Foolish Games.. (2)

Again with the conflicting feelings. Say something. Yalla! Yell, slap, drop-kick him, anything! Despite the blush that claimed my face at that moment, I refused to open my mouth and give him the satisfaction of knowing that he managed to ruffle my feathers. I could still feel the precise spot where his fingers briefly brushed the nape of my neck and the imprint of his finger on my shoulder. When did I become so sensitive to every little touch?

I belatedly realized that Ritaj was still on the phone and was making an effort to laugh quieter now as she heard what he had said and knew how loud my phone was, “Ya 7mara ridday!” she whispered, even while whispering, you could hear the authority in her every syllable.

I decided to take a cue from him and made a big show out of clearing my throat like he did and said, “I wasn’t aware that I had appointed you as my personal lost and found service,” perfectly clipping my words to ensure the discouragement of any further replies, “And I would appreciate it if you kept your hands to yourself next time.”

I heard Ritaj tsk-tsking in my ear, “WAIT! Take it back! I’m not sure I approve of the attitude, unless he’s ugly! Wait, is he hot?”

I wasn’t sure how I could answer that with him still looking at me with cockiness emanating from every inch of him. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her that at about a head and a half taller than our 155 cms he was indeed very hot, with him listening. Or that his features looked like they were carefully chiseled out of stone. Or that even beneath his shirt, it was obvious that his body could only be described by comparing him to a greek god. Or that his scent was insanely dizzying. Or that my mere proximity to him was driving me crazy. Or that, as cliché as it sounds, the deep timbre of his voice was sending chills down my spine. Nope, definitely not going to say that.

“Why aren’t you answering me? Ashkara he’s hot.” She sounded pissed but clearly she came to her own conclusion, I fought back the urge to smile, I love that girl.

“I’m not sure I understand,” he stated with a smile of his own, god help me, I think I see a dimple, I looked away and waited for him to continue, “are you telling me that pencils in your hair is a regular thing, or that I might be seeing you sometime in the near future?”

His smile got even wider. Yup, definitely a dimple. Allah yaster. Why aren’t my feet moving?! What do I say? I could feel my bones liquefying as I continued watching him smile, silently begging him to stop.

I let out an unladylike snort and shot back, “Don’t count on it.” I plastered a fake smile on my face and walked away.

“The nerve of some people!” I started complaining to Ritaj as soon as I got out of earshot. “La, w il presumptuousness, na3am 7abeebi? I didn’t choose my words carefully enough 3ala6ool he assumed abi ashoofa again? Wai3 wai3 shyabii!”

“Ooo someone managed to get under your skin,” she said teasingly, “I can already tell you like him, CHUB! IMBALA! I know you better than you know yourself, and you know it! I can’t wait to see you blush while you tell me all the details I missed! he’s hot isn’t he? Describe please wanseeni shway!” Ritaj was one of those people who could have an entire conversation with herself out loud, all it takes is an occasional sentence to keep her going and I guarantee you, she wont stop. She’s my red bull, it’s hard not to get hyper around that girl.

“Jeez juuj, keep it in your pants? Please? I will call up your boyfriend.” I tried turning the tables by threatening HER for a change!

“Hahahaha 7abeebti go ahead! You don’t scare me you midget! Ooo someone’s already possessive of her man-to-be!” She continued her little childish taunts. She kept going on for the better part of the 10 minutes it took me to pay for the stuff and get to McDonalds. I used her previously mentioned “ability” to my advantage and tuned her out and drowned in my own pool of thoughts.

I was quiet as I waited for the order to finish, occasionally letting out a “hmm” or “haha no way!” or an “I know, right?” to keep Juuj going. I kept hearing his voice and the teasing lilt it had to it, I kept seeing the puzzling expression on his face as he stared fixedly at me, I kept seeing the way his shirt molded to his muscles as he made the slightest movements. Strike that, I kept trying to block out the previous thought to keep from drooling. But most of all, I kept seeing that infuriating smile drawn on his perfect face and to my utter dismay I found myself finally letting out the smile I kept trying to hide all day. My smile soon turned into a full-fledged grin and I found myself involuntarily sighing. I liked the bantering, it was fun, but in all honesty, as small as Kuwait was, what were the chances of me ever running into him again?

I heard a knock on the window snap me out of my trance-like state and I rolled it down to pick up our order. I told Ritaj I had to hang up and I’d call her as soon as I got to her place, we said our see-you-soons and I drove away, oblivious to all my surroundings and thinking up fake scenarios of chance meetings between me and my mystery man.