she had a dumbfounded Look on her face as she walked
it was like she was carrying a burden in her heart
halima looked so lost in thought
she couldn’ fathom any other idea
it seemed like the only way
if she kept refusing timi”s advances he might really go to his father and falsly accuse her
the man may send her packing
where could she go…
how will she cope ..
there’s no way her dad could pay up his debt on time before then
but again how is she supposed to give in and let that pervert take advantage of her
but she had to
if she doesn’t she could be a burden on her dear parents
halima sighed
she was so lost in thought
she didn’t notice me in front of her
she just kept walking until she bumped into me
“ohh,,,ken ,,I’m so sorry , ,I didn’t see you”
I quizzed her with a Look
“are you alright you seem lost in thought,,,”
she feigned
“yeah,,,I’m fine I’m just,,just not feeling well”
“hmn,,is it a fever or something,,,do you need to go to the infirmary”
I touched her forehead to feel her temperature
she shook her head
“no no…I’ll be ok if I just sit somewhere”
I wasn’t convinced
I am a very observant fellow
I knew this was more than just a fluke
I started again
“halima,,,are you sure ,,nothing else is wrong,,,I mean,,,no school problems ,social,,,or family issues”
she glared at me
“are you a counsellor or what,,,I said I’m fine”raising her voice a little
she closed her eyes then sighed
appologising immediately
“I’m sorry ken,,,i didn’t mean to sound like that,,,I’m just a little cranky today”
I welled up
“I understand,,,everyone has ways of dealing with their own problems”
she then said
“are you headed to class,,,let’s walk together”
“sure,,,”
we started walking off through the corridor
I glanced at her and still saw that distant Look in her eyes
no!
something is definitely wrong
something else
I didn’t want to pry much…
but I know I’ll definitely get a way to find out
(I always found out stuff,,,about people I meet,,,even personal stuff)
“you know if you’ve got issues to deal with,,,you can always talk to someone”
she stopped and gave me a look
“I don’t need a shrink”
“I didn’t say a shrink,,,I said someone ,,,it doesn’t have to be a shrink”
she brushed off the idea
we took a curve and headed to the blocks
from where we walked…
we could see other students just arriving
some excited
some not so
halima scrunched her eyes
she noticed Muna stepping in with the rest of the cleansweep crew
but then she noticed someone else in their midst
she revved
“is there something between ,,this girl And Muna”
she asked rhetorically
she turned and said Again
“I mean,,,they r just friends right,,,”
I looked towards the direction she was talking about
I saw Muna And sonia trudging behind the other guys
Muna kept making remarks
which every now and then would make sonia giggle and Look away
they bantered on untill they reached the blocks
“they’ve known each other,,for a long time,,,so yeah,,they’re good friends,,”
I replied halima,,trying to avoid any prejudice ,,whatsoever
but her eyes lingered on the duo
she seemed to notice something else
something more
but she said
“ken,,,what do you call a feeling you have for someone,,,when you can’t spend a few seconds without thinking of them,,,when you catch yourself staring for too long.,,when you always want to be in their company,,,and worst of all,,when you always want your world to revolve around them”
I searched my mind for a while
this was an odd question tho,,,
but after roaming a while
I replied her
“uhh love I guess”
it seemed as though
she dreaded the answer
I saw her face swell with regret and sadness
she then asked
“even if you barely know the person,,,is that possible”
I nodded
”yeah,,,they say love,,doesn’t care,,,when ,,where,,or how,,,it just happens,,,or so I’ve heard”
she took a long sigh
so I qhickly rephrased
“but then again,,asking a boy about love may not really be, understandable,,I mean we barely know beans about it,,,so in other words I could be wrong”
(I’m I wrong)
she revved
“I understand what you meant ken ,,,I just wanted your opinion”
I nodded effectively at her
we walked the remaining steps in silence till we reached the class
*
“And for those of you who are yet to finish up,,,see the class rep so I may get the list of late submitters, ,is that clear?”
“yes sir!” the class chorused
as he was packing up his stuff to leave the class…
the bell rang
he rolled his eyes at the sound like
|what’s the difference I’m already leaving|
the next period was a free class
so some students roamed a little outside the class
while others stayed behind and fooled around
for someone like me,,,I always had my hands full so no time for fooling around (no pun intended)
I was on the verge of suffocating as
some girls and boys already gathered round me to have their initials pinned down before I leave to continue my part time job at the staff office
the loud and rough students sitted at the back of the class just made the place rowdy
the left row at the back showed Muna concentrating as Mike tried teaching him some moves on the “ultimate ninja impact” shippudeen series game he downloaded on his phone
Muna could easily learn anything ,,but he was a complete klutz when it comes to games…
but this time he was determined to learn this game
maybe its because he liked the game
or maybe because the movie of the game is his favourite film of all time
he couldn’t quite tell
…but he focused all he got on it
…”hey!,,”
halima looked up and saw rita looming over her
“I’called you five times already,,,what are you seriously thinking of”
halima shook her head and said to her
“sorry rita,,I’m just,,,just not feeling well”
rita noticed the off manner which halima was speaking
I had told her of there being a possible issue going on with halima
and she took it upon herself to find out
but unfortunately…all efforts to make her speak up proved abortive
as halima dodged any question relating to the issue on ground
…
Muna groaned out loud as he failed for the sixth time
“aarh,,,gosh!!, I can’t,,,I can’t man,,,its too complicated,,”
he told Mike as he handed the phone back to him
“I really don’t understand you,,you can memorise every possible math formula that exist,,,solve equations like its two plus two,,,and do other freaky stuff,,,but this simple thing is complicated for you!!,,how is that possible”
Mike blurted out
Muna shook his head in confusion
he also could not explain his inability to get it once and for all
its just all about following cursors and instructions and pressing the corresponding key
he checked his time
mr zaki’s office should be opened by now
time to go and submit their weekly report
he looked around the class for halima
she was sitted at her desk
this time her head rested on it
he wondered why she was in that state
as he stood up and approached
he called her name
she still remained still
he called her two more times
no reply
he tapped her gently on the shoulders
she jerked up speedily in a reflexive manner!
“hey hey,,,easy its me,,!,,what happend ,,were you dreaming or something”
she calmed down when she saw Muna’s questioning gaze
*gosh,,,if only he knew*
Muna kept throwing questions at her trying to know what was the root of her downcast attitude the entire day
but she smartly covered it up with the occasional “I am fine”
he had concern all over his face as he quizzed her
halima was glad at the care he showed for her
she felt like she could tell him everything
but no
this was her problem
not his
A small smile cracked halima’s face as she listened to Muna joke about the way her eyelids Look like the game characters on mike’s phone
he stretched his hand and touched her face to inspect it properly
“but seriously,,,why the red spots,,,have you been crying!”
he asked alarmed
halima shook her head and assured him of the opposite
although she wished his hand would never leave her face
his touch was soothing
his voice was warm
and his smile was encouraging
she even already felt cheered up just being by his side
he offered to let her rest while he goes to give mr zaki the report but she declined
“no no,,,let me come with you,, I want to be with you”
she blurted out the words almost carelessly
Muna raised an eyebrow at her as he said
“are you sure,,,cuz you could-”
but she was already on her feet and she took his hand
“come on let’s go”
Muna shrugged
at least she seems to be feeling better now
which is good
although he wondered how come she suddenly felt better when he started to talk with her
they headed off to mr zaki’s office
…
…
…
In the kitchen of Sonia’s house
she just finished doing the dishes and was headed to her room to sleep
when her mother appeared from nowhere
“and where are you going to ”
she blinked
“to sleep?”
more like a question than an answer
her mother started
“but Muna is still working on our gen,,,shouldn’t you go and keep him company”
she blinked
“mom. ..I don’t understand…what exactly should I do”
her mom started again
“soso,,,its rude to stay in here,,while someone is out there ,,sacrificing for you ,,go and do something”
sonia flinched
“but mom,,I don’t know anything about gens,,what exaclty should I do”
“just go my friend,,standby, or assist him,,or hold the torch for him,,,just go”
sonia tried sprouting out a complain
but her mom didn’t let her
she ushered her outside to the heap
sonia sighed
she saw Muna bent over concentrating on what he was fixing
the way he looked distant…
he probably didn’t notice she was outside
she decided to maybe sneak to a corner and admire the way his muscles flexed
she qiuetly walked towards the pavement to sit as silently as possible
“why are you tiptoeing?”
Muna asked without even turning around
*scratch!*
she thought
she then started stuttering
“I was,,I mean wasnt-,,I mean was trying to ,,,Pooh!”
what the hell was she saying
why can’t she make out one simple sentence
for crying outloud he is also a human being
she took a deep breath and decided to start from the beginning
but then
“yes I was,,I wasn’t,,,madam,,bring that torch and point it here”
Muna said to her
sonia bit her lip
must she fidget all the time like this
she thought as she picked up the torch to stable it at the spot he ordered
even though it was dark
she could make out his entire features
the hardline of his face as he focused on the gen
she let her eyes drift and fall on his back muscles
he had taken off his shirt to allow himself more opulence while working
when Muna wears a top from the outside he looks like a skinny boy that could break into two with a little force
she wondered where this muscles then came from as he was shirtless
she heard him sigh
he looked over his shoulder and said
“Hhh,,sonia I’m not the one that needs fixing,,,it is the gen,,,pls kindly point that thing towards it..and not me”
she flinched again as she adjusted
she got so carried away that
she didn’t notice that the light was now on him
and not the gen
she stuttered
“ohh,,sorry,,I,,I was ,I mean,,I wasn’t to,,,I mean,,,pooh!,,,never mind”
she decided to just keep shut
*what exactly is wrong with me*
she thought
she stared blankly for a while and watched in silent as he worked
she soon relaxed at the sound of clinging of tools and his harmonouis whistling
but soon again
sonia flinched
as Muna suddenly got up from his crouching position and walked towards her with all seriousness
she took a few nervous steps backwards but he kept coming
“whah. ,, what are you-”
her back soon reached the wall and Muna came directly infront of her
her heartrate increased
as his face came closer
and one arm stretched to the other side of the wall
she felt dissappearing
but there is no such thing at this moment
her shaky hands dropped the torch to the floor
Muna brought his face closer and said simply
“hey!,,,will you be cool?”
she blinked as she saw his hand turn on the switch behind her
she relaxed as he went back to work
all he wanted to do was test the switch to determine the passage of current
and she was killing herself for no reason
sonia thud her head against the wall
*what is wrong with me*
she asked again
but then again she blamed her mom
as she sarcastically thought
*thanks mom,,,thanks a lot,,,I see you’re interested in giving your only daughter a heart attack*
they continued
sonia focused on remaining calm as she tried steadying her torch properly
*just,,,one simple thing,,just hold torch,,you’re acting like a jellyfish,,,this the first time you’re are seeing him huh*
sonia childed herself
although she couldn’t remember the last time she saw him shirtless
*sheesh*
she brushed off the idea
she heard ringing from the empty board by the wall
*who’s phone was that*
she thought
Muna looked up then said
“ooh,,quick!,,help me pick it”
she seemed dumbfounded
“I should pick up your call?”
she asked trying to make sure she heard right
Muna scrunched his eyebrows as he turned and faced her
“would you prefer I touch it with these hands”
he showed her his hands blackened from touching too much engine juice
well that sounded rational
she thought as she took the phone and swiped it open without checking the caller ID properly
..
it was like she thought
she had expected this from the start
halima just stared blankly as timi’s mom accused her
“you s–t,,,do you think I’ll believe you if you make up stories about my son”
even his dad,,the principal wasn’t helping matters as he kept saying
“,but halima you shouldn’t tell lies on people like this,,,I thought your parent trained you better than that”
her eyes drifted to a corner and she saw timi smirking at her
he had warned her not to try anything like this
but she thought perhaps maybe his parents weren’t so irrational
she couldn’t take anymore insults from the woman
with teary eyes she left the spot and ran to her room
she buried her head in her hands and sobbed silently
at this moment she wished she could be home
but home wasn’t available
so many thoughts ran through her head
she felt wronged
she felt hurt
she felt confused
she had needed to receive counsrlling
she had to talk to someone
then she remembered vividly
he had told her,,that if there was anything she needed to say
he would be there to hear
she picked up her phone
from the counter and
with shaky fingers she punched in muna’s number
she sniffed as she waited for the line to connect
after a while
it got received
and she heard the hello from the other side …
••
(P.s,,,that above phrase was not intentional)
