Twisted Nerve

Fajr • Episode 3

  • fajr •
/ translation /

1.in Islam Muslims have five prayers a day. Known as the prayer that starts the day. "Dawn prayer".

Episode • 3

It started with a text. She soon began to notice the shadows. And then he was shameless, approaching her whenever he pleases. That was the method Chalino used to "monitor" her. In better words, it was classical stalking.

The scariest times are when she would catch him at the corner of her street through her two-bedroom window. Smoking as he leaned on his 1965 350 manpower el Camino. The six cigarette buds on the floor alerted her of his extensive stay.

When their eyes met he would smirk as she would hide. The experience had made her paranoid. Constantly checking her window and closing the blinders.

To an extensive few the situation was seen by others. His loitering and pestering around her. In the past he had done so but not in the way he did currently. When his jock friends would ask he would respond "she's interesting". They would laugh thinking it was a joke. But only he and she knew how truthful he was being.

There was a core reason why Chalino Donatello bullied Manou Mubarak. One many couldn't comprehend.

When she first transferred they met at the back of the schoolyard. Man climbing the fence with Donatello breaking a face.

Ever since he had been mesmerized by her. As if she had put a curse on him. He had asked her out that week. She rejected. Something about her religion. But all he heard was her nonrejection. As someone who had never been rejected before it came as a surprise and a hole in his pride.

The love had turned into hate and the hate into obsession. He isolated her and made life as miserable as he can for her. But she was a resilient cookie. Very hard to break. His work neared some fruits.

Anytime his name would be called she would shiver. Or when he whistles she would get goosebumps. And when she spoke she had stutters. It was a fear engraved in her mind.

Although he bullied her his heart never forgets its initial love. He was slowly pushing his way into her life.,

Rumors traveled in the school like wildflowers. They began to speculate relationship between the two. This information is easy to believe as the way Chalino had isolated her and protected her was similar to infatuation.

The man noticed the stares but ignored them. She had been patient with all the monitoring she'd received the week. Some may call her lucky for the attention but only she knew how threatening it felt. He was bragging. Showing her his strength. How big he can spread. And how far she can't run.

Chalino had followed her to the lockers and silently watched her walk to class. She preferred him talking than silently observing as that builds more fear. Perhaps he knew and intentionally did so.

As she sat in her first class she could hear them whispering about her. Some had given her the nickname saint slut. And by some, it was the bratty 4. A group of rich girls that used to make her life hell.  Jennifer was the biggest mouthful. She had dark black long hair and the brains of a blonde.

Jasmine and Jocelyn were twins with blonde hair and blue eyes. Irene was the brain that carried the entire intelligence of the group. Like Jennifer, she had short black hair. She had dark green eyes and was the leader of the bratty 4.

She carried the biggest hate towards Manou.

Manou knew the day would start no good when the leader flared at her the entire class. When the bell rang her feet moved towards the door rushing. She knew they would get her.