Bye bye

The next day, Tamim was up as always.

She had dressed up earlier than usual and she ate her breakfast without her parents as she was the first to get to the dining area that day.

She was about leaving did she hear her name called out.

"Tamim.." Jun hee called out.

"Mom" Tamim looked back and greeted "good morning mom".

"Good morning dearest, you're leaving now?" She asked as Jake came down from the stairs to stand behind her.

"Um...yes. I want to go early so I can copy my notes but I had some sent to me yesterday though"

"Oh I see..." Jun hee said.

"Can we talk for a minute then? We won't take your time..." Jake said.

"Um okay Dad. Good morning"

"Good morning sweetheart" Jake replied as they all took their seat in the living room.

"So... your mom and I made a terrible mistake" Jake said and he faced Jun hee.

"We had a foreign company come in two months ago to partner with us. I was quite busy at that moment so I asked your mom to handle it and she ended up signing the documents"

"It wasn't my fault there was little information about the company..." Jun hee said as she tried to clear herself and present a reason for what she did.

"Oh is that so...you weren't greedy because of the daily income of 1 million dollars?"

"Come on, I'm sure you would have signed it within a hair's breath"

"Mom, Dad what's the problem now?" Tamim said with impatience.

"It turned out one of the papers had asked for another thing entirely rather than partnering" Jake paused as he pinched his temples, "they wanted a marriage contract and if we signed it and refused to give out our child we would end up loosing all our three companies to them" 

"So I'm getting married?"

"Um yes....I think" Jun hee said.

"Okay good. Can I go to school now?" Tamim said nonchalantly.

"I know it's hard to accept it but rethink...wait did you just say yes?" Jun hee realized she didn't care.

"Really? Are you sure?" Jake asked in disbelief.

"Yeah..do I have a Choice?" Tamim asked.

Jake and Jun hee were so delighted and hugged their daughter and after they had calmed down she decided to ask a question.

"When am I getting married?" She asked curiously.

"Umm...this Saturday?" Jun hee said.

"Whatttt...! Why the rush?" Tamim was surprised, she was expecting that it would probably be in a month or so and she would be emotionally and mentally ready.

"I'm sorry hunie but they want it as soon as possible" Jun hee explained patting Tamim's shoulder.

"Where do they stay?" She asked.

"New York...?" Jake replied.

"So are they coming here to stay or what?"

"Two branches of the company will remain here and the third will be moved to the US to merge  with their company, so we all are moving to the US..." He explained.

"Whatt....?" Tamim was bewildered, it was so soon. Today was Thursday so that means they're moving tomorrow?

"I have to go to school..." Tamim said as she stood up.

"You can just stay at home and pack, it's okay. You'll be starting another school in the US"

"I have to say my goodbyes" with that Tamim left. She was few minutes late but she could get to school in time with the right speed. She however told her chauffeur to speed up.

On her way she stopped by a gift shop and bought some gifts. She didn't have much friends but she thought it would be nice to gift her not so familiar-with classmates.

She got to school a little late and there was already a teacher in her class.

"You're late...?" Mr Roger said, he was surprised, this was the first time ever he had witnessed the star student late.

"I'm sorry sir, I had to stop by to grab a few things" she explained as she placed one of the gifts on the table for him which had a note that read "to Mr Roger, my favorite teacher"

Mr Roger was pleased but tried not to show it. "This time I forgive you but next time I won't" he said with a smile which meant he had collected the 'bribe'.

"Don't worry sir, there won't be a next time" she replied confident but Mr Roger never understood the other meaning behind that.

She went to have her seat and said hi to her friend who was beginning to ponder about why she said such a thing and she even gave out gifts which was quite unusual.

Throughout the first five periods, she gave out gifts to all her teachers who were beyond pleased. 

During break time she gave out some little trophies, on it was written Tamim and body oils to her classmates who also praised her for her genourousity.

By this time her friend Li was convinced something was wrong.

So when she had helped her to give out the gifts to their classmates, she decided to ask.

They got to the cafeteria and sat down to have their lunch.

"How was yesterday?" Li asked.

"Oh it went well...very well" Tamim said with a smile but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Oh...why did you..." Li was cutted off by Tamim who presented her with a gift.

"Here is yours as my bestie" Tamim said, "you can open it now"

"Awwww you're so kind. So that's why you're in a good mood." Li affirmed but she was mistaken.

"Yes.. I'm getting married soon" Tamim whispered.

"What no way OMG how is he like?" Li was excited and curious and wondered who could have made her want to marry so early.

"Umm handsome, young and richhhh" Tamim lied, she didn't know who she was marrying but did not want to worry her friend.

"He's very kind and romantic. I'm moving tomorrow with my family to meet him in the US and get engaged on Saturday" Tamim told her friend.

"Awww OMG...when are you going to be back?"

"Ohh that...umm we're moving..like permanently" Tamim said unsure how her friend will take the news.

They've been together now for years and Li had left all her friends because of her so she was the only she had and now she's going.

She had to tell her.

Li was dumbstruck and was trying to process the information. Tamim opened the gifts she had given her and pulled out matching necklaces and bracelets. One pair had half heart and the other pair had another half heart, together it made a full heart.

"No matter what we'll always be together, our heart is one. You're the only reason why I'd never commit suicide. Thank you Li, I love you so much" Tamim said wholeheartedly, wearing the accessories for both of them while she said that.

"Stop it, I don't wanna cry" Li replied and hugged her tightly with a few tears dropping.

"You're crying already what do you mean by I should stop it" Tamim said as she hugged her friend tightly unable to cry.

Maybe it's because of what she was, the perfect daughter but she was unable to cry.

When she stumped her big toe on the wooden stool, she never cried in pain even though it hurt really badly. She only held it and stared at it for a minute and went back to ignoring the pain as if nothing had happened.

When her parents saw that, they were pleased and kept saying she was so strong. When they asked her if it hurt she told them it never hurts, it was until the toe got swollen and the bone bent did they notice that something was wrong.

When their family doctor came to treat her, she didn't flinch with the many injections she took, she didn't cry when they straightened her bones. The doctor was amazed and realized that it was very wrong for a 12 year old.

He had told her parents to get her mentally checked but they were convinced that it was because she was the perfect child and didn't heed the man's advice.

Looking back, she realized that something was wrong with her. She couldn't cry.

As she hugged her friend tightly, scared, confused. She was a robot who felt emotions but never learnt how to express it.

The only person that made her feel human she had to say goodbye to.

'Bye bye, Li. I'll miss you'