Chapter Text
“Sana dear you look stunning tonight”
“Thank you aunt Amina” Sana said with a smile
After a year of preparation, the day of the wedding between her brother Abdu and Jamilla had arrived. The ceremony had been so beautiful and now they were at the celebration. She wouldn’t admit it but Sana had been kind of hoping that she wouldn’t run into her aunt Amina and her aunt Nayat. She loved them and they were always kind to her but they were also very nosy and Sana didn’t feel like talking to them in that moment. She looked around searching for an excuse to leave and, as always, her eyes landed in him, in Yousef. He was standing a few meters apart from them talking to Elias and the boys. He noticed her staring and looked at her with a smile that made Sana blush and look away in embarrassment.
“So Sana, how is life treating you?” Nayat asked
“It’s fine, I’m done with my second year of high school and I can’t wait to start the third one”
“Yeah, yeah, studying is important but what about you? How are you?”
“I’m fine aunt Amina”
“Just fine? Aren’t you…I don’t know maybe more happy that other times?”
“What are you trying to ask aunt Nayat?”
“Ah, honey, it’s pretty clear. Is there any special boy in your life?” Amina asked
“We would ask your mother but she wouldn’t tell us” Nayat added.
Sana just rolled her eyes and shook her head exasperated. Every time she was with her aunts they ended up having the same conversation.
“Oh, Sana don’t be like that, we just care about you and your happiness” Mina said
“Yes, I mean it’s totally fine if there’s no one in your life…I mean at your age I was already engaged to your uncle and well Jamilla is married already and…”
“We just don’t want you to miss your chance”
“I mean you’re still very young and beautiful but beauty doesn’t last forever and…”
“Sana, here you are. I was looking for you” a male voice interrupted the conversation.
Sana turned around and saw Yousef standing right next to her with a big smile on his face.
“Hi Yousef” she said relieved but also confused
“I brought you some tea, it’s your favorite” he said handing it to her
She smiled at him thankfully and took a long sip of it
“Oh sorry, where are my manners?” Yousef said turning to Sana’s aunts “I’m Yousef, Sana’s boyfriend”
Those four words were enough to make Sana choke on her tea and start coughing.
“Are you okay, love?” he said patting her back softly
“Boyfriend? Sana! Why did you let us rant about you ending alone when you had a boyfriend!” Nayat said excited
“Uh…” Sana looked from her aunt to Yousef not knowing what was going on
“Oh you know how Sana is, always so shy” Yousef said with his charming smile “It’s been really nice to meet you but would you mind if I take Sana with me for a moment? I really like this song and I’d love to dance with her”
“Of course sweetheart, you two enjoy” Amina said
“Shall we?” Yousef asked Sana who was still in shock
She just nodded and followed him to the dance floor.
“Okay, what was that?” she asked him as soon as they were far enough from her aunts
“I was trying to save you, it looked like you needed help” Yousef said shrugging
“And you’re only idea was to tell my aunts that you’re my boyfriend, in a room full of my family”
Again, Yousef shrugged with a smile
“I just saved you from a very awkward conversation and this is how you treat me? Harsh, Bakkous, really harsh” he said shaking his head as if he was offended. “I think the least you could do is dance with me”
Sana chuckled and nodded
“I guess that I have no other choice…since you saved me”
He smiled at her and took her hand while he placed his other hand on her waist, leaving enough space between them so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable. They swayed to the rhythm of the music while staring into each other eyes, unaware that they were being watched.
-x-
“Aysha! Why haven’t you told us that Sana has a boyfriend”Nayat said as she stopped Sana’s mom, who was walking by them
“That Sana has a what?” Mamma Bakkoush almost yelled
“Yeah, that Yousef boy. He’s so charming” Amina said pointing at Sana and Yousef on the dance floor
“Yousef and Sana aren’t…”
“He introduced himself to us as her boyfriend, isn’t he cute?”Nayat interrupted Sana’s mom
“He did, huh?” she said “If you’ll excuse me I have to tell Sana something before I forget”
-x-
“I didn’t know you were such a good dancer” Yousef said as the song ended
“We’ve only swayed to the music, it’s not like it’s that hard”Sana said laughing
“Still, I’m impressed”
“Sana, Yousef hi, I don’t mean to bother but…” Sana’s mom said as she approached them making them let go of each other a little startled “Could any of you please explain me why you aunts think you’re dating?”
“Oh…Mom look…”
“It’s my fault Mrs. Bakkoush. They were giving Sana a rough time and I stepped in saying that I’m her boyfriend so they’d leave her alone. I’m sorry I lied” Yousef explained
“I guess Amina and Nayat can be a little overwhelming sometimes”
“Sometimes? They always ask me when I’m going to get myself a boyfriend” Sana said exasperated
“I know habibti, you know how they are…I was just worried that you two were dating and you hadn’t told me…”
“Oh mom, you know that if I was dating Yousef I would tell you”Sana said
“And I would go with her to talk to you” Yousef added
“Not that we are thinking about dating I mean…” Sana said stuttering
“Yeah, right, we’re not…I mean that’d be…yeah…” Yousef stuttered too
“Aysha, leave the two lovebirds alone” Amina said as they approached them
“Ah, mother-in-laws, always so strict, right Yousef?” Nayat said winking at him “I bet you’re already tired of my sister here”
“Oh, no, no, I would never get tired of anyone in this family”Yousef said showing his charming smile once again
“Aw Sana, this boy is so nice, it doesn’t surprise me that you’ve chosen him” Amina said
Sana blushed and forced a tiny smile
“Yeah, he’s nice…”
“Nice? Oh come on girl, you can do better than that, does this boy treat you well? Do we have to reprimand him?” Nayat asked playfully
“Yousef is great” Sana said looking at him “He’s…he’s the sweetest boy I’ve ever met. He’s smart and funny and kind and…and he even knows how to cook”
Yousef, who was staring right back at Sana chuckled at that
“He really is perfect” Sana said almost whispering getting lost in his eyes
Mamma Bakkoush looked from her daughter to Yousef with a knowing smile.
“So we can trust you right Yousef? You won’t hurt my daughter”she said
“Hurt her? Never” Yousef said still looking at her eyes “I would never ever hurt her. She’s the best girl I know. I respect her and I admire her. Every moment I share with her is unique”
“So how long have you been dating then?” Nayat asked
“Huh?” both Yousef and Sana said as they came back to reality.
“How long have you two been dating” she repeated the question
“Six months” Yousef said at the same time Sana answered “5 months”
“So 5 or 6 months, then?” Amina asked confused
“Oh I count since we went on our first date and she counts since we first…uh…held hands” Yousef explained stuttering
“Held hands…right” Nayat said winking at them
“Aunt Nayat!” Sana said blushing
As much as she was enjoying the situation, Mamma Bakkoush decided to intervene.
“Hey, why don’t we leave them alone for a moment, we can go talk to Abdu” Sana’s mom said as she led her sisters away.
Sana and Yousef were left in an awkward silence. They were both kind of embarrassed about what they had said. Luckily Elias interrupted the silence as he approached them
“Yousef, I was looking for you, we’re outside, come”
“Uh…” Yousef said looking at Sana
“It’s fine, I’m going to go talk to Jamilla” Sana said with a smile as she turned around and left
-x-
Sana wandered around the room looking at her family and friends all enjoying the party. She wouldn’t admit it but she was actually looking for someone, someone who she hadn’t seen since he left with her brother, someone who was entering the room that exact moment and walking to her.
“Hey” Yousef said
“Hi”
“I just wanted to say goodbye, I’m going to leave, it’s getting late”
“Yeah, I actually think we’ll leave soon too”
“I’d offer to walk you home but I guess your family would want to leave together?”
“Yeah…but thanks” Sana said smiling
“Of course” he said nodding
“And Yousef…thanks for before…you know, for saving me”
“Anything for you girl” he said shrugging with a smile
Sana bit her lip as she took a step closer to him and kissed his cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked shocked
“Uh…my aunts, they’re behind you and they were looking so I just thought…yeah…” Sana said stuttering
“Oh I see…” Yousef said as something caught his attention behind Sana, not something, someone, her aunts to be more specific.
They were standing behind Sana so there was no way she could’ve seen them. Yousef smiled to himself as he leaned closer to Sana and pressed his lips softly against her cheek.
“In case they’re still looking” he whispered before pulling apart
Sana just looked at him blushing too surprised to react.
“Goodnight fake girlfriend” he said winking at her
“Goodnight fake boyfriend” she said back with a big smile.