe.

Then I remember. Allah is watching me, and that what I am doing is wrong. I spring away from his touch, my face red. 

The words I say next seem absolutely pointless. No logic or sense came behind the words. It was spontaneous, with lack of reasoning. I don't know what made me say it, but whatever voice inside my head it was, it’s a lunatic.

"If you love me, will you convert to Islam?"

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A/N: Sorry guys if the chapter's short this time! To make up for it I'm going to try to update twice this week :D that is, if you vote and comment moohahaha
Thanks for reading my story sisters and byeee! <3 muah