A Thing, Beyond Forever

3.

I have hated my school every day of my life ever since my parents admitted me into it. But years later as I write this, I am grateful for the time I have spent in it and without it probably, I wouldn't have been able to find my soul mate.  

I was on my way to my class being the first one to reach the school. It took approximately thirty minutes. I was excited for my senior year. New classroom, new textbooks and probably I was a bit nervous about the new chapter of my life. I decided to take the stairs to the second floor skipping two at a time. I liked making myself believe even if it was just for a few moments, that I was some kind of super-woman. And when I was doing that, I was least bothered to look up. I smiled when I was done with the stairs of the first floor and turned towards the second set of stairs that led to the second floor -- where my classroom was supposed to be. And just like that, within a blink of an eye, I almost fell back when I bumped into someone who was equally blind as me. 

"Uh..umm I'm sorry," I said. It was not that I had my gaze lowered but because it is the first thing I do when I see a stranger. I noticed his shoes. Black leather loafers, well polished--impressive. And then I looked up from his shoes to where he was, standing on a stair above me, looking much taller. He was dressed in black jeans and a plain white shirt with a backpack shouldered to one side. He was looking as if he came for an interview because it seemed like he was dressed to impress someone. Then my gaze landed towards his watch which is the second thing I notice to get an impression of what their style speaks and I must say, I was quite impressed with his watch too. I mean, who can deny that the classic look of a black belted Daniel Wellington watch isn't impressive?

"You better be!" he smirked as he pocketed his hands in his jeans & to my surprise, I actually felt my jaw drop.  "Excuse me?" I asked, obviously bewildered.

"Nothing, " He smirked, again. The kind of smirk I wished I could just wipe it out of his face. It was just a matter of a few seconds that I met him and he had already started to get on my nerves. I had to remind myself to not let a stupid boy ruin my first day of school. 

When I didn't respond for a whole minute, he cleared his throat a little to get my attention. "By the way," He spoke, pausing for a second as if he was hesitant to speak ahead. "I'm a new student here and I...was...searching for my class. I don't even know anybody here. If you don't mind..." He trailed off, pressing his lips tightly as he looked at me, his eyes were giving me an expression that he was hoping I would accept whatever he was going to ask from me.  I raised my eyebrows gesturing him to carry on, "can you...can you help me out?" 

"Sure", I said. It was my turn to smirk. I had figured out that he was one of the guys Faisal told me about and now like a little devil that I was I planned on making his first day of that school, a day that he would never be able to forget. I laughed devilishly inside my head thinking about executing it. 

"Just go up to the rightmost class. Keep your belongings there and come down as soon as you hear the first bell" I said giving him a fake smile in order to convince him that I had given the correct address. 

"Oh.. okay. Thanks but..." He drew his eyebrows in confusion. Pointing to the floor behind him, he spoke,"I just happen to be coming from that side and I'm afraid I didn't see any sign that would lead me to my class", he asked, raising his eyebrow.

Oh god! He is such a cunning man to deal with -- was my instant thought. I had to come up with something real quick that would convince him as well as not make me look suspicious. 

"Oh yes! Today is the first day of the school after the summer holidays so, I guess...they were..." My eyes wandered across the staircase to think of an excuse and I noticed that the walls were newly painted. "they were getting the walls of the classrooms painted so they had to remove the signboards", I shrugged.  

His face expression changed to a satisfied one and I breathed relief.

"Thank you" He smiled for the first time, which seemed genuine from the whole time we were on the staircase.  I smiled in return. 

"May I..uhmm...May I know your name?", He asked forwarding his hand towards me for a handshake. I stared at his hand with my eyebrow raised. For sure he was the new guy because he didn't know that my school was very strict regarding the mingling of boys and girls.  A handshake was a far-off thing. We weren't even allowed to see each other. 

But, he was from a boys school as Faisal told me. How can he not know about the forbidden boy-girl handshake? I thought.

He might have felt uneasy after some time seeing me not replying to his handshake and might have also realised that this school was not any different from what he studied in, "Sorry" He kept his hand on his chest, "I'm Yazan Shaykh and I am from Riyadh" 

"Oh" was all I managed to say because I knew who he was already. He was being discussed even before he placed his foot inside this school.

 Just then, as if he read my mind or something, He spoke,"I know that I am already a bit famous here, just thought of making you know who I am"  again, the cunning- fox like smirk. 

I just rolled my eyes. This guy must be self-obsessed. I thought. But who wouldn't be if they had good looks?

"Wait a minute," I said, gesturing with my hand to make him stop. "Who is interested in listening to you boasting about yourself?" I turned around to look behind me pretending as if I was not charmed by his smirk and then continued, "not me though" 

It was my turn to smirk and so I did and then I started climbing my way upstairs because one, I was done with his smirks and second, I did not want to take any risks of getting caught with him. 

"I like that!" He said almost in a while, seemingly impressed when I walked right past him.  

I was ahead and he was behind. When I changed my direction towards my class and he was supposed to walk towards the class I gave directions to, I stopped before entering my class just to confirm he was going in the right class.  He stopped just before entering the class, turned halfway as if he sensed my eyes on him but didn't turn back  "See you later then!" He said, holding up two fingers as a peace sign. 

I just smiled inwardly as I walked into my class. I kept my bag in my place and peeped through the window to see what he was up to. He was sitting on the table gazing all the charts that were displayed in the classroom.

"You just wait and watch Mr Yazan!" I spoke, smiling to myself thinking of the scenario that was going to happen in a few minutes.   

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