Esmeray.

*Eight

The living room was warm, cozy and kind of dim but overall, it's exquisite.

I flop on the couch and huff.

It's too bright.
Did someone turn more lights on?
The lights were getting brighter and brighter.

My eyes slowly open, as the image of what was unfolding got clearer.

And there he was.
Munir was standing over me with his flashlight on.

I quickly sit up.
Fvck! When did I fall asleep?

"Are you awake now?" He asks with a smirk.
I glare at him "And why did you do that?"

"Well I know waking you up gently would be pointless"
"So you used a flashlight instead?" I get to my feet.

"Yeah, I did"
I scoff "What are you doing here?"

"You mean in my house or in the living room right next to my bedroom?"
I look around "It's your Aunt's house?"

He looked at me blankly "Really? Do you think Anty would live in a typical modern home? With a basketball court and a ping pong table in her living room?"

I stay quiet.
He just stares at me and it was making me feel anxious and uneasy.

"I'll get going" I say picking up my bag.
"Will you keep avoiding me?"

"Yes, until you disappear from my life that's what I plan to do"
He huffs "Don't be like this, Munayah"

I shake my head "Munir don't call my name, you made this what it is"
He huffs "I just don't want this to be awkward at work".

"At work?! Munir at work?!!" I was getting angry, really angry "At work? Things will never be okay, you know why? Because you broke up with me, you didn't give me a reason, you didn't try to explain, you just dumped me like I didn't matter. Like 11years of our lives didn't matter. You were the only guy I loved and we planned forever together and yet you broke up with me without so much as a sorry, things can never be okay. Not at work, not at all"

"I didn't want things to be that way"
"Don't try that with me, don't do that. I don't need an explanation or an apology"

"Then what?"
I didn't know when I started crying and I mean full on crying.
Fvck my emotions, it always disappoints me.

"I'm sorry" he says hugging me, patting my back gently.
Bro that just made me cry more.

"Why'd you leave me?"
He stays silent, his chest rising and falling slowly.

I pull away and just stare at him.
"I'm sorry, I really am. I just felt like—" he huffs "Kaka is looking for you"

I gasp "So that's how you're going to end everything, again?"
"What do you expect me to say?"

"Why do you always do this?"
"Munayah always do what? What do I always do?"

"You disregard your feelings, you think you're enough for yourself"
"Am I not?" He asks with a smirk.

I roll my eyes "You're annoying me"
"Annoying you"

"Yes! Why'd you wake me up?"
He shakes his head "Then what were you doing in my room?"

"I didn't know"
"Of course you're going to pretend you don't, you intentionally did it, there's no point pretending"

The door opens.
Rayhanah peeps "Hey sis" she looks at us awkwardly "The guests have left, Anty wants to talk to you two"

I scoff and walk out.

::

I sit next to Eman.
Kaka, Anty, Mahmoud were already in the living room. Rayhanah and Munir join.

Munir looks around "Where is—" he says looking around and smiles "There you are"

I turn around and see Hanifa.
WTH is she doing here?
Are they in some kind of relationship?

She smiles "Where did you disappear to?"
He shakes his head "No where important"

No where important??!!
I felt like punching his good looking face.

She looks at Anty "It's getting late, I should get home"
"Thanks for coming" Rayhanah says hugging her "For being my special guest too" she laughs.

"You're welcome"
She walks over and hugs Anty.
"Greet your mum for me"
"I will"

"I'll drop her off" Munir offers.
Anty smiles but shakes her head "Mahmoud can you please do that? I want to discuss something with Munir"

Mahmoud stands smiling at Hanifa "I guess it's my playlist today"
She groans and turns to Munir "I'll see you tomorrow then"
He nods.

She, Mahmoud and Rayhanah walk out.

::

Now I'm getting worried.
Kaka, Anty, Munir and I are seated in the living room and honestly it's nerve wracking because both women are seriously unpredictable.

"Anty I have work to do" Munir complains.
She smiles "Calm down son, just a minute"

He nods.
"What's going on? I have to prepare for work?" I ask glaring at Munir.

"Well after much consideration we're planning to get you two married" Anty announces.
"Who am I getting married to?" Munir asks boredly.

"She's in front of you" Anty answers back.
"Wait! What?" I ask getting on my feet.

I look at him then back at Kaka "Munir?! Is this a joke?"
"I'm not going to marry her, there's no way in hell I'm marrying her"

Kaka smiles "We've made a decision and we decided to tell you before we include your parents and uncles"
Munir frowns "What parent? You're my only parent" he tells Anty.

"Your father had to hear about this too"
He shakes his head aggressively "Don't start that, I only agreed to let you find me a wife, don't bring that man into this"

One thing that always bothers me about Munir is that he never opens up. He's always this lively and outgoing person but I know there are still things that hurt him. One I'm sure of is his father, he hates it when people bring him up, he and I have fought so many times because of it. All I know is that his father is a womanizer and when we were in SS3 there were rumors that he was sleeping with our principal and one of our teachers. So eventually I just stopped talking about him or even asking about him, I don't want to hurt him, I mean I didn't.

"I'm not marrying him, he has to apologize first" I say trying to lessen the intensity in the living room.

He looks at me and scoffs "And who says I want to marry you? There's no way in hell I'm apologizing for something I did with a sane mind"

I gasp "Sane mind? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I intentionally did it, I wasn't possessed so why should I apologize?"

I turn to Anty "I'm not going to marry this insensitive man"
"You two should calm down"

I shake my head "I have nothing to say to him"
"Neither do I"

I fold my arms.
"We'll unfortunately for you two, the decision has been made" Kaka says with a wide smile.

I shake my head "I don't want to marry him"
"And neither do I" he counters.

Anty huffs "Fine, since you don't want to marry each other we'll arrange a marriage with different partners but you're getting married on the same day"

We look at each other.
"Marry each other or other people" Kaka says.

"No!" We both say abruptly.
"Good" Kaka smiles.

Munir's phone starts ringing.
"You can call back later" Anty says.

"It's an important call, I need to take it" he huffs "I can marry anyone else, just not her" he smiles and picks the call.

"Hanifa? What's up" he says walking out.

Hanifa?!
She's the important call he left this conversation for? Is he crazy?

::