she smiled before killing chapter 11
892 Words
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"Okay, now should we move forward?"
"Where do you both think you're going?" Shahmir crossed his arms. "Stay for the family dinner."
"No, we should leave—"
"Yes, we're staying."
Manal and Iqrash spoke at the same time.
Manal immediately turned toward him. "What?"
Before she could protest further, Iqrash stepped closer.
"Come on," he said softly. "Your friend is already trying to become family with us. The least you can do is stay for dinner."
His hands settled gently on her waist as he pulled her closer.
Manal's breath caught.
Their eyes locked.
For a moment, everything around them seemed to disappear.
The laughter, the voices, the noise in the room—none of it mattered.
Iqrash couldn't take his eyes off her.
She looked breathtaking tonight.
The soft glow of the lights reflected in her eyes, making them impossible to look away from.
And before he realized it, he had leaned in too close.
So close that his lips were only inches away from hers.
Manal's heart skipped a beat.
Was he actually going to kiss her?
The thought alone made her cheeks burn.
Quickly, she broke the silence.
"O-okay..." she stammered. "If you want to stay... then we're staying for dinner."
The spell between them broke.
Nearby, Shahmir stood frozen with one hand covering his mouth and his eyes wide open.
Without wasting a second, he pulled out his phone and typed in the group chat.
**Shahmir:** *Girls, I'm telling you right now... the chemistry between these two is getting dangerously hot.*
Meanwhile, Manal was silently fighting with her thoughts.
*He wasn't actually going to kiss me... was he?*
The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
And embarrassingly enough...
She was blushing.
Iqrash noticed.
A smirk appeared on his face.
He leaned closer again and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Why are you so uncomfortable?" he whispered near her ear.
His voice was low and teasing.
"It's only an act, isn't it?"
Manal knew he was doing it on purpose.
Before she could respond, she noticed Shahmir watching them with the excitement of someone witnessing the drama of the century.
Fine.
If Iqrash wanted to act, she could act too.
Sliding her arms around his neck, she smiled sweetly.
"If you think we should move to the dining table, then let's go."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I'm hungry."
For a second, even Iqrash looked surprised.
---
Meanwhile, on a secret video call Shahmir had started earlier, Saaisha and Zifra were watching everything unfold.
Both girls stared at the screen with identical expressions of shock.
"What the heck?" Saaisha almost shouted.
Zifra blinked repeatedly.
"I can't believe my eyes."
She pointed at the screen.
"Is that really Manal being cheesy with a guy?"
Then both girls froze again.
On the screen, Iqrash gently kissed Manal's forehead.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Shahmir was beginning to regret involving them.
The two girls looked as if their souls had left their bodies.
"This can't be real," they whispered together.
For Manal, the forehead kiss was nothing more than part of their act.
For Iqrash...
It felt like something entirely different.
His heartbeat was telling a story he wasn't ready to admit.
He smiled softly at her.
"Come on, my love."
The words rolled effortlessly off his tongue.
Manal immediately turned and started walking toward the dining room.
Under her breath, she muttered,
"If I didn't know he was acting, I'd honestly think he was trying to seduce me."
Unfortunately for her...
Iqrash heard every single word.
He caught up beside her.
"Did you say something?"
"No."
She looked away.
"I didn't."
His grin widened.
"If you ever want me to seduce you, trust me..."
He lowered his voice.
"I'd give it my best."
Manal's eyes widened.
"Shut up."
His laughter followed her all the way to the dining room.
---
Soon everyone gathered around the dinner table.
Like a perfect gentleman, Iqrash pulled out a chair for Manal before taking his own seat beside her.
Shahmir sat on her other side.
Across the table sat Zaveyaar and his wife, Alia.
Throughout dinner, Iqrash quietly filled Manal's plate whenever it became empty.
He made sure she ate properly.
He noticed every little thing.
When she reached for water, he handed her the glass first.
When she looked for something, it was already in front of her.
The care seemed effortless.
Natural.
As if looking after her was his favorite thing to do.
To everyone watching, they looked hopelessly in love.
Every smile.
Every glance.
Every teasing remark.
It all felt real.
And that was exactly what bothered Zaveyaar.
His jaw tightened.
Again and again, his eyes drifted toward them.
Toward the way Iqrash leaned closer whenever he spoke to Manal.
Toward the way his hand occasionally rested on her waist.
Toward the way Manal didn't push him away.
Instead, she smiled.
She laughed.
She looked comfortable beside him.
Happy.
The sight slowly drove Zaveyaar mad.
A feeling he hadn't experienced in years burned inside his chest.
Jealousy.
Pure jealousy.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he pushed his chair back and stood up.
Without a word, he left the dining table.
Alia immediately noticed the change in his expression and followed after him.
While behind them, Manal and Iqrash continued laughing together...
- Writer
