– Playing
***
Saïda’s POV:
I unlocked the apartment’s door, still so pleased with myself. I stepped in and found Asahd sitting on the couch and watching TV.
“Hellooo. Finally up, huh?” I said, closing the door behind me.
“As you can see.”
“You saw the note I left?” I asked, dropping my purse and going to over to sit too.
“Yes, I did. Thanks for the breakfast,” he replied lazily, looking very bored.
“You washed your plates, I hope.” I raised a brow.
“Yes, mommy. Your threats didn’t leave me any choice,” he mused.
“Eew don’t call me that. You’re too ugly to be my kid,” I teased and as expected, the drama Queen turned to me, wide eyed.
“Me?? Ugly?? Should I lend you some money so you get yourself glasses? Tsk! I’m a jewel. A rare specimen,” he scoffed and rolled his eyes, making me laugh a little.
“Keep lying to yourself,” I mused and stood to go change.
“You sure are in a good mood. Where are you from?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you!” I exclaimed happily. “I went looking for a job because I’m tired of always staying at home and doing nothing.”
“I wish I was you. Yet, here you are. Intentionally and purposefully going in search of a job, because you are bored? You’re an alien. Who does that?”
“Every conscious, mature, hardworking and normal person,” I replied in my proud, playful manner.
“Oh, that’s funny. You’re none of the above. You’re simply strange. Ha!” he mocked and I couldn’t resist picking a cushion and throwing it at him.
“You’re so annoying.”
“Aaaw, thanks. So, did you find a job?”
“Yeah. At the Moroccan store, where I buy the ingredients and foodstuff to cook our meals. The couple and their sons were actually happy to take me. I start tomorrow. Can’t wait.”
“You’ll be cleaning the floor right?” he mocked.
“Nope. The couple is not there everyday. It’s mostly their sons and the older one’s wife, that assists them, that take care of the store. The older one is behind the counter, his wife at the corner helps to wrap the items bought while the second son arranges the rows.”
“So, all this to eventually tell me, that you’ll be cleaning the toilets, instead,” he laughed. Asahd was so annoying! He could make you want to scream for nothing.
“You didn’t let me finish!” I literally squealed, hitting him with a cushion.
“Finish then. So I can laugh.”
“You’re a case. The rows are too many for the second son to handle alone, all the while showing the different food isles to the customers. That’s were my help is needed. I’ll be helping him.”
Asahd’s smile was quickly replaced by an empty and kind of bored expression.
“You killed the fun. Just bored the hell out of me,” he stated lazily, grabbed the remote and continued watching TV. I laughed out.
He was maybe annoying, proud and very self-centered, but he also was funny. Sometimes without even trying or knowing. A natural drama Queen and overly excessive person. He made me laugh just as much as he got on my nerves. Even when in Zagreh, though we couldn’t stand each other then.
“You are just jealous that I found a job way faster than you had. Plus, it’s the perfect job because it feels like home, working there. Jelly, jelly, jelly.”
“Pff! You were just lucky.”
“Jealous. Ha!” I teased. “One more thing, it’s around the block. I just have to walk a short distance to get there, every morning. And oh, they open at ten. So I can sleep well and even have breakfast. Did I tell you that they close at seven? I didn’t? My bad,” I laughed, having a good time.
Asahd ignored me, staring blankly ahead at the TV, as if undisturbed. I had started believing he was until I saw his hand slowly slide towards the cushion close to him. I knew that was going to hit my face if I didn’t react.
Laughing, I grabbed it before him.
“You were gonna hit me?” I laughed and he finally looked at me, amusement lingering in his eyes, though he tried hard to keep his face straight.
“Saïda,” he called rather calmly.
“Yes?” I smiled, proudly.
“Nice hair. Wait till I catch you.”
“What?”
Before I could process his statement, he launched for me. So fast and sudden that I screamed unintentionally and dodged on time. Luckily, I’d tied my hair into a bun and so he couldn’t pull on it while I ran. I knew that if he caught me, I was finished.
Asahd chased me! In that tiny apartment and living room. Where could I run to? But I still ran though.
“I’m sorry! Asahd leave me alone!!” I screamed, dodging him as he tried to corner me.
He eventually cornered me and I was helpless. I had a little chair in front of me to block him from reaching me or my hair.
“This is what happens when you tease me. I go for your hair,” he mused.
“Asahd you always hurt me when you do that! I’m sorry! I won’t tease you again.”
“Too late,” he laughed and grabbed the chair, pulling it out of my grip. While he dropped it, I tried to rush past him.
“AAAH!” I was swept off my feet as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and lifted me off the ground. I was freaking out already because I knew he was definitely going to pull on my hair until I’d begged him enough and to his satisfaction.
“Let’s get this out,” he laughed, using a free hand to remove the pin that held my bun in place, while I kicked helplessly. He was stronger than I’d expected because while I kicked with all my strength, with just an arm, he held me firmly. And plus, I was so short, compared to him.
His other hand loosened my bun and my hair fell down my back. He was going to pull on my hair.
“Asahd, please don’t!” as I kicked and struggled, I mistakenly elbowed his face, real hard and hitting him on the nose.
“AARGH!” he groaned in pain and stepped away, letting me go.
“Oh my! I’m sorry!” I gasped in amusement and panic as he covered his nose with both hands, groaning in pain. “Let me see. Are you bleeding?”
I rushed to him and pulled his hands away from his face. I was relieved that he wasn’t bleeding, though he was clearly in pain.
“I’m sorry,” I couldn’t hold back a giggle. “You looked for it.”
He opened his eyes and stared at me, his hands still over his nose.
“Saïda?” he called in a soft manner.
“Yes?”
“Sleep with an eye open, every night. Walk with your eyes at the back of your head as from today. I swear I’ll revenge when you least expect.”
′No!′
“Asahd, please no. No!” I mused, grabbing his arm and begging. I’d made things worse! Asahd was going to con me in a terrible manner! I was already imagining the things he could do.
“I said I was sorry! I still am!”
“I forgive you,” he rubbed his nose. “But I’ll still revenge.”
“Why??” I let out that laugh that sounded like sobs too. I was finished. “Should I kneel? Should I?”
“Too late,” he mused and went to sit.
“Asahd, please,” I hopelessly rushed to his side on the couch and showed him my head. “Here! Pull on my hair! I know you’re obsessed with it. Pull on it,” I laughed and begged at the same time.
“You just indirectly insulted me, calling me a sicko that’s obsessed with people’s hair. Wow. I’ll note that," he mused and it seemed I’d made things worse.
“Please! Why are you like this?! Forgive and forget!” I laughed and sobbed at the same time.
He laughed.
“Forget? No way. I’ll catch you off guard. Promised. Okay?” he smiled and pulled on my cheek.
“Asahd, this isn’t funny anymore. I’m gonna be paranoid throughout the week. Not cool!” I grumbled with fake sobs.
“Shhh. Let’s watch TV,” he mused and put an arm over my shoulders, pulling me close.
“I don’t wanna watch TV,” I mumbled like a kid and pushed his arm away.
That week was going to be a little complicated.