UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 77: 9:00 pm😒😣😒

                        Dedicted to Kizzy_Dev

"Zainab...what happened to you?" He began.

She sighed heavily all looking wet and stained, unable to utter a word to him.

"What happened to you? Talk to me. I'm asking you a simple question. What did you do?"

Zainab was shattered deep inside but she couldn't help but to smile at him.

"Why do you care anyways?" She walked away from him. Everything looked awkward. And just like her smile, the sigh seemed strange and vague!

"What did you want, Idris. You came to  mock me the way your brothers did right? Just leave me alone.." Zainab muttered.

'Was it a sigh of suppressed deep sorrow and melancholy or simply a normal sigh of relief? And... Why is she smiling?' Idris wondered.

She placed a small wooden stool outside, wistfully fixing her attention to the laundry. It was three large heap of clothes for Mr. Abdullahi and his wife.

"What's wrong with you, Zee? Why don't you go and take a shower and probably change before during the lundary? You're looking so miserable."

Sunk in silence, Zainab didn't respond to her brother's questions. This made Idris so annoyed that she was always hiding everything from her. He's intensely worried about her and she's busy taking a smile and pretending as if nothing happened.

He walked to where she was sitting and grabbed her by the wrist. She pushed him away but he insisted. Idris dragged her away from the corridor, just steps away.

"Why don't you leave me alone and face your own business? What's it you want from me and why did you bring me here?!" Her voice shivered as she asked.
Idris stands directly to her, watching her eyes to eyes as she backed the wall, facing him. She looked down immediately, so confused on what to do or say.

Zainab started breathing deeply as if she were stifling and in much need of air.

He watched her feel uncomfortable in his presence as they were both hurting, deep inside. And just that moment, all Idris wanted to do was to hug her. And tell her how much he loves and cherish her but... He kept on staring as they remained silent for a while.

Until he broke the silence.

"Zainab... Sometimes, it's fine to take a few deep breaths. You may be depressed and you may not be. Either way, the best place to begin is by calming your mind, and regrouping a bit. Especially if you are still crying now."

"I'm not crying!" She fired at him, more like defending herself but to him, it was hurting. "I didn't cry!"

"Don't lie to me and stop hiding your feelings from me. As human beings sometimes, it's normal to feel bad and admit you're hurting. I'm not just your brother, Zee, I'm your friend and it's okay to share your thoughts with me. Once you do that, I want to ask you a question…What is it, that you need to know right now, that the answer, will help you?"

"Okay... I've heard you." She sniffed.

Wanting to walk away, he held her back. Hand to hand, palm to Palm. It's the first time anyone ever held her hand like that. It's stupid actually but just then, she realized Idris had a soft hands.

For no reason, she trembled once again to his single touch. He kept on staring at her all through, hoping she would heed to his words or probably just understand. Or maybe, give his a chance in her life too, the way she is with Habeebah in school.