Our Encounter

Chapter 4: The couples.

Amani

Two weeks after mum passed away,
I resumed back to school. The weather was gloomy. I dressed in my uniform and then I smelled something...eggs?.

I rushed down the stairs. I found abba on the kitchen counter while Kamal is wearing an apron and his back turned. He looked busy stirring something on the cooker.

I looked at dad again. He is lost in his thoughts again. We had a talk last night and I feel so much better. And he doesn't look bad himself. None of them realized of my presence so I put on a cheerful face

"Good morning" and they all looked up.
"Goodmorning" they said in unison Kamal gave me a small smile before turning to the eggs he's now serving. "Good morning candy" said abba.

"Wait? You still call her candy?" Kamal asked as he let out a small laugh.

"Yeap, and I'm not stopping anytime soon" abba looked my way with a smirk. His eyes puffy but better than yesterday. I hate the name but I'll spare the fight, I'm already late. I rushed my breakfast. I picked my bag and rushed to the door but was stopped.

"Missy your lunch" shouted Kamal from the kitchen.

"It's okay, I'll just buy something outside" I said battling with my shoe. My tiny hijab kept blocking my view.

"Just sit down and wear them" said Kamal right behind me. I looked up and my breath hitched. He stood by the door and he leaned slightly on the frame. Only fictional men do that but he looked.... Ah astagfirullah, lower your gaze Amani. I quickly looked away. What is wrong with me. Astagfirullah. I seek refuge.

"Take your lunch, don't go on an empty stomach, you barely ate your breakfast" he said while he hand me the box and something deep poked my heart out. Tears formed in my eyes. Mum. I remembered. She's always nagging at me about food. She's no more. I looked at the food and then at Kamal.

Why does he have to be so considerate?

"What's wrong? Are you feeling alright?" He asked

"I'm ok" I quickly took the lunch and went outside to meet abba already waiting to drop me off.

"Ready to go?" He asked and I smiled

"As always".

Our drive was silent but a peaceful silence. He dropped me off, I waved him goodbye and went inside.

People were looking at me with pathetic eyes. I hate it so much. So so much. I went ahead to my class without talking to anyone. It's still early for some of my friends to be in school. I'm up to date in class because Rania had sent me all the notes via chats. I made myself busy enough to not think about mum passing away. I buried my self studying to the extent of going way ahead of the class.

"Amani?" A squeaky voice sounded to my ears. I turned to her with a tight smile.
"Hi" I waved once

"Mani" she shouted before running to hug me. We stayed like that for a while. I really needed that hug. I wanted to stay like that for a long time. I took a while before releasing her.

"How are you Mani?" She asked, the sympathetic eyes she gives me is making me weak and I swear I might cry again.

"I'm doing good alhamdulillah. We thank Allah" I smiled. All this fake smiling, my cheeks might start to hurt anytime soon. I'm just keeping it together. But on the inside god knows I don't even know what I'm doing. I'm just on auto pilot.

"You've asked for the notes we did and I sent them to you, did you receive them?" Still brushing my head

"Yes I got them, thank you they were really helpful to me. I got to catch up and not left behind."