Now this is my copy of the story which I've made some edits in over the past couple months. No edits have been made that would effect the story or change it in any way, but just a few grammatical mistakes here and there. I've also realized that I'm getting some readers who would prefer English conversations rather than the Arabic ones in the original posts that's another change that I made.
-F
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Chapter 1
Isn't it amazing how one person can
set off a chain reaction that changes your life forever? That same person can
either make you feel like you're worth the world or be the reason people are
deprived from seeing a smile on your face but no matter what they did to you,
you'd always love them and cherish the memories you had with each other.
Let me take you back to when it all started.
It was break time. I had just
started the 9th grade in a new school, new teachers, new environment and new
faces. Since I was the new kid, I was pretty much left alone sitting in the
corner of the playground watching all the other boys and girls play and have
fun. Just before the break was over a crowd of students started to gather
around in a circle so I went to see what was going on.
Just as I get there I saw a boy
that I recognized from my first period class pull a lollypop out of a little
girl's mouth, push her down and smash the lollypop on the ground while the
crowd is cheering him on and laughing as the little girl watches with tears in
her eyes. When seeing this, he starts teasing her "awhh is the little baby
going to cry?" That is when something in my mind just snapped and I walked
straight up to him and punched him square in the nose. Total silence. The
laughter died down immediately as everyone was shocked to see the new boy do
something like that on his first day.
I went up to her, helped her off
the floor and moved her away from the crowd that was now all walking back
towards the school since recess was over. I held the still crying girl into a
warm hug ensuring her "I promise I'll never let anyone hurt you as long as
I'm around." She put her head on my shoulder and from that moment on, I
knew I was responsible for this girl.
Chapter 2
It has been three months since the playground incident and I
can still remember it like it was yesterday…
I woke up that day to the most
annoying and hated sound ever… the alarm clock. If there were a competition on
which inanimate object is the most hated the alarm would win first place for
sure. However, today was different. Today that annoying sound signified the
start of a new me. I'm done being depressed and shutting people out of my life
because of someone else's actions. Today is day 1, a new beginning to the new
me.
I got up and went straight to the
bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. As soon as I looked up in the mirror,
I saw someone else. I no longer looked at what I hated about my body and
focused on what I liked.
"I guess I like my hair…"
I said to myself as I played with my brown hair. "My eyes aren’t all that
bad too. I mean… I would prefer them to be lighter but brown is good…" My nanny
banging on my door distracted my thoughts.
"NOOR! QUICKLY YOUR BROTHER AND DRIVER OUTSIDE!"
"Okay! I’m almost done! Tell him to wait!"
I quickly finished getting dressed,
got my bag and the supplies I bought for the first day and ran down the stairs
and into the car to find Rashed, my older brother, playing with his phone.
"Took you long enough. Any longer and we would’ve been
late." He said with an annoyed tone.
They dropped me off at my school
and left immediately since he was already late because of traffic. I walked in
through the doors to see the same people I've known for as long as I can
remember. The same boring old faces
greeting each other, talking about their trips and how much fun they had during
the summer. That's when one face caught my eye… one that I haven’t seen before.
He was standing there looking like a lost puppy, which I found really funny and
cute at the same time. I sat on the nearest bench and just watched him look
around trying to take the whole scene in. That’s when I started noticing his
features and realized he did not look bad at all. Tall, messy brown hair,
tanned, and mysterious looking…
"Oh shit…" I was so caught up I did not realize he
was looking straight back at me.
*Rinnnggg* Saved by the bell!
I quickly got up, went up the
stairs to the bulletin board, and skimmed through the lists to see which class
I was in. There it was "Noura Al-X". Once I found my name, I started
going through the rest of the list to see whom I was going to be stuck with for
the next year.
"She's okay, EW, ew, ew, YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, noisy,
he smells… wait who is he? Fahad Al-X… never heard of him."
I didn't give it much thought and
just went to my first period class, English. I sat in the back of the class
where I will hopefully not be bothered and called upon by the teachers. Class
started and the teacher, Mrs. Farley, walked in, greeted the class, and started
talking to us about the curriculum, which I had no interest in and started
playing with my pen. She was halfway done talking when someone came into the
class and interrupted her. I looked up and there he was. The mysterious new
face.
"And who do we have here?" she questioned.
"I'm Fahad Al-X"
"And why were you late Fahad?"
"Sorry Mrs. But this is my first day and I got lost."
"Oh alright, welcome. There's empty seat next to Noura
near the back."
NOOOO!
He looked straight at me and
immediately smiled… oh what a beautiful smile.
I turned so red and avoided eye contact as he came and sat down next to
me. Mrs. Farley continued with the class while I zoned out again and didn't pay
attention to anything she or what the teacher in the next two classes said.
*RINNNGGG*
Finally, break time. I got my lunch
from my bag and saw the lollipop my mom always leaves me for the first day of
school. I immediately opened it, put it in my mouth and took out my phone while
making my way to the playground. I went outside, the sun was shining brightly,
and the birds were chirping in the trees nearby. As I was enjoying the scenery,
I accidentally bump into Jasim – the class bully. Being his bully self he
decided to put a show on for his friends.
"WATCH IT DWEEB!”
"You watch where you're going! What are you blind?"
By then most of his friends had
gathered by and he got really angry so he snatched the lollipop out of my
mouth, pushed me and smashed the lollipop on the ground while grinning down at
me. I felt a lump starting to form in my throat watching it shatter to a
million pieces. My eyes watered. NO! I was not going to give him the pleasure of
seeing me cry.
"Awh is the little baby going to cry?" he asked
sarcastically.
I glanced down at the floor wanting
to cry but I strongly fought that urge. Just as I started to break down, I took
one last glance at him to see him turn around only to get punched right in the
face, which was followed by a loud crack that echoed around the playground and
the laughter of all the onlookers dying out while they analyzed what just
happened. I couldn’t see who it was from the sunlight in my eye but I felt a
hand wrap around me lifting me to my feet and moving me away from everyone.
Still crying, I looked up to see who my knight in shining
armor was and staring back down at me were those beautiful brown eyes. He
pulled me into his arms and said those words that I will never forget my entire
life.
Chapter 3
I held on to her for what seemed
like eternity. None of us saying anything and just stood there in the middle of
the courtyard in each other's arms. I looked down and realized we were 10
minutes late to class.
"Hey if we don't go now we'll get in trouble for
sure…" I said softly not to startle her.
She looked up at me, wiped her
tears off and just walked away without saying anything. WHAT? After helping her
and caring, not even a single thank you? By now, she reached the entrance of
the school and disappeared behind the doors. I guess some people are not worth
helping.
I decided to just go to my class and confront her later but
she wasn't there. I looked for her everywhere to get an explanation but she was
nowhere to be found.
The next day I came to school and
we had English class together third period. As I entered, I saw her sitting at
the back in the same spot as the day before and the only two empty seats were
next to her or the seat on the other side of the room. I chose the far away
seat. Throughout the class, I would look over at her when she wasn't paying
attention just to admire her. I know I'm supposed to be mad at her for doing
what she did but I can't deny the fact that she might as well be the most
beautiful thing I've ever seen.
Where do I even start?
At first glance, she seemed like a
normal girl but while I was sitting there several feet away from her, I
realized just how beautiful she was. There was just something unreal about her.
Her face was somewhat luminous and her eyes were like drops of heavenly
chocolate. One glance and she would make you hers.
"Mr. Fahad…. Would you care to repeat what I just
said?" (Don’t you just hate it when teachers do that?)
I snap out of my trance and realize the whole class was
looking at me and boy did I turn all shades of red!
"Oh em… I'm sorry miss but I wasn't paying
attention." I confessed.
"This is your first warning, next time you'll be sent
out of class" I tried to pay attention as much as I could for the rest of
the period until it was break time and I went straight to the furthest table
from anyone and everyone. I wanted to be alone.
Just as I was about to zone out again, I see her at the
other side of the courtyard looking at me. When she saw me see her, she started
to walk over. A million things started going through my head – What am I going
to say to her? Am I going to tell her how I felt after she left without even
saying a thank you? Is she going to apologize? Before I had any time to answer
any of those questions she was standing on the other side of the bench.
"Can I sit?"
"Sure…" I replied without looking at her.
"Listen, I know it was wrong of me to leave without
thanking you yesterday. What you did was probably the sweetest and kindest
thing anyone has ever done for me."
"Ok."
"I understand if you don't want to talk to me but can
you just answer one thing for me? Why? Why did you help me? You don’t know me,
why would you risk getting into a fight to help me?"
"It was the right thing to do." I answered coldly.
"Can I tell you something I've never told anyone
before?"
"Sure…"
"I lost my best friend to a car accident last year and
have been going through a phase of depression. I didn't trust anyone, and my
friend, Sarah, was the one that was always there for me. She used to tell me
she loved me, tell me how beautiful I am or how important I am just to make me
happy and when I lost her…. I lost all confidence in myself. However, yesterday
I woke up and decided it was time to change. I no longer wanted to be that
depressed girl that barley talks to anyone and what you did showed me that
there is still good in this world. I want you to see this." She hesitated
for a second but rolled up her sleeves and there were scars near the center of
her arm "I used to do this to escape the pains of the world. It was either
this or…"
I looked up at her. Not saying a word… waiting for her to
continue but she just stopped.
That is when she just got up and left.
I got home that day and repeated what she told me in my
mind…
"Should I tell her?" I thought, "Is she the
one I tell about this? I mean… someone should know and she did trust me with
her secret..." I finally decided " I'm going to tell her."
I opened up my laptop and went on
the school website. I logged on using the individual username and passwords we
were given and looked through the list of names until I found her full name
"Noura Hamad Al-X" and right next to it was her Facebook link. I
clicked it and it redirected me to her page. I knew it was hers because I saw
that beautiful face in the display picture. I click 'Send a message' and began
typing.
"Hey I think I need to tell you something…"
Chapter 4
I waited and waited for a reply but got nothing so I just
gave up and went to nap. I woke up 3 hours later to find a Facebook
notification. I open it just hoping it would be her and not some stupid game
request.
-New message from Noura Al-X- "Tell me."
Oh god, this is it… I started to type.
"Listen, this is something
I've never told anyone. Not my friend, not my teacher and not even to my own
parents. All my life I've been the person everyone goes to when they have a
problem. 'Fahhaaaddd this, this and this happened' 'Fahhad what do you think I
should do about this?' 'Fahad I'm sad, cheer me up?' Yet no one ever seemed to
care when I had a problem. For once in
my life I wanted someone who I can go to and spill all what's in my heart and
for them to tell me "I'm here for you" or "Everything is going
to be alright" but NOOO, everyone cares more about their selves. As to why
I did what I did, I was always bullied as a child. I was always told that I was
unwanted and an outcast… hence me always sitting by myself. I honestly never
thought I would come out and tell anyone this but after what you told me today,
I felt like I could trust you and if there was anyone to tell, it was you. Now
I get if you don’t want to talk to me or deal with someone with this much
problems, but it just felt good to open up to someone."
My fingers started to hurt. Once I started typing, I felt
like weights were being lifted from my shoulders. I read what I wrote, pressed
send, and waited. There's no turning back now. Someone knows and I hope she
understands.
5 minutes passed….
20 minutes…
50 minutes…
Nothing.
"Did I scare her off?" I started to think… "I
KNEW I SHOULDN’T HAVE TOLD HER! WHAT MAKES HER ANY DIFFERENT TO ANYBODY ELSE?!
THEY ALL RUN AS SOON AS YOU…"
I was cut off from the sound of a new notification…
-New message from Noura Al-X-
"I was literally sitting here
for the past hour just reading your message over and over again. I feel so
close to you right now. No one should ever feel like they don’t belong. I've
had the same problem as a child but having someone by my side that I can open
up to always seemed to help. If you would let me, I want to be that person.
That person you come and spill all your problems to. You made me a promise the
first time we spoke. Now I'm making you a promise. I will never ever make you
feel like you're all alone in this world. I'll be here for you when you're at
your lowest point and will stand by your side even when you're wrong. "
I felt a lump starting to form in my throat. My eyes were
starting to tear up… tears of happiness. I've never felt so accepted in my
life.
That night something happened. Something that hasn't
happened for as long as I can remember… I went to sleep happy.
The next day I had P.E first period
so I didn't see Noura at all. I put my bag in one of the lockers in the
changing rooms and went into the changing stall. After I was done, I opened the
curtains to find Jasim and a couple of other boys waiting for me. I tried to
avoid them but they pushed me back and corned me in the stall.
"Who do you think you are to put your hands on
me?" he started. "You know I can end your life right now. You and
that skanky bitch."
"Don't talk about her like that" I was starting to
get annoyed…
"Oh he's defending her! How sweet… Why do you even care
about her? Do you know her? Are you dating her? Oh…. I know! You're sleeping
with her!"
That did it. I threw a punch that
landed right on his jaw and down he went. I saw this as an opportunity to get
away but didn't make it 5 steps before I was pulled back by two guys while the
third tripped me and the rest started to kick me. I tried to put my hands in
the way but there were too many feet pounding my body from all directions and I
couldn't stop them all. It felt like being in a car crash. I feel like I have
no control over my limbs and at times I feel like I'm looking down on my own
body but with each strike I come back the body with the pain. With each kick, I
could sense each individual cell bruising and each nerve end blasting out
electric shocks. I felt my heart beating in my head and I could hear it in my ears.
I took one last look at my attackers and blacked out.
Chapter 5
I see her face. It's distant but I know it's her. God she's
so beautiful… OUCH! What the… she's gliding back.
"NO WAIT, COME BACK!" I shout. I try running after
her but my legs are giving up under me. Sudden pain starts radiating from my
legs all the way up my sides and straight into my head.
"Fahad..."
I hear someone calling my name...
I open my eyes and I'm back in the
locker room. I close my eyes again because the light was too intense for me and
opening keeping them hurt. I tried to slightly open them again to take in
what's going on around me. I can barely
see them but I recognized some of the students and teachers that were gathered
around me. My P.E teacher, Mr. Lim, was trying to get my attention.
"Fahad can you hear me??"
I can barely hear him behind the sounds of my heart beating
in my ears but I look up at him not saying anything but slowly and painfully
nodding.
"The nurse will be here in
a…" I didn't even hear the rest. I was distracted by seeing him near the
back. He was talking to a teacher and telling him what happened. I couldn’t
hear him but oh god how much I wanted to rip his tongue out. He was just
standing there joking with the teacher like he had nothing to do with it and
when he saw me looking he gave me the most disgusting grin.
"Fahad? Did you hear a word I just said?"
My attention was directed back to Mr. Lim. I didn't hear a
word he said. That's when the nurse ran in winded.
"Sorry….I'm… late…. I tried… to get here… as fast as I
can" She said while out of breath. "Okay if you're not a teacher or
have something to do with this you need to leave now."
She came up to me and tried to move my arms to see the
bruising under them but let go when I screamed out in pain. I couldn't.
Everything hurt.
She ordered the remaining teachers to pick me up as
carefully as possible – one under every arm and leg, back, and one to support
my head.
I tried to resist, say no or
something but it was too late. I felt the sudden coldness of hands all over my
body followed by the most intense pain ever. The pain was like nothing I've
ever imagined. Like a dozen of hot daggers piercing every spot their hands
touched. My eyes started to water. Even
crying hurt. They managed to lift me and carry me to the nurse's office, laid
me on the bed and left.
The nurse came up to me and asked me what my name was but
when I opened my mouth nothing came out. My mind is saying Fahad but it's like
the words aren't reaching my vocal cords. I tried again but no use. Just as I
was about to give up the door opens and she comes in. At that moment, all the
physical pain I felt was replaced with happiness. Happiness from seeing her
face. Nevertheless, there was something missing - her smile. She was not
smiling.
"Excuse me you're not allowed to be in here, please go
back to class!"
"No Ms., I'm his cousin"
Wait what? Why would she lie to the nurse?
"Oh okay. What's his name and which class is he
in?"
"Fahad Al-X, he's in Mr. Dwayne's homeroom"
The nurse went over to a large file cabinet and looked
through it trying to find my class and name. Meanwhile Noura came and sat next
to me on the bed.
"Tell me right now exactly what happened." She was
angry. When I didn't answer she continued…
"It was Jasim, right?! He did this to get back at you
for what you did for me. I swear I'm going to kill him."
I hate seeing her like this and with all the power left in
my body, I tried to calm her down. I tried to muster up the best smile I can
and said, "Don't worry" My voice raspy and cracked.
Then she smiled. Her smile sweetened the very air in my
lungs. She seemed so sad but now, now, it was as if all the warm light and
happiness in the world just illuminated the room through her smile.
"Found it!" I heard the Nurse say. I looked over to see
her skimming through my medical file looking for my emergency contacts. She
found the number and phoned my parents informing them of my condition and that
they should come to the school immediately.
It wasn't more than 15 minutes
until my mom came into the nurse's office with a hijab thrown over her head,
barley covering all her hair and her face paler than ever. My dad who gave me
the coldest look as if I’ve just killed someone follows in her. They went over
to the nurse to introduce themselves and she tells them what happened…
"Well some boys said they saw
Fahad go over to his classmate Jasim in the changing room with the intention of
picking a fight. From what we were told, Fahad has been bullying Jasim since
the first day of school and when he tried to hit him in the stalls Jasim only
hit back in self-defense with the help of a couple other boys."
WHAT?!
Chapter 6
"HE'S LYING!" I shouted my voice raspy barely
audible. "I swear he's lying," tears started forming in my eyes
"you know I wouldn’t."
"Sir, let me explain, Fahad
wasn't the one…" my dad gave her one look and she went silent again then
he turned to me, his face red with anger "I don’t want to hear a word from
you. I'll deal with you when I get home," he then requested that Noura be
kicked out. Even though I begged the nurse to let her stay, she followed my
father's request and told her to leave.
The nurse went on, "your boy has a couple injuries but
nothing too serious. According to school rules, he will be suspended for one
day since it's his first offence. I recommend he go see a doctor tomorrow and
take the rest of the week off to recover."
While my dad was paying attention
to the nurse, my mom was looking at me with a strange look on her face. It was
a mixture of disappointment, sadness, and concern. However, there was something
else… her eyes were studying my bruises. Going from one to another almost as if
she knew something was not right.
Her attention was brought back to the room when my dad got up and thanked the nurse for her help then came over
to me to help me up. I hoped he'd be gentle but his hands gripped my arm as if
it was a lemon he was trying to squeeze. As soon as his hands touched me, my
head snapped back and the veins in my neck stuck out as I shouted from the top
of my lungs. It seemed like the more I expressed the pain I was feeling, the
harder he'd press, so I tried to keep it down. Biting my tongue, lips, shutting
my eyes tight or trying to focus on anything else, but the pain always brought
me back. When I opened my eyes, I was already on the wheelchair being pushed by
my mom and my dad ahead of me leading us to the car.
When we got to the car, he just
went in without offering to help me in or anything. I was left to hop into the
back seat with only the help of my mom's gentle hands under my arm to support
me but let's be honest, even my mom's soft touch hurt. As soon as my mom and I
got in, he took off like a mad man.
The car ride was long and silent.
My dad took every opportunity to go on speed bumps. Sometimes even going on a
different road that he knew had an extra bump or two just to punish me and when
we got home, he parked the car and left my mom and me to help ourselves.
We got to my room with me shouting
out in pain at least half a dozen times. Some parts of my body became numb so
that helped ease the pain… kind of. It wasn't a full minute since I sat on my
bed when my dad came barging in
"DO YOU KNOW HOW EMBARRASSING
IT IS TO BE PULLED OUT OF WORK BECAUSE MY WORTHLESS PIECE-OF-SHIT SON CAN'T
STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AT SCHOOL?! I don't know why I waste my time with you.
You're a waste of money, time and space. If it weren't illegal I'd probably get
rid of you but it's a shame I can't."
My mother heard the sounds and came
in running "Aziz! You do NOT mean that! Go have a smoke, calm down, and
ask God for forgiveness for what you just said. What you're saying is haram.
He's your son, you shouldn’t be saying things like that!"
He just looked at me, took out his
pack and left my room. My mom tried to come and comfort me, play with my hair
but it was no use. He said what he felt. He wishes I were gone. My own father
doesn't want me.
I told my mom I was tired and
wanted to sleep. She knew I was lying but she left me alone. I just laid there
staring at the ceiling when I heard my phone buzz. I reached into my pocket,
opened it and saw I had a message from Noura.
"Hey is everything okay? I'm really worried about you,
your dad did not look happy."
I ignored it and tried to get some sleep. I kept hearing my
phone buzz but I didn't bother opening it. My eyes started feeling heavy and I
slowly drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
When I woke up I looked at the time
and it read "11:45". My bladder felt full but I tried telling myself
I can hold it in but it was no use, when you got to go, you got to go. I pushed
myself off my bed and moved slowly to the door of my room using the wall as
support. I made my way to the bathroom and on my way back I saw my dad's
cigarettes on the coffee table near his bedroom.
My mind started going back to what
my mom said to my dad "Go have a smoke and calm down" she said…. I
always read that smoking helps take people worries away but I never tried it
because of the bad side effects everyone keeps talking about but HEY, he
doesn't want me alive anyway… so I took it back to my room.
Once I got on my bed I took one out
and put it between my lips, took the lighter out and clicked it open. I was
scared but lit the tip of the cigarette anyway as I've seen my dad do a million
times before. I sucked through the filter and felt the smoke enter my mouth and
go down my throat. Suddenly I started coughing. The smoke burnt every inch of
my throat it reached and it tasted like dirt but the determination to give my
'father' what he wants was greater than the pain. So I took another drag… and
another… coughing every time until I felt my lungs were about to give out and
my head spinning.
By the time I was done, I had a major headache and felt so
short of breath. I put out the cigarette, hid the pack under my pillow, and
went to sleep.
Chapter 7
Sudden pain woke me up the next
day. The second my conscious brain started working and began acknowledging the
pain, it intensified. It started to
become unbearable so I shouted out for my mom… nanny… dad… anyone in earshot
that can come and help.
It wasn't a couple of seconds till my mom came rushing in
with an apron on and a wooden spoon in her hand. I have to admit, that sight
made me laugh from the inside.
"What's wrong?!"
"Headache!" I complained,
with my two fingers rubbing my temples as hard as I can, doing anything to make
it better. Without talking, she walked out only to return a moment later with a
Panadol and warm water. She sat next to where my feet were on the bed and
handed me the small tray and I immediately swallowed the pill and washed it
down with water.
When I put the glass down I looked at my mom and she had a
worried/disappointed face. Almost like she knew what I had done last night.
"Fahad…" she started, "I spoke with the
school nurse today and she said you don’t have to be back for another couple
days to give your body time to heal."
"Hey so at least there's something good that came out
of the fight," I said with a chuckle but my mom was not impressed.
She slapped my leg "That's not
funny mister! You're lucky the injuries aren't serious. You're lucky your dad
didn't kill you for fighting with that boy… I mean, what were you thinking?"
my mom went on talking and lecturing me but my mind was caught up with
something she said;
'My dad'… Hah! What's the point in
calling him a dad if he hasn't treated me like a son since… ugh even thinking
about that day is making me sad. I knew
since then, he didn't consider me a son, only someone he's legally and
religiously obliged to feed and provide shelter for. Thinking about him
reminded me of what I did yesterday. I slid my hand without my mom noticing
under the pillow and felt for the pack that I hid. Once I felt it, a million
things started racing through my mind. Part of me wants to feel guilty. Guilty for betraying my mom's trust,
guilty for betraying… him, and guilty for harming myself just to get back at
the lousy man I'm being forced to call father. However, he doesn’t want me
anyway so who cares. Come to think of it, who does care? There's Noura, my mom…
and… um… I think that's it.
It's kind of sad really. In this world with over 7 billion
people, only two people care about me. Hah, isn't that just depressing.
"FAHAD! You didn't hear a word I just said, didn't you?
I don't even know why I bother…" Shouted my mom while getting up and going
towards the door, "by the way, the girl from the nurse's office asked
about you" and just walked out.
NOURA!
I immediately checked my phone and saw that I have six
unanswered Facebook messages.
"FAHAD! YOU BETTER ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW!"
"Fahad!"
"Faaahhhaaadddd!"
"Imma count to three and if you don't answer, so help
me god I'll… ANSWER!"
I don't care what you think, I found it funny.
"Hey =D" I replied.
I didn't have time to even put my phone down before I heard
the message notification.
" 'Hey=D' ??? Is that all you have to say?? You know I was worried sick about you! I
thought something happened to you!"
Oh god, I don't know if it's possible but she just got 10
times cuter.
"Hahaha oops?"
"Oops?! I’m sitting here worried about you and you’re
laughing?! Tell me everything that happened!"
"Well, not much happened. My dad believed the nurse and
once I got home he lost his temper and practically told me he didn't want me.
Then I got some sleep." I wanted to tell her about the smoking but I
decided against it, "OH! And no school for a few days! YAY! "
"HEY! Don't say that, he was probably just angry. Anyway,
you'll be missing a lot of notes so I'll copy them for you and if it's alright
with you parents, I'll come and teach you what we took."
"Really? You'd do that for me? Thank you" Thank
god she cannot see me because I turned 50 shades of red..
Oh god, just the thought of seeing her made me happy
"You're kidding, right? After everything you've done
for me? That's the least I can do. I'll be over tomorrow after school."
And that was it.
The rest of the day seemed to drag
by so slowly. Time really is a bitch, whenever you want it to go fast it takes
forever and when you're having fun, SURPRISE it's fast. I managed to make it
through the day and went to sleep praying to god to let me live for one more
day just to see her face.
Chapter 8
I’m in a corridor walking…. No
running… I’m not sure but I’m moving towards a figure in the light but no
matter how close I got, I couldn’t reach her. I reach out for her, asking her to
take my hand but she wouldn’t move. It’s like I can read her mind and feel the
fear she’s experiencing; she’s afraid she moves, loses her balance and we both
fall in the endless hole. She was about to open her mouth when I jolted upright
on my bed.
The sound of the house door
slamming shut woke me up and returned me back to reality. I turn my neck to the
best of my ability and reach for my phone to check the time, hoping it would be
around 2:30 P.M so I don’t have to wait too long until she comes over. I
pressed the power button and it took a second for my eyes to adjust to the
sudden brightness of the screen… Of course, I can never get what I want because
it was eleven-damn-thirty A.M. I tried going back to sleep but that idea was
useless because my stubborn brain decides it is too excited to go back to
sleep.
“10
hours of sleep...” I said to myself “not that bad.” I never was the type of
person that could sleep for over 10 hours and envied those who could. I began
to recall my dream and try to find the meaning behind the corridor, seeing her
and the falling in the whole, but who am I kidding? I have no idea how to
explain a dream so I give up on that idea too.
I glanced at my phone again and saw I had a message from
Noura.
[10:45 A.M] Noura Al-X: English class…. I’m totally not
jealous that you get to sit in bed all day while I suffer in class. >.>
I contemplated whether I should be evil about this or
sweet…. EVIL IT IS!
[11: 34 AM] Fahad Al-X: Akkkh Noura, you don’t even know how
comfortable this bed is…. Oh and waking up at 11 AM besides 6 AM…. SOOOOOOOO GOOOD! I bet
you’re having fun, right?
I couldn't contain my
laughter. I laughed so loud to the point where my mom came in thinking I was in
pain.
“What’s wrong?!” she said worryingly.
“Ha? No nothing I was just
laughing.” I tried replying with a straight face. Just before she walked out I
called for her and decided it was now or never to ask her about Noura coming
over to teach me what we took this week.
I put on my most innocent face and
started, “Mama… so you remember the girl from the nurse’s office? Well… since
I’m going to be absent for a week and will be missing out on so much stuff, she
offered to copy the notes for me and come afterschool to give them to me and
explain them to me.”
I tried to contain myself from
smiling and turning red because my mom gave me the face she always does when I
talk about a girl. She stood there quietly listening to what I was telling her
but her facial expression shouted “Ooo do you like her?” It’s like she knew I
was excited to see her but I wasn’t going to give her a chance to say no so I
said what I was hoping would convince her; “You know, if she can’t come, then
we’re going to have to pay for a tutor to come and teach me all my subjects for
that week. Plus, he might not even know the methods used in class.” I knew just
what to tell me mom when it comes to school. You see, she hates tutors. She’s
completely convinced that if I got used to a tutor coming to teach me, I would
end up depending on them and not on myself.
She gazed into my eyes for a split second and agreed to let
her come over on two conditions: One, she has to be gone before my father gets
home and two, I have to get up, give her a kiss and help keep her company in
the kitchen.
I
pretended as if I was reconsidering it just to mess with her but the answer was
obviously yes. She helped me up and held my hand walking down the stairs. The
bruises still hurt like hell but I’m trying not to focus on them and distract
my mind so I don’t feel the pain.
Once I got down, I opened up out chat and saw she replied 10
minutes ago.
[12:15 P.M] Noura Al-X: Heyyyyyyy ): Don’t make me jealous!
We’re actually in Cinema Studies right now and we’re watching The Great
Dictator. It’s a pretty funny movie with that silent comedian,
Charlie-Something.
[12:26 P.M] Fahad Al-X: Okay okay Im sorry xD. Btw I spoke
to my mom and she said you can come over afterschool but we have to be done by
6. Oh and by the way, his name is Charlie Chaplin. One of the best silent
actors of the 20th century.
As I was waiting for her to reply,
I asked my mom what she was cooking, hoping it would spark a conversation that
would help kill time. She showed me how I can make my own spaghetti sauce and
even got me to help with making meatballs and frying them. I’m not going to
lie, I actually enjoy spending time with my mother. She’s always nice to me and
makes me feel like I matter. Sadly, our fun in the kitchen had to end when I
got a message from Noura.
[2:36 P.M] Noura Al-X: Nerd. :’D That’s great! I just left
school (blekh) and on my way home to change then come over. Send me your
address.
I send her the address then with the help of my mom, I went
into the dining room and waited for her to arrive. It wasn’t long until the
doorbell rung and my nanny went to open it and show her to the dining table. My
heart was beating so fast I was afraid it would be visible through my shirt. I
was filled with a cocktail of emotions; happy, excited and most of all nervous.
I could hear her voice approaching the room. She turned the
corner and walked into the room.
She smiled. I smiled.
