Chapter 29- 17!

Chapter 29 – 17!

My debut went insanely viral, which allowed me to get many acting jobs. The movie’s female lead had arrived, and I almost punched myself. It was Layla… I laughed to myself, praying that she was a mere stunt double. The thought of having to spend more than six months with her filming gave me no hope… of finishing the movie peacefully.

"This is Layla. She’ll be acting with you," the director said, leaving us alone.

"We meet again," she said with a smile. "Didn’t know you were in the play."

"Nice one…" I replied.

She ran her hand across my chest, drawing herself closer to me. "This is going to be interesting…"

"Very," I said, moving her hand away.

I left her where the director had left us… If I stayed any longer, I would have said very revolting things.

After filming that day, I left without a word. I arrived home, ordered out, and began my revision. Unable to focus, I closed my math textbook, hopped onto my motorcycle, and made my way to Qadira’s place, certain that she was alone. She opened the door dressed in an oversized tee with an avocado mask all over her face. I clicked a picture for old time’s sake before making my way in.

"I just… needed someone to talk to…" I said, taking a seat.

She slapped me with a pillow, threatening to pull my ears out if I didn’t delete the picture. A pizza box sat near her textbooks, along with a few soda cans and burgers.

"It’s deleted," I said.

She smiled, taking a seat and digging into a slice. "You’ve seen me at my worst. I don’t have to hide from you," she said, eating and burping.

I tossed the pillow at her. "Whatever…"

"Is it Layla?"

"If you like her, just do you, man…"

"I find that offensive. She’s not my type… anymore. How did you know?"

"She posted a picture of you not looking, boasting about how she gets to film with you."

I sighed, frustrated. "I’ll deal with that some other time. I came here for something else. Wanna go on a ride?"

"No… I don’t want to get caught by your dumb paparazzi and get called out for having a fake affair with you again," she said, swallowing the last of the slice. "So no…"

"I see where you’re coming from… Sorry for bothering you."

"There is something we can do together," she said, closing her book and bringing over her avocado mask. "Your skin will glow just as time does."

I held her hand away, watching her give me the puppy face. "You look dreadful… but fine…"

She began applying the mask and then steamed my face. She then took out her phone, snapping a picture of me smiling. "Ha!"

"Delete that!" I yelled, trying to catch her, but she dodged me, running over to the kitchen.

I went after her, but she climbed onto the kitchen table, so I had to grab her by her feet, pulling her back toward me. As I held her, our eyes met, and for that moment, we stopped laughing… I looked at her lips and felt everything around us stop. But she tickled me, rushing away. I eventually gave up, showing her all the ugly pictures I had of her. While arguing over the picture, both our mothers walked in, standing at the door.

After realizing that the door was open, we stopped in our tracks, standing still.

"Is this what you guys are up to when we aren’t around?" Qadira’s mother asked, confused.

"No, it’s a misunderstanding! We don’t even eat together. He only came over today!" she said, waving her hands in denial.

"Mom?" I said, looking at her, confused. "Didn’t you leave?"

"We had an emergency at the original company, so we had to come back," she responded despondently. "I must say, I raised you better than to be playing husband and wife with a teenage girl."

"What’s that supposed to mean?" I asked, angered.

"As a celebrity, I thought you would know your worth… She turns you into someone you aren’t."

Qadira’s mother was silent. Qadira’s face dropped at the statement.

"What… do you mean? I’m happy around her."

"We’ll talk at home," she replied.

I moved away from Qadira. "Take it back," I said. "Or I don’t want anything to do with you."

"Zain!" Qadira yelled, pulling me away. "What are you doing? Apologize!"

"Qadira, let go of the boy. You guys aren’t young anymore," her mother yelled.

She did as she was told, pushing me aside. "Aunty, you don’t need to apologize for anything. I understand that you don’t hold me in high esteem. I won’t bother him again."

She tried leaving, but I pulled her by the hair, dragging her out the door.

I left her outside. "I meant what I said," I retorted as I picked up my keys.

She pulled me by the arm. "What did you just say?"

"Disown me if you will, abandon my contract if you must… but don’t speak to her like that, and certainly do not go around saying anything like that about her. Didn’t you say she’s like a daughter to you? This isn’t how people treat their children."

She smiled. "So you’re going against me for her?"

"Can you hear the things you’re saying? Her mother is your best friend and even comforted you through your bad days… In fact, why are you quiet, Aunty Madeenah?"

"I don’t know Qadira well enough to defend her. I always just believe what your mother tells me because she raised Qadira more than me… I only know things about you because of the media."

"Interesting. And you find no fault in that?" I said, pulling my arm away. "Are you going to apologize?"

She smiled, folding her arms. *"You told me that pride will ruin me, but have you seen what you’ve become? If you won’t disown me, I disown you," I said, shutting the door. Qadira, shaking behind me, slapped my shoulder, asking if I had gone insane. "I can’t see anyone talk to you like that."

"Are you stupid? They’ve always spoken to me like that… Why would they change?"

I stood there, watching her cry, the avocado mask still on her face. We had caused her so much pain over the years, and it was painfully visible. The guards shooed us away from the lawn. I asked if she wanted to come with me, but she shook her head, stating that her mother wouldn’t stay for long.

I held her hand, looking into her eyes. "You deserve way more than a deserted mansion."

"You may think, Zain… that you can give that to me, but it’s like you forget that we are only 17! 17? Why is it so difficult for you to comprehend? I get that we’ve grown up quicker than other kids, but we are still children," she punched me again, taking in a deep breath, her fingers in her hair.

Her mother asked her to come in with me, stating that my mother was leaving anyway, so we should be doing anything rational. She left the house with her head high and mighty. I knew that was irrational, but that gesture meant she had accepted the war declared.

We made our way back into the house, where we washed our faces and sat in the living room, staring at Qadira’s mother. She seemed conflicted.

"If there’s something I should know about the two of you?" she asked, loosening her hair.

"What do you mean?" Qadira asked.

"Are you two lovers?"

"No," she responded, irritated. "What gave you that idea, Mother?"

"Why did Zain—"

"Go against my mother for her? Aunty Madeenah, I don’t need to be in a relationship to protect Qadira."

"You idiot, it’s been a year, and you still haven’t realized it," she said with a frown. "I swear, you will kill us before our time."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Whatever… I’ll speak to your mother… You don’t have to apologize. Qadira, I don’t think you’re a bad influence on Zain. His mother is just struggling to accept his growth and change. Things will be okay."

She stood, walking up to the kitchen where she searched for her cellphone.

"Sleep at Zain’s place. His mother is coming back."

"What?!"

"Mother, what about the media? And he’s a boy…"

"You guys grew up taking baths together—what’s the story now? Just because he’s taller and you’re a tad lady-like doesn’t change that. I don’t want to ask twice."

"Let’s just go. I’ll sleep on the couch," I replied.

She hesitantly got up, placing a mask on so that if we were photographed, she wouldn’t be easily identified.

I eventually got the ride I had asked for earlier.