Loved by My Archenemy

CHAPTER TEN

“Is anything wrong?” Zev asked, but now he looks worried. I let out a soft smile, I might not be good at talking about how I feel but with Zev, it's easy. I always thought it was because he was the first friend I made on my own, not because our parents were friends or anything. “Hello? Earth to Yara” Zev waved. I still have my smile hanging. I took a deep breath ready to let out all my worries... “Hey, Zev!” Reena came excitedly hugging Zev. “How have you been?” Zev replied hugging her too. Aliana came behind Reena smiling awkwardly, “uhmm hi Zev” she said shyly staring at the ground with a smile. Weird. “Hello, Aliana” Zev replied just as shy. Okay even weirder. Reena and I threw a suspicious glance at each other like we were thinking the same thing, what is going on with them?. “Okay!! I don't know about you guys but I need me some booza!” Reena busted as if she was trying to break the “weird” atmosphere. We all sat back down on the carpet, Aliana dropped our booza on the beautiful short antic stool. “Here you go Yara,” she said handing me my pina colada stretchy goodness sprinkled with coconut chips. “Thank you!! ” I replied Excitedly as I dropped my sweet goodness on the stool and picked up my phone to take a few shots for the gram. I captioned it *hot days and booza* and posted! I dropped my phone on the stool and joined in the conversation. “what have you been up to Zev?” Reena asked curiously, reaching for her hazelnuts flavored booza. Zev who was seated between Aliana and me looked right at Aliana before answering. Why is he looking at her first? “Well...” he said finally, “my company has been handling the renovations at the Faz mansion” his gaze still at Aliana, “oh that's nice, that means you've been seeing a lot of Aliana,” Reena is eager to dig out what the awkwardness between them is about. “But you never mentioned Aliana” she finished almost immediately. Aliana’s face flushed. “I was going to” Aliana mumbled almost inaudibly “well that's very nice Zev, I remember you always complained about how you barely got by when the business started,” I said all happy for my friend. He smiled and nodded quite impressed at my memory. “Yes, but all gratitude goes to Fa’iz Faz, he took a chance at me and also linked me to a lot of moguls in the business“. Aliana looked at him smiling. And his gaze still never left her. Reena and I were trying so hard to hold our questions. Zev stayed for another ten minutes before he decided it was time to leave. He said goodbyes but with no surprise, his goodbye to Aliana was somewhat awkward and adorable all at once.

“Okay! Spill” Reena lamented almost immediately, both of us were looking curiously and excitedly at Aliana. “Wh...what do you mean?” Aliana replied stammering and looking at everything but us. “Come on Aliana, we noticed the awkward glances,” I said rolling my eyes. “And the shy smiles!” Reena added. “I don't know what you guys are talking about” Aliana replied face facing the ground and trying to hide her smiles. Reena and I busted into laughter. We continued talking about school and how everyone glowed up after the summer break. “Samad’s glow-up is definitely a dream!” Reena said with a light in her eyes. “He went from me four-eyed softy to a drop-dead hottie”. Reena was waving an invisible hand fan towards her and wiping off an invisible sweat” we all chuckled and dipped our small spoons in our stretchy delight.

After a while of trying to act as though nothing happened with Zev and Aliana and Reena and I were just overthinking it, Aliana finally let out, “Okay then fine”. Reena and I looked up at her a little excited. “it all started before I left for Greece, father always thought it would be a good idea for Zev and me to be together. He said he saw some great qualities with us, and we would make the perfect match” Reena and I are now raising our brows. I still don't get it, Baba fa’iz really suggested that? “I know, it's weird,” Aliana said in defense as though she heard my thought. “But, being with him is different. His smile, his words of encouragement, the way I can't stop thinking about him when he's away, and the way I can't stop looking at him when he's with me” wow! I have never heard Aliana talk like this before. “Wow!” reena exclaimed, “why didn't you tell us?” “well, Zev is Yara's closest person to a brother, and.. And I was afraid you won't approve,” Aliana said looking at me. “Oh come on Aliana, who wouldn't want her best friend and brother together” I smiled, and gave her a soft nudge, I continue to hold her hands and swing it. “I'm happy for you both Aliana” I hugged my friend. “You guys are not about to leave me behind,” Reena announced joining Aliana and I “group hug” we chorused chuckling. I am really happy. I... I just hoped they told me earlier. And honestly, I am most surprised that Baba fa’iz brought this idea. He seemed like a man in love with status, wealth, power. But what do I know, maybe Aliana’s mom’s death changed him”.

We spent the rest of the day talking and laughing at our jokes. Aliana now, will not shut up about how great it has been with Zev, with every word she utters her eyes became more dreamy, her smiles wider. It's adorable. Reena started to get her phone and purse off the stool and dusting her dress, “okay Girls, I don't want to, but I need to flee, my mom has been blowing up my phone” “mine too” Aliana chuckled. I looked down at my phone, I have engaged it on silent mood since I posted my booza on insta.

*i********:: 500 people have liked your post.

Wow! It's only been 2 hours! Okayyy!! An influencer in the making.

*20 missed calls

*18 new messages from Ammi

“Yara?” my thoughts were interrupted by my now worried-looking friends. I raised my head to meet Aliana’s and Reena’s. “We know you don't want to talk about it...” “actually! I do” I cut them off. They looked hopeful. “If you guys have time?”, “We do!” they chorused. “Where do I start?” I started from the very beginning, reminded them about when Baba and Ammi announced to me, how Ammi broke the news to me in my room. Told them about how I wanted to meet the council and what my mother thought about it. How I wanted to sneak out of the house so I wouldn't have to have another conversation about what the council thinks again, how that failed, and the altercation I had with both my parents before I left. “I’m. I’m sorry, I didn't mean to” I finished, breaking down in tears. I didn't realize I was sobbing already. I felt Aliana and Reena by my shoulders and their hands around me. “It's okay to cry Yara,” Aliana said smiling at me. “I just thought we were passed that, I thought women are allowed better chances now,” I said still in tears. Reena loosened herself from our hug and said furiously “It's unfair how the council seems to have changed their minds. I mean you saw it, they were so happy and they were congratulating Yara, what changed?” Aliana replied in agreement. “I remember we teased Yara about it the rest of that day.” she turned to look at me “I’m sorry Yara, I'm sure Baba Basit is doing all he can, maybe you should let him handle it” Aliana smiled kindly. “ or maybe Baba Basit can allow Yara say her truth at the next council meeting, nobody will take her seriously if Baba Basit keeps showing up for her, this isn't some parents-teachers meeting. This is a meeting with the society, and if the subject is Yara, then Yara should be able to talk”. Reena is getting more furious. Reena and I are somewhat alike. Radicals, prefer to go the hard way. Believe so much in speaking out. Aliana though is different. She likes the easy way out, she’d prefer to work with the rules. Not a fan of confrontation. “But her father is king and Alpha!” Aliana protested “When will her father stop coming to her rescue? Why do you think they are trying to put her down?!” Reena and Aliana we're arguing now. They always get like this when their views are not the same, one wanting to change the view of the other. I can't handle all of this Athena. But I won't sit back either. I need to be at the next council meeting, I need to talk to the council myself. I understand my mom and Aliana are trying to protect me, but I can't just sit back. I can't get myself to just sit back Athena. ‘You need to pull yourself out of this place and go home, Baba and Ammi are waiting to listen’.