Revival of us

Chapter 4

ENZO

Pure bliss. That's how every second felt while she lay on my arms. I could feel her chest vibrate as she laughed at something ine of the characters must have done on the animated movie she loved. She pointed at the screen, laughing some more. My hand itched to take one single braid in my finger. I obeyed. Pulling a tendril loose from her bun.

After the movie ended, she asked, " How was it? You liked it right?" She exclaimed softly. Malaika had the softest voice. It fit her petite figure so well. No matter how loud she tried to be, it always came out low and soft.

I didn't know how to answer her question, I had barely paid attention to the movie. Not wanting her beautiful smile to fade, I grinned. "It was good."

"I knew you'd like it. Mr Fox is just like you. A hustler. Next week we can watch another one." She planted a kiss on my chest, where he cheek had rested. I frowned. Pulling her back as she tried to stsnd up from her position. With a huff, she toppled back on my chest .

A mild glare was thrown my way. I sighed heavily. "Lonely, lonely little me. Why can't you come over tomorrow? It is Saturday after all. We can spend the entire day together before we head to the cinema."

"I can't. I promised Landy that I would go to the coffee-shop... Don't be upset." She gave me a quick peck. That didn't ease my irritation. Landy was like a tick that clung to Malaika.

Half of her time was shared between me and her fat bestfriend. Her only friend. She was a thorn in our relationship. Stealing time that should be spent with me.

It was no secret to Malaika that I despised her chubby friend. I have tried many times to make her see Landy in another light, but lo and behold... She was always defending the girl. With pursed lips and a small crease between her forehead she'd leave my room. We'd barely talk, it took self-control to not pick up the phone and beg her but she always found her way back. A relief on my side.

Begging was a little beneath me.

"You're with Landy Monday to Friday. Can't you spare me the weekend?" I said. She pinned me with a stare. "I am with you Monday to Friday as well. You always walk me home..." Just as I am about to protest, she shuts me up with a quick peck on both corners of my pursed lips.

"This weekend is different, there is a new friend we made, we just want to show him around a little..." The rest of her words were lost to me. I was stuck on the new friend part. Another problem. I could barely handle sharing her with stupid Landy.

I got up from under her, sitting up from the brown worn sleeper couch, that we got as a hand me down from Milandi. Taking a deep breath, I asked, " Who is the new friend?"

"Max, he is so smart. He got distinctions and he is so helpful. Yesterday he helped me with Accounting. You know how tricky it can get."

He?

She was still yapping and I was still stuck on the gender of said friend.

I tried swallowing the bitter words that were about to come out of my mouth. But the more she kept talking, the harder it got.

"No one can save you when it comes to Accounting Malaika. I tried the other time! You don't need this new friend of yours."

She looked away, knitting her fingers together. It was true. She didn't need this new friend of hers. Extra classes were there if she so desperately wanted to improve her marks. Or was this some trick.

Like the ones my deadbeat dad played on my mother when I was a child. 'She's a good friend. I need her to take care of my mother,' he had said. A nurse he had called her. To her dismay, she had found out it was his wife. Mom was his mistress and I, the bastard son.

I wasn't my mother, I wasn't a fool.

"That was unnecessary." She said in a small voice, still looking at her knitted fingers. "It's true." I jumped up, she flinched. The little movement irritated me more than anything.

"Give me your phone!" I bellowed. She complied. Handed me the phone with shaky hands. I knew her phone pattern, knew the backup pin. Just like she knew mine. His numbers were already saved in her contacts. Max it read, no heart emoji. There was nothing suspicious. But perhaps Malaika had gotten sneakier.

"You won't talk to this kid anymore!"

I tossed the phone on the couch beside her.

"No." It came out so soft I almost didn't hear her.

"Excuse me?"

"No," she said firmer and louder. Turning to face her I was met with fiery eyes, clenched fists and drawn brows. She was getting braver.

"No what?"

"You can't tell me who I can and can not be friends with. I refuse. You don't ever get to do that..." There was an 'or' missing. A threat.

"Or what?!" I seethed, getting closer to her face. With a flinch she moved back, carrying her face with her hands. It got me all the way riled up. Why was she shielding her face from me?

I yanked her hands from her face. "I can't hear you Amara. Or what? You'll leave me?!" I sneered. That seemed to only make her angrier.

"I can and I will leave you." Her voice quivered as she said that, looking at me straight in the eyes. Not backing down from my glare. Twisting her wrists from my grip. I tightened the grip. "Ow, you're hurting me." She screamed. I held it tighter, my own hands got tired from the tight grip.

"Talk with that boy. Break up with me and find out that I could do worse than this." Her struggle ceased. A loud, shaky deep exhale was all that could be heard in the room. A flicker of fear in her eyes. A flicker of fury in mine.

Just before I flung her small hands off.
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