An Echoing Race.

Chapter Fifteen.

#Chapter Fifteen#

Today was not a good day for me. Throughout the morning, I had to sit through a very awkward lecture and uncomfortably bear not only Mr Ridwan’s face, but the curious looks of everyone in the hall. They were all looking at me like I was about to explode, or maybe they were expecting me to do a dramatic run out of the class again. Either way, their constant glances were annoying me, so much so, that when it came time for us to collect our exam papers back, I didn’t even bother to muster a boastful expression once I saw I had gotten ninety-four percent on my paper.

I had left uni with the intention to come home and just crawl into my bed, but just as Salem had parked the car, I got a phone call from the education centre, requesting for my immediate assistance. Imagine my defeat, when I get there and realise that it was the most simplest of problems, that even one of my eight year old cousins could solve.

My arm was hurting me and of course, I had left my tablets at home.

And the final thing that was frustrating me was the fact that Salem wasn’t answering any of my questions regarding the other night. 

“Come on Salem, you can’t have expected me not to realise. Who is Nader exactly and how do you know him?”

“You are the most persistent person I know.”

“Well I wouldn’t have to be, if you’d just answer and stop diverting from the topic!”

“I obviously don’t want to tell you!”

“Why not?!”

“Because I’m not comfortable talking about it!” he said, his tone turning impatient and his voice rising just a tad.

“Weren’t you the one that told baba I was like your younger sister? What happened to that huh?” I pressed on. Usually I wouldn’t have pestered him so much, but I was just fed up with this day and as a result, I was being a brat.

“Argh!” He removed one hand off the wheel to swipe it through his hair in agitation. “I said  I don’t want to talk about this!”

“Salem, just tell m-,”

“He killed my younger brother, OK?!” he yelled, slamming his fist against the centre of the wheel. I jumped in fright and leaned back against the seat, stunned at his outburst. There was a moment of silence as we both caught our breath. My heart was still beating pretty fast and I looked outside of the window, suddenly unable to look at Salem. “Sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” 

“No, Salem, I’m sorry,” I said softly. I took a glimpse at him and was ashamed to see how taut his body was, his fingers wrapped around the steering wheel tightly and his face pale and grim. “I didn’t even know you had a brother. I just assumed you were the only child.”

“As soon as he was killed, I became an only child. He was my only sibling until Nader murdered him,” he spat.