I couldn't stop myself from grinning. I let out a small giggle before I can stop myself. Zayd turns his head and looks at me as if I've grown two heads.

He mumbles something about my head going through serious damage. I roll eyes, it was just a small cut on my scalp. He'll soon get why I'm so ecstatic.

We were on our way to my home and Karim would look at us every two minutes through the front mirror (suspiciously) while driving. If he was acting this way, I could only guess how my parents would react.

Firstly, I'd never brought anyone home in my seventeen years of life. Secondly, because he's a guy. I could imagine my mother's wide eyes already, she'd probably have a heart attack.

Another giggle slips from my mouth.

And my dad.. I can't even imagine.

This time both Karim, who halts driving, and Zayd turn to look at me. I smile to myself and look outside, ignoring their stares and stifling the laughter bubbling inside me.

When the black gates come to my vision, I sit tall. Karim drives us through the entrance and pulls to the side, we get out. I find Karim glaring at Zayd who is oblivious to the death glare.

Aw, Karim is so overprotective. He's like a brother I never had. I find myself smiling like an idiot, again.

I see Zayd looking at our garden and the fountain in the middle with awe. His expression is as stoic as ever but his eyes are slightly widened, by point three millimetres and his lips twitch slightly. Let me tell you, this guy doesn't express, hell he doesn't even smile.

Except when he's about to throw some insults at me and make me feel miserable.

And this is his way showing that he is in awe.

For a second, I find a genuine smile blooming on my lips, this is the first time I've seen him in awe. Karim drives the car to the garage and I stand next to Zayd. He looks distant like he is reliving something.

"Look at that, Zayd Aaraiz loves flowers, you sure confirm the rumours," I say cheerfully. Of course, I didn't mean it. Guys can like flowers, they're beautiful after all. I just wanted to give him a sip of his own medicine.

Zayd grumbles and clenches his jaws painfully before moving over to me.

What the.. what is he doing?!

He holds my chin in an iron grip and takes a step closer, our shoes are touching. My throat goes dry.

My parents are inside!

Why am I not pulling away?

"Shut your pret- ugly mouth else I'll show you for myself how much of a guy I am."

Our staring match continues. He pulls back just in time because the moment he does so, the front door opens and my mother peeks outside.

My mom and I have the same green eyes but her complexion is lighter than mine and her hair is a lighter shade of brown while mine is chocolate brown in colour.

I watch my mother and Zayd with a sly grin in my lips, my mother's eyes visibly widen and her gasp is so loud, I can hear it even though we are a little too far.

"Alya Eshaal Zaynub," wow, she really is mad, "Who. Is. This?"

"Why, As-salamu alaykum to you too, mother," I walk to the door with a cheeky smile. She continues to look at me with same shocked expression. I'm loving this!

Zayd stands behind me, a little too close than my mother would want and her eyes widen further. God, forgive me.

"Who. Is. This?"

"He's my partner," I mumble shyly, looking at the ground. For an extra effect, I turn to look at Zayd with a lovesick look. His stoic face almost falters. Almost. What do I have to do to make him break?

"P-partner? As in..? I'm going to faint," mom states rubbing her forehead.

"Mrs Zaynub, It's not what you thi-" Zayd begins but my momma cuts him off. I'm enjoying this more than I should have, I feel evil. Do I do the evil laugh that villains do in movies?

"Shut up, you Harami," my mothers says, poison dripping from her words. Her nose flares in anger but Zayd's stoic face doesn't falter, damn it.

(Harami- Sinner)

I feel bad for my mother.

"Ya Kalb, my daughter would never do such a thing if it weren't for you. What did you do to her?" she grumbles while looking at Zayd. She still hasn't let us in.

(Ya Kalb- You Dog)

"Actually.. My teacher set us up, mom."

My mother grasps the door frame and closes her eyes momentarily. I feel so evil, I guess Zayd's wickedness has been rubbing off on me. I decide to put an end to this. For now.

"A project partner, momma. Why are you so shocked?" I feign innocence. I should get an Oscar.

"Project?" I nod my head.

"School project?" I nod my head again.

"And the teacher paired you two?" I nod, again.

I gasp for breath when my mother pulls me in a tight hug. "Air.. need to b-breathe.. mom," I gasp. She lets me pull back and I see her smile at Zayd apologetically.

"What's your name, son?"

"Zayd."

"Ya Allah, you're a Muslim! Why didn't you say so at the very first?" My mother's eyes glint in mischief. I smile when I see mom pulling Zayd for a hug too. Poor guy. His stoic expression finally falters.

Should I tell mom how he treats me?

The smile falls from my face when I replay my mother's words. My mother.. she couldn't be.. I look at her and she smiles at me sweetly, still hugging the life out of Zayd.

There goes my matchmaker of a mother. I scowl and enter my house leaving them be. She continues to surprise me, a second ago she was about to faint and now she is thinking of us together.

I scowl again. Like it's ever happening.

. . .

Zayd is sprawled on the couch, lazily looking at me while I do all the work. He's munching on a cookie my loving mother served him five minutes back. We're working on the project in the living room because my mother didn't want us in my bedroom. For obvious reasons.

"I love your mother," he sings and smirks at me, munching on another cookie. Those were mine! I glare at him. He is chilling and I'm working my ass off. His definition of 'doing a project together' is so fun.

I hate him from the very depth of my heart. He smiles at me, I swear I've never seen him smile at anyone but me. Of course, they are mostly evil ones, other times they are for the sole purpose of making me mad. Like now.

Mumbling profanities at him, I get to work. He continues to stare at me.

"Take a picture y'know, it will last longer."

"Why would I take a picture of something so ugly?"

I stop and look at him in his eyes. His hair has fallen down his forehead, I notice. Not everyone is naturally and effortlessly attractive like him.

"Then why are you looking at me?" he doesn't answer but continues to look at him, his expression blank. "I get that I'm ugly. You don't have to remind me every time." I get back to the project, hating how my voice broke. We don't speak after that.

By afternoon, I've completed so little, thanks to the distraction a.k.a Zayd who wouldn't freaking stop looking at me. And, I kept feeling.. uncomfortable and.. nervous? I don't know what it was.

I walk him outside, continuously glaring at him. He ignores it, looking cold as ever. His phone rings and he picks it up a second later. However, my eyes catch something on his phone before he can pull it to his ear.

My heart skips a beat. I stop at my place and watch his retreating back. He doesn't say anything as he walks outside, yelling at the person on the other side of the phone.

I remain rooted in the same place.

He did take a picture.

Of me.