You got a little something there

Chapter 18

~Zafar's dark side~

" How have you been," she asked…

She asked as if nothing had happened between us, as if she had not done what she had 10years ago.

"Perfectly fine thank you for asking," I muttered trying to get out of her way.

She grabbed my arm and walked in front of me. " Great…why didn't you invite me to your wedding?"

" were you even going to come?

"I invited you to almost everything but you never showed up…so I saved you the trouble."

She stood there watching me when suddenly I felt a hot piping slap across my face. Is this how you greet your son after so many years, is this how you treat him. Nura appeared out of nowhere a caused a scene of her own, a scene that was difficult to watch but, I was deeply grateful for it.

There wasn't much to say about my parents' divorce, it was peaceful and mutual. He gave her what she asked for and she did what was told to, I could not complain. I was okay with it…they already gave me a good childhood, but she just disappeared…no calls, no messages, nothing...that was not the reason as to why I despised her so much though.

She was my mother but I hated her with everything on the inside of me.

While she was divorcing my father she would torture me every single day, but that I didn't mind as well. Yes, I didn't mind having burses all over my body from the abuse I received, or the remarks that she would make to break me.

Your mothers suppose to be this safe blanket, your home, the biggest strength you have throughout your life...your first purpose after Allah, I was hurt...hurt that I had to watch other children grow up in the arms of the woman who effortlessly took care of them, not that my stepmother was a bad person...my love for it mother was what hurt me the most.

~New year's eve~

" Why would you behave in such a manner in front of everyone?"

" I apologize…are you done, may I leave?" I ask looking into her eyes

" Zafar just hear me out okay."

" Mrs. Jamel, there is nothing between us, thus no reason for me to listen to you. So please respect my time," I was on my way downstairs.

" I'm sorry okay! Is that what you want to hear? I apologize for everything I've done to you up until this very day. Zafar, please don't turn your back on me, I need you."

" That's where your wrong, I'll never turn my back on you. I know how much damage it can cause someone. What I'm doing is allowing you to live your own life peacefully. Have you not remarried, started your own family? Focus on them now. I'm leaving."

It was a difficult thing to do, pretending as if I didn't want to hug her when she said those words, acting coldly towards the woman who had carried me for 9months, then gave birth to me. It hurt me more than it hurt her. There's a saying " we are sad when the sun sets, knowing that it will rise again tomorrow..." That's how I felt throughout my childhood, it's how I felt, everyday waiting for her, but she refused to realize that It broke me until I choose not to let it get to me anymore.

"The ticket please."

" Here you go."

" Get on the plane, it's about to leave sir."

" thank you, "I say taking one more look back at my childhood playground.

The plane took off, I had zero time to fix the brokenness between my mother and I. A future heart surgeon is about to be made for the next few years. I shifted my focus, I wanted to live out my dream with or without her. Maintaining a relationship with my wife won't be easy, but I know that on my side, she's all that I want and nothing more.

~ Nuras Japan adventure~

Those movies with all those martial arts stars know exactly what it's like to be here today, sweat and blood dripping from your body the majority of the time. It was nothing compared to what I did at my previous dojo. Ameera was a pure talent, she hardly complained or got as injured as I did, How do you compete with that? Since I arrived I hardly had the time to contact Zafar. I'm either sleeping, eating, or training. Mutaq helps as much as he can but the training is even worse for the men. All I know is that things are not going to be easy.

It's hardly been a week and I can already feel my body giving in. Luckily today is rest day. On weekends we have extra activities, I signed up for yoga and archery. Ameera does sword fighting and Mutaq as well if he doesn't join me for archery and Yacob archery with tichi.

" you game for an outing tonight?" Yacob asked shooting his target.

" sure, where we headed?"

" A famous pancake restaurant"

" dessert at night?"

" I'm sure there will be other food. but pancakes are the main chick tonight!"

" I bet that was your idea, and can you stop turning everything into a dirty joke."

" Never. so you down?"

" sure."

" great," he said packing up

" Okay that's all for today, you're dismissed for the weekend," The instructor said leaving the class.

" Pssst!" i say tossing pebbles towards him

" what?"

"Why don't we invite the sepia's as well?"

" girl, there are not your friend."

" who's not your friend, " he said tapping our shoulders.

" Senpai…Ummm I meant the other classmates, " Yacob said biting his nails.

" shut up, would you like to join us? We going out for some street food and pancakes."

" I would love to, but I'm grading tomorrow so I hardly have any time to spare."

" of course go ahead, you're a busy body I understand."

" I'll join you guys next time!"

We gave our goodbyes as I waited for everyone to finish getting changed then we took a taxi touring around the delicious food stalls.

" wait," he said grabbing a tissue.

He gently patted the cream off my face and continued eating.

"Ouuuu, " everyone yelled.

" Nura honey, aren't you married," Yacob says stealing the last piece of pizza.

" Shut up, we just good friends."

Mutaq would stay silent as usual, I feel like it worsened in Japan. At least he would talk to me when he could when we were still at home.

We wrapped up the night and waited for Monday. Monday was a sparing day where the classes were joint my opponent was some local classmate so heck yeah my skeleton shivered in and out of my skin.

The class went on as usual and I managed to sneak a few points and score a victory obviously Ameera as well. Yacob lost, and Mutaq as well. It was surprising to see Mutaq get hurt during training.

" I'll catch you later," I say after class rushing to Mutaq.

I watched everyone leave the dojo. There's an afternoon class so everyone was out for a two-hour rest.

" Are you okay?"

" hmmm," he said trying to get up.

I looked at him and sat him down with the first aid kit in my hand, " you call this okay?"

I wrapped up his shoulder and sprayed his ankle.

"Done. I'll see you later then."

" wait!" he yelled out to me, standing up.

" yes, " I say before leaving class.

" thank you."

" oh why you thanking me, it's the least that I could do!"

I rushed back to help him walk towards his room before rushing to the girls' dorms saluting him, that was the most I have heard him speak since his arrival.