Clueless Love

Today is Thursday. I am sitting in the living room watching TV while I wait for Fatima to come over so we can go shopping. Udar and Ismail are having dinner to mark the end of the successful business trip, and to thank everyone for their contributions to making it a success. Fatima and I finished our meetings early, so we have time to go shopping. I’m becoming impatient as she is running late when she finally comes down the stairs.

“What took you so long?” I pick up my handbag and start walking to the garage. We are taking one of Aunt Maria’s cars. We are taking her Lexus LC to the mall.

“Sorry, I was talking to my mom,” Fatima says walking up beside me.

“Oh, did you say hi to her for me,” I say entering the car.

“I did. She asked how you were doing, and I told her you are fine,” Fatima says getting in too.

“Alright let’s go,” I say driving out of the garage.

We’ve been at the mall for a couple of hours and so far, we have both found dresses. Right now, we are looking for jewelry to go with them. While shopping I see a certain wristwatch, I know I just must get for Ismail. The other day, while we were in France, Ismail showed me the wristwatch in a magazine. He told me how much he loved it but was not able to find it in stores yet. The case is a black ceramic case with a glare-proofed sapphire crystal. The dial is an open worked, satin-brushed black dial with black counters, white gold applied hour markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating and black inner bezel. The bracelet is a black ceramic bracelet with titanium AP folding clasp with two additional runner straps; one in two-tone rubber strap: black on top and grey on the sides and underside, another in full black rubber.

“Please add that to my purchases,” I tell the store clerk.

“You have made a fine choice miss, that is one of our latest limited editions. One of the best we have,” she says taking the wristwatch out of the glass case.

“Thank you.”

“Umit, why are you getting a man’s wristwatch?” Fatima asks, walking towards me.

“It’s not for me.”

“Is it for someone called Ismail?” Fatima smirks with a funny glint in her eyes.

“Yes, and why are you looking at me like that?” I’m confused by the strange look she gives me.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Nothing. Just happy that my best friend is in love,” she smirks.

“I like him. I didn’t say that I love him,” admitting my feelings for Ismail to Fatima. I don’t understand why everyone keeps saying I love him.

“You finally accepted the fact that you like him,” Fatima smiles triumphantly.

“Yes, you were right. I do like Ismail,” admitting to Fatima she was right all along.

“I knew it, and now you owe me,” Fatima declares.

“Owe you what?” I have a pretty good idea where this conversation is leading.

“A meal.”

“I knew it! But I don’t remember saying I will buy you a meal if you were right.” I raise my eyebrows, knowing Fatima is just trying to get me to buy her food.

“Maybe not out loud but we did in my head,” Fatima says with a straight face.

“You are not serious! I am not buying you a meal,” I chuckle shaking my head.

“Too bad, at least I know I tried,” Fatima pouts trying to look sad in the hope I will change my mind.

“Nice try Fatima, but I am not changing my mind. Come let’s pay for our stuff and leave.”

“Sometimes I wish you could not see through me.”

“Too bad I can,” I grin.

We’ve bought our dresses, some jewelry, and clutch bags. That evening Fatima and I decide to visit the blue lagoon, and I must say it is beautiful. The pale blue water contrasted with the black lava rocks are amazing to behold. The water is full of minerals, silica, and algae, which is good for the skin and relaxation. I rub some on my face, and my face feels better instantly. We had an in-water massage, which was a first for both of us and very relaxing. Fatima and I had a wonderful time, and we won’t hesitate to come back anytime.

We arrive home late in the evening to find Aunt Maria and her husband, Jerry, sitting in the living room watching TV. Jerry is a couple of inches over 6-feet tall with a muscular build, black hair and he can look intimidating at times.

“Hey girls, how was shopping?” Aunt Maria asks as we walk in.

“It was great, you need to see the gowns we got,” I tell her.

“I would love to, and I am sure they are lovely,” Aunt Maria says.

“They are, and how are you doing Jerry?” Fatima responds.

“I am fine. How was your day at the mall?” Jerry asks.

“It was great,” Fatima grins.

“We already had dinner. I left some for you in the fridge.” Aunt Maria interrupts.

“Thank you, and we will see you guys later,” Fatima, and I say walking to the kitchen.

When we enter the kitchen, we see Ismail and Udar eating too. I guess it’s not long they got back from wherever they went.

“As salamu alaykum.” Fatima and I say stepping into the kitchen.

“Wa alaykumu Salam,” Ismail and Udar reply.

“How was shopping?” Udar asks.

“It was fine. You need to see the gown I got,” Fatima says opening the fridge.

“I would love to see it, my love,” Udar smiles.

“Umit, why do you guys look different?” Ismail says, noticing our legs and hands look different because it was not long since we swam. We both look fresher than when we left the house this afternoon. Someone might even think we just had a shower.

“I don’t know,” I shrug, praying they won’t find out we went swimming. Fatima and I were not meant to go swimming at the blue lagoon because we are still in work week, not vacation week.

“Really, because I think you guys went swimming,” Ismail says crossing his arms.

“Uhm…” I am trying to think of a way out of the situation, but there is none.

“Fatima, did you guys go swimming?” Udar asks sounding a little disappointed.

“We are sorry. We know it is work week, but you can’t blame us,” Fatima says trying to justify our actions.

“Who should we blame then?” Ismail raises his eyebrows at us.

“Instagram,” Fatima and I reply.

“Why?” Ismail and Udar both ask.

“It was because we saw how beautiful the blue lagoon looked in pictures. So, we decided to pass by and see how it really looks but ended up swimming,” I tell them.

“Oh, but Instagram did not drive you guys there or tell you guys to swim,” Udar says.

“Uhm mm…” Fatima and I mumble, not knowing what more to say because there is nothing we can say to make us look innocent.

“You guys forget the fact that we might be friends, but we are also your bosses. Company rules should be followed even by you guys. I am really disappointed in the both of you,” Ismail says.

“I’m also very disappointed,” Udar agrees.

“We are sorry, it won’t happen again,” Fatima, and I say feeling bad. But we realize we got played when they both burst out laughing.

“I can’t believe you guys fell for that,” Ismail laughs while high fiving Udar.

“We got them good,” Udar laughs.

“I can’t believe you guys played us,” Fatima frowns.

“I am sorry, my love, but you should have heard yourself. You sounded so sad because you hurt ‘your boss'” Udar says, still laughing while air quoting the words ‘your boss.’

“You guys are not serious! I can’t believe we fell for that,” I hiss.

“It was so nice watching you say sorry,” Ismail snorts laughing harder.

“You guys should laugh now, because when we get you back, we will be the only ones laughing,” I warn them.

“Yes, and Udar… I am not talking to you for two days,” Fatima threatens, totally not meaning it because I know she can’t spend a day without talking to him. But it feels good turning the tables on them.

“Hey, my love, you can’t do that,” Udar says suddenly sounding serious.

“I can,” Fatima says with fake determination in her voice.

“I am sorry my love, we will never do it again,” Udar pleads with Fatima which brings a beautiful smile to my face.

“Yes, we are sorry. It won’t happen again,” Ismail says helping his best friend.

“You guys have to compensate us if you want us to forgive you guys,” Fatima says totally reading my mind on what to do with the situation.

“Name whatever you want, we will do it,” Udar states.

Fatima and I whisper to each other about what we want.

“There is this new restaurant. We have been trying to get a booking but…” Fatima starts.

“I knew you guys were going to pick something food-related,” Ismail says shaking his head, cutting Fatima short.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask.

“It means you both love food a lot, and sometimes I wonder how you guys are fit,” Udar chuckles.

“It’s Allah’s grace that keeps us fit, and the fact that we eat healthy and work out five times a week,” Fatima replies, ‘but either way, you guys are going to get us a booking and buy us dinner.”

“Is that what it takes to make you talk to me, my love?” Udar asks Fatima.

“Yeah,” Fatima smiles.

“Alright, it’s settled,” Udar says.

“But how did you guys know we went to the blue lagoon?” I ask feeling like they planned to play us before we came into the kitchen.

“Instagram,” Udar and Ismail chorus.

“Oh,” Fatima and I say remembering we posted a few pictures that we took at the blue lagoon on Instagram.

“Yeah, and are you guys going to eat or stand by the fridge all day?” Ismail sneers.

“And how is that disturbing you?” I ask wondering why Ismail is trying to keep a fight going with me. I can’t even remember the last time we fought. I must say I kind of miss those days of us annoying each other. I had my fun too.

“It is disturbing me because I don’t want you to wake me up at night crying of hunger,” Ismail says.

“Hey, that was a one-time thing,” I say remembering a night in Greece when I was so hungry, I had to wake Ismail up to help me get something to eat.

“But it does not change the fact that it happened,” Ismail smirks.

“Whatever, leave me alone.”

“I will, but do make sure you eat your dinner,” Ismail snickers while walking out of the kitchen. I don’t bother answering but shake my head because despite months of getting along with Ismail, it is obvious he enjoys annoying me. I am starting to realize he annoys me because he enjoys it, and not because he disliked me.