The Size of our hearts

11

Jafaar walked out of the office, I stood up.

"No need, I told him you weren't involved" Jafaar shrugged

"Oh thanks, is school over?"

He pulled his phone out of his pocket, "Well now it is" He said as the bell rang.

I let out a sigh of relief and was about to leave the office when Jafaar pulled me back by the collar of my blazer. "What?" I asked as I rolled my eyes. His eyes became serious as his eyebrows grew closer to his eyelids.

"What was Hamid saying just now and why did you look over at me" He said as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at me. "Nothing he was just making fun of my shoes" I said as I managed a smile.

"Okay me and Hamid aren't close but I don't believe he "makes fun" He said as he pursed his lips together. "Also people don't get that angry when their shoes are made fun of, c'mon princess, spill" He said as an almost invisible smirk played onto his lips.

"Well maybe I have anger issues." I shot back "I highly doubt that" He smiled. "I gotta go" I said as I made my way around him.

I walked down the stairs of the school to realize it was empty. I was about to leave the school when it started raining, I stood by the door praying for the rain to stop. My Dad had a meeting today so he couldn't come pick me up.

I was about to sit down on the floor when I heard whistling, I rolled my eyes when I remembered the only other person who was still in school. Jafaar stepped out of the bathroom with a toothpick in his mouth and his hair was wet and he wasn't wearing his beanie. He brushed his hair back and looked over at me. "Guess who's still here."

"Do you need a ride home?" He asked quietly while looking at his phone, before pushing it back in his pocket and looking back up at me.

"I'll just wait for the rain to stop"

"Why?" He said as he looked through his bag. He grabbed something white out of it and threw it at me. I caught it and unfolded it to reveal a hood detached from a jacket. 

I looked up at him confused, "to cover your hair"he said in a tone of question. I pressed my lips together and cocked my head to the side and looked at him. "I'm dropping you off Neveah because by the time the rain stops it'll be dark it's already past 5" 

"I don't remember saying yes" I said as I twirled his hood around my pinkie, "Ok please Neveah ride in my chariot" I let out a light laugh "ok".

"Good" He smiled before swinging his sports bag onto his shoulder. 

He pushed open the door and ran and told me to follow him, I pulled the hood down to seal my hair, and ran after him. The rain poured down on my face, so I couldn't keep my eyes open. But I just kept running after him, we stopped in front of a black Honda, He pulled out his car key and pressed down the unlock button, I opened the door and slid into the passenger seat, Jafaar climbed in beside me, He slammed the door shut and let out a laugh before looking over at me. 

I smiled and turned on the radio. 'smooth criminal'  came blaring out from the radio, I reduced the volume a little bit, "so you like Micheal Jackson" I said as he adjusted his back and started the car.

"Who doesn't" He said as he raised his eyebrows with out looking at me. "Michael Jackson was an amazing person, he spoke the truth through his music and didn't let anyone define what he would sing about."

"Michael Jackson up until now was just... I dunno Micheal Jackson to me" I laughed 

"Yeah pretty much to everyone, but every now and then us devoted fans pop up" He smiled widely to reveal his canine teeth, before winking and turning back to the steering wheel. We drove out of the school gate. 

"So Ms. Aasir, where am I taking you" 

"Straight down, first turn on your left then the brown and gold gate" 

"Alright" He said as he turned right.

"I said left"

"I know"

I squinted my eyes and looked over at him before throwing myself back onto my seat. "Just relax I'm not taking you anywhere you haven't been before." 

I let out a sigh mixed with disconcertment. We drove past the spot where we had our bonfire, I pulled a loose braid and put it behind my hair before resting my elbow on the open window.

We stopped in front of Hamid's house, "You've got to be kidding" I said as I turned to face Jafaar.

"No jokes" He grunted as he got out of the car. "Are you coming?" 

The rain had gone down, "I'd rather stay here". He walked up to the front door, to realize it was already open. He pushed it lightly with his index finger before lowering his head and stepping inside. 

I started hearing things being thrown down and being moved. I hesitated but decided to go check what was going on. I got out of the car and shook of the irritated feeling of the ends of my  wet hair soaking my shirt. I stepped into the house to find Jafaar sitting on the floor with his back to the wall. 

"Hey, are you okay" I asked looking around the scattered room.

"Yeah, I'm good...I was just looking for something"

I walked over to the first aid kit and lifted it up, I pulled out the picture of his mom. 

"Is this what your looking for?" I asked shakily 

Jafaar lifted up his head and slowly propped himself up with one hand.

"No, but why would you assume I was looking for that picture" He said as he looked away from the picture and back up to me. 

I swallowed nothing in particular and looked back up at him.

"The night I came to Simul, I saw you, you left Hamid's house"

"yeah, he told me you lost your mom, I'm sorry"

"Don't lie" He whispered. I put my hands in my back pockets and looked up at him trying to seem as confused as possible. 

It was obvious that Jafaar that he didn't believe a word I said so I decided the truth would be a better option.

I took a deep breath and ran my hands through my hair. "He told me woman in the picture was his mom and she died and the boy was him"

Jafaar's breathing grew silent until I could only hear the rise and fall of my breathing alone. 

"Why were you trying to cover up for him?"

"I just didn't want to start something" I replied 

"This is how it started, people always covering up for that dick, he needs to own up to what he's done, the lives that were lost because of him, but at the end of the day it's not his fault, I trusted him"

I took a step forward and raised my hand but he stepped back and looked over at the door. 

"You need to go home" He muttered

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a 500 naira note. "Get a cab" "Jafaar.. I." I started. "Just go home Neveah" He said, his voice was hoarse. "Ok um.. don't worry about the cash I've got some"  

I stepped out of the house to see Hamid walking towards the front door, he looked at me then over at Jafaar's car then without saying a word walked past me and shut the door behind him. 

I shook of the embarrassed feeling and got my bag out of Jafaar's car. 

I stepped onto the side of the road and put my hand up to get the attention of a taxi man.