Chapter 12- Heart ache

"Why haven't you been speaking to Zain for the past few weeks?" my mother asked placing her smoothie bowl onto the kitchen counter and taking a seat across from me. It had been ages since she sat in front of me asking for an update on my life. I took another nibble of my cereal thinking about how not to make myself look petty.

"He's been busy, he has debate, physics, his career and now is a scholarship holder. I don't want to bother him."

"Fair enough, on the other hand, I want you to see him before we have the company event. He has been aiding the planning."

"Why didn't you ask for my help?"

"You`re adjusting to a new environment, besides you never assisted in the past."

"Unlike Zain, my mother is barely around…" I snapped

"If you had a father, it wouldn't be the way it is and you know it. Speaking of fathers… it's not like you knew him well enough to understand that your destiny was headed in this direction with or without him around."

"I apologise for that statement, it wasn't rude of me."

"It`s all the free time your course is giving you, find a hobby before I find one for you."

She left the table. Angered obviously, now I understand why we don't talk much. I arrived at Zain's house, his mother laying a kiss on my forehead. He arrived, freshly showered and towelling off, I rolled my eyes approaching him. His mother then left the living room.

"I need the plan, my mother sent me."

"I`ll have my mother bring it over."

"I`m already here so just give it to me…"

"Stop picking on Qadira!" his mother yelled from the garden

"Follow me," he said walking toward the office in his house

We went passed it and over to his room. Arriving I was hit by one of the most heartbreaking memories, this room was the first place I had fallen in love with science.

"Before I give it to you, why did you leave?"

"Can I just have the paper I don't owe you any explanation?"

"Answer me Qadira."

"Many answers are needed…"

he closed his door, pinning me to it. "We have time."

I froze for a moment. What was it that made me feel so weak in the knees, was it because of that ridiculous kiss, I wasn't even strong enough to push him away.

"Please…move away. I feel very uncomfortable right now," I said trying not to touch him

He backed up rolled the plan up and placed it into his pocket.

"I really don't want to talk to you, I feel like you already have the answers you are simply choosing to deny them."

He smiled folding his arms. "Sure."

I approached him trying to grab the document, but he caught my hand. When had he become so strong, and why did I have this terrible knot in my belly whenever he touched me… "If you want to be childish, then facing my mother's wrath is way better than having to constantly battle with you…I have better things to do."

"If you say so," he said taking a seat

"Zains mom, he does-" he covered my mouth giving me the document

"Why I`m trying to say is stop giving me the cold shoulder."

"Zain…I no longer want to be friends with you. Nor do I want an apology. I simply wish to live in peace away from you so, please…I`m only here for what my mother sent me for."

He smiled placing a piece of gum into his mouth. "Fine…"

It wasn't fine, whenever he had gum in his mouth. He was never fine. I took the document leaving the room, and before heading home I helped his mother prepare dinner and took some of the dishes back home. I handed my mother the document and buried myself in bed for the rest of the afternoon, soothing my sore heart with a tub of ice cream.

It rained that evening. And memories of me splashing in the rain with the heartless Zain came flooding through my mind. I picked up one of the books for the new subjects I had been introduced to and began reading it, and for hours I was mesmerised by the value it had. It spoke of human behaviour and actually had knowledge that would prove beneficial to my future. So I spent the rest of the night distracting myself and managed to cover most of the content I had missed. The next day at school I joined Yusra`s trivia game, she would have one every morning before class began. Today I was the one who won a free breakfast. Zayd arrived and settled the class down. He was the class representative for our class. He barely shut us unless it was important. He announced the upcoming spring break and the assignments needed before then. In fact on this side of the world, it was either you do it yourself or get left behind. Teachers didn't bother much to control students they merely provided guidance.

"You look worn out, is everything alright?" Zayd asked placing a chair next to me

"I`m good, I was up all night going through the geography and tourism books."

"Why do you have almost 3 more subjects than we do…"

"Punishment and compensation. They want me to feel pressured enough to do science again."

"If I were you, I would've left."

"I`m not going back, ever."

"I hope so."

Classes ended and I stayed behind. Flipping through the pages I read half of what was required and made my way to the cafeterias vending machine.

"Coke?" Raees asked as he pressed the buttons for me

"How`d you know?"

"A businessman always has to be analytical…

"Can you do me a favour…can you please tell the others that I`ll be leaving soon."

"Why me…they would hate me for taking your last goodbye."

"They won't. I have to leave today that's the thing, my dad needs me. I`ll be back at school next year. Tell Yusra not to miss me to much."

"I`ll try," I said taking the Coke

"Don't forget…"

He ran toward the limo waiting for him.

I stared for a while. How did these people manage…some of them don't even need school. They`re merely complying with societal expectations.

"That isn't good for your figure…"

"I don't model anymore I can eat and drink whatever I want to," I said turning to the figure behind me

I sighed trying to walk past him but he caught my arm pulling me toward the vending machine. "Let go of me…" I said looking into his eyes

Zayd walked by pulling me away from him. We left without saying anything.

"You came back?"

"Yes because you forgot about our training session."

"Can we make it at night…"

"Sure. Why was he holding your hand I thought you guys broke up?"

"For the last time, we did not date!"

He laughed handing me a packet of food, "Take. You didn't eat today."

"You don't have to take care of me Zayd…" I said

My heart. It had been touched by his compassion.

"Looks like you had already forgotten the first rule," he said poking my forehead

I smiled taking it. We stayed for a few more hours studying and later picked up my bike. We raced for hours and then he agreed to expand our practice hours. Eventually I myself would add my own practice hours.