Chapter 24

As soon as the professor was done speaking, all the students slowly began making their way out of the classroom. I rubbed my temples a bit before also packing up my notes and making my way out of the classroom.

"Laila!" I heard someone call my name as I stopped in my tracks and turned to look behind me. My course mate and friend, Joanne, walked up to me with a warm smile. "You want us to meet up at the café to finish that anatomy project?" She asked, hugging her notes tightly to her chest, her short curly hair with strands falling all over her face.

"Yeah but didn't you say your brother was picking you up today?" I asked. I remembered her telling me something about her brother coming to visit her and now I might finally get the chance to see him.

"Oh it's true! I forgot. But can we actually catch up later?" She asked as we began making our way towards the exit.

"Yeah but I have to inform Kareem first". I said before pulling out my phone from my handbag .

"Okay", Joanne said as she glanced at my phone screen." I mean doesn't he seem a little overprotective, you can't go anywhere without informing him?" She said as we walked through the exit.

I gave her a look." Really? Now I can't even tell the person I'm living with whether I'm going out for a bit?" I said as we found a bench and approached it.

"Okay fine, I admit, maybe you can inform him about going out. But wait, what if we ask Jason to drop us off at the café?" She asks as she turns to face me while I type on my phone. I paused upon hearing what she said.

"Don't you think it'd be better if we just go there by ourselves later. I mean, this is the first time I'm actually meeting your brother?" I said but it sounded more like a question. I wasn't too keen on driving around in her brother's car when I barely even know her brother.

"You don't have to worry about that. Jason is really nice, to people he hasn't met yet ". She said while brushing my back. I sighed before I finished typing and sending the message to Kareem .

I just hope he reads it before Jason arrives. I thought to myself but unfortunately, I spoke too soon.

I saw a black Audi pulling up in the driveway and I had a feeling it was him but I decided to confirm just to be sure."Is that your brother's car?"

"Yes". She said as she got up. She put the rest of her notes in her bag as Jason stepped out of the car. I could only see his back but from what I could tell, he had curly hair just like Joanne but his was black and more wavy. I watched as he made his way towards us but as soon as I got a good glimpse of his face, something just seemed off.

"Jason, this is the friend I told you about. Laila, this is Jason". She introduced us but I just couldn't take my eyes off his face, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I'd seen that face somewhere before.

"You look familiar". He said as he pulled off his shades, which gave me a good look at his hazel brown eyes. Something just seemed oddly familiar about them. "Ohh! I remember where I saw you. You're the girl that helped me bring that guy to the hospital. What was his name again..."

"Kareem". I said, answering his question. So he was that weird guy that helped Kareem that day.

"Oh yes! Kareem. Anyways, it's nice to meet you once again". He said as he extended his hand for a handshake.

I stared at his hand, not wanting to shake it, given the fact that he just had to pull up his sleeves, exposing his biceps and unbutton a few off his buttons giving way for everyone to see his smooth brown skin pchest. And not to forget the fact that his shirt was way to tight for him. I wonder why anyone would wear that in this weather.

"No shake? It's fine then. Anyways, I guess we'll be taking our leave then". He said to Joanne as he began making his way towards his car when Joanne stopped him.

"Well actually, Laila and I wanted go to a nearby café to work on a project. Do you think you can drop us off". I looked at Jason before turning towards Joanne. There was such a huge gap between their personalities, one that I didn't like. Joanne was usually less of a talkative and never bragged about anything and she usually dressed a lot like me, simple. But him, he acted so... differently. Maybe it's just the fact that I expected them to be similar, maybe that's the reason I didn't feel comfortable around him.

"Laila?" I heard Joanne call my name as she put her hand on my shoulder. I flinched at the sudden contact but then noticed both Joanne and Jason staring at me. "Let's go". She said as we began making our way to his car.

As soon as we got in and Jason started the car. I noticed Jason giving me weird glances. I ignored him and started scrolling through my phone to pass time.

...

It didn't take long before we reached the café but unfortunately, Joanne and I weren't able to finish the project so we chose to do it separately at home.

As soon as we arrived at Kareem's house, Jason got out of the car and opened the door for me, but when I got off, he brushed my shoulder slightly. I paused and turned to look at him, thinking it was probably a mistake, but then he winked at me before getting into the car. I stood there frozen in our driveway thinking only one thing...

' what just happened?'

"Laila?" I heard someone call my name which brought me out of my daze. "What happened to you? I sent the driver to go pick you up but he told me that you were already gone, now you're coming back in someone else's car?" I looked at him in shock, I'd never seen Kareem this angry but didn't he receive my message?

"But Kareem I..." I said as I brought my phone out from my handbag, but he cut me short.

"Don't do it again". He said, his voice deep and cold. Did he get this angry because I came home in Jason's car.

Wait a minute, Jason. Was he the reason Kareem got this angry? But the thing that bothered me the most was the way he brushed my shoulder and winked at me, it gave me shivers, but not the good kind...