Kashish

CHAPTER : 12 - MI CASA ES SU CASA

Chapter : 12 - Mi Casa Es Su Casa.

"You know, I was looking for you that night. You were nowhere to be seen. You went home?" Vanessa asked twirling the cup in her hands.

"Yes, I went home." I said taking a sip of my tea and placing my cup back on the saucer.

"Well, I thought we'd have a lot of fun together but...we barely spoke a minute." She said taking a sip.

"You wanted to speak about something?" I said darting my gaze away to the street filled with the university students busily strolling.

"Nothing in particular." She chuckled and I took my cup and brought it to my lips.

"Very well." I gave her a small smile and looked into my cup taking a sip.

It was another cold afternoon, two days after the party and instead of my regular practice in the dark concert hall, I'm out here at a cafe having tea with my new found mate Vanessa just outside the campus.

"Have you seen Qais? I haven't heard from him. I wonder where he is." She shrugged pulling her brown jacket close to her body. After the goodbye we exchanged that night, we didn't talk. Actually, I didn't see him.

"No." I muttered looking straight at her.

"I guess he's your partner in Ms Castello's assignment." She smiled.

"Yes." I replied sharply.

"Both of you bonded well." She smiled briefly at me but that wasn't entirely cheerful like the other times she smiled.

"Not that well." I said.

"He seems very comfortable with you. He hasn't been like that with anyone." She looked away at the pot of flowers at the sidewalk.

"He doesn't-" I spoke putting my empty cup down on the table.

"Maybe he fancies you." She said with a dry chuckle and I studied her.

"Why would you say that?" I said and she leaned back on the white seat. Her blue eyes were casted down on the stoney pavement.

"The look in his eyes." She said not meeting my gaze.

"And the most obvious part? He smiles." She finished looking back at me.

"Smiles." I said lowly a sliver of confusion coursing through me.

"I've known him for years." Vanessa smiled as if recalling something.

"You know, he's not like everyone. He's special." She spoke wetting her parched lips.

"That, he is." I muttered almost inaudible.

"He has been through a lot, Kashish. He was lost, there is something that always troubles him. He just kept to himself all these years. He was very lonely, estranged. I was so worried about him." She said with slight sadness in her voice.

"But, he seems different the moment you came along." She said and I met her eyes.

"He seems a lot better." She smiled.

"Is it because of his parents' accident?" I asked.

"He told you about that?" She raised her brow almost like it was the most surprising thing she'd heard for a while.

"Yes." I said.

"He thinks twice before even speaking about the weather. He has told you an important part about himself." Vanessa smiled. Again, which doesn't reach her eyes. Her tone felt betrayed. And her eyes held something.