Let me in or let me go

I don't like the new him

Gabby's POV

 I walk into the restaurant and spot Tarek immediately. He is sitting in the middle of the restaurant, staring at the wall ahead of him, with a bored expression plastered across his features. I sigh, admiring him from afar, as my breath catches in my throat. Although we have been in a relationship for over two years now, his beauty always leaves me stunned.  His light brown skin and hazel eyes complement each other perfectly. His black hair, cropped closely to his head, and his clean shaven face gives him a manly yet youthful touch. His height – 6 foot 2 inches - and defined muscles were just a bonus.

 I walk over to the table to where Tarek is sitting.

“You were meant to be here at 6. You’re late,” he states nonchalantly.

“I’m sorry,” I reply timidly. “The tube was packed so I waited for the next one.”

I quickly glance down at my phone. It is 6.07 pm. Tarek’s jaw tenses. 

“Don’t lie to me Gabby,” he says slowly.

“Lie to you about what?”

“You know exactly what I am talking about.”

“No, I’m sorry Tarek, I actually don’t. So please enlighten,” I huff, rolling my eyes in annoyance.

“Quit playing dumb,” he orders, his voice rising.

“Oh, get to the point already. What have I done this time?”

“Don’t make up shitty excuses about the tube and expect me to believe them,” he yells.

Customers sitting on tables near us look up and give me a pitying look. He glares at everyone around us and lowers his voice to a whisper. “You were with that boy from your area, weren’t you? The one who’s had his eyes on you for a while. That boy, John. You know what? It’s all your fault. Look at what you’re wearing. You look like a bloody prostitute. No wonder he wants a piece of you.”

I look down at my boots, jeans and jumper and then raise my eyebrow at him.

“Are you being for real? Come on, if I cover up anymore people will mistake me for a bloody nun."

 He dismisses my comment, and mutters profusely under his breath whilst clenching and unclenching his jaw. Oh shit, he is livid. I have to think fast.

“Look, calm down Tarek,” I say softly as I touch his shoulder. “I didn’t see or speak to any guys on the way. I came straight from work. You can check my phone if you don’t believe me.”

I take my phone from my jean pocket and push it towards him. This action usually calms him down but today this goes by unacknowledged.  He stares at me and suddenly lets out a low chuckle.                                                                                                                                 

“Oh Gab, you think you’re so clever, don’t you? Let me give Tarek my phone to shut him up. But before I give it to him I’ll delete all the dirty messages that I’ve sent to John.”

This time, I stare at him, my eyes narrowing into slits.

 “What’s wrong with you Tarek?” I prod his hard chest with my finger. “Why don’t you trust me? Why do you keep accusing me of stuff you know I will never do.  I’ve always been faithful to you. I’ve never given you any reason to ever doubt me, have I? Have I? Go on, answer me!”

 “Don’t you dare raise your voice at me Gabby,” he hisses slowly.

“Just because I’m your girl does not mean you get to tell me what I can and can’t do. For the past few months you’ve completely changed. Hell, I never knew there would come a day where our relationship would resort to you checking my phone but now it’s become a regular thing. Go on, take my phone. Go and check the texts you happen to think I send to every boy I see.”                                   My chest rises and falls heavily from my sudden outburst. I let out a bitter laugh, as I thrust my phone to him. He grabs it and settles it down on the table, placing it neatly in the middle.

 “Nah, I don’t want to check your phone,” he says casually.

I frown, unsure of what to make out of his sudden change in demeanour.

“What’s changed?” I ask. A huge part of me wishes he has realised that this possessive side of him is really destroying our relationship, but a mischievous glint in his eyes tells me otherwise.  

“Nothing. You don’t want me checking your phone, so I won’t.”

“Tarek, stop playing games. You’re up to something. I’ve known you long enough to know that you’re as stubborn as fuck and won’t let shit drop that easily. So spit it out.”

“Okay I’ll tell you babe.” He takes my hands and starts to play with my fingers. “Well, seeing as you find it difficult to listen to what I tell you to do, I’ve made it easier for you.”

 He begins to kiss my fingertips and a tingly sensation shoots up my arms. He always did this to distract me - to make the blow of what ever he is about to say less harsh - and it usually worked.

“I’ve tapped into your phone, so I’ll know where you are at every second of every day.”

But this time, the tingly sensations do nothing to lessen the shock I feel at his words.

I gasp loudly, not believing the words that have come out of his mouth.

 “No Tarek!” I shake my head in denial. “No, no, no. I don’t believe you.”

“Not feeling so smart now, are we?”

“Please Tarek,” I whimper. “That’s so wrong on every level. You can’t do that. You can’t.”

“But you see, the problem is,” he looks at me directly with no emotions in his eyes. “I can do whatever the fuck I like and there is nothing you can do to stop me.”