Scarred For Life

Chapter 13

*
The tense air surrounding the table was beginning to suffocate Afrah. Fahad refused to take his eyes off her, even when he chewed his food or drank some water. It was almost as if his eyes were the needle of a compass, and she was the North pole.

It had been thirty minutes already; thirty grueling, uncomfortably silent minutes. The awkward car ride was nothing compared to this.

At the back of her mind, she wondered why he was being so quiet. It was so unlike him, as he hadn't been able to keep his mouth shut the last time they met.

"You're quiet," he said finally, setting his empty glass down.

I'm aware of that.

"So are you," she said instead.

"I'm quiet because you are quiet," he said. "Is it the food you dislike or is it me?"

A little bit of both actually.

"The food is nice," she said.

"So it's me then?" he raised an eyebrow.

Afrah swallowed her food silently.

Fahad stared down at his food for several seconds before he looked back up at her.

"What's your favorite colour?" he asked.

"Black," she replied simply, not even bothering to look up at him.

"You know, this isn't how I imagined our second meeting to be," Fahad chuckled, leaning back into his seat.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you," she said. "Again."

"On the contrary, Afrah, I am not disappointed at all. I'm actually... intrigued. You're like a puzzle I can't quite figure out. And I am not a man who enjoys giving up. Truth be told, I..."

"Why are you here?" she asked, cutting him off. He paused, twirling the fork around his fingers slowly.

"I'm here because I want to show you that I am not a threat," he said. "You genuinely have my interest, and I would love to get to know you. I'm hoping I can get you to reciprocate these same feelings in you."

"Well, how about I make things easier for you?" she said, glaring at him though her heart was pounding in her chest. "I am not interested. I never was, and I never will be."

"I don't believe you," he said.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," he nodded. "I think that deep down, you're actually curious as well. But you're just too afraid to admit it to yourself."

"Are you perhaps a psychologist?" she asked. "Or maybe an unregistered psychic?"

"Afrah," he sighed, leaning forward, "why won't you give me a chance?"

"Because. I. Am. Not. Interested."

"Why not?" he raised an eyebrow. "Tell me one valid reason why you won't even consider me, and I swear I'll take you home right now."

"Well, because I'm an adult and I should be allowed to make my decisions for myself," she said. "And I want to believe that, as an adult yourself, you will be mature enough to respect my decision."

He said nothing. Afrah looked up at him then, flinching as she saw the way he stared calmly at her.

"What?" she asked.

"That was a good reason," he shrugged, pushing away the plate. "Come, I think it's time I take you back home."

As the waiter brought the bill, Afrah couldn't help but smile internally. She had only suffered his company for an hour. And now she would finally be rid of him. The deal had been that she would only meet with him once. Umma couldn't possibly complain now.