Not My Boyfriend

5. Mulki's Guardian

5. Mulki's Guardian

This was a pretty school. You could tell that everything was brand new. Then again, many brand new buildings were in Mogadishu compared to Columbus. She could see the construction workers from the window.

No.

Hassan walked towards her, and she had to force herself not to run. Mulki was sure that she was cursed. Someone must hate her and did a witch's curse. That must be the only explanation that she was standing in a new school holding her heart from falling apart. Maybe one day she could see him and not feel this way but it was still a work in progress.

"Mulki!" Hassan looked as friendly and as warm as ever. The kind of guy that it was hard not to like. Already several guys were waving and greeting him in the hallway although it was his first day here, too.

He stepped forward to embrace her, but she stepped back and pointed at the disapproving teacher standing in the hallway. She really needed to get to class.

"Hi, Hassan."

His smile faltered, "It is good to see that you are okay. I was worried. I hope you did not get in trouble with your parents from what happened after the party."

Mulki shook her head. As if she would tell her parents what happened on any weekend. You should never talk to your parents about your teenage social life those secrets were for your best friend only.

She was surprised on how uncomfortable that she was with Hassan, before she used to be so happy, now she felt sad when she looked into his eyes.

"Can I ask you a question?" Hassan asked.

Mulki forced herself to be polite, "Yes." She was not going to hurt his feelings. It is not as if he knew that he had accidentally broken her heart. Besides she always hated when Hassan was sad since he usually was so strong.

"How do you know- Never mind." Hassan looked away.

She blinked, "Know what?" Now he seemed uncomfortable with her.

Hassan hesitated for a moment before asking, "How do you know Mohamed?"

Why was he asking her about Mohamed? "I met him at the welcome party."

Hassan breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh- no wonder."

She was surprised with the way he had treated Mohamed. She never thought Hassan was the kind of guy that was mean to his family. Maybe there was some kind of misunderstanding.

"What's wrong?"

Hassan rubbed the back of his neck, "Just- stay away from Mohamed. He is not a good guy."

"What?" She did not understand. "Isn't he your brother? Why didn't you tell me that you had another brother? "

Hassan sighed. "Half-brother. Why would I hide that? I just met him. I did not know about him either."

"What? That makes no sense, Hassan."

"It is a long story but basically my father never told me. He had been married before he married my mom. I just found out recently. At least my mom is not alive to see this." Hassan growled under his breath.

Mulki pursed her lips. That did not sound good. "Oh- sorry."

Hassan met her eyes, "That guy is bad news. He hates me, so I don't want him to take advantage of you just because me."

Mulki's mouth dropped. "How could you say that?"

He shook his head. "I know you, Mulki. I know that you are a good girl. I am just saying that he is not. I am just concerned for you as a brother. He is an arrogant bastard. You are like my little sister. I am just looking out for you."

Little Sister?

Yes.

That was all he saw her as.

"Hassan, I have to go to class." Especially since a teacher was glaring at them.

"Promise me."

Mulki really wanted to tell him no. Who was he to tell her who to talk to? What was the point of moving? But Mohamed did not like her either, so it was not a hard promise to make. "Okay."

He nodded. "Alright, see you later." He went to join a group of guys that were walking by.

"Who is that girl? She is cute." One of the guys asked.

Hassan hit him on the back of the head with his notebook. "That girl is like my little sister. Anyone that looks at her has to deal with me."

"Yo, man sorry. I didn't know." The boy apologized quickly.

Mulki could not believe it. It was happening again. Why did he always do that to any guy that liked her? Before she thought that it was because he wanted her, but he was serious. He saw her as his little sister and forced every guy to do that too. Most guys at their school refused to say more than hi to her since they respected Hassan so much.

How was she ever getting married?

It was not fair. She should be grateful that he saw her as his little sister. He had always protected her and taken care of her. Yet, she had ruined it by having feelings for him. Feelings that she needed to get rid off.

One-sided love is no kind of love.

Yet, since Hassan chased away every guy from her, she rarely ever talked to other guys. He was her guardian. It had seemed so sweet, but then it got confusing. She started to see him as her hero, her protector, and she thought he loved her. Why else would he protect her?

Still he had a brother or half-brother that he did not tell her about. Plus he moved to Somalia without telling her.

Mulki was glad that she decided to let go of Hassan. She really did not know that much about Hassan. It was for the best that she kept her heart from him. Although, she knew Hassan for years, he was still a mystery to her. Then there were the rumors of all of the girls that he dated which was another secret that Hassan never talked to her about. But it was impossible to hide secrets forever when you are Somali.

He turned to smile brightly at her. And even if she did not want to, she smiled right back at him.

She was weak fool and knew that she would die old and alone.