VULNERABLE

TEST, STRESS AND SURPRISES

ABIDAT

The biology and chemistry tests had finally come to an end, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of exhaustion and relief as I walked out of the classroom. It felt like I had just escaped from a battlefield, with my brain still buzzing from the barrage of questions.

As soon as I spotted Laila waiting for me outside the classroom, I let out a dramatic sigh, rubbing my temples as if that could somehow soothe the headache I had developed. "Laila, you won’t believe the nightmare I went through!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with exasperation. "They had us write an essay on osmosis. I mean, seriously, what’s that going to do for me in real life? Maybe it’ll help me understand how my coffee filters through my stomach better?"

Laila chuckled, clearly amused by my frustration. "I should’ve told you it was test week. Sorry about that," she said with a sheepish smile. "I thought you knew."

"Well, now I know," I replied, giving her a playful nudge. "And I’m going to need more than coffee to get through this."

We continued walking, making our way toward the bleachers where we usually hung out during breaks. As we approached, I noticed Aliyusquie, Armaan, Umar, and Muhammad sitting together, chatting animatedly. Seeing them lifted my spirits instantly.

"Look, our favorite football team is here!" I said, waving at them as we got closer.

The boys noticed us and waved back, smiling as we joined their little group. I greeted Armaan in Arabic, a habit I had picked up since learning the language.

"As-salamu alaykum, Armaan," I said with a smile.

Armaan looked up at me, his warm smile making my heart skip a beat. "Wa alaykumu as-salam, Abidat," he replied, his voice as smooth as ever.

Turning to the others, I greeted them all, "Hey everyone!" They returned the greeting with enthusiastic smiles, and soon we were all engaged in an animated discussion about the tests we had just endured.

"How did you find the chemistry test, Muhammad?" Laila asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Muhammad sighed deeply, his thick Egyptian accent coloring his words. "It was a nightmare! I could barely understand half of the questions. I kept thinking I was reading a foreign language."

Umar, ever the joker, couldn’t resist jumping in with a grin. "If I’d known chemistry was going to be this hard, I would have dropped out of school and become a professional sleeper instead."

The group burst into laughter, the tension from the tests easing up a bit. I joined in, appreciating Umar’s humor in the midst of our stress.

Muhammad shook his head, chuckling. "I wish I’d had your confidence. I’m just glad it’s over."

The conversation continued in the same light-hearted manner until Umar turned to Laila with a mischievous smile. "Since you’re my school mom, can you give me a head massage? My brain’s been fried from all this studying."

Laila laughed, shaking her head in mock dismay. "I’m too tired, Umar. You’re on your own this time."

Not one to give up easily, Umar then turned his pleading eyes to me. "Abidat, how about you? Just a quick massage? Please?"

I hesitated, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. Seeing no way out, I finally relented. "Alright, Umar. Just for you," I said, resigning myself to the task.

As I started massaging his head, I noticed Armaan’s gaze shift. His usually warm eyes turned sharp and calculating as he watched Umar, his expression unreadable. It made me a bit uncomfortable, but I tried to focus on helping Umar relax.