Love Untangled - Chapter 162

Jasmine

“Do you love him?” Pablo questioned. I slowly inhaled and sharply exhaled. I did not answer him.

“Let me be honest with you… a few hours ago.. in my apartment… I could feel the heat from that sensational kiss you two shared. Whooo!” Pablo whistled and he moved his hand like he was burning.

I rolled my eyes. “Oh come on… you even look at him like that when you are angry at him.” Pablo told me. “I do not!” I shrieked. “Yes you do.” Pablo snickered. “The man is absolutely glorious.” He teased me.

I shook my head. “It is a fact that he is handsome… and well build…”

Pablo eyed me from under his lasher. “Well buillddd….” He said in a exaggerating tone. “Honey… Well buiilddd….”

“That man looks like a freakin Greek God.” He laughed loudly.

“I guess…” I shyly said.

“Look at that… she is blushing.” Pablo said pinching my cheeks.

“But to answer my question…” He said being serious now.

“Do you love him?” He asked me.

“I do not know.” I shrugged. “Our relationship is… ” I sighed.

“Complicated?” Pablo offered as he pulled me towards him. “Yes.” I breathed. “More than you could ever imagen.” I said.

“Try me.” He smiled. “You would not be interested in a story like that.” I stated. “I am, now go on princess… enlighten me.” He said as he pinched my side teasingly.

“Hey!” I said and pouted my lips at him.

“I do not really know where to start.” I admitted. “It sounds like some kind of Cinderella story.” Pablo snickered. “Prince charming pretending like he is a simple man… you fall in love and he then ends he up to be a king.” Pablo pondered

“He was not a king then… ” I said.

“That hardly makes it any less romantic.” Pablo smiled. “But… this…. What did you call her… Evangeline.. is the reason you keep on punishing him?!” Pablo stated more than he asked.

I sighed. My stomach turned. “Her name is Saphira and… he loves her.” I shrugged. “Maybe.” Pablo said. “I actually admired that he did not turn around the bush about that.” He said.

“But…It seems like your husband loves you more…” He disagreed. “Never the less… he loves her.” I shrugged.

Pablo held me for a while. I felt so sad… about everything. “So you are punishing him because he loves her?” Pablo scrutinized my face.

“What do you mean… punish him.” I said incredulous. “You tell me… ” He said. “But if you would like to hear my opinion.. I think that you are trying to punish yourself for whatever reason.. because if I heard it correctly… you fell in love and then refused to marry the guy, and if I am correct… you even broke off contact with him.” He said, eyes wide.

I looked down to the ground. “Princess… you can not really blame him for moving on after you told him to… the most important thing is that he chose you when it came down to it. ”

I did not really want to hear this. “Maybe.” I shrugged stubbornly. “Does she still want him?”

I rolled my eyes. “Obviously.” We said at the same time and had a laugh. “Saudi kings have like a.. whole harem of wife’s right?” He suddenly asked me.

“No, no no… Benjamin will not have more wives.” I shook my head. “Not if I have anything to say about that.” I said feeling frustrated by the idea.

“A little jealous…” Pablo grinned. “I like that.” He said thoughtfully. “It does not really surprise me with all that passion the two of you share.” He said narrowing his eyes, as if he was thinking very hard.

“Benjamin seems cured of his jealousy though…” I muttered. Pablo frowned at me, as if he did not really seemed convinced.

“What makes you say that.” He questioned.

“Look at us… he does not seem to mind that I am in the company of another man.. He would normally have a heart attack if someone would just look at me.” I sighed.

Pablo seemed baffled. “Of course he is not jealous of me!” Pablo smiled , showing all of his teeth. I did not understand

“Honey, you are by far the prettiest woman I have ever seen…. Those eyes alone, a killer body.” He said as he touched my hips.

“But your husband knows I will never be more than your male best girlfriend.” He grinned.

I frowned a little. “I am gay honey.” I snickered. He saw that I still did not get it. “There is a better chance that I will have the hots.” He said wiggling his eyebrows. “For your man, than I would have for you.” He said meaningfully.

“Really?!” I gasped. “Oh… honey… Really.” He said as he kissed my cheek.

“Now… let’s get back to finishing our conversation.” He reminded me that we were talking about something else before… I was still stunned by this revelation.

“Did he agree to you being his only wife?” Pablo slowly asked me. “Of course he did.” I said matter of factly. “He knew I would never agree to be his wife if he wanted otherwise.” I said in all obliviousness.

Pablo cocked his head to the side… “Girllllll, what are we still doing here?” He laughed at me.

Saphira

“Saphira can I talk to you for a minute?” Malik ordered. Lynn looked at me, probably questioning what was going on right now.

“Hey Malik, maybe later though.” I bluffed. “Lynn and I were just about to go inside and change to go to mosque.” I gave him a solid explanation.

“It will only take a minute.” He pressed. “Maybe later.” I said again and started walking. Malik grabbed my arm, yanking me back.

In America it would not be so strange if a guy would touch your arms, but we were not in America right now and I would not let him treat me any less than he would other Saudi woman.

“What are you doing?!” I hissed at him and eyed his hand that was still on my arm. “I am so sorry.” He apologized. “I just need one minute of your time. She can spare a minute, can’t she?” He asked Lynn.

Lynn looked at me. “I guess.” She told him. “Then come…” His voice sounded calm, but his eyes were ordering me. I think that was some kind of family trait, Ben always did that as well. A shiver went down my spine.

“Okay, then tell me, Malik. What is it you wanted to say to me?” I bid. “Walk with me.” He said. “Sure, come Lynn, we will walk with him.” I shrugged.

“Alone.” Malik calmly said.

I acted like I was shocked. “Alone? We can not be alone… ” I told him. “I mean, I do nor want anyone to think weird of me, so…. It is not pure to be alone with you.” I said mirroring his calmness.

“Right.” He slightly shook his head. But I did see a hint of a smile at the far edge of his lips. He seemed frustrated, but amused as well.

Malik seemed to contemplate what he was going to do. He did not seem like the guy to back down.

“You are absolutely right.” He suddenly said. “I know that you wanted to learn more about yourself and therefore my culture, and I wanted to help you with that.” He Cooley said.

“And how did you wanna do that though?” I asked skeptically. “I wanted to teach you Arabic, if you would like.” He said dead serious.

“You mean that you are about to arrange an Arabic tutor, or are you offering to teach me yourself?” I asked, just checking what his motives are. He let his hand glide across his cheek. I seemed to frustrate him right now.

“What would you prefer?” Now he was daring me. So I wanted to beat him at his own game. “I believe that you are a very busy man, so I think that a tutor will be just fine.” I faked a smile.

He scratched his eyebrow, buying some time. “Good.” He finally managed to say. “The tutor will be at the library tomorrow morning 10 o’clock.” He told me.

“Thank you so much for arranging that.” I politely said and took Lynn’s arm to signal her that we needed to go.

The both of us ran through the palace walls. “What was that all about?” Lynn pressed when we reached my room. I placed my head against the door and tried to steady my breath.

“I honestly do not know.” I mumbled. “Yeah you do.”

“No, I really do not know.. I have asked Malik if he would help me find my identity… I mean… you know that you are Arabic, but you feel more of an American and I… my mother was always so busy rebelling against everything that I do not know what I am, or who I am…” I sighed.