20 One more time please.

Chapter 20

I took out my best shirt, gelled my hair, and for the first time since arriving on campus tidied up the mess in the dorm. I light a few candles and sat in front of my computer scrolling through her social media.

An hour later my laptop light up with a video call notification. Before answering, I took a few breaths in, giving myself a pep talk. I could feel the butterflies misbehave in my tummy, it felt like a mysterious first date.

" took you a while to answer is the network okay?" She asked touching the camera of her laptop.

"Everything is perfectly fine, how have you been? How's the class? The food? Have you made any new friends?"

"Woah one question at a time, if I knew that you would've missed me this much I would've signed you up for school here."

" I wish, and yes I miss you like crazy…"

" Ha knew it, " we were interrupted by my roommate who came out of the shower looking for toothpaste I slapped my forehead pointing to the kitchen, I watched Nura hold in her laughter, as she ate the snacks placed near her.

" Zafar I'll call you next time, I have class in an hour and lunch just arrived Asalamualikum mwah!"

" walikumsalam, reply to my texts okay!"

"jee, " she said ending the call.

I felt a peace inside of me break, we spoke approximately for 10 minutes max.

***

"You didn't tell him about your sprained ankle did you?" Ameera asked

" no, I honestly don't know what to say to him. I feel like if I tell him the slightest bad thing he'd fly over and carry me in his arms to Cuba."

" I don't see how that's a problem. I would die for a hubby like that."

" haha, spare me your fantasy…I already have enough drama after having Mutaq carry me to my dorm from class, people might get the wrong idea."

" I doubt, everyone knows you married and that you and Mutaq grew up together."

" room for two more or is it a private booth?"

" Shut up Yacob you can see there's extra food on the table and two empty chairs," said Ameera smacking his shoulder

" Ameera learn how to be nicer." He said sticking his tongue out at her

" Hey Mutaq over here!" she said waving towards him, pointing at the chair next to her which Yacob sat at immediately just to annoy her.

She stepped onto his toe before glaring at him until Mutaq arrived.

Everyone began eating and for the first time, there was silence at the table. It was the quietest meal we've had since arriving in Japan.

Class wasn't easy with an almost broken ankle, I was given zero special attention….except from mutaq of course, who didn't rest for a moment whenever I was around.

It made me feel guilty and during my video calls with Zafar, I could hardly look him in the eye or pay attention to him, let alone feeling like I made Mutaqs life more difficult than it already is. The male's training was ten times more intense than the female's, and with him being my unwanted personal butler he looked ten times tired than every male there.

" Ameera, you need to remove mutaqs attention from me, I'm starting to get weird looks from everyone."

" Just drink your water and relax, as long as you know that you're not doing what they think you're doing, you'll be perfectly fine."

" I guess, I miss Zafar a lot. I wish he was the one taking care of me honestly."

" Nura it's funny how you don't notice that you rub salt into my single wounds every time you talk about your love life."

" shush and help me up," I say shoving her to the side.

~ a man who has no eyes for anyone else~

" wait Atiq who now?" I asked my roommate Saif trying to read my book.

"Atiq the really smart senior who's extremely gorgeous!"

" what about her, didn't you say you wanted to ask her out or whatever?"

"yes I did, but that's not the point today, she said she wants to see you."

"why, it's not like I know her?" I ask annoyed

" do it for me bruh, just go up to her…but make sure that you put in a good word for me…shes doing surgery just like me."

"so she's your senior, not mine?"

"I guess, anyway don't keep her waiting hurry up.

" Okay then," I say as he pushes me out the door

I was a little annoyed by him doing this every single time like I signed up to flirt on his behalf.

Later that day I visited the so-called beautiful genius, confused at her sudden request to meet up with me. Especially since we are in different majors. She was alone in the science lab.

She handed me a coat a pair of gloves and a mask. Confused I place everything on the counter near the tools.

" asalamualikum senior."

"walikumsalam," she replied sternly

" may I ask what exactly are your intentions, you have the entire school buzzing about the top junior graduate meeting up with the gorgeous senior."

She took her mask off and placed her coat on the counter near mine, " I just wanted a new lab partner nothing more."

" you've got the wrong guy, I'm doing cardiology….but my friend Saif would be a good fit, " I say handing her his number.

She took her gloves off accepting the number from me. I watched her take slow steps towards me. She then pulled me towards her with my collar, I rolled my eyes as she attempted to continue seducing me.

" so you don't want to be my lab partner? I mean a doctor is a doctor," she said whispering in my ear

I take a few steps back resting my arm on the counter, " as much as I would love to, it doesn't even look like we'll be doing much school work, " I say sarcastically as I gently pushed her away.

I walked towards the door annoyed, " you shouldn't play with young men's minds just because your beautiful…and respect people's private space, even if I was not married I'd still be disgusted by you."

" your loss!" she said furiously as I left the lab angered.

My mind all clouded up. It was brave of me to reject such a beautiful woman but I still felt guilty about keeping it to myself. From that day onwards I couldn't sleep or eat well, my fear of Nura leaving me suddenly became an engraved thought.