Chapter 6: Rejection

"Ma, you are overreacting. It's just a simple fever."

"You are coughing, and you are telling me it's normal. Have you been soaking for a long time?

"Umm, yeah. It rains a lot here. I soaked in the rain while I was returning from University."

"Oh God, Fahami. You know you're allergic to cold. Why didn't you carry an umbrella with you?"

"Sorry, Ma."

It had been a long since I witnessed Ma caring about me this much. As I told before, ever since Nabil's death, Ma had changed a lot. There's a proverb goes, "Missing someone is a part of loving them. If you're never apart, you'll never really know how strong your love is." Maybe she was feeling her love for me because distance separated us.

"Have you taken the doctor's treatment?" I heard concern in her voice. Just like old times. Like those days when Nabil or I was sick.

I smiled and replied, "No, Ma." I decided to tell truth to hear her concern.

"What? You are having a fever and you didn't go to any doctor? Fahami, did you go there to be careless about yourself?" She sounded frustrated.

"Ma, calm down."

"You will go to a good Doctor and get treatment today, do you understand?" She commanded me harshly although I found it loving.

"Yes, Ma. Ma, I am getting late for my class. I have to go now."

"Okay." She sighed, "Please Fahami, take care of yourself. I will call you at night. Okay?"

"Okay Ma, bye."

"Bye."

"Excuse me, can I get these medicines please?"

I handed the prescription to the pharmacist.

"Sure." She took the prescription with a polite smile.

'You have 20 missed calls from Sharika.'

I frowned when I saw the notification on my phone screen.

'What could have possibly happened that she called me this many times?'

"Miss, here's your medicines." The pharmacist pulled me out of train of thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, thank you." I smiled sheepishly.

Dr. Jiwon was really an excellent Doctor. Today Eunjin took me to Dr. Jiwon. She said Dr. Jiwon was her family doctor. She was very affable. Well, sometimes Eunjin acted as an older sister which was kind of funny and also sweet. She lectured me for 30 minutes for being careless, and she ordered me to always carry an umbrella. She wanted me to stay with her tonight. I felt warmth in my heart cause someone was caring for me after such a long time. I denied her politely and assured her that I would be okay.

I was thinking about Taesung. Today I couldn't stop my mind from thinking about him. How he looked at me yesterday, how he talked, how he was being stubborn, I couldn't stop thinking about these. I was heading to my flat. There wasn't light in 3rd floor's stairs. I had to talk to the owner to fix this. As I was climbing, I could hear bickering.

'Isn't that the voice of the owner? Yes, it is. Why is he yelling?'

"I told you to leave my building if you couldn't pay the rent by yesterday. You couldn't pay. Now, I made my mind. A beggar like you can't pay the rent. It's better you leave my flat immediately." The owner was spiting fire on that poor boy.

"Look, sir. Give me another day. I promise I will pay you tomorrow." Taesung almost pleaded.

"Not a single day anymore. I want to you to get out. Right now." The owner raised his voice.

By the time they finished their conversation I reached to fourth floor. I looked at Taesung's face. Oh, God! He looked so helpless. I saw pleading in his eyes. I had to do something.

"Excuse me, Sir." I wasn't sure what to do.

The owner turned to me and flashed his disgusting smile again, "Oh, Fahami-shi, how are you?"

I smiled in fake politeness, "I am fine, thank you for asking. May I know what's happening here?" I looked at Taesung.

"Oh, it's nothing Fahami-shi," he glanced at Taesung as if he was ready to burn Taesung alive and replied, "This idiot can't pay the rent, and he demands to give him another day. I know he can't pay. Not today, not even tomorrow."

Then his facial expression changed, he tried to chuckle politely which still seemed disgusting to me, and he added, "You don't have to concern Fahami-shi. Why are you bothering to care? Did this idiot Disturbed you?"

He glared at Taesung.

"No, no. Sir, if you don't mind may I pay his rent? For this month at least?" This time I pleaded.

"No." Taesung replied with a deep firm voice.

I didn't notice before that he has a very deep voice.

He gritted his teeth and said, "I already told you I don't want your pity," he glared at me.

The owner looked back and forth at Taesung and me. As if he tried to understand, what was going on. I knew Taesung would deny but the owner wouldn't if he saw the Money. I immediately opened my purse and took out the money. I actually had extra money with me as I went to get treatment from doctor. Luckily I brought a good amount with me. The moment the owner saw money in my hand his eyes started to sparkle. He flashed his smile again.

Taesung almost roared at the owner, "I said, no."

I flinched. He looked beyond angry.

'Why? Why is he so stubborn?'

The manager tried to roar to but that seemed more like a bark.

"And who are you to order me? I want my money. If you can't pay it and Fahami-shi is offering then won't I take it?"

He wiped his hands on his shirt and extended his hands to get the money. I placed the money on his hand. He counted the money and giggled, "Thank you, Fahami-shi. Although I don't know why you helped this filthy boy, anyway it doesn't matter," he turned to Taesung, "You, boy. I want my payment timely from next month."

He again smiled at me and said, "Goodnight, Fahami-shi. Take care of yourself."

I just gave him a formal smile in return. He went down the stairs. I looked at Taesung and found him staring at me angrily. He then rushed to his door, got inside and slammed the door with a loud thud.

I stared at his door and sighed. I walked to my flat. I knew he must be angry. But what could I do? If I didn't pay his rent, the owner would have thrown him out. Would Taesung prefer to sleep on street? Why was he so angry? I was changing my clothes and wearing my night PJ. Right that moment I heard a knock on my door. I had a feeling that it was Taesung.

I walked to my door and opened the door. As soon as I opened the door, Taesung walked into my flat without asking permission. He walked so fast that I had to retreat otherwise our body would hit with each other. He came in and closed my door still facing me. To be honest, I was scared to see his this behavior. He roughly took my right hand and a little scream came out of my mouth. He was really scaring me a lot of now. He looked into my eyes with a boiling anger and placed a chain on my palm. When I looked at it, I saw it's made of gold. I looked at him with a question in my eyes.

"Keep this chain in exchange for your money. Look, ma'am, I already told you, I don't want your pity. Please stay in your limit and stay away from me." He was gritting his teeth and uttering every word angrily.

I looked closer to the chain. The design hinting clearly that it was a female chain. Taesung was still holding my hand a little roughly.

"And may I know this chain belongs to whom?" I looked directly into his eyes.

"That's not your concern." His glare changed into pain in a fraction of time. He instantly pulled him together and glared at me with more anger.

"If you want me to keep it then it's definitely my concern." I gritted my teeth too.

"I am not going to answer your question. You paid the rent for me, and I am paying you for that. That's all."

Stating that he turned to leave but I hold his hand and pulled him towards me.

"Taesung. You don't have to give me this just because I paid for you. If I didn't pay, then he would have thrown you out. Would you prefer to sleep on street rather than staying in your flat?"

"Yes, I would. I will prefer to sleep on street rather than taking any pity from anyone. Specially from you." He replied me roughly.

"Did this chain belong to your mother or sister?" I knew I hit a nerve when I looked in his eyes.

His eyes turned soft. He looked at me like he was in pain and replied, "It belonged to my mother."

The longing that I witnessed in his eyes told me clearly that he loved his mother very much.

I closed my eyes and sighed. "Taesung, I can't keep it. It must be very precious to you." He gulped when I looked at him.

"I know it will be safe with you. And please, for the last time I am telling you, don't feel pity for me. Don't do anything for me. I don't want to be owed to you." This time he was pleading.

He turned away from me and vanished through the door. Leaving me in complete shock and a gold chain in my hand.