Pearl Chapter 8: Mirrors

Sorry it takes me ages to post but i really ams swamped with uni work, i hope you all understand and are not loosing interest in the story, i promise i will finish this story even if it takes a long time. I almost done with classes and stuff then i have easter break, finals and summer break. So there will be more posts a lot sooner in a while. 

Enjoy the post! xx

Previously:

"Hi Zaina..." That grin of his was still plastered on his face. "Hi Yousef... ummm lazm aroo7 knt  i was watching Lulu madre wain ra7at..." She tried to squeeze past him but it was impossible. His large figure was blocking the doorway so she stepped back and gave him a look. But of course, why would he move? "Yousef, please lazm arja3 3nd il7areem mab'3a a7ad ydawr 3laiy w ylgany hna m3ak.."

   Yousef completely ignored what she was asking for "Laish you didn't accept my request, i know you've seen it cause you've had your phone with you all night fa laish ma swaitay accept.?" Zaina wanted to kill herself for being put in that position. She didn't think he would have the audacity to ask her like that. "I didn't know if i should, mako sbab y5aleni i accept il request...." She decided to be as forward as he was. "There are plenty of reason w awal sbab ina e7na 3yal 5ala.. we're family. Eb t8n3eeni ina ma3ndech family guys on your bbm??"

    Zaina looked to the side trying to avoid his eyes and bit on her lower lip. This time Yousef knew for sure that it was a nervous habit. "ma3nde a7ad that acts like he has split personalities.. fa please momken tatrekni w t5aleni a6la3..." Before Yousef moved her reached over by the sink. Zaina was confused with what he was doing until she looked over her shoulder to see him picking up her blackberry and grabbing onto it. All Zaina could think of was Please don't open it and press accept Please Please Please. But to her surprise he didn't do that. He handing over her phone and all he said was "Im sorry, please accept my request....you won't regret it, I promise...."

   Zaina took her phone and look up at him for a few seconds "Promise is a big word... Don't know if you'll be up keeping that promised." As Zaina stepped out of the doorway Yousef quicklu just threw in "Don't underestimate me, I can keep my word...." 
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For the rest of the night, Zaina enjoyed herself. She tried to act carefree and pretend that what happened earlier didn't get to her, that Yousef has no affect on her. Of course that was far from the truth but she tried her best to believe it and act upon it. Yousef on the other hand was growing impatient. He watched Zaina as she laughed, chatted, smiled and interacted with everyone. He spent the rest of the night just looking at her every move. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion. Her laughter, her talking, her smiles, her nods, everything.

  Zaina knew Yousef was watching her like a hawk but tried to ignore it and not pay too much attention to the fact that she can't relax because her every move was being watched and studied. Yousef wanted to find a way to just tell her what he wants or needs but he himself had to idea what these emotions and feelings that are running through him meant. Yousef was in a new place, somewhere he was never been before. A place he was unfamiliar with. She is making him feel things he does not understand and he needs her to figure this out. He didn't want her to see how this is effecting him and how it has been confusing him to a point where he is becoming frustrated as time goes by. Why wasn't she accepting his friend request?

   Soon enough, the night was over and there was nothing more Yousef could say or do. It felt like she was slowly slipping away from him. The second Zaina stepped out, she felt like she could breathe whereas Yousef felt like someone was squeezing his rib cage and he couldn't breathe easily. He couldn't feel at ease. A million thoughts were running through his head, partly trying to understand himself and partly trying to understand Zaina and her actions. Yousef was trying to figure out what all these new feelings meant and at the same time he was trying to be discrete and not show Zaina that he is insisting and pushing her to do something she doesn't want to do.

   A few days went by and there was no since of Zaina. The closest Yousef could get to her was through his thoughts and day dreaming. He was falling for her, and falling hard. Nothing out there would cushion his fall and he could see the result of this coming. It certainly wasn't going to be a good one.

   As much as he didn't want to admit, he was starting to really believe that there was no chance of Zaina accepting his request, much less to give him a second chance. However, on an early Friday morning he woke to the best thing he could have ever wished for.

   Nour, his eldest sister, went into his room to wake him for family breakfast. It was a family tradition for many years. Every Friday morning, everyone would gather around the table and the meal they all look forward to throughout the week. The house would be filled with laughter, love and chatter. Anyone was welcome. Friday morning, their home was an open house for anyone who wanted to join .

   "Yousef...Yousef...Ywaiissef!! yalla goom shof esa3a cham! ba3ad 5 dgayg b76on ilroug tadre baba may7b a7ad yt25r 3ala ilryoog ilyoum!" Yousef tossed over to the side as Nour did her very annoying routine of getting her brother out of bed. She opened the curtains and let the sun shine in onto Yousef's face. "oofffff laish lazm ilwa7d ygoom embacher eb hal bait 7tan lama ykon weekend! walla ta3aban!!"

   "ta3bana mu ta3ban kaifek 3ad, inta tadre kl ym3a il ryoog ihne fa yalla goom w enzl lat5ale baba yz3al..." Nour was making her way out his room when she was called back by Yousef "Fe a7ad ta7at? lazm albs 3adl wla 6af?" Nour looked at her brothers extremely tired face and decided that they should cut him some slack especially sinces he's been working so hard at the firm lately. "La 3ade 6af bs yalla goom!!"

   Walking down the stairs, Yousef already could hear the chatter and laughter of everyone on this lovely morning. Surprisingly no one was on the dining table and instead, breakfast was in the garden today. Yousef didn't bother putting on his hoodie since it wasn't even that cold at this time of year. The weather was breezy and beautiful throughout the day.

   "9ba7 il5aiiiir! ashof klman mstans eb hal jaw!" Yousef stepped out in the sun and squinted his eyes not seeing anything, they were practically almost shut as he was waiting for his eyes to adjust to the light, especially since he had just woken up. "Eee w 6ab3an inta 7tan mafakrt talbs 3adl!" Everyone was giggling at the way he looked. He didn't bother to dress up appropriately. He was wearing plaid woven polo shorts and a plain grey shirt with bright blue A&F flip flops.  nothing from what he was wearing remotely matched. "Shaklha enkasrt ilmraya ili eb '3urfta magdar y6al3 shakla bl mraya!"

   Yousef's head snapped up and his eyes were all of a sudden wide open as he looked at everyone and everything. As all the people around the table laughed loudly at that particular comment Yousef stared at one person in particular. The person who made the comment.

   "W ana shdrane ina fe nas 3ndna! il anesa Nour nsat etgwle...." He gave his sister the death stare "Ee mu glt ina o5oy ra7 ygwm ybadl w mara7 yanzl shakla chtheee!" Everyone continued their laughter and chatter as Yousef took his seat on the far left. Zaina was siting across the table on the far right. He was surprised to see her  there. Afterall, he was beginning to believe that he might not see her for a very long time. His father was sitting at the head of the table with his wife on his right. Reem and Noura sat next to their mother and Zaina on the end. On his side of the table, He sat in front of his mother with his aunt next to him and an empty seat was next them but there was a plate with left overs on it.

   Today was different. Zaina was herself, she wasn't uncomfortable or feeling out of place. In fact she was the exact opposite. She was the Zaina he first saw and knew. The down to earth happy Zaina. She was glowing, the sun was shining because Zaina was outside. Even the sun couldn't stop itself from coming out to look at all this beauty.

   Yousef was surprised at the fact that Zaina was acting normal around him. She would speak to him, smile at him, ask him stuff. He was taken aback from her sudden change. Was she planning a come back? Was she going to do something as payback? Or is she really just being her again? As worried as Yousef was he just pushed all his thoughts aside and enjoyed this lovely morning. Things couldn't be any better.

   The morning was going smoothly, everyone enjoying the food, the weather and the amazing atmosphere. Yousef didn't want to leave to his office to get on with some of his work. He hasn't enjoyed time with his family as much as he had today. It's been a while since he woke up in the weekend and enjoyed a lovely morning. The cases he had were piling up. He was spending at least 11 hours in the office for the past 4 weeks or so. He would get into work at 7 in morning and wouldn't leave before 6 pm. He had things from sorting out files and papers to preparing for 2 or 3 court meetings on the same day. He barely had time to breath. The rest of the day would consist of him going home, having a bit to eat, spending an hour or so with his family, taking a shower and them off to bed he goes. 

   Just as Yousef got up and excused himself and was about to walk back inside he was called back. "Ummm.. Yousef please momken dgega mn waktek, jayba shwyat awrag Rasha kanat 6alba ajeebhum ma3y 3shan a36ek. Galat inu nag9enk 7g ilqatheya..." Yousef couldn't remember what papers were missing, but then again he has so many cases he has to take care of at the same time that he loses track of what he has and what he doesn't "Ay awrag? walla ma athker shno nag9eni mn kther ilqathaya ili 3nde, bs ok mu mushkila 3a6eenyahm w ana ra7 astaw3b 7g shno hathaila."

   Zaina smiled at him and got up. The suns rays hit her face and shone into her eyes lighting them up. They were beautiful. They were twinkling in the sun. Her long dark brown hair was shining. It was so luscious that he just wanted to reach out and stroke to see whether or not it is as smooth as shiny as it appears to be.

   The movements of her getting up and walking over to him were all in slow motion. She was gliding across the floor. He steps were even and small. Her body was tall, her neck extended. She had confidence in her walk. Not the kind of confidence that would turn you off but the kind that is alluring to men, the power she has mesmerizes them yet she can still make them fell that she was the most down to earth woman they would ever meet. Her personality is another thing that Yousef is attracted to, her down to earth personality. It is very rare to find a woman nowadays that has that quality. Most of them can be to arrogant, self centered, or think that they are the most beautiful in the whole wide universe. But with Zaina, its the exact opposite. Sometimes Yousef wonders if she actually knows how beautiful she is. Its seem as if she doesn't know the elegance and beauty she has because she is so down to earth and realistic. 

   "ilawrag juwa, tb'3any ajebhum lek wla tejy ma3ay ta5th'hum?" Zaina stood so close to him. She stood right in front of him as he pointed towards the toward waiting for his reply. He looked her in the eye trying to understand her sudden change but he couldn't read them. "La yalla ana aye ma3ach da5el, asasn ana 9a3d abadl wray shu'3l bl maktab..."

   As they both walked side to side towards the doors he could smell her scent. She had her dior hypnotic poison perfume on indeed it was slowly hypnotizing him, he couldn’t keep his eyes of her. "You shouldn't be working on a weekend, its unhealthy, you need time off to rest..." Yousef couldn't believe his ears "May9er ketha 24 sa3a bs 7a6 kl 6agtek bl shu'3l..." Is Zaina just trying to make conversation or does she really mean it? Yousef couldn't help but wonder if she really is concerned about him or is it just one of this things people say during conversations. "Eee walla adre bs shswe, 3laiy wayd shu'3l w mu mla7g, mako a7ad '3airy ga3d ysht'3l 3ala hal 8athaya..." Zaina was not really looking at him, she was looking through her bag for the papers she has to give him and was talking to him at the same time. Yousef stood there with his arms crossed across his chest. He was watching her.

   He couldn't help but notice those subtle movements that other people would over look. Small 
movements like when she runs her fingers into her hair to pull it back or when she places the tip of her fingers on her lips as she is thinking and wondering where the papers are. All Yousef wanted was more time with her. Weekends would be even better if she was there. Breakfast would be tastier and more satisfying if he had her sitting right there across the table from him as he had his coffee.
   When Zaina found the papers she walked up to with a smirk on her face and a glow to her eyes and put out the papers in front of him for him to take. As Yousef reached out to grab them she suddenly pulled them away and looked him the eye "One more thing..." Yousef looked at her and raised one eyebrow in question "Check your phone...."

   Zaina gave him the papers as she suddenly began to blush as Yousef was staring at her with the widest grin plastered on his face. She turned around and began walking while Yousef just stood there looking at her. Right before she reached the door she turned around to face him but still continued to walk backwards "You better not make me regret my decision estath Yousef...." and with the she turned around again and stepped out of the door back into the garden.