Chapter 5: Tomorrow will be better. 

*

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." 

-J.R.R. Tolkien-

*

Dinner was awkward. Only the parents talked while the boys silently ate and the girls did the same. Aanabia did not bother eating because she was busy looking at the handsome gray eyed human seated across from her.

Yazdan squirmed in his seat when he realized that Aanabia Sadaf's gaze was on him the entire time. Who can stare at someone for that long? He gave her a glare here and there, which she returned with a grin. Nothing affected his girl. Nothing.

Yahyah on the other hand, tried not to think or look across to the other side of the table to the woman who set there. She kept her gaze to the food and so did he. He could not deny the fact that he didn't intentionally lose balance and caused Nahal to topple over the fridge; it was the scent which rushed to his nose and occupied his senses, making it hazy had caused it. Of course he didn't know who it belonged it as there were three people standing really close to him that time, one being his mother and the other two being the sisters. He knew it was not his mother's scent because, one: it would not make his heart race and two: he knew his mother's scent really well. So it was either of the sisters. And his instinct told him that it was the younger one rather than the older one.

"Ah Aanabia, what do you do?" asked Zaiha, looking up from her food to the girl. Aanabia smiled brightly.

"I am a language and Literature teacher at Middleton High School"

"Middleton? The same place that Zul goes to?" Zaiha looked over to her youngest son who flushed. Aanabia let out a small laugh.

"Yes. I know him. We met today actually, after dismissal. I have a club going on for the Language and Literature students and he wanted to join" she said and Zul nodded, looking down at his food. Aanabia's eyes trailed over to Yazdan who was looking at her with raised eyebrows. He was not impressed. She winked at him before turning to the mothers.

Yazdan was taken back with the gesture. He flushed a deep shade of red and looked down at his food, not really eating. Who does that?! Zul let out a small laugh from beside him and he turned to Zul with a glare. That shut him up.

"Did she just wink at you?" whispered Yahyah from beside him and Yazdan let out a cough, before drinking water.

"Don't. Speak. Of. It. Again." he gritted out and Yahyah let out a laugh, causing the women to turn to him. He looked at them before shaking his head and apologizing.

"Nahal? What do you do?"

Yahyah's lips fell into a small smirk while Nahal cleared her throat, hastily. 

"I um.. I am a.. a designer. A motor designer" she replied and Zaiha nodded.

"I love how you two are doing what you two love. That is rare in today's world"

"Very" replied Hifzah.

Dinner dragged on and Nahal prayed for it to end soon so that they leave. She was not exactly in position to have a little chit chat with Yahyah. Definitely not now.

"What do you do, Yazdan?" Yazdan shifted in his seat, placing the glass of water in his hands, down on the table. This caught Aanabia's attention. So what exactly did the mysterious guy with amazing gray eyes do?

"Um Architecture" he replied, smiling slightly with uncertainty. He never cared what people said about his profession, really. But something about Hifzah made him want to be a good person. Maybe because she was a mother-like figure?

Upon hearing his answer, Hifzah's eyes perked up with excitement.

"That is so nice. And you Yahyah?"

"Engineering" replied Yahyah, smiling slightly at her and then turning back to his food.

"Masha Allah, your boys are well mannered, Zaiha" whispered Hifzah and Zaiha let out a small laugh.

"They sure are."

*

"I swear to god I am never doing that again!" said Yahyah, as soon as he was inside the house. Zaiha turned to him with raised eyebrows. It was then, he remembered that his mother did not know about his and Nahal's interactions.

"Nothing mom. I just am not a fan of the family" he replied, shrugging and Zaiha rolled her eyes.

"You have to get accustomed to it. They are our neighbors, Yaha" she said and her son shrugged again, before kissing her forehead and striding upstairs to his room.

-

Upstairs, Yazdan changed into comfortable tees and sweats before walking over to Yahyah's room. There was alot they had to talk about. Without knocking, he entered his room to find him pacing around the large windows. He had changed into tees and sweats too. Yazdan carefully closed the door behind him and walked over to his best friend.

"What is it?" he questioned him, putting his phone on the desk nearby.

"I don't know. I feel............ restless" replied Yahyah, unsure of his feelings. Yazdan raised an eyebrow.

"Restless?"

"Yes." said Yahyah, looking over to Yazdan with a frown. "Like anxious. I think my BP is high" Yazdan let out a small laugh.

"You are not a hypertension patient, Yaha" he replied and Yahyah shook his head.

"No. I mean I think it is high for now." he replied and Yazdan rolled his eyes.

"Something to do with the dinner tonight, is it?" he said and Yahyah stopped dead on his tracks. He slowly turned to Yazdan with yet another frown.

"What do you mean?"

"It happened after the dinner or during the dinner? The restless I mean" questioned Yazdan, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"During? I think"

"Was it because you toppled over Nahal?"

"Guilt"

"Your mind is guilt tripping your own self, brother" replied Yazdan, laying on the bed. He had a habit of not sleeping at his own room. All the time. Whether it was the siblings room or Yahyah, he hated being alone.

"You are sleeping here?"

"Obviously. Where else?"

"Cool" Yazdan climbed onto the bed and lay on the right side, closing his eyes. He saw flashbacks of the onyx eyes wink and his eyes fluttered open. He let out a groan. He placed his hands over his eyes and tried to get some shut eye. Again with the flashbacks. He read Ayatul Kursi and blew it upon himself with a smile. An Ayatul Kursi a day, keeps the demonic thoughts away.

Yahyah looked over to see his best friend almost sleeping, with soft snores filling the room. He looked out of the window that was directly facing the neighbor's house. The light was still on and he checked the time on his wrist. It was 2:15 am. He heaved a deep sigh and set down on the chaise in his room, by the large windows. It had began raining again. It was beautiful. Yahyah lay down and stared at the ceiling. When sleep did not invade his senses, he turned to face the glass windows where the curtains were still withdrawn. The rain made plopping sounds against the windows and as heavy as it got, the sound became soothing. Slowly Yahyah found himself lulling to sleep from it.

Tomorrow will be better. 

***

As salaam Alaikum. 

*Unedited chapter.

Thank you guy soooo much for the comments on the previous chapter. It made my day. 

Which is why: UPDATE! 

I have a busy schedule but I thought why not? Hahhaa. 

Feedback is very much appreciated. 

Thank you! 

| R - C - V |

Love, 

aalihha.