PRESIDENT'S SON AND I

11: Feed Me

ZAFIR

I woke up earlier than I had expected. Because when I came back yesterday, I was hurt beyond words, there was pain, and guilt and anger that I had no way to end the day without drinking a bottle like I intended. So, I ended up gulping down two bottles and slept in the living room.

I couldn't believe she had accused me of that. Yes, I hate children. But that didn't mean I'd want her daughter to die no matter how heartless I am. But she looked at me with this pain in her eyes, as though I had done something unforgivable to her and threw the words at me. It was...the look had yet left my heart.

And right now, I stood in my bathroom as I brushed my teeth and wondered what I should do. She slept in the hospital with the girl and I knew they didn't take anything with them. I doubt if she had a dime in her. And food, they both needed to eat.

I hate the fact that I was even considering these things, but then, I couldn't help myself. I had thought of calling Jamal but I knew, on Saturdays, the guy only woke up when it's time for Zuhr salah and it was hours away from now. So, I wouldn't be selfish enough to call him when I can do all I'd call him to. When it basically was on me to do all that because the two of them are practically under my care now.

Quickly, I got ready and went to her room. It was still the same as the day I had mistakenly slept in the room. I woke up feeling so stupid and angry at myself, but the fact that I was hungry was enough to make me forget all that until she caught me eating her food. And then laughed. Lord, she laughed as though she was the happiest person on earth and I couldn't help but be envious of her.

I mean, it was obvious she had all loads of trouble on her shoulders. Because she didn't even have a place to stay, like Jamal had told me. But the girl managed to look so carefree and happy while she laughed. And no matter how much I'd like to deny that, she looked...beautiful? I don't know.

I shrugged my shoulders and opened the wardrobe. They had very few clothes, and I'm sure if not for the occasional ones Jamal bought for them, they wouldn't even get to this number. I got a bag and roughly put two clothes each for them. And then the baby's food, I managed to take everything I could until the bag was full and I went to my car.

On my way to the hospital, I got a takeaway for her and drove ahead. I was parking in the designated area for parking in the hospital when my attention got to the folder Mom had sent to me yesterday to my office. Something wrenched my guts and I wanted to scream at someone.

I had totally forgotten about the marriage thing and hopefully, my mind urged me to the fact that they, too, had forgotten. But it seemed like the witch hadn't forgotten all the ways she could torture me. I sat down in the car and began to flip through the folder she had sent. There were too many faces, and if I was being honest, the girls were beautiful but none of them struck my attention.

I knew I should probably make a choice amongst these girls before she decided to make it for me. But I'm not ready for making that decision yet. And right now, I could feel my nerves getting hiked with so much anger and I knew it wasn't healthy. Especially when I had to walk into this hospital and act like the sensible man I was taught to be.

So, I pushed all kinds of thoughts aside, flung the folder into the car and got out, getting all the things I brought along with me. I asked at the nurse station the room she was in, and after I was given the number of the room, I head there directly.

This was a bad idea, I knew. I've never acted like I cared about someone apart from Jamal. I still didn't care about her nor the daughter, but even feigning the act was completely out of my character. So, it felt a little odd and had me staring at the door for three minutes before I heard the sound of someone bawling their eyes out. And that someone probably was no one but her.