A year on Venus

30: the secret

Jasmine's Pov

After we reached the class the lecturer arrived and by the time the lecture ends I found myself having to do three assignments with a test the following day. I knew I couldn't go to the hospital like Adams said. I don't have time. I needed to study. Maybe i'll just go some other day. But definitely not today. Not when I have a test the next day.

Once the lecture ended I didn't even looked at Adams. I quickly picked my bag and left the class. I didn't even wants him to see me, less he thinks i'll follow him to the hospital. I had just reached parking lot when I heard a weird voice calling my name. Not really weird voice but how the person pronounced my name sounds funny to me.

"Jasmine."

I didn't turn around because I didn't want to laugh. It would be rude of me to start laughing at how my name is pronounced. So I tried composing myself so that once I finished laughing I could turn around.

"Miss Safar." The person called again. Before I could turn around. He just added, "tanned skin!"

Alright!

I turned around and next thing I heard, "what's funny?"

I squeezed my forehead.

"You saw me laughed?" I asked calmly.

"No, you have a smile on your face!" He said and I smiled wider.

"Your eyes! Its doing it again. It's tearing up. Alright, let's go."

I shook my head at him.

"I have to read for the test and do my assignment. Maybe I can go tomorrow. But definitely not today." I said. I watched as he thoughtfully nodded.

"Alright, get in i'll drop you off." He said. I shook my head and just turned around and continued walking.

Then I suddenly saw a car driving past me before slowing down, and reversing a bit, "please." The person slidened their window and said.

I got in and the music in the car was so making me cringed. I didn't talk though.

Then I heard him off it. "You didn't like it right?" He asked.

I didn't look his way, though I wanted to ask 'how he knew I didn't like it'  I just remained calm, and didn't ask.

We finally arrived at my house, and I got off the car and thanked him.

"You looked beautiful today, a different taste from your usual weird boring taste."

I wanted to shook my head at him but I didn't. I was about to close the door when he asked me to wait and I did. He got off his car, opened the booth and handed me a gift bag. I didn't collect. I just kept looking at him. "The prayer mat." He said and my mouth made an 'oh' sound. I collected it and ducked my head down. "Thank you." I finally said out.

"So do you pray all the time?" He asked me. That came out weird as ever. I looked up at him, he's much taller than me. I nodded before saying, "Alhamdulillah."

He nodded, before looking so distant in thoughts for a moment.

"What of you?" I found myself asking back.

He seemed quite before he ended up squinting at me. Then he shrugged before shaking his head side ways at me.

That hit me hard I can't lie. Hearing Someone confess something that huge about them isn't a small thing. It's huge. I found myself in intense pity. I do pity him. But I can't lie to myself I don't know how to help or change anything. I can only pray for him and that's all. Inshaa Allah some day, some day, he's gonna look back and view all these as a past and thank Allah for gifting him the guidance of praying all his prayers. It's gonna be history someday. Guidance is with Allah. He guides who ever he wills. And inshaa Allah I believe His Lord gonna guide him.

Next thing I heard Adams telling me bye. I got out of my ocean of thoughts and already saw him in his car. When did he even got in? I thought he was just standing beside me!

I wanted to say something but found myself fighting with my memory to not say a thing, "spit it out!" I heard him say. I wonder how he knows anytime I have something to say out.

"One prayer consistently! Goodluck!" I gave out a tip.

He remained quite for a moment before nodding his head at me. "Thank you!" He finally said and I was about to turn around and leave when I saw him ushered with his hand for me to go in. Perhaps wanting to see me walk to my house first. Alright!!!

I reached to the door and pressed the password, once I got in I turned around and he waved me bye before zooming off. And I closed the door behind me.

Alright gotta kill myself with reading.

With out waste of time I quickly took a bath and prayed on my new praying mat. It's so cute. He got me four of them. And I love them each. And yeah they smell great. These are wonderful praying mats.

I quickly made an almond milk banana smoothie as I don't have time to prepare a time consuming meal. I quickly finished it up before starting the real deal.

I started reading, I was halfway through when I thought of doing the assignments now as well. And I can continue reading later on. But, honestly my eye a mess. The pain has intensified. It was freely crying on it's own now.

I didn't pay much attention to it, I finished doing my assignment before giving my parent's phone a try for the umpteenth time. It's really started getting to me. Ever since when they dropped me off and I had two calls with them, I've never hear from them again. And that's disturbing to be honest.  Even the email of the Islamic art design I've sent my dad, he had still not replied. He didn't see them. And he always check his mails.

I finished reading before praying when it was time for Ishaa and finally got in bed since I had been in pajamas all evening, ever since I took my bath I just got in my PJs.