19 We'll always have the fried chicken.

Chapter 19

I remember back in my final high school year. I would hang out at school till 8 for extra classes and whenever Mutaq would see me come for class once in a while, he would leave a bucket of fried chicken near my locker.

He hardly spoke to me in class, all he did was listen and watch and it feels exactly the same now. Of course, being that I'm the one who's watching. He promised to be just a good as me one day, but clearly, he has surpassed me. I still see the young enthusiastic boy who would run to class carrying my bag and make sure he'd bring me a coffee during our high school training.

My injury was intense so intense that I had to leave karate. My entire knee was shattered, they told me I would never be able to do sports again.

I was on physiotherapy for 3 years and recovered fully during my first year at University. I never thought about going back, my parents knew that on the competition day, the day of my knee failure, I had received terrible news from my doctor...i was to blame for my shattered knee and a messed-up future.

Not only did I have to battle saying goodbye to a sport that made me feel alive, but I also had to give up a piece of me. The knee injury did not hurt as much as turning my back away from what I loved.

It's funny how today, I check my knee before every class. It feels strange walking onto a mat and pretending like the fear of it possibly happening again doesn't exist. I do not want to toot my own horn but I think I'm quite courageous.

" Nura we need you,"

" on my way."

"Okay class, standing here before you are our newly graduated sensei's. Sensei Hana and sensei James," that was the only English part and, after that, I completely blanked out from all the Japanese. They were the two who would usually take over the class, the one who knew zero English and our human translator…oddly he spent a lot of time with Ameera.

" Ameera, we going to head out. You look a little occupied so you'll catch up later," I wink at her sneaking out.

" did you have to make it that obvious?" Yacob asked grabbing our bags.

" well, I think he's cute. And she's pretty. And they would make a pretty cute couple okay."

" haram (forbidden) in it's rawest version. Either way, I won't be going with you guys either. I have a few stuff to catch up with."

" no problem, I and Mutaq will get going then."

We left the dojo that very night. I had finally received my motorbike so I rode off in that with Mutaq awkwardly seated at the back. It was late at night and the city was beautiful, the streets were light up, and the stalls we full of people, there were lanterns everywhere, and the street crowd was buzzing happily.

I missed Zafar, I bet if he were here, he would have made it more enjoyable, he would have said something stupid and we would have picked on each other.

I have not been able to contact him since I arrived, the connection at the dojo is terrible but we set a date for this weekend. I would go to an internet café to have a video call with him. At least that was the last text I received from him.

We arrived at our new favorite restaurant, they had the best sushi. Fish was the most halaal ( permitted) food that we ate since we were getting to know the place.

Ameera said she won't be joining us that night so we were left to enjoy that night on our own. Something I tried to avoid for Zafar's sake. We had our food and on our way home met trouble. Silly me did not know which roads not to cross. We bumped into a few trouble makers who tried mugging us I handed them my wallet Mutaq as well.

The first rule when it comes to self-defense is to listen to their demands and avoid conflict... and if it gets tense get rid of the weapon then defend yourself.

They were armed, and Mutaq showed no concern at all. I was a little nervous, and afraid of what could happen to us for restraing ourselves.

They took our stuff and grabbed me. I smiled with my hands held by two men to be exact. Before I could do anything I saw Mutaq flip. A flying kick to the faces of the men standing there, and a quick disarm. he broke the arm of the guns men and I stunned the surrounding men, we quickly grabbed our stuff and took off on my motorcycle.

I laughed arriving at his campus.

" if you fought like that in class, people wouldn't mess with you."

He grabbed his bag a smiled, " well, I can't show them all my tricks now."

" true," I say before touching his face. There was a bruise near in his mouth.

" make sure you put some ice on it, I'll being some ointment to you tomorrow."

He touched his face surprised, " I didn't even feel it. Thank you. You should get going before you bump into another thug again."

" great idea, I need to pick up Ameera as well. See you then and it's my treat next time."

I left after seeing him off, it felt strange having someone protect me. Growing up it's always been the other way round. We would get in trouble and I would do my best to keep everyone around me safe, but tonight I was the one being kept safe.

" Ameera, are you going to explain your relationship with that sensei or not?"

" for the last time, he just needed a sparring partner."

" for an entire week, let alone he should be sparing with the men in his class Or that cold-blooded female sensei."

" Nura, I'm telling you. I have no interest in him whatsoever. He's not my type."

" Then what is your type?"

" Mutaq."

" that's a straight forward answer. And I saw you treat him different from Yacob."

" I didn't say I like him. He's just my type, " she said tossing a pillow at me.

" that blush says it all."

" shut up, and sleep."

" Mutaq and Ameera sitting in a tree…"

"don't you dare," she said standing up starting a pillow fight till we were told to shut up by the dorm keeper.