Pass me your plate!

Chapter 6

I wasn't happy about Owais telling me that I was still wanted on the schools' team. It just didn't sit well with me, that world was filled with much black and white…much sadness. I do agree that it's something that brought me joy at once..but not anymore.

"Mom, I think I'm going to sign up for a short course at the university?"

"How short?" She asked

"2 to 3 years…marketing."

"You want to…do theory?

"But, how you've never studied before.."

"I want to try something new. Something, I never thought I'd be interested in."

"You're an adult Elizah, your father and I won't hold you back. Just know that tennis is going to buy you your dream house one day. A lot of people aren't happy with having to deal with a book every single day, and you have talent. Think carefully I know your coach wants you back, and you have a shot at the national team."

"You're right, I'm really indecisive about it though, let me sleep on it."

She did have a point, I could hardly explain why I lost love for the sport all of a sudden. Life was just mixing me up at this moment, I really wanted to make a decision. Later that day I went for class, then had dinner with sensei Omar as promised. I forgot to take a shower after class today…so I looked whack.

"Are you okay, you've been distant all day?" he asked, passing me a dish

"Jee I'm fine, I`m not too hungry today."

"I see, I know you're an open person…you don't have to pretend around me."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," he said giving all of his attention to me.

"If you had a choice to fulfil your childhood dream over an ambition what would you choose?"

"Childhood dream, of course, I wouldn't want to live in regret forever…besides ambition can be achieved easily you just have to find out why you started in the first place."

"Thank you!" I replied feeding him some of my food before I ate.

"Don't take the bus it's late, I'll drop you off."

"That's not necessary...i know about your situation…by the way, see you at school and thank you!"

I said running off. I choose tennis. The court is my home, my mission now is to learn how to love it again

The following day I arrived at school, to a welcome back party…I thought my comrades hated me but they missed me just as much as I missed them. It was also Omar's first day, I hardly spoke to Owais since he was a teacher and I didn't want him to get into trouble. So all that attention had to go somewhere of course. During lunch I Leached onto him, as he stayed silent, after school, I tugged his hair before leaving for practice. Of course, I suffered during kickboxing class, as he laughed at me for being a weakly.

"Why are you always with that new guy?" one of my comrades asks

"Don't worry," I replied leaving with my racket.

I was late for class that day, so punishment was given to everyone.

"Dinner," he said before locking up

As angry as I was, I had promised him...

"My treat today, I've put you through a lot of suffering lately…"I said pushing his shoulder lightly.

"If you insist, but nothing can make up for your pest behaviour…" he said opening the car door

"If I were you I'd!"

"You'd what?" He asked, " what would you do?"

"I'd... shut up," I said banging the door

"And I'm the short-tempered one?"

We arrived at the place joined by Zakira and Owais…to my surprise did they only join us on the day I said I would be paying. Wait till I kill him for this.

I took the bus that day leaving, it's not like I didn't want a car I just couldn't drive. It was funny how I failed every driving school…and a motorbike was too scary for my liking. I had a bicycle but I was too lazy to use it and at night it was too dark. I arrived home and to my surprise, Saleema was there having a chat with my parents. It was quite late…

I jumped towards her forgetting how sweaty I was, I quickly let go apologising. "It's been ages!"

"Jee, you look beat. We need a spa day."

"Please we do, by the way, we could've met during the day, why'd you come now?"

"I needed to talk to you, I was so busy for the past few days that I missed Zamins farewell, and I heard you've been quite a mess lately?"

"Let's head up, my parents are here…" I said running upstairs with her. "where do I even start…"

"Why didn't you tell me about Zamin?"

"I did, you never replied though…and I heard you had your exams so I couldn't really come over."

"I see…" she said a little upset, "and tennis?"

"Oh…um tennis. I've been off because of my arm. But I'm back, preparing for the national team selection."

"I'm happy for you…I hope you get the post."

"Are you sure your okay, you still haven't told Zamin about your feelings?"

"He doesn't have to know, I just want him to be happy. I purposely ignore outings when he's around."

"Well, that's a new one. Let me tell you a little about kickboxing…"

Our conversation went on for hours, till one of us dozed off. She left in the morning after breakfast and I was late for class on that day. Being late has become such a norm for me now that I don't find it okay to be on time anymore. After a while, Owais sneaked away and we had lunch at the cafeteria. Of course, we always got stares, but it didn't bother me. I knew that we were just friends having lunch, we were joined by Omar later. I passed over my student card to him

"Are you sure you'll be full after that?" I say picking his tray up as I went to grab him a heavier meal, " a man of your size should eat well."

"That wasn't necessary," he said

"Why, is there a problem if I buy you food. You've been buying me dinner every day… it's just me returning the favour," I said leaving the both of them

I really couldn't understand him and his on and off emotions.