His Hijabi Queen

Chapter Four

Jason.

What people don't know won't hurt them right? No, because it will hurt them more if you hide things from them. Telling them would make a huge difference because you can have their unconditional support.

When Jason arrived home, he took a deep breath knowing that what awaits him wasn't something that anyone would want or even have to go through.

He prayed that his father wasn't home. But luck wasn't with him as he heard his father shouting at his mother.

This was what he witnessed every day ever since his father lost his job. No one knew what he was going through as he didn't want anyone pitying him.

Naeem was his best friend since kindergarten but due to unwanted circumstances, Naeem had to travel to India with his grandmother.

"You are an ungrateful bitch", Jason hears a slap knowing that his father had slapped his mother. He quickly ran towards the room not caring what happens to him.

As he walked into the room, Jason found his father holding his mother by her neck. He quickly jumped on his father's back trying to get him away from his mother.

His father moved away from his mother who was panting. Jason ran towards his mother blocking his father from attacking her again.

Without hesitation, his father punched him for defending his mother.

"You bastard, I wish your mother never gave birth to you. You are such a disgrace", he tells him as he continues beating him up. Jason didn't even flinch, he took all the beating.

He kept telling his mother to leave but she tells that he will change.

His mother Kate didn't want to leave because of him. She kept telling herself that she is staying for her son's sake.

When his dad is done with the beating, he leaves to go get drunk. Jason takes his mother to the bathroom to get her cleaned up and then he gave her some pain relievers.

"You should rest, mum. I will clean the mess and make you something to eat", Jason tells her while pulling her bed covers and tucking her in.

Ever since the beating started Jason has been trying to hide it from his best friend Naeem but he also knew that this can't go on forever.

He needed to make his mother understand that what his father is doing might end up badly. Even at the point of killing her and Jason if not stopped.

This is why she has to stay away from me. She is too innocent for someone like me.

Layla.

Someone like her won't even look at me if they knew the truth about what is happening. She deserves someone better. Someone who has a future and can be there for her.

Every day was torture for him knowing that he had to stay away from her for her own sake.

"Alright, class. It is time for the project. I will announce who will be partnered with", their teacher tells the class.

He can hear groans and other students disagreeing with him.

"Whoever you are partnered with, will be your partner for the rest of the year. As this assignment is half of your entire grade. So make sure you work together with whoever I chose to be your partner", Mr. Ruiz tells them as he started writing their names on the board.

Layla Hassan-Jason Andrews.

Diana K-Lila James.

Sam Lucas-Talia Jackson

And many more.

When Jason saw his name with Layla, he knew that he won't be able to avoid her as he had planned.

"The assignment is to get to know your partner and record everything. Their likes, dislikes and then you will do a video presentation of them", Mr. Ruiz explained to them.

This was going to be a long year for Jason. He looked at Layla who was staring back at him.

Some things in life will either bring people together or drift apart. But that can depend on them because it can't affect you when you don't want it to and it will when you let it.