Infuriating :: KAVETHAM/HAIKAVEH

26

Alhaitham POV

The soft ticking of the clock on my office wall was the only sound that kept me tethered to reality. I tried to focus on the research in front of me, drowning out everything else, but it was getting harder. The memory of Aziz lingered, and no matter how much I told myself it was over, that Kaveh had handled it, that I was safe now... it didn't help. The knot in my chest wouldn't loosen.

I had no idea why he was still on my mind. Maybe it was just the aftershocks, the way his words stuck to me like a shadow. Maybe it was the way my hands still shook sometimes when I thought too long about our encounter. Kaveh had assured me that Aziz wouldn't try anything again after the suspension. He'd said all the right things, and I'd tried to believe him. But the fear was still there, gnawing at me like it had when I was younger.

I heard a knock on my office door, and my heart skipped a beat. "Come in," I called out, trying to sound normal. I forced myself to sit up straighter, to look composed.

The door opened, and my stomach twisted as Aziz walked in without waiting for an invitation. He smiled as though he belonged here, that same smug, predatory smile he'd worn so often when we were kids. The memories came flooding back, and I could feel the edges of my calm cracking.

"Alhaitham," Aziz drawled, his voice dripping with faux friendliness. He closed the door, shutting it loudly as he entered my office, his presence swallowing the space. "Good to see you again. Settling in well after that little incident?"

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising panic. "Aziz... What do you want?" I asked, my voice coming out shakier than I intended. My hands clenched the edge of my desk, knuckles turning white as I fought to keep control.

Aziz leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a smug grin on his face. "What, can't an old friend drop by for a chat?" He laughed, the sound echoing in the small office. "Or are you still too scared to talk to me? You've always been the quiet type, haven't you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. Every syllable felt like it was stuck in my throat, tangled up in the fear I hadn't felt in years. He wasn't supposed to be here. Not like this. Not again.

"I-I'm... busy," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please... just... leave."

Aziz's eyes narrowed slightly, his amusement fading as he stepped closer to the desk. "Busy, huh? Doing what, exactly? Hiding behind your books, just like always?" His tone shifted, darker, more menacing. "You think you can just ignore me? After all these years?"

I flinched, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel my composure slipping, feel the panic rising like a wave threatening to drown me. "I don't want any trouble," I managed to say, my voice barely audible.

Aziz snorted. "Trouble? Oh, Alhaitham, you should know by now that trouble always finds you. And this time..." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I'm not going to let you off so easily."

My breath hitched, and I could feel the room spinning around me. The walls felt too close, the air too thick. I wanted to get out, to run, but my body wouldn't move. The fear had me trapped, just like it always had.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and I heard Kaveh's voice, sharp and full of anger. "What the hell is going on here?"

Aziz straightened up, turning to face Kaveh with that same smug smile. "Oh, nothing much. Just catching up with Alhaitham. We go way back, don't we?"

Kaveh's eyes narrowed, and I could see the anger simmering just beneath the surface. He didn't even bother with words. In a flash, he crossed the room and grabbed Aziz by the hair, yanking him away from the desk and toward the door. Aziz yelped in surprise, his hands instinctively going to his head as he tried to pull away.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Aziz shouted, his smug composure crumbling as Kaveh dragged him across the floor.

"You think you can just walk in here and threaten him?" Kaveh snapped, his voice low and dangerous. He threw Aziz out of the office with enough force to send him stumbling into the hallway. "Get the fuck out of here before I break more than just your pride."

Aziz stumbled to his feet, his face a mask of shock and anger. "You're fucking insane!" he spat, rubbing his scalp where Kaveh had grabbed him. "You can't just—"

"Watch me," Kaveh cut him off, his voice rising with every word. "If I see you near him again, if you so much as look at him the wrong way, I will make you regret every fucking thing you've ever done. Do you hear me?"

People were starting to gather in the hallway, drawn by the commotion, but Kaveh didn't care. His eyes were locked on Aziz, daring him to say something, anything.

Aziz hesitated, glancing around at the crowd that had formed. He clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as he looked back at Kaveh, but he didn't say another word. Instead, he turned on his heel and stormed off, muttering curses under his breath.

Kaveh watched him go, his chest rising and falling with each angry breath. He stood there for a moment, fists still clenched at his sides, before he turned back to me. I was still sitting at my desk, trembling, the room spinning as I tried to process what had just happened.

"Kaveh..." I whispered, my voice barely audible. I could feel the tears burning at the corners of my eyes, but I couldn't let them fall. Not here. Not now.

Kaveh crossed the room in two quick strides, his expression softening as he knelt beside me. "Hey," he said quietly, his voice gentle now. "It's okay. He's gone."

I nodded, but the fear was still there, wrapped tight around my chest. "I-I couldn't... I couldn't stop him. I just... froze."

Kaveh reached out, his hand hovering just above mine before he finally took it, squeezing gently. "You don't have to stop him. That's not your job. You're not alone in this, Alhaitham. I've got your back, okay?"

I nodded again, unable to find the words to respond. The room was still too loud, too bright, too much. But Kaveh's presence was grounding, his touch pulling me back from the edge.

"Let's get out of here," he said softly, helping me to my feet. "You need a break. We both do."

I let him lead me out of the office, the sounds of the Akademiya fading into the background as we walked together down the hall. Whatever came next, I knew I could face it as long as Kaveh was by my side.