12 Shielding Sheet

I wake up early in the morning and hastily get out of my home. It's a bit suffocating to be at home. Cairo is still roaming around the house in a lackadaisical manner. Just because he got dumped. I think it's his first time and I just can't tolerate it. My parents decided not to converse much. Is this some kind of punishment? I don't know.

I go directly to the shooting range. I have nowhere else to go. I want to take out my frustration. Something has been bothering me for a while and I can't really get to know what exactly it is.

I start practicing trying to hit my target with concentration. I see someone in the next booth from my peripheral vision. Someone who is a few inches taller than me. I focus on my Revolver instead of that girl. I keep losing my target. My frustration grows and I just tilt my head slightly to the side to get a better view of her.

She has colored her hair in ombre shade. It starts with lavender on the top and blends with purple in the end. She is dressed in plum. In all honesty, The color suits her. But nobody asked her to get dipped in the same shade and walk around like this. She has literally dyed everything in the same color from her shoes to her phone case.

I recognize her as Enz's girlfriend - Amber Periwinkle. I have seen her a few times in this academy. Quite popular since she is the Golden-marker's girlfriend. Such a shame! She can't even hold the shotgun in her hand properly. It irritates me when someone can't handle a gun and position it correctly. Why is she here in an unsupervised session instead of introductory?

She taps on the glass panel a few times. I look at her with no interest. She folds her hand and just points her thumb out at the door. She mouths " Let's talk " and walks out. I walk behind her silently. We stand out in the bitter cold winter air. She tucks her windblown hair behind her ears. She looks at me in an inquisitive manner. Well, she called me out.

After what seemed like hours, She opens her mouth " Just stay away from her. I hope the message is clear. If you harm her you won't live to see the next second of your life. She is already facing a lot. Just leave her alone" she is literally pleading.

"I'm telling this in a kind manner because you helped Enz find me the other day. Or else I would have let him deal with you" she finishes.

"Who?" Is my only question. I have no clue what she is talking about.

"I'm talking about Nahla Adyan. You were pointing your revolver at me the other day." She says each and every word as slowly as possible. I understand but I can't wrap my head about it. "You are the man who followed her ?" I ask her totally perplexed.

"Who- What ?" She questions back.

"Never mind" I tell her and take a moment to think.

" I never caused any harm" I voice out my thought.

" Just don't even think of causing her anything." She says it loudly.

" Who are you? " I ask her finally. I never talked to this girl before. I and Amber have nothing to do with each other.

" I'm her friend and I'm trying to protect her" she says pointing to herself.

Why so many people need protection? What am I to them, A Shielding Sheet?

Feel like shit.

"Okay! I mean no harm to your friend. I just had the same thought in my head. She needs protection. I'll gladly help her" I tell her in all honesty.

She suddenly hugs me and I just stand there awkwardly. I'm not good at hugging people. Random strangers are a big NO-NO when it comes to hugging.

I pat her back and she let me go.

"Then it's settled. See you around. I'm so glad I ran into you. You seem cool " she waves and leaves.

I stand there all by myself.

Nahla Adyan , A beautiful name. I wish I could get to know her better. I wish I could break all her insecurities. So, That she could roam around free. Nobody should feel like they are caged by anyone. Someday I will get to meet her and who knows we could even become friends and hang around.

I get back home after an hour. Cairo still looks like that. I sit next to him in the coach.

"You wanna talk about it ?" I lace my words with concern. But all I wanna do is laugh at his sorry face.

"Let it out. Don't hold yourself too much." As soon as all those words escape his mouth, I burst out laughing. I roll to the sides just to annoy him. He takes hold of both of my arms and shakes it violently.

"What part of it is so funny ? " he keeps shaking me back and forth.

"Aaah your face." I tell him. I feel like I'm going to barf any second now.

"Stop is Cairo" I push his hands away.

"Tell me what happened." I can't control my curiosity anymore.

"Tell me with all the details" I excitedly get up from the coach and sprint to the kitchen to get some snacks. I want some candies, cookies, and cakes. I sprint back to the couch " SPILL THE BEANS" I scream.

" let the cat out of the bagggg" I scream again. Before I could go on with another one. Cairo takes a piece of cake and stuffs it in my mouth.

"This is definitely not going to be a piece of cake for me" he says and laughs.

"Okay! To begin with, She said no. Well, she was able to see my intentions from half a mile away. That's exactly what she told me and I felt disgusted." While he was narrating all of that. I sat there munching random chips and cookies together while nodding my head too much unnecessarily.

"The interesting fact is that - she is a divorcee" He says and sighs. Suddenly I've lost my appetite. I stare and at him speechless. He is on his verge of tears. I take a closer look at him. He pushes me a bit and walks out of the house. I follow him I have to make sure he is fine. He trudges his way through the night lane on cold winter night. He is wearing just a hoodie which is not enough. He is the real survivor without any shield...