Jamal's POV
The next day, I decided to try my luck once again. As soon as the kids were fed and watching TV, I drove off to see if she was back, but not before stopping and buying some food from a restaurant downtown.
Somehow that felt appropriate, a peace offering to get on her good side. No arguments today, I wasn't going to upset her in anyway.
We were just going to talk, that's it.
I drove up to Methis’ apartment with a mix of anticipation and a strange calm. I hadn’t seen her since she left her father’s house, and I knew she must be going through a lot. I also knew that away from her father’s influence, she was more vulnerable, and given the fact that he very clearly disliked me, she would be less hostile too, and I hoped to take advantage of that.
I knocked on the door, and to my surprise, Methis answered it herself. She looked tired and withdrawn, but her eyes lit up when she saw me.
“Jamal,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
“Hey,” I replied, a little smile spreading across my face. She wasn't slamming the door at my face this time, that was very serious progress “Can I come in?”
She nodded and stepped aside, allowing me to enter her lodge. The place was small and cozy, with a fireplace and a comfortable couch. I had nearly forgotten the little details, given what had gone down the last time I was here.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, still standing by the door.
"I thought you would be home by now."
"Huh?"
“I brought you lunch,” I said, holding up the bag from the fast food restaurant.
Methis looked surprised, but she didn’t protest. We sat down on the couch, and I handed her the bag.
“I didn’t want to take you to a fancy restaurant,” I explained. “I thought you might be more comfortable here.”
Methis smiled gratefully. “Thank you,” she said. “That’s really thoughtful, but I really don't think you should be here."
I looked at her, "We are going to eventually gave to have a conversation about what happened you know that right? You cannot keep running away or hiding."
She rolled her eyes, folding her arms, "Jamal not now please, we are not going to have this argument now."
"I am not here to argue, okay?"
"Then what the hell are you here for? What do you want from me?" The frustration was back to her voice. Great, just a few minutes in and I already did the one thing I promised myself I wouldn't do, agitate her.
"I am just here to talk Methis." I said calmly, the situation needed some defusion. "And eat, just have a casual conversation over lunch, that's it."
She looked at me for a while before letting out a deep sigh. "I will get some napkins."
We ate our lunch in silence, savoring the taste of the greasy food. I noticed that Methis was picking at her fries, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was on her mind.
“Are you okay?” I asked her gently.
Methis sighed. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I’m still trying to process everything that’s happened.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s a lot to take in.”
"You know one thing I haven't understood?" She said, looking up at me.
"What?"
“I just don’t understand why my step mother would do that to me,” Methis said. “Sell me off to a strange man she never met before just to make a quick buck.”
I coughed, nearly choking on my fry.
“I know it’s hard to understand,” I said. “But sometimes people do things that we can’t explain.”
“I just feel so…used,” Methis said. “Like I was just a pawn in her game.”
“You’re not a pawn,” I said forcefully, surprising even myself, "And I am sorry if I ever made you feel that way Methis, You’re a strong, beautiful, and intelligent woman.”
"And yet you only picked me because I looked like your ex lover," She smiled sadly, "Do you know how hurt that made me feel Jamal? Knowing I was always going to be compared to her, no matter what? Knowing I was only there because you possibly saw her in me?"
"Look, Methis." I said, pushing away the plate in front of me so I could look at her squarely, "I have made a lot of mistakes in the past, trust me, a lot," I paused reaching out to hold her hand. "But you? You are not one of them... "
"Well that is reassuring," she scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"I mean it Methis." I said, "You are easily one of the best things to have happened to me in a while, and letting you go? Well THAT was a mistake. You are incredible."
Methis looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I reached out and took her hand in mine. “I mean it,” I said. “You’re the most amazing person I know.”
Methis looked at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. Then, she did something that absolutely took me by surprise, she smiled, the first genuine one I had seen on her face for the longest time.
"Thank you." She said softly.
Yeah, that did it for me, the tenderness in her voice, the softness of her hands, the way she looked at me, I couldn't hold back any longer, I did the only thing that made sense then.
I leaned in and kissed her, on the lips. It was gentle and soft and felt more like caress than anything else
The second kiss was softer and even more tender, and it filled me with a sense of joy and relief. I had missed Methis more than I could say, and I was so grateful to be holding her in my arms again.
We pulled away from the kiss, both of us breathless.
“I love you, Methis,” I said, before I could stop myself.