Can we just be us? Part 55

Part 55

It’s been two weeks and a half since Meera’s encounter with Jawaher. As for hamad, he was distant and so was Meera. She hated how awkward it got right before they went to sleep. They talked like they were estranged roommates. It felt like the beginning of her marriage only more awkward.

She had mix feelings about sarah's request for a party. She didn't want to do it because she knew how demanding her sister can be. And to host it in her house wasn't going to help her with stress. But it was going to help keep her mind busy.

Sarah: but I need the pool

She said nagging into the phone

Meera: can't you have a normal 'dry' party for once

Sarah: come on you agreed to this, and I already told my friend that there will be a pool

Meera: fine

Sarah: oh and about the cake

Meera: i know, i know, it's going to be here by 6 

And Sarah went on and on about the party making meera slowly regret saying yes.

Hamad: how is everything going? 

He said entering the bedroom right after meera ended her call with sara

She had a murderous look on her face, because she was about to kill her own little sister.

Meera: remind me, why did i agree to this?

He held her shoulders with both hands and started to slightly give it a squeeze. 

Hamad: they got my wife all tense

She forgot how his touch felt like, how it made everything else seem like nothing, how it made all problems disappear. Getting into all of this planning was a stunt to get her mind of things. All it achieved was drive her insane. 

Hamad in the other side wanted touch her, she was his wife. Jawaher re-entering his life ruined everything. He despised how much control she had over his mind. All the words of Saif started to come back to him and he wanted it all out of his head. 

He took one step closer and His hands traveled down her back and inside of her shirt to unhook her bra leaving her braless and free. She removed the straps and threw the bra on the ground still giving him her back.

Hamad: better? 

Meera: much

She raised both her hands and grabbed onto his hair while he had his face on her shoulders blowing down her neck. He moved his hands down to her rear and onto the front going up towards the beginning of her skirt. 

Slowly jawaher’s face crept into meera's head and she couldn’t stop thinking about it. It caught her off guard. She hated how weak her mind was.

Her phone rang interrupting them making her pull away immediately.

She grabbed her phone to answer it leaving hamad standing looking at the floor not knowing what just happened.

…

Saif: do you have to wear that dress?

Hessa: there is nothing wrong with my dress now would you just park the car old man so we can enter the party 

Saif: oh now I'm a jealous old man

Hessa: don't act cute when I'm mad at you

He just sighed 

Saif: I can't tell you baby, it's not my place

Hessa: fine then

She pulled her bra upwards slightly revealing cleavage

Saif: you’re dressed like that just to get to me, then it's not working 

Hessa: really 

She got out of the car and he followed

Saif: baby come on, there will he plenty of horny teenage guys there

Insisting she puts on a coat 

Hessa: then all those horny teenage guys will have their eyes on your hot girlfriend 

She knew exactly how to hit a nerve

She started to walk away when she was stopped by Saif gripping her hand. He pulled her close so they were face to face 

Saif: your mine, and only mine 

She was already biting her lip, and he was smirking knowing he got her hot and bothered. He leaned towards her ear between her hair and said

Saif: now  get your hot ass inside the house, they are waiting

He eyed the car for a second wishing he could go home and take her, hard.

...

Aisha: huba huba

Meera: you look hot, let me guess trying to prove something to Saif 

Aisha: those two

She said shaking her head

Hessa: look at him mingle as if nothing is happening 

Aisha: would you let it go

Hessa: he is pretending that nothing is happening, as if he is okay with all this 

There were a bunch of guys staring right at her and an few had already tried to ask her out, even if she was a little to old for them.

Aisha: what is it now

She said sounding almost rehearsed, she was always the referee between those two 

Hessa: he is hiding something from me

Aisha: so?

Hessa: we are not suppose to hide anything from each other, and it's been a couple of days now, I know it's been bothering him, but he isn't talking to me about it

Meera: it's about jawaher

They both looked at meera confused

Aisha: hamad's ex-girlfriend jawaher?

She sounded confused

Hessa: what the hell does it have to do with her?

Meera: she got divorced and now she's back

Hessa: back as in what?

Meera: she is designing my offices

Aisha: what? Why? Can't you hire someone else? 

Hessa: what the hell is going on meera?

Meera: listen I have to go check on a few things, we will sit down and talk about this I promise

She said before disappearing. She didn't know what to say to her friends. And what happened earlier with hamad only confused everything. He wasn't saying anything and it pissed her off.  It only made her wonder what he thought. 

...

The guests were starting to leave and meera couldn't be happier. She was glad to see her sister happy and enjoying herself but boy was it hectic. The staff of the catering gig Meera hired was cleaning up and getting ready to leave followed by meera's family. Then it was only her and hamad.

Hamad: some party ha

Meera: teenagers, I forgot how exhausting it was to be one

She said making him laugh

She missed his laugh

Meera: thanks for agreeing to this

Hamad: I told you, it's your house too

He was being so nice it only reminded her of how things were before and it pissed her off

Meera: about earlier, it was a moment of weakness 

Hamad only looked at her

Meera: we did agree on a business marriage right?

Hamad: yes, moment of weakness won't happen  again 

Meera didn't understand why she felt disappointed 

Meera: since sara doesn't live here anymore it's about time I went back to my own room

Hamad: want some help?

Meera: it's ok

She got a few of her stuff and walked towards her room. She decided to take her other things later when Hamad wasn't in the house to make it less awkward.

Can we just be us? Part 54

Part 54

Meera woke up early stretching in bed to find her side empty. It was 6:00 AM and hamad wasn't in bed. It’s been awhile since he woke up this early and she noticed wondering to herself what changed. She noticed his gym bag missing, realizing he went to the gym to get an early workout. Laying there, all the events re-winded in her mind trying to remember what the hell happened.

Jawaher, a name she had heard before but never imagined to actually meet one day. But the day has come that she had met her and it wasn't what she thought it would be. She remembered the look in hamad's eyes when he saw jawaher standing there. It was a look she did not recognize it only made her want to be looked that way by someone.

Getting into the shower she stepped into the hot water trying to stop her mind from wondering. 

Why did she come back? 

Did she know about hamad and meera? 

What was her intention? 

What made her mind stir is what jawaher said about the neighborhood. Was she talking about hamad? She needed to know more.

She had a nanny come over and watch the kids while she went to work. All meera did was zone out. Sleeping next to hamad was cold, the silence in the air when they laid on the bed side by side. He hasn't said anything to her and she refused to open the subject back up.

Driving to her office she parked her car and walked towards her office where she spotted Samara arranging some papers.

Samara: good morning miss meera

Meera: morning samara

She sat on her chair and let out a deep sigh trying to focus and get into work, but her eye kept leading towards the corner of her table where jawaher's samples and documents rested. 

Samara: would you like some coffee?

Meera did not reply

Samara: miss meera?

It took her a few seconds to reply. As samara broke her out of the trance she was in

Meera: yes samara?

Samara: coffee

Meera: sure thanks

Samara: is everything OK? 

Meera: yeah 

She gave her a soft smile

A few minutes later Samara reappeared with coffee in her hands only to see Meera grabbing her things with some documents at the corner of the table.

Meera: I'll be back soon

She said gripping the coffee from samara's hand. She didn't know what she was going to say but she had to see her, she had to know why. She was being left out and she hated every second of it. It was like her body acted by itself and her mind just stayed confused.

…

Hamad: HOW DARE YOU SHOW UP IN MY HOUSE!?

Jawaher heard him yell the moment the elevator door opened. She was alone in her firm checking on the renovations that were happening. She looked towards the elevator to see him standing there, but he wasn’t looking directly at her, she knew he wasn’t mad at her.

Jawaher: hamad I’m-

Hamad: in front of my wife

He looked right at her, he could feel his anger depleting the moment he laid eyes on her.

Jawaher: I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t

Her cheeks felt damp from the tears that fell, she finally heard him say it, ‘wife’, and it wasn’t her. She regretted what she did to him. She stayed married to a man she didn’t even love hoping one day she might change her mind and love him, but nothing. She did it for her father and hoped she never did.

Hamad: don’t come by again

He turned around and clicked the elevator bottom. He cursed under his breath while waiting for the damn elevator. Why couldn’t she get a place on the ground floor? he thought to himself. He heard her voice and couldn’t bare to turn around knowing if he did he would forgive her for everything.

Jawaher: Hamad please, I’m sorry, look at me

Slowly he turned around, looking at her directly in the eyes

Jawaher: I had to see you

The elevator doors opened and hamad got in

Hamad: your eight years too late

…

Arriving at Jawaher’s firm, Meera parked her car and sat there arguing whether to go in or not. Remembering the last few days she had with hamad, his touch, his sweet words and his kisses. She knew she missed them. Grabbing the files from her front seat to confront Jawaher she sat there practicing what to say.

After a few minutes, she looked at herself in the mirror and said

Meera: you can do this, just go there and stand up for your man

She looked back out at the door eyeing it carefully she saw hamad walking out. 

Her heart stopped.

Meera’s point of view:

Why is here? Is he for her? Of course he is here to see her, what kind of a stupid question is that. What did he say to her?

She eyed him till he got into his car and drove away. She tried her best to see his face expression but failed miserably since she was around a mile away. 

Sitting there in her car watching him she knew, she had her answer and all what she needed to do is go see Jawaher. She opened the door and walked towards her.

…

The elevator door opened and there she was sitting with carpet samples in her hand. Meera saw how beautiful she was. Meera never stood a chance, now she knew why hamad fell for her.

Jawaher: Meera?

She spoke getting meera out of her trance. Meera saw her eyes and she could have sworn that she was crying. Why did she feel sorry for her.

Meera: you left these

Jawaher: thanks

Jawaher has a confused look on her face, she did not expect this. Meera on the other hand didn’t know how to start. What was she supposed to say; hey you’re the ex-girlfriend of my husband.

Jawaher: something on your mind?

Meera just looked at her

Jawaher: Meera, I know you didn’t come here just to give me these papers, and if you’re wondering if I knew about you and hamad, I didn’t

Even when she was hurt and crying she still took control, meera wondered how strong her personality was. The more she spoke to her the more she saw how hamad loved her. She was the total opposite of Meera.

Meera: I thought so

Jawaher: I’m sorry if I caused so any problems, it’s just I need this, your offer

Meera: your divorced

Jawaher looked shock, making meera regret sounding rude

Meera:  I mean, is this why you need it?

Jawaher: everyone knows who my ex-husband is, and he is taking everything from me, he even wants to take my firm from me, that cheating son of a bitch

Listening to Jawaher, meera understood her position and felt bad for her. She wondered why would a man cheat on her?

Jawaher: I’m sorry to throw this on you-

Meera: it’s alright, Im still offering if you’re interested

Jawaher looked at meera and smiled, only of meera knew what that smile meant

Jawaher: thank you meera

Can we just be us? Part 53

Part 53

Meera: but I still want it a relaxed theme, with a brain storming room if it’s possible

The sound of the door unlocked and shuffling sounds interrupted them

Meera: that’s my husband, hunni come in here, we have a guest

Hamad walked to the living room

Hamad: what the hell are you doing here?

Jawaher: hamad I-

Meera: you guys know each other?

She looked at the both of them confused; she wondered if she missed something

Hamad: get out

Meera: hamad! She is still a guest

Hamad glared at meera, he was mad

It was meera’s first time to see him this way

Jawaher: I’m sorry about this; I think I have to go

She picked up her things and walked out the door

Meera tried calling her out but she didn’t look back. Jawaher got in her car and drove off leaving her samples and some documents back at the coffee table.

Hamad just remained quite not wanting to face it. Meera on the other hand wanted to know exactly what the hell just happened.

Meera:  she is your ex-girlfriend that left you to marry someone else isn’t she?

Hamad froze in his place knowing she would eventually figure it out, he didn’t know what to say and just stood there like a statue.

The kids were still up watching TV in the next room

Meera: come on munchkins time for bed

They followed her out to get ready for bed

Hamad stayed in the living room trying to know what happened. Minutes later meera walked out of the bedroom where the kids were and closed the door behind her.

Hamad: she came by to my office the other day

He said looking down not daring to look her in the eye

Meera: its fine hamad

He looked up and looked her directly in the eyes. She wasn’t saying anything but her soft smile meant hurt.

Only if hamad saw that.

…

It was a long day of shopping for furniture they were almost done for the day when a woman in over worn cloths with her terrified son at her side was clenching on to Hessa’s arm. 

She held her tight making hessa jump at her sight

Woman: may god bless you, please help me, I'm in need of money

Fatima was tongue tied; she never knew what to do in these situations. All she did was look at the woman's son and his terrier expression.  It was clear that he was forced to dress the way he was and beg for money in a populated mall with his mother. 

Hessa couldn't help but feel bad of the boy. Saif on the other her hand approached a sales man and indicated calling security.

Saif: keep up with the image that your store holds

He grabbed hessa by the hand and just like that walked towards the cash register. 

Hessa was confused on what just happened. Was it a bad thing to just give the woman some money? She thought to herself.

Walking towards the parking lot hessa spotted the boy sitting on the bench alone

Saif opened the car trunk placing the stuff in the car and walked over to open the door for hessa

Saif: babe I'll be back in a sec

He walked over to the boy and took out a 500 dollar bill

Saif : spend it well kid

Then walked away

Saif got in the car and pulled out getting ready to leave

Hessa: what was that?

Saif: the kid needs to learn a couple of stuff

They drove by to where the boy was sitting and saw him getting in a car with his mother at the driver seat and handing her what seemed like a 500 dollar bill.

Hessa: was that you?

Saif: it's no big deal

Hessa was impressed at how he handled it. She regretted that she doubted it, he knew what he was doing and did everything for a reason. Saif was the type of guy that believed in the saying: you get what you work hard for.

She was slowly seeing the man he truly was and loved him more every day.  

She was glad that they were moving in together and cleared all the doubts that she had.

Can we just be us? Part 52

Part 52

Meera: a head’s up would be nice

She said yelling into the phone

Alya: if you don’t want to watch over your own niece and nephews you can just say so

Meera: don’t put words in my mouth, you can’t just expect me to be free anytime you want and spring this on me

Alya: I’ll bring them over by 5

And she hung up, that summarized all the conversations they ever had

Hamad: morning

He said walking out the bedroom to find meera in a very revealing night gown, it screwed with his mind, she just made him forget everything the moment he laid eyes on her.

Hamad: stressed already

He came closer to her and started rubbing her back

Hamad: you know, I can make all this stress go away (whispering into her ear)

Meera: that was alya, she is bringing the kids for the weekend, her and her husband are going away, I hope you don’t mind

She could babble on for a while which only made hamad laugh, making take an extreme measure. He started to move his hands to her shoulders massaging them slightly

Meera: um that feels good

She said pushing her head to his shoulder

Hamad: yeah

He kissed her neck

Hamad: I like it when you’re stressed

He started to slide his hand down towards her stomach, making meera moan anticipating what was about to happen.

Her phone rang interrupting the moment

Hamad: you better get that

He let go of her and walked to pour himself a cup of coffee. He loved teasing her, watching her all hot and bothered then trying to compose herself to answer the phone call. He smiled into his cup watching her. That was when it hit him, he was lying to her by not telling her about jawaher. He didn’t know what to say or how to say it.

Hamad’s point of view:

What am I supposed to say? Hey my old girlfriend is back and got a divorce. There is nothing to say and what is it to me that she got divorced? Why the fuck is this bothering me. God look at her, she is beautiful why do I feel so guilty?

…

Saif: you’re a fucking idiot

He said walking into his best friend’s office then taking a seat

Hamad: hello to you too

Saif: what did she say?

Getting right to the point, he looked sincere enough that hamad knew the only way to get rid of him to answer his questions

Hamad: she got a divorce

Saif had a confused look on his face

Saif: I didn’t hear anything about it

Hamad: it was finalized few days ago

Saif: so what did she want?

Hamad: she didn’t say

Saif: did you ask?

Hamad: if you want to know so badly you ask her, now if your done I have work to do

Saif: just be careful, she can be full of shit

He said walking out, saif’s hatred towards her was no secret. Hamad always knew that saif never liked her. What pissed of saif is that hamad wasn’t talking about it, he only ignored it which only meant one thing and saif knew it. He still wasn’t over her, over the whole thing. Saif only hoped that hamad would get over it, but deep down he knew that she was the one that he fell for and there was no way out of that.

…

Meera was at her offce when her secretary walked in

Samara: miss meera, jawaher al x canceled today, she said she can’t make it

Meera: reschedule

Samara: I tried but there wasn’t a date that was suitable but she said she can make it today after hours, but I don’t have your personal schedule so I-

Meera: don’t worry about it samara, I’ll contact her

Meera liked her assistant’s resume, but she was quite lacking in her people skills. But not being able to set a date was quite strange. It wasn’t the first time people took her secretary for granted.

She picked up the phone and dialed jawaher’s phone number. It was a mobile number, probably a work line.

Meera: hello, this meera al x from x company

Jawaher: hi, jawaher Al x speaking, sorry about the inconvenience

Meera: that’s alright, I just wanted to set a date for our first meeting

Jawaher: I’m not going to make it tomorrow, due to personal reasons so I would like to reschedule it today if it’s possible

Meera: today?

She looked at her phone it read 4:09 PM

Jawaher: I know this is last minute, it’s just renovations are happening to the firm

Meera: I’m sorry but the kids will be home, and I can’t leave

Jawaher: you have kids?

She said sounding shocked

Meera: oh no (nervous laugh) they are my sister’s kids, I don’t want to make this personal, but if you would like, I could send you my address

Jawaher: that would be great, sorry to spring this on you

Sounding extra happy

…

Meera: glad you found the house

Jawaher: I know this neighborhood, my ex-boyfriend and I were planning to move here

Meera: oh

Jawaher: so I got a couple of samples with me

She said sitting down showing her the pictures

Meera: I saw this online, very pretty

Meera's heart was set on an industrial theme for the interior of her company

Meera: but I still want it a relaxed theme, with a brain storming room if it’s possible

The sound of the door unlocked and shuffling sounds interrupted them

Meera: that’s my husband, hunni come in here, we have a guest

Hamad walked to the living room

Hamad: what the hell are you doing here?