The Other

36

(Arlo)

"W-What...?" I said. I stood up from my bed. "W-What are you saying, omma?"

Did I hear her correctly? Did my ears deceive me? What was my mother going on about?

She began to cry even more as she explained to me.

"I-I j-just s-saw it on th-the n-news." she spoke.

Still confused, I grabbed my remote from my nightstand and turned on my TV. I quickly changed the channel to the news where I saw Yasir speaking in front of Yuki's house.

"It all happened so fast. I was in her living room. Next thing you know, I just hear this loud explosion and find my car wrecked and Yuki's body on the ground." Arlo spoke.

"And do you think someone put a bomb in your car?" asked the interviewer.

"I mean... I don't know what else it could've been, but this girl was really close to me. She was a great person and I wish nothing, but ease and good tidings for her family." Arlo said.

"You heard it from a witness, folks. Hopefully, we will find the person who did this and that they get what they deserve. Stay tuned for an interview with a girl who saw everything from the explosion to the death of Yuki Haruna."

I turned my TV off. Omma was still in tears, standing at my doorway. I was just looking down in silence.

How can this happen? Was this real life? Did I really lose my best friend?

Nothing seemed real at this point, but I knew that this was as real as it gets.

I couldn't help, but wonder if Arlo had anything to do with this... It was obvious that he was lying on the news and knew exactly what happened.

My eyes were watering and I stood up and exited my room, leaving my mother in tears.

I grabbed my keys off the coffee table in the living room and headed out the door.

"Where are you going, oppa?" Nari, my little sister asked. My siblings had been playing outside.

"None of your business." I said.

I hopped in my car and my siblings stared at me in confusion as I drove off.

I felt bad for being rude to Nari, but I wasn't in the mood at the moment. I was angry... Someone caused my best friend to die...

I quickly drove to the scene at Yuki's house. I saw Zucchini being interviewed and Yasir standing next to her. Yuki's parents were in tears, watching her body being taken away.

I quickly ran over to her parents. I brought them into a big hug.

"I am so so so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Haruna." I said. "But I need you guys to be strong. That's what Yuki would've wanted. I know it hurts, but she's in a better place now. I love you guys so much and I need you to be strong for me and Yuki, please." I comforted them.

"Sh-She... Th-This... It a-all happened s-so f-fast." Yuki's mother spoke through her tears.

I felt so bad for her parents. I couldn't imagine the pain they felt.

I headed over to Zucchini and Yasir when they were done being interviewed.

"Does anyone want to tell me what the fuck happened to my best friend?" I asked.

"Man, I'm so sorry." Yasir said.

I could tell Zucchini had been crying.

"The c-car... It just exploded..." she said and she began to cry again. "It killed her..." she said.

I brought her into a hug.

"Listen to me, guys." I said. "I've been paying attention to everyone here and honestly, you two are the most suspicious people here. I mean you guys are Muslim and there was an explosion... Most likely caused by a bomb... Put the pieces together..."

Zulaykha's eyes widened.

"I DID NOT KILL MY FRIEND, ARLO." she yelled as tears ran down her face.

"I'm just being real, Zulaykha..." I said. "This is gonna get a lot of media coverage and everyone might point their fingers at you two..."

Zulaykha glared at me and with that, she walked away.

I headed back to Yuki's parents.

"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask me." I said.

"We should've never left her alone..." Yuki's mom said as she wiped her tears. "We left for ten minutes and come back to...this..." she began to cry again.

"Don't you for one second think this is your fault..." I said. I hugged them once more. "I have to go now, okay? I'll call you guys tomorrow to check in..."

(Zulaykha)

                                        "Arlo's right, you know..." Hana said as we walked away from him. "Looks like Alma is getting what she wants..."

I rolled my eyes. I was sick of everything. I just wanted to get to the bottom of things. I wanted to make Alma stop, but I needed Hana's help. Hana wasn't willing to help. She was scared of Alma. I could tell. Alma isn't necessarily the easiest person to negotiate with...

Arlo had ran over to us. "I'm heading home right now." he said. "Do you guys need a ride?"

Yasir nodded his head.

"I'll give you guys a lift." Arlo said.

"Thanks, bro." Yasir said.

Yasir sat in the front while Hana and I sat in the back.

The car ride was silent... Too much was on our minds. It was weird that no one else thought something weird was going on. All these deaths... Did Arlo, Ziyad, Mohammed, and everyone else think they were just coincidental? And what about Yasin? He heard me say all those things in the car that day of our accident... Was he just being ignorant towards all this?

We arrived home.

"Let me know if you need anything, Arlo." Yasir said.

"Thanks, bro. You too." Arlo said. "I'm here if anything."

We got out of Arlo's car and headed inside.

I walked through the door and Mohammed and Ziyad looked at me.

"Zu... It's time to be straight up with you." Ziyad said. "Me and Mohammed have been talking and... He wants to marry you."