But I'd remain a woman

Jamal settles Myla in bed and she let out "Thank you"

"Always very polite and looking innocent when helped. Otherwise, you're a drama queen"

Very true

She giggles, but doesn't say anything. You know that feeling of being caught right in action. You can't lie or pretend. But just stare away from the offended guiltily.

She suddenly remembers what happened out there in the field and decides to apologize "Um . . . Jamal?"

He squats next to her "Mm"

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I didn't know your cultural rules"

He looks at her with no emotion registered on his face; just the same straight profile of earlier.

"Did I or anyone approach you of being responsible?"

She shakes her head.

"So why apologize over something you didn't do?"

She's silent.

"Is there anything you'd have to get before I leave? You shouldn't strain this leg until sometime"

"My pajama. But how will I go to the toilet if I need to relief myself?"

"Before then you'd be able to walk a little and have your bath. Just rest here" he springs up from the bed and searches for her cloth.

He returns with it and hands it to her "I guess I should leave now"

She offers a half grin towards his direction, the innocent one of course. "Good night. And thanks once again"

"Same to you but don't EVER mention it" He says walking off then yells over his shoulder, "I meant it!"

She smiles and struggles to change in bed before sleeping.

...

Myla made sure to wake up early. She takes her bath and parades the house. Her ankles are better and strong. She can't feel the pain anymore.

She walks past a hall, classic music playing from inside. As inquisitive as she gets with every little thing, she steps closer to the door separating her space and exposing another. The door is slightly closed.

But when she peeps through and the door is thrust open. She flinches as a huge, toned and sportive being comes in view.

She can't see his face from her angle since he's taller. She hangs her head and Jamal is staring down at her, his towel across his neck as he wipes drips of sweat from his dark curly hair.

His body is muscular and she can now confirm how strong he felt when she was over him yesterday. His veins are so visible and his abs . . . men—those abs are lifesavers.

She gulps "Wrong room" she spins on her toes and disappears awkwardly, not waiting for him to say a word.

She remembers once in the kitchen that she didn't tell him 'Good morning'. She mentally face-palm herself. How can she be so uneducated after going to school?

Mrs. Mehdi, she and Patricia, make breakfast and before they are through, someone has already taken his seat on the dining.

Myla comes forward with a bowl of soup and fruits. She places them on the table and says "Already on the dining as usual. Big baby"

He narrows his eyes towards her from his cellphone. He didn't notice she was standing here.

"Weren't you taught how to greet?"

Exactly what she hates to hear. No one likes to be told something they know they should do. And not everyone will keep away their pride and correct their mistakes. Well, Myla will not mind doing that towards anyone. But as far as Jamal is concerned, she turns to be the worse of her.

"If you greeted me, will your name change?"

She adds "Isn't it a way of teaching someone who hasn't been taught how to greet, to greet?"

He sinks into his chair, admiring her but making sure she doesn't see. She slips one cheery into her mouth from the bowl of fruits.

"You don't eat from the dish when everyone is not on the table"

"This is to let you know that, no matter what, you're just a man. But I'd remain a woman"

She laughs and walks away. He is voiceless. He didn't see this coming.

...

Myla finally returns into her niche. Her friends come all at once to hug her like puppies missing their mistress.

"You've never been so long in any of your conferences. But you stayed in somebody's house for two days!" Tiffy is dictating

"I know right. She didn't even tell us she had a boyfriend" Brehilda teases and Myla is confused.

"What boyfriend?"

"The one who answered your call when we kept ringing your phone" Eliz confesses.

"He did what? He answered me call!" Myla is not pleased. That's interfering in her personal life.

"Yeah . . . what's up with the face? Maybe he was fed up trying to ignore us while you slept. Or maybe he just didn't want to wake you up" Eliz explains.

"He was not supposed to. It was better he put it on silence" she walks and settles on one of the gray couches.

Brehilda sits next to her and says "We were sick worried about you. If he didn't respond, we could've driven all the way to get you out of that house. All he did was putting him self in our shoes before answering your call. He did the right thing. You know we don't know you for someone who sleeps over at someone's house. What were you expecting us to do? Fold our arms?"

She looks at her friends quietly. They are right. He was right. She's not supposed to be mad at him. He had no choice. And she knows her friends so well. They must've called and called, nonstop.

"You've not told us anything about that boy. We need to know what you've been cooking up behind our backs" Tiffy mentions

"You can't hide now. You're no longer over the phone where you'd say, 'We'd talk later. I should hang up now', or 'I've been busy. I'd get to you in an hour', or 'Sorry, something came up. I can't come now'—" Brehilda analyses

She sighs, frustrated. "He's my friends brother, Jamal. Not my boyfriend"

"That's no assurance. Maybe something is going between you two. Why will he be answering your call that late at night or at all if he wasn't next to you?" Eliz interrogates.

"That's because I was—" she can't say drunk. She quickly fetches for something else "Sleeping away from my phone in another room. While he was in bed with his fiancée I guess" her last statement comes out inaudibly.

Her friends her deadly calm, as silence fills their midst. Did she just say fiancée?

"Wait—a minute. Isn't he the one you said was getting engaged?" Brehilda inquires

"Yes, he is" she answers, her voice muffled.

Brehilda blinks her eyes as well as everyone else "So how come he had your phone?" Tiffy questions

"Are you—guys—" Eliz does not complete her statement as Myla responds: "No, we aren't. He's engaged for Gods sake!"

Brehilda notices her friend's expression and manner of talking "Then why are you sad?"

"W-what? What?! Wait—what? No . . . I'm not sad. I-I am normal. So, if you don't mind, I need to go dress up and take off to school"

She wakes up and starts moving towards the stairs, completely ignoring them. Her friends look at each other, greatly befuddled.

...

Myla returns from school, finding Patricia seated on her couch and talking with Tiffy and Brehilda.

"See who's back" Brehilda says and Myla walks towards them.

"You certainly didn't see the message I sent to you." Her friend adds and Patricia stands to hug her while Tiffy does the same from behind.

"What brings you here? I hope all is well?"

"Yep. I just came to see you. And also tell you how Ja—"

She cuts into her words immediately "How's mom?"

Patricia just understands what she just did so she doesn't bring it up. "Mom is great. She asked about you"

Myla is flabbergasted. She didn't know her mom, will think of her after her departure. Not after the embarrassment she brought into their house. It's true that it wasn't her fault but if she didn't try to stop Jamal from scoring, she won't have gotten hurt.

To be continued...