HIJABI ✔️

Chapter 21

Ruqayyah's POV

Today is Tuesday and psychology was meant to be our only lesson, but they decided to add literature to Tuesdays as well, so here I am finishing lessons a little later. It has been ten minutes since the lessons were over and I was around the corridors looking for Alex. I called him many times, but he didn't pick up. I couldn't go home knowing that he was sent out because of me and walked off when the teacher called him back in. He was nowhere to be found. I think he left college because I didn't see his car out.

On my way out, I guess I was so lost in my thoughts I ended up bumping into somebody,

"I am so sorry!" I state realising it was Miss Lila, my sociology teacher.

"No, it's okay,"

"I am really sorry, I was a bit distracted and I guess I_"

"Calm down, Ruqayyah, are you okay?"

"Yes, I was just on my way out,"

"Wait, give me a hand with these books. I need to go to the teacher's office. The headteacher asked me to take these and I guess he thought I was some kind of superwoman, "She says playfully gaining a weak smile from me.

"Sure, I'll help," I grab half of the books she had in her hands.

When we are in the office, we set the books on the table and she waves at a chair for me to sit down. I look around to realise that this room is three times bigger than a normal classroom. So this is where they spend their time off lessons.

"Do you want to talk?"

"Uh... About what?" I sit down on the chair in front of her.

"Are you okay?" She surprises me with the question.

"Yes..."

"You do know that in BCH every year group has their own counsellor, right?" She asks and I nod, "Well, for year two, I am the counsellor assigned for the students." She explains and I just nod once again, although I had no idea that she was our counsellor. "So that being said, you can talk to me about anything that's bothering you and it will remain between us. I can see that you are not very well right now."

"I... Uh... It's just..." I didn't even know where to start, I didn't even want to start from anywhere. I just want to go find Alex, he's all I have in my mind right now.

"Don't worry, you don't need to tell me if you're not ready. Just feel free to come to me anytime. You know where my classroom is and you know where my office is, I am here every day after college except Wednesday's and Friday's. So any other day feel free to come to me, alright?" She says and I give her a light nod, although I doubt I'll come to any teacher for help in my personal affairs.

"Thank you, Miss Lila."

"You're most welcome. You are a great student and I usually mark your papers first because they make me happy." She says gaining a smile from me. "Please keep that smile," She gets up from her seat and so do I. "She leans closer to give me a hug, to my surprise, but I needed it, so I just hug her back, "College rules don't usually allow it, but when did I ever follow rules?" She says gaining a chuckle from me. Yeah, she does look like the rule breaker type. "A student of mine needs me, that's enough for me to let go of everything and be at their aid."

"Thank you so much, Miss Lila, you have helped a lot," I tell her honestly as we part from the hug.

"I'm happy to know, I'll see you tomorrow in my class." She says and I give her a nod before walking to the door, "And please just ignore the rumours, it's just a matter of time until they cease." She advises and I am surprised that she already found out about the rumours. I turn back to give her a slight nod before leaving the office.