“I wish we never met.” “No you don’t. Please don’t say that.” (Closed)

Farah noted the nervousness in his body tells and the way he hesitated. She sighed quietly as they headed for the door. She hadn't intended to intimidate him away. But that was just her, never quite knowing how to present herself to someone new.

Halfway through her motion, Farah realized what she was doing, and flushed lightly before looking away. She hadn't meant to do that. His clothes had peaked her curiosity though. To be honest, he didn't look like he was ready for this date. Saul probably had given him about the same amount of warning time as Farah. She'd kill him at work the next day.

Her steps slowed, and she glanced over at Isaac as he held the door for her. "Thank you," she murmured quietly before entering the restaurant.

Apparently, Saul had also made them a reservation. Perfect. They were led to their table, and Farah slipped into her seat before looking at the man across from her. "Listen," she began hesitantly. "Please don't feel as though you're obligated to be here. This doesn't have to be a date. It can just be dinner."

Farah was a bit surprised by his comment about his clothes. Questions rose one by one in her mind, and— She froze at the realization that getting to know someone on a date meant asking questions. They were both clearly stressed with each other as it was.

As Isaac’s hands hit the table, Farah jumped in surprise. She blushed heatedly at the stares from other people before looking back over at her “date.” God, she was going to kill Saul. But… at the same time… this man was rather attractive. Even wearing a hoodie and sweatpants into a fancier restaurant.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I shouldn’t have said that. May I ask you, what is it that you do for a living?” Well, at least she was trying.

Farah, much to her own surprise, laughed at his words. “Well,” she began, shaking her head with a casual smile, “he’d be right. Multiple different ways have crossed my mind, not because of you, of course. Saul knows that I haven’t been involved in dating for years.”

She looked up, nodding at his answer and noticing the way he continually trailed off his sentences. “You don’t need to be shy,” she offered kindly. “Which bar uptown? I may know it.”

Farah’s expression molded into one of soft shock. She obviously hadn’t been expecting him to say that, but she was flattered all the same. “There’s no need to apologize,” she assured him. “It’s just been a personal choice. I…” She thought a moment about her words before signing and saying, “I just don’t think I was meant to end up with anyone.”

She pursed her lips, thinking, before shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I haven’t heard of it.”

(Yes, sorry! Multitasking and getting distracted 😅)

Farah sighed quietly. Obviously she’d have to carry this conversation. Isaac wasn’t very talkative, and when he did talk, it was quiet and often faded out before he finished a sentence. Quite unlike Farah, who voiced her opinions and had learned how to project herself, being in front of a room of judging and inattentive adolescents.

“Isn’t there anything you wish to know about me?” she prompted. “I’ll answer any question you want to ask.” Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, “Is it really that much of a surprise that I haven’t dated in years?”

Farah frowned slightly at all his little nervous tells. “I do,” she answered simply. She was going to elaborate, and she still would, but she needed to confirm something first.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” she asked.

Farah arched her eyebrows slightly as he spoke loud enough she could hear him without having to try. She nodded slowly, thinking to herself. “I understand that,” she replied sympathetically.

After a moment, Farah rises decisively to her feet and motions for Isaac to follow her lead. “Come on,” she says plainly, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Let’s go.”

Farah let a small smile pull at her lips. "You'd be surprised," she answered simply. Though she immediately noticed his flinch and took a small step backward. "I'm sorry," she added apologetically. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Once he was on his feet and following her, Farah led them directly out of the restaurant. Saul might have been able to choose where they met up, but he had no say over anything that happened after. The woman led the way with confident strides until they reached a part of the small city that had significantly fewer people than the blocks surrounding the Plaza.

Farah let out a breath and glanced back at Isaac. "This is better, isn't it?"

"I'm sorry," she repeated genuinely. "If I had known, I wouldn't have been so rushed."

Farah smiled at his agreement. As they walked, they passed directly under a streetlight's rays. It illuminated Farah's hair like a soft, golden halo around her head before they entered a patch of darkness.

"Is there anything you'd like to know about me?" she asked gently.

(Valid, because I do that all the time 😭)

Farah offered a small smile at his remark. "I still shouldn't have been so…" She struggled to find the right word for a moment before finishing her sentence. "Brash."

She glanced over at him as he took off his hoodie. Though she still couldn't quite believe he'd worn a hoodie on a date, her eyes studied him briefly. Her gaze trailed down his sleeve of tattoos before realizing again what she was doing and tore her eyes away. But not before a little flash caught her periphery and she looked back to catch his piercings glinting in the dim light.

Though Farah missed the way he looked at her. She was utterly oblivious as she walked, waiting for him to ask her something. And when he did, she was extremely caught off guard.

Her eyes widened, and she looked over at him with an incredulous look. Finally, she sighed and shook her head. "Truthfully, I'm torn between two reasons. The first is that I haven't found the person I was meant for. The second is that I'm not sure if I believe anymore that there really is a person meant for me."

(No worries! I get that! And I’ll give that song a listen later :))

Farah didn’t mind the way he wasn’t looking at her. She had her fair share of shy students who didn’t want to approach her but convinced themselves to anyway. Then they couldn’t manage to look anywhere other than her desk or the wall. She politely obliged each of them and did the same now for Isaac.

But Farah felt the oddest feeling come over her as he said her name. Not wanting to admit it aloud… she quite liked the way he said it, even as what he said startled her. Farah blushed lightly before nodding at his explanations. She was intrigued, but she didn’t comment.

Farah hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t know how you can be so sure, but I appreciate your attempt to keep my hopes up. I feel I should tell you I’m not worth the effort, so don’t go worrying about me. What my dear friend Saul seems to lack knowledge of is the fact that I’m perfectly fine and settled on my own.”

Farah couldn’t help the dry laugh that spilled from her lips at his remark. “I’m sorry,” she said shortly. “But I don’t know how that would be possible. I don’t think anyone could love me as I am now.”

She didn’t look over at him, keeping her gaze straightforward. This was exactly one of the reasons she thought she couldn’t find someone. Because the second they started showing interest or trying to get close to her, Farah’s immediate instinct was to push them away. Most never came back.

Farah pulled up short as Isaac cut in front of her path. Her eyes widened at the sight of him for a moment, then widened more at his words.

She marveled at how open he was. It had been years since she'd been that trusting. And… he spoke so firmly and passionately that she was completely caught off guard. For a few seconds, she just blinked at him, her lips parted but unable to find any words.

Finally, Farah shook her head. "I don't know how you believe something like that as passionately as you do. I still have my doubts, but… I hope you're right." Farah offered a final faint smile before dropping the subject. She needed to talk about something else, immediately. "So, besides harassing me about my miserable love life, what interests you?"