The Dinner
Arthur was looking forward to the dinner with Soraya, he felt a bunch of emotions inside him that he had to try to contain if he didn't want to be boring. If Soraya had noticed him it certainly wasn't all because of his looks, and if she found him interesting and he liked her it wasn't an opportunity he was going to throw away. He knew his way around women, he'd been on dates before, but only the ones he didn't have a interest for had gone well, the rest were just a complete bust. He had a slight inkling that tonight Soraya would change her mind about him, starting with the fact that a real man when he feels an interest and it is reciprocated would make the first move, but he hadn't. Maybe even the worst suitor would have made an advance even without the slightest chance. He just needed more time, after all he had just met her, which is why if he had more time to get to know her before the dinner now he would have felt more comfortable, he wouldn't have felt that discomfort he was feeling and that he was sure would have ruined the whole date, so he had to focus on other things like talking about interesting things that didn't concern Egypt.
He picked up the floral bouquet he had bought for her, he felt pretty stupid every time he did something nice that they could make him look like a total idiot. He walked out of the house trying to hide the bouquet when it looked to him like he was about to pass some neighbors on his way down the stairs. He got into his car and put the bouquet on the seat next to his heading towards Soraya's house, who lived just outside the center of town, finding her outside the house talking to another girl, when she saw him she smiled and headed towards him.
When she opened the car door he made to pull out the bouquet of flowers and she burst out laughing saying:
- I didn't see that coming! - he got in the car - You are different from other men, so kind and romantic. I like you, but I think you know that it's a bit difficult for a woman to ask for a first date, but I couldn't wait until I left for Egypt to get to know you better.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel with a smile on his face without being able to look at her, she put her hand on his and said:
- Arthur, I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.
- No, don't worry, it's me who has difficulty expressing what I feel, don't pay attention to that.
When they arrived at the restaurant Soraya got out of the car covering her shoulders with her shawl and went towards Arthur who held out his hand.
Soraya looked at him, in his gaze there was a bright note that made them magnetic, she smiled and shook her head and took his hand, he tried to break the ice:
- In Egypt I know some restaurants where you can eat really well near Cairo. With typical interiors and of course...local cuisine, but that's a given.
He rolled his eyes at the nonsense that had just come out of his mouth, "Egyptian cuisine in Egypt? No kidding, you're really smart Arthur! If they invented the asshole of the year award in faculty you would have already won," he involuntarily shook her hand and she turned in his direction and said:
- Well, then since you know the place and the kitchen better you'll be able to advise me on what to get or not to get.
- Of course. I am an expert - he said ironizingly.
Soraya stood up on her toes and kissing him almost at the edge of his mouth, when Arthur met her eyes he seemed to relax. There was no awkwardness and she eaned closer to his ear:
- I like your irony and your nervous smile.
He returned just enough to bring her face into focus saying:
- You're extremely beautiful tonight, not that you're not normally beautiful - he felt the slight discomfort again - I mean...I often look at you in the faculty, not as a stalker of course! It's just that you...yes, I like you.
- Yes, I think I saw you out of the corner of my eye.
As they entered the restaurant there was a warm atmosphere, with soft lights that created a warm and comfortable environment, Soraya put him at ease and that discomfort did not seem to bother him. He was silent listening to her talking about everything she liked or how she spent her free time, after all she rarely spent time with anyone maybe this was her chance and if she had to say it was a great chance.
- So are you going to the Khonshu temple when we're there?
- Yes I will take advantage of it, unless I decide to go a second time on my own and not for a study for the faculty.
- I studied something about him, if you want I can pass you some photos and documents, but then I let it go I had won a contest so I shelved it.
- Oh yeah, sure they'll come in handy. Wouldn't you like to consider it again?
He looked away nodding, Khonshu was not exactly the deity he was interested in or at least not as much as the case of Isis and Osiris.
- Yes, why not. We should get to the temple of Karnak, you know Khonshu is a particular deity.
She winked a smile and stood with her back against the chair and replied:
- The Moon God. Come on Arthur, I imagine you'll be more interested in the traditional figures of the Egyptian gods, but give Khonshu a chance to find that space in the studio you dedicated to him.
- I'll think about it I promise.