Kalem's Kisses (English Version)

Chapter 17

"How much did you drink?" I asked him.

I had taken Kalem upstairs to the bar where the music was a bit lower so we could talk better.

Kalem had laid down on the padded seat and rested his head on my lap. He asked me to stroke his hair because it relaxed him. So I ran my hand through his brown hair and with my other hand, I gently patted his chest.

"I don't know, lost count," his eyes were still teary, he reached out to poke my cheek with his index finger, "But you're here."

"I am," I gave him a small smile, "You shouldn't drown your sorrows in alcohol, Kalem."

"My father does it when he's stressed, I remember seeing him do it since I was little," he said after being silent for a moment. His words were slightly slurred, "But I don't want to be like him. You know? He didn't care when he found out grandpa is sick. He's his father, why is he like that? Grandpa loves him, that old man adores him and he doesn't even want to see him. Just like me and Khaled," his eyes welled up again, he was crying, "My dad doesn't love me, Heather. Not grandpa, not his sons."

"Oh, Kalem," I brought my face closer and rested my forehead against his. I closed my eyes and hugged him as best as I could while I listened to him cry, "Don't do this to me, I don't like seeing people cry. I don't like seeing you cry," I whispered, placing my hand on his cheek, "I don't know what to do or say in these situations."

"I'm sorry," he whispered, sniffing. I opened my eyes and smiled a little at his tenderness.

"Don't apologize, don't.," I pulled back a bit, he still had his head on my lap so I wiped away the tears, "Who couldn't love you? Tell me. Your friends down there looked worried about you, there's a little guy who offers you money for toys without you knowing and doesn't want to share you with anyone. There's your cousin who loves to tease you because you're younger than him, your grandpa who has cared for and loved you since you were little," I gave him a smile even though his eyes were still sad, "Nora says you're a catch, my mom likes you and even dad, who doesn't want to admit it because he says you talk too much, likes you." That made him let out a little nasal laugh, "You give affection to those around you, Kalem, and that's what you receive."

"Heather..." he sat up a bit to kiss my cheek and leave a kiss on my lips, then he laid back down on my lap, "How come you don't know what to say in these situations? Liar," he murmured the last part, making me smile, "Thank you, little writer."

"You're welcome."

"What about you?" he suddenly asked. My forehead furrowed, "Do you love me, Heather?"

I stayed silent and my smile disappeared.

If showing affection was hard for me, expressing it in words was even harder.

"You don't love me," sadness filled his eyes.

"I didn't say that."

I couldn't deny that I liked Kalem.

"So you do love me," he smiled, gently brushing my cheek with his finger. I remained silent, playing with a strand of his hair helped me avoid his gaze, "Don't worry if you can't say it now. You will soon, future girlfriend."

I smiled and he also gave me a small smile. I was glad for that. I didn't like seeing him with sad eyes, nor with his nose and cheeks red from alcohol, but most of all for crying.

"Everything will be fine, Kalem. I'm sure your grandpa eats his vegetables," I said, caressing his face, that made him smile more and he nodded his head.

"I'll go see him tomorrow, I'll take a flight with Khaled at noon," he took a strand of my hair and began to play with it.

"He'll be happy to see you."