Against his culture

Latif folds her arms over her chest "Is this the 'thing' you forgot?"

"I forgot to return her purse. That's why I came back to give her"

Myla nods, making visible the small bag she has at hand.

"I should leave. Patricia is surely waiting for me outside" Myla, strolls away leaving the couples to themselves.

"You always have an excuse uh? I saw you holding her"

"Yes, I was. She was about falling. Was I supposed to let her fall?"

"And so what if you did? Don't you see she's trying to get close to you? She left her purse there so that you could find it and come to her"

Jamal blows his cheeks out, robing his an eyebrow "How sure are you about all that?"

"I just know it. I'm a woman and women are like that. They're always trying to seek attention. Especially when they know you're very wealthy and good-looking."

"Listen, if I want to be with you, I'd be with you. If I don't, I won't. You need to trust me for us to work. If you chose don't to, then there's no need for us forwarding this marriage. Because you'd keep nagging every single time"

"Me? Nagging? Oh common! Who wouldn't do what I just did in my place?"

"Do I need to recall what happened between you and my ex fiancée?"

She goes short of words and he continues, "At least you know, that everything that goes around, comes around. So if you're in this position, that's because you did this to someone. Which explains how good you are in describing such an issue. But Myla is not like that. She's not like every other woman or like you. So, stop accusing her for being oblivious about her behavior towards me"

"You barely know her. She's trying to manipulate your mind. She claims to know God but look how comfortable she gets whenever she's close to you. Who in her right senses will stay close to an engaged man?"

"You're misunderstanding the concept here. She doesn't think that way. You and I know that no can manipulate me. So when you're talking about manipulation, does she act like someone who futures? Be honest with yourself"

Latif rolls her eyes "Always talking about honesty. Always talking about honest but if there's someone to be mad at the ties between you guys now should be me. And that's what you don't want to accept. But here you are preaching about honesty. Allah"

"Ok. Fine. Can we go now?"

She sighs "Alright, Yeah"

They dismiss the place to go and join everyone else.

...

"Where did you say he was again?" Patricia asked, tired of waiting for the game to start.

"There they are" Myla reciprocated towards Jamal and Latif.

She pelts towards her brother "You've wasted a lot of time. We were debating on what game to start with"

"I choose males versus females handball", Mrs. Mehdi says and Latif's mom nods supportively.

The couples try to fake a smile, but Mrs. Mehdi knows her son so well. She knows he's not his best self.

"Jamal? Latif? Do you two agree", Mrs. Mehdi asks the couples and they nod.

"Ok. Everyone line up. The couples have agreed"

Myla moves in the line for women and Latif hurl spears at her face, trying to intimidate her but it doesn't work. Myla just ignores her as she listens to the rules of the game.

She feels a tad guilty for making couples fight over her. She knows their delay had something to do with what happened between her and Jamal earlier. She'd try her best to make sure it doesn't repeat.

She can't let her emotions control her. She'd always been a discipline and strong woman. She mustn't stoop herself so low. She admits. She has crossed the line.

...

Thirty minutes later

Everyone is sweating as they pass the ball to their partners. Myla has the ball and is now ready to project it into the goal but Jamal blocks her path.

Her brows knit "Get out of my way" She commands

"Such a good talker. Prove to me you can do better" he scoffs

"Myla do not listen to him" his sister screams from a distance.

"I know. I can handle this", she yells back

Jamal smirks and before he notices, she passes the ball to another female player who passes it back to her and she aims into the net.

"That's my girl!" Patricia comes forward and gives her a high five.

Jamal tugs his tongue at the walls of his mouth and bits his bottom lip. "Wait until we defeat all of you" he tells Myla

Latif who kept running from the ball vulnerably, starts looking at Myla with malevolence.

"Good luck boy" Myla says and Patricia giggles.

He moves to the other side of the field and the game restarts.

10 minutes later

Jamal has the ball and Myla faces him "The best way for a man to show a woman he's a man, is to let the woman have her way"

He squints his eyes, his head deputing on her words, before he chortles, "Good try"

He passes the ball over her head and it goes into the net smoothly. He looks down at her who is like a 'David' and he like a 'giant' hovering over her.

She rolls her eyes and meets her team, Jamal staring at her as she flies away.

20 minutes later

Men Women

40points 30points

"My prophesy always comes to pass" Jamal truants towards Myla.

"This is not the end. Stop rejoicing. Be anxious for nothing bro" Myla tells walking past him.

The whistle is blown and Latif has the ball "Pass it over" a lady roars but Latif ignores.

She runs with the ball and it is ceased from her hand by her fiancé. She frowns.

Myla is so annoyed and even if she knows Jamal is close to scoring, she runs towards him tiptoeing and tapping the ball of his hand. It takes him unnoticed.

He turns towards her retrieving the ball back but it bounces on his crest to her head. She falls.

The whistle is blown and everyone stops. Jamal rushes towards her, stooping down and looking at Myla remorsefully.

She hums, her palm pressed against her forehead.

"Are you ok?" he is worried.

"No, I'm not stupid!" she groans and he chuckles. He's used to that side of her.

"Let me take a look" he forwards his neck and his fiancée shows up behind him "She fine. Just pretending"

Myla hears but doesn't say anything. She just secretly wishes the jealous lady got hit and not her.

"Myla, I'm so sorry" Patricia apologizes staring down at her friend.

"Y'all should space out. She needs air" Jamal instructs and Patricia takes a step back while Latif twist her face, displeased.

He touches the already swollen area and Myla twitches. "Sorry" his deep, lower octave voice, comforts her.

Latif's eyes and that of Patricia are wide. Jamal has never said the word 'Sorry' before.

His mom and other players come in set and Myla struggles to wake up. She hates being the center of attention.

"Is everything alright?" Mrs. Mehdi inquires

" . . . I'm—fine"

Jamal offers to help her stand but she refuses. She's not trying to create gossip and misunderstanding between this family: After all it's just a slight hit. Nothing much.

On standing, she notices that her leg sprung. Added upon her eyes that swirl under the sun. She can't see clearly. She groans as the pain on her leg weighs her down. Jamal can't control himself any longer so he carries her in bridal style, slightly lifting his arm to position him properly over him.

Myla stiffens and Patricia gasps looking over at her mom and the other families present. This is a serious allegation in their culture. He should've left her for someone else to assist in taking her in. Not him. And he knows it. But he was too slow to realize, especially after seeing her in pain.

To be continued...