Coming Home (English Version)

15. Drama

Layla

I scoop out one massive ball of chocolate mint ice cream and pass the bowl to Farouk.

"I mean, it's not like I want to be alone for the rest of my life." I clarify to carry on with the conversation. "But once you're used to being on your own, I guess it gets more difficult to be with another person."

"Exactly!" He agrees. "Is like this," he points around my house with a circular motion. "You have your own place, just like me and you don't have to ask anyone else's opinion for anything, you don't have to agree on anything with someone else, no compromises."

I get my own ice cream bowl and sit on the stool next to him. He wanted to go out but I didn't have the energy for that, so I invited him over and we ordered some yummy junk food. Dessert was already waiting for us in the freezer.

"And I don't mean to sound selfish," he continues. "But it's nice to have your own space, right?"

I nod, as my mouth is full of ice cream. "So nice. We can come and go as we please. But you know what? Sometimes I think about my childhood, before my parents passed, and that was beautiful; the little family."

He smirks. "Yeah, that gets to me too. My parents had a good marriage but nowadays that seems so rare."

"Extremely rare." I add. "I suppose it's all about finding the right person."

His spoon digs deep into the ice cream. "Someone that wants to build the same type of relationship you want, but with a good dose of freedom."

"Yes! Because that scares me so much! I like myself, you know?" I laugh at my modesty. "I don't want to lose myself in a relationship."

I happily return to my ice cream but I feel his stare.

"Layla."

I turn my head to see him.

"I like you too." He tells me.

All of the sudden I realize how close we are and the fact that he looks so fine in casual sweats is not helping my anxiety. He spins his stool in my direction and then turns mine so we're face to face.

He bites on his lower lip before talking. "I think my mistake last time was that I didn't ask first, so I'm going to ask you now."

I fix my hair and clear my throat. "Okay."

"Can I kiss you? Because I'm dying to."

My stomach turns and I press my lips together.

"I promise I won't take your freedom away." He adds.

I giggle and nod. "You can kiss me."

His face turns serious and he moves to the edge of his seat. Slowly, he leans forward, his thumb caresses my cheek and his lips softly land on mine. The moment I close my eyes the image of Hamdan in the desert pops up in my head.

Farouk breaks the kiss but remains very close to my face. I wonder if he felt something was off, but I think he's just being nice and trying to make sure I'm okay with it. This time I'm the one that makes the move and Hamdan won't be in my mind. The kiss becomes more intense, he's doing everything right and the second my lips part, my phone starts ringing.

I pat around on the counter searching for it. "Shut up, shut up, shut up." I mumble.

Farouk tilts back and I finally get a hold of my phone, Maryam's name is on the screen.

I grimace at Farouk.

"Answer it." He says.

"I'm so sorry." I apologize. "It's just that she usually texts me so this must mean something."