37. Thoughts
Asahd’s POV:
Then next morning, I stepped out of my room to do ten pushups, go shower, prepare and go to work, like I did every morning.
Surprisingly, I heard Saïda in the kitchen. She usually got up at eight or so. I went to the kitchen and met her searching the fridge. She hadn’t seen me. My eyes dropped to the cute tiny shorts that she had on.
I admired her smooth legs and strangely, I felt my throat grow a little dry and a stir in my pants.
′This is sick.′
I thought, swallowing hard and trying to wipe out what had just happened.
I looked behind me and over my shoulder like I was some sneaky bandit then turned to her again. I was shirtless and had nothing but a pair of sweats on. I slowly approached her. She didn’t hear me.
“Why are you up this early?” I asked lowly and she gasped, turning immediately.
“Oh my, you scared me,” she whispered with a low laugh.
“Sorry,” I said smiling, and we stared at each other for a short while. Then she realised I was shirtless and it immediately made her redden and feel a little uncomfortable.
′Such a good girl.′
I smiled at the awkward thought.
I grabbed her hand and stared at her cut finger.
“Still hurts?” I asked.
“A little. I’ll change the bandaid, later,” she smiled a little.
“Okay,” I kissed her finger and she giggled a little, biting her lower lip. You don’t wanna know the effect it caused in me.
′My body reacted to that like it was turned on. Is it?′
My thoughts seemed mixed up and confused that morning. I decided that it was probably because I had not slept very well the previous night.
I was staring into her eyes the whole while, completely lost in my thoughts. She suddenly cleared her throat and I snapped.
Amused, she stepped back and pulled her hand away from my grip.
“Uh, you should go prepare for work now,” she said.
“Right. Can I get a hug?”
′Why?′
The mind and body had nothing in common. Each did what it wanted.
“Sure,” her reply was low and she stepped closer and into my arms.
I wrapped them around her and hugged her tight, resting my chin on her head and closing my eyes. There was thing she always did when we hugged, that I liked. She would put her palms, flat on my back and rub slowly and carefully. Almost like slow caresses. And it felt even better friends when she did it on my bare skin.
Something was very unusual about my thoughts and body reactions, that morning. But I did nothing about them. Not that I didn’t want to, I just couldn’t control the thoughts that rushed in my mind and my body reactions. An awkward moment indeed.
’Boy, let her go. It’s Saïda, for crying out loud!′
Well, my body didn’t want to let go.
Saïda’s POV:
It was awkward, but appeasing in some way.
′He’s is shirtless. I’m in shorts.′
The facts made me realise that I’d just gone against my own ethics, without even realising. These touchy games were becoming a little too expensive yet I allowed them to happen. Something I never did, allowing someone other than Noure, touch me in warm ways. Yet I’d let Asahd do so. He’d grabbed me by the waist several times, I’d kissed him on the cheek and forehead more than appropriate and he’d done same. Hugs weren’t harmful, until now. It was becoming a little awkward. Maybe too awkward.
′We shouldn’t be this comfortable or touchy. We’ve already crossed a few limits we shouldn’t have. I’ll soon be married and it’s not right for another man to touch me this much or see me in shorts. What am I doing, for crying out loud??′
I reddened and stepped away from Asahd, immediately.
“Um, I came to get a glass of milk. I’m going back to sleep till it’s time for me to get up and eventually go to work,” I said, smiling uncomfortably.
“Alright. See you tonight,” he replied in a rather husky voice. You don’t wanna know the effect that that left on me.
’My dear, you need more sleep.′
I thought to myself after smiling a little at Asahd. I then rushed to my room.
Asahd’s POV:
“Two fries and giant shakes, right?” I asked the clients one more time.
“Yeah. And with some sauce for the kids, please,” the lady added.
“Alright, ma’am. Right away.”
I went to the counter and dropped her order, waiting for it to be ready.
“Asahd?” the manager called, stepping out of his office.
“Yes, boss?”
“Switch up with Matt at the back. You’ll be helping Allison to take the orders of driving clients.”
“Alright!” I definitely preferred to be at the back than walking up and down in the main room.
I went to the back and Matt left, leaving me with Allison.
“So we’ll be here, together huh?” she giggled and I smiled, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her in for a kiss.
As I lowered my head to kiss her, I froze, recognising a sweet smell. I looked around but there was no one else. I looked at a confused Ally.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing. I just inhaled a familiar smell.”
“Really? It’s my new perfume,” she smiled and I looked at her.
“New perfume?” I lowered my head and inhaled.
′Saïda.′
“W– where did you get it?” I asked.
“I went to the mall yesterday and there’s this new Moroccan beauty shop that sells foreign and sweet perfumes. I picked this one and hoped you would like,” she said with a smile. “But from the look on your face, seems you don’t?”
“Um,” I cleared my throat. “No not that. Just that, Saïda uses the same perfume.”
“Oh.”
“And it’s kinda awkward cuz I’m used to her having its particular sweet smell.”
“Oops. I didn’t know,” she giggled a little and I laughed.
“It’s fine though. I think it fits you just as well.”
′Lying ass.′
“Really?” she smiled.
“Of course.”
′Lying.′
The thought of my own subconscious made me laugh a little. I kissed her forehead and we got to work.
“You’re at the window, or?” she asked.
“Window.”
“Okay, babe.”
About a minute a later, a car pulled up.
“Hello and welcome to fries & spice. How’s your day, sir?” I asked the same ol’ question.
“Good and yours?”
“Not bad. What can I get you?”
“A cheeseburger without tomatoes, a pizza slice and soda.”
I repeated the order to Allison who made the burger while I went to cut the slice. We packaged the food and I grabbed a cold soda can. I gave the customer his meal and he paid.
“Keep the change.”
“Thank you Sir. Have a good afternoon.”
“Thank you, you too,” he drove off and I rolled my eyes.
“Some part of me refuses to believe that I’m living this life,” I muttered lazily.
“What life?” Allison mused and I shook a little. How could I have forgotten, that I wasn’t alone?
I turned to her.
“Don’t mind me, sweetheart. Thinking out loud. What I meant was, I’m actually living in this country now. I’ve always wanted to do so.”
′Yeah, right.′
“Oki,” she smiled and went on with what she was doing.
At our second break, we all sat on the couches and chairs of the restaurant, to relax.
“It’s been long since we did another group outing, guys,” Jenna started.
“True,” Jason agreed.
“Is it some obligation?” I mused.
“More like a tradition. Before you joined us, we always went out in group and had fun on most Saturdays. Now we’ve kinda stopped that,” Elsa explained.
“That’s why we should continue. We always have fun,” Stephan said.
“Okay. What can we do, where can we go to?” I asked.
“I have an idea,” Derrick said. “Asahd you weren’t here the first time. We went camping in the woods a year ago and had a lot of fun. Let’s do it again.”
“True,” every single one of them agreed. I stared. I had never camped and I definitely wasn’t a fan of sleeping alone in the woods.
“Asahd, what do you say?” Alex asked.
“Uh, I’m not a fan of sleeping in the woods at night.”
“You scared?” Brittany who’d recently started talking to me after seeing that I would never apologise for whatsoever, mocked.
“Yes. Nothing to be ashamed off,” I rolled my eyes and they laughed.
“It’s the park’s woods. They’re not dangerous,” Allison reassured.
“You think? I got robbed in that park, the first night I got here.”
They laughed again.
“We’ll be a group, okay? Cmon man,” Derrick said.
They flattered me until I eventually gave in.
“Fine.”
“Great!”
“Bring Saïda along. She’s cool,” Elsa said.
“Alright. I’ll tell her about it.”
~~~~
•AN: Camping in the dark woods with Autumn’s cold. How nice 👀•