I have feelings too

Chapter 29

The box had my first karate belt in it, It was a hand me down to him. I can’t believe that he kept it for so many years, after the teary moment, I heard yelling in the dojo. Speak about an amazing second week.

It was Yacob and boy was he furious. He held onto the Japanese sensei James who was standing beside Ameera, she tried to calm him down but eventually, a fight broke out. Yacob wasn’t a fighter but a fight between two karatekas will always be Interesting and bloody. After a few bruises and hits, Mutaq could finally stop the fight with a few of the men in the dojo, even I know when to draw the line. They went in for mediation while mutaq walked over to his locker to grab a plaster. I handed him an ice bag for his blue eye.

I then left the room and waited for the three of them to come out. I tended to both of their wounds before the Japanese sensei left. Yacob sat there with an almost broken arm and a mouth full of blood. I laughed before asking him what happened.

“ I like how you find this funny, ” he said frowning, I then looked at Ameera’s worried face before deciding to give them some space.

I brought water to Mutaq.

“Sensei’s so going to punish everyone now.”

“ Tell me something I don’t know,” he said before the sensei walked in

It was a terrible class, I could hardly walk after. I left the love birds alone before checking in with Elham, after that I had lunch alone before going to a newly funded art studio nearby.

I bought a few pieces of painted nature scenery and sent it back home as a gift..even if I knew I could do better.

“ don’t you think the lines are too rough and scaly on this one in particular?” I asked pointing towards the painting

“ How so?” the man beside me asked folding his arms

“ well, to be more precise...the artist was trying to paint a portrait of a field of flowers but the way he did it made the flowers look too artificial, for example, the detailing in the grass.”

He looked towards me taking off his mask, “ I see it now, what’s your name if I may ask?”

“ I’m Nura, ” I say smiling, “ and you?”

“ the owner of the painting,”

I felt my soul leave my body.

“ would you like to work part-time here? Your advice is very on point. I thought I was the only one who saw it.”

“ you want me to work here?” I say confused

“ yes, I mean as my assistant…only for a few hours daily. I can see you're dressed in your karate pajamas..so you must be one of those exchange students, ” he said handing me a card. “ call me and let me know…I don’t care if you're not qualified. We can educate each other.”

He then left, I held the business card in my hand. Speak about luck…and my parents told me that I was wasting my time. I left the studio and rushed over for dinner.

“ what took you so long?” Ameera said waving towards me, ” the foods getting cold.”

I ran over taking off my gloves, “ sorry I’m just so obsessed with that new studio down the road.”

“ We can see, tell us later. After today’s class, I need millions of potions of food.”

We joked over dinner before walking to the bus station since we were more familiar with the area. Ameera was still behaving out of character…even if everything was solved between her and Yacob…

“ you know you can tell me right, ” I say paying for her ticket.

“It’s nothing…” she said taking her seat.

Looks like I’ll have to mind my own business, the next few months went by, with nothing interesting happening or any drama…

I arrived home looking for my keys but couldn’t find them, I looked for the spare under the rug near the door. I ended up picking up a little wrapped box

It looked beat, the box had my name on it, after opening the door with my spare key I walked in setting my bag on the kitchen counter…the wrapper was a little muddy.

I sat down observing it before tearing the wrapper aggressively, it was a picture of me and Zafar on our first day at primary, there was a note at the back of it. After reading the cheesy words behind it I found my eyes watery.

‘ remember when we shared your mom's famous fish fingers on the first day, and on the last we shared mine…maybe I need some time to understand you, the new you. See you soon.’

I took out my keys, starting the engine of my bike. I couldn’t ride it, I had no strength in me…so I decided to take a walk instead, I found Mutaq and Ameera on my way there. Ameera rushed home to change. I sat with Mutaq near the bus stop.

“ are you okay?” he asked folding his arms

I wasn’t one to cry in front of people, but for some reason, those words turned me into an emotional wreck. I couldn’t even understand the words blabbered in that state, Ameera arrived and took me into her arms, holding me tightly as I used her sweater as a tissue, after being calmed we went over to get some food.

I was so confused about the relationship between me and Zafar, I had no idea as to where we were going with our on and of behavior. Whoever said being with someone is easy, was probably a pathological liar.