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Mohammed Avdol has been your boyfriend for a long time, and you know him better than anyone. His body language is most obvious to you, as well. Nobody else could tell why his thumb twitches upward, nobody but you. You doubted that even he realized he did that. You two had a date planned tonight: a dinner at a reputable restaurant. When he came back home today, he had been doing that same twitch as he readied himself for this outing, making sure he was pristine from his shoes to his hair. This isn't normal from him, he's going overboard on making sure that everything's perfect. You wondered what could be happening.
On the drive, you had to ask. "Did something happen at work?"
"No, nothing much. There was a customer who was a little off, though. He had that hundred-yard stare, and he seemed anxious. His fortune said he'll have to deal with separation and he muttered something about luck." He dodged the true meaning of your question, but you had to roll with it.
"Hm," you chided, "Your job's pretty interesting."
"It's a lot of memorization," he admitted, "Patterns and meanings."
"Beats civil law,"
"Heh, yeah."
You met him in his fortune shop years ago. The man struck you as attractive that first time, and you kept on coming back just to see him. You two became friends through many conversations, then you evolved from that when he admitted his feelings for you. It wasn't serious at first, but that changed over time. You moved into his place after graduating law school, and your relationship's been that way ever since. You've had the chance to meet his friends, including an old man named Joseph Joestar. He was a successful British-American real estate agent who came to Egypt often, an interesting and funny man. Equally, Mohammed has met your friends and family, who have come to like your boyfriend. He's serious when he needs to be and childish at any other time. Once, a friend of yours admitted she was jealous you found a man as romantic as Avdol is. "Nobody in school's any good," she whined, and she wasn't wrong.
He opened the door for you and you stepped out, taking his arm as you entered the building. There was a variety of smells, those that made your mouth water. However, you preferred the smell of the cologne on your boyfriend. You gave him a sniff on the neck, which led to a polite push by his chin. You both sat at your reserved table, made your order, and waited. "Any good cases?" He asked. His voice powered over those of others nearby, his vocalizations the subject and the rest the background. Simultaneously, this was a contrast and a complement.
"No, nothing I haven't seen a hundred times. I wish I did criminal law, it's so much more interesting than finances!"
"Well, it pays, doesn't it?" He chuckled.
"Yeah, but still," you suppressed the urge to lean your face on your elbow, this isn't the place for that. You looked into his dark eyes as you leaned back in your seat across from him. You could see the affection in his eyes, but there was apprehension there as well. He was doing the thumb twitch again, and you wondered what he could possibly be worried about.
"You look so cute today," He smiled, "But when don't you?"
You rolled your eyes and retorted, "And you're hotter than ever,"
He scoffed at your pun, but it wasn't with disdain. Could he ever express such a negative response to you? "I love you,"
"Love you, too." You reached your hand out to grab his. His skin is particularly warm and soft, although he doesn't use any moisturizer. He ran his thumb over the back of your palm, but it felt like sun-heated cotton brushing against your hand in a field.
You were both served champagne, and food shortly after. The drink tasted oddly like pineapple, despite the lack of it. He started to tell you stories from work, what he usually did when he came home and you two spent time together. His voice was soothing and has often left you sleeping on him. They were never boring, though, so you were eager enough to hear him continue the next day. Fortune telling is an interesting trade, you find. Once you read in a magazine how to tell fortunes with playing cards, but you never got the hang of it. It takes an incredible amount of memorization and dedication to remember fifty two definitions. To pick it up as a job in several mediums of divination is something you don't take for granted.
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you," he said, looking deeply into your eyes when you nodded for him to continue. "Well, we've been together for a long time. Before I met you, I only dreamed of finding you like finding a garden in the desert sand. You are my desert rose, and I wish to keep you safe and healthy as long as you live," He got up from his chair and kneeled before you, which made the corners of your lips curl up in anticipation. He fished his pockets for a black box, which he pried open and presented a ring. Its beautiful simplicity was well thought out, notably consisting of a rose gold band, sleek and elegant. It had shoulders from which the loop tapered, and from those shoulders stemmed six prongs that held a ruby like the talons of a bird of prey grasping its bloodied meal. It glistened in the lighting, particularly that of the candle on the center of the table. "Would you allow me to keep that promise made by my heart? Would you marry me?" His eyes radiated adoration.
You remembered reading somewhere that a ruby on a ring means warmth and fervor, and that's just what you know he felt for you. You return that sentiment, you say "Yes!"
He places the ring on your finger, then stands up. You immediately hug the taller man, planting a kiss on his lips. There is applause, then a waiter approaches with a camera in hand, giving it to your new fiancé. Mohammed places the device on the table, then returns the embrace and the smooch that followed, this one deeper. He whispered in your ear, "I love you," his knees bent a little to be able to touch your forehead with his own. You felt like you'd melt in his touch.
You close your eyes and nuzzle your face into his shoulder, "I love you, too."
You couldn't wait to officially start the rest of your life with him.