Sticks and Stones

Chapter Five-Bassam

After I left the shop, I put my headphones on and blasted a Jcole song. My uncle would probably be mad when I got home.

I haven't even gotten to a mile yet and someone from the bushes jumped out and threw a punch to my face.

"Fuck!!!!" I was thrown off balance.

I look up and squinted, trying to figure out this person.

Sweatpants, Glasses. It was the girl from the shop. I jumped up quickly and charged towards her angrily.

"What was that for!?" For a girl, she can throw a punch.

For about 5 seconds, she still held her hands in a fist ready to punch me again. After a while she knew I wasn't after her and She put her hands together pleadingly.

"I thought you were someone else"

Someone else??. Unless she's being chased by a serial killer or she's probably just new here.

"Well unless you were aiming for a serial killer, you don't just throw punches at people unexpectedly"

"I was defending myself" She put her right hand behind her neck.

"Well in that case, that punch isn't going to do any justice"

She seemed to think about what I said for a second.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked.

"I meant your punch was weak"

Well my nose hurt and I didn't want to show that I was in pain.

"Oh wow! I'm sorry, I'll try harder next time sensei!" She said sarcastically and smiling falsely. I could see her seething with anger.

"I'm the one who is supposed to be angry here. That punch was not worth taking. If that was even a punch"

"I'm so sorry" she pleaded.

I picked my bag and slightly brushed her off and walked away.

"Am I forgiven?" She called out.

"No" And I left her there to question herself.

My nose hurt when I got home. I got to the fridge and I took a cold bottle to put on it. It was a weak punch but it sure hurt my nose bad.

"Are you okay?" Halima walked in to the kitchen and sat down.

"Yeah, I'm fine"

"Really cos you look like you fought someone and they punched you really bad".

"At least none of my precious parts got attacked" I smiled

"Not funny Bassam, your face is the most important part of your body"

"Not my muscles and biceps? 'Cause the girls back home seem to love me for them.

"No"

"Well shit" I drank out of the bottle.

"Language!!!" She looked at me angrily.

"Sorry"

"So what really happened" she hands me the  leftover pizza they ordered and leaned on the counter

"Its nothing. My face hit the door of the cafe when walking out" I couldn't tell her the real truth or I'll be laughed at for the rest of my life.

"You need to watch where your going Bassam, the other day you fell on the couch. The couch that is in plain sight"

I laughed and played with her cheeks.

"Its fine, its not like I'm going blind or dying"

"Bassam!"..

"Jeez, Chill. You worry too much. I'm fine"

Her face suddenly fell and she moved to the living room.

I followed suit and sat beside her.

"What wrong?"

She looked up at me and forced a smile.

"I miss mother that's all. She's usually the one who shouts at you and worries about you. I feel like I'm with her sometimes and I just want to be sure she's okay"

"She's fine. I'm sure she and Baba are busy with ruling the country and all" I felt pain as the words came out of my mouth.

"Yeah. Maybe that's why they haven't called yet" She said and my heart melted.

"Yeah" I pulled her close and gave her a hug "Maybe"