My Habibi

Chapter 8

As Syed began his walk home he felt alone. Alone with his thoughts. His past. His worries. His emotions. He looked down at the sidewalk as he walked home. The cool breeze welcoming him. He shivered a little from the sudden coldness. He looked back. Thinking someone was following him. He shook his head and kept walking. Probably just my worries getting to me. He thought as he walked back to his apartment. When he felt it again. This time looking out of the corner of his eye he saw her.
"I see you." Syed Snapped.
"Awe man! I wanted to scare you!" Warda said as she walked up to him.
"Why are you following me?" Syed asked as Warda walked up to him.
"I wanted to see where you live."
"That's not creepy. Anyways since you're here. Wanna come in?" She nodded her head. They walked into his apartment. Both of them staying quiet. He walked to the kitchen as she walked around his small living space.
"Want coffee?" He shouted to her.
"Sure." She said. I am so dead for this. She thought to herself as she looked around. He had paintings of forests, waterfalls, oceans, warriors, and calligraphy on his walls.
"You have a lot of paintings. Did you make them?"
"No. I used to travel when I was 15."
"So lucky. The furthest I've been is Pakistan."
"I was there. In Karachi and Islamabad. Then we left and went to the mountains." He said.
"Lucky. I was in Karachi. Why did you travel so much?"
"I... Nothing. Do you plan on staying the night?"
"Is it an option?" She said as she giggled. Looking at all the artifacts from different countries on shelves. But the thing that caught her eye the most was all the books he had. Going across the top edge of the entire room was a shelf full of books. Some thick, some thin, some small, and some big.
"Where did you get all these books?" She looked to the kitchen. Jumping a little when he was standing right in front of her with a cup of coffee.
"I got most when I travelled as well."
"It looks like you like to read."
"Reading is something everyone does. I just like the knowledge I get."
"So you are some sort of genius yeah?" She said as she cocked an eyebrow at him.
"No. I just enjoy the peace."
"So the fighter finally opens up." She smiled as she sat down on his sofa.
Syed sat down. Keeping a straight face.
"You can come here when you like. I can tell you and your family don't see eye to eye sometimes."
"What makes you say that?" She asked.
"You went to the bathroom right when you got home. Despite your mom. No salaam. No..."
"You're a Muslim?!" She interrupted him.
"Yes."
She laughed as she drank her coffee.
"You are very interesting. I'll take you up on your offer if you come to me to just talk."
He sighed. Great another one who thinks they can change me.