Thorns and Berries

Chapter Twenty-six

Hameed

I had not expected her to say something like that. Not at all. And when she did, I just stupidly stared at her and felt the atmosphere close up around us. My ears grew deafening to the song that played from the DJ's corner and I continued to stare into those ashes grey eyes that always held me captive and spell bound. And then, without a second thought, I said,
      
"I got into a fight with Kamal last night." Husna's eyes widened even more. Then she looked away, much to my disappointment.

And...why did she say that?

Because you mean a lot to me.
 
I doubted she meant her words. Maybe she was just saying it to get me hooked up with her for the night. I had always found girls as easy nuts to crack but Husna's case was however different.

She was just so.... unpredictable.   

"Why did you guys have a fight?" She looked at me again after regaining from her shock and also like one who knew the reason for our fight. She could've guessed right.
      
"Because I found out about what he had told you about me." I answered, getting a little angry over last night's memory and how she had let Kamal ruin our new relationship.

That evil swine of a brother.
  
When Husna had refused to tell me about what Kamal had said to her that night, I had sensed it was one of Kamal's many schemes to destroy me.

I had stormed straight to Kamal's room as soon as I got back from Husna's place and questioned him about his conversation with Her. When Kamal affirmed his suspicions, smirking evilly, I had lost control of myself and dealt him a blow on the face that sent him sprawling on the floor.

Kamal had retaliated, getting up from the ground and hitting me back. A fight had ensued between us and we traded punches and head nods and kicks.

I had been so upset and enraged at Kamal and later, had called Husna's phone as I sat on my bed with an Ice bag on my cheekbone soothing the pain from the injury I had received from Kamal.

I had apologized to Husna for my nasty behavior and she had told me to stay away and quit seeing her. I did feel this kind of strange, sudden, and deep pierce through my heart, feeling as though the whole world was against me this time. Even Husna.
  
And now, here we were. Sitting next to each other.

Not that I didn't expect to see her at the party. Just that I never thought they would get to be this close again.
  
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
     
"You shouldn't have gotten yourself involved in a fight because of me, Hameed."
  
I raised a questioning brow.
       
"Why? Don't you deserve being fought for?"
        
"I do. But not this way."
       
"Then maybe you could've saved things from turning out this way if only you had told me the truth last night."
      
"That's not true, Hameed. If I had told you about it last night, you wouldn't have hesitated to fight him in my presence. Do you know what people will think of me?"
      
"Why does it matter what people think of you?"
       
"It's because I care."
       
"Well then, I suggest you stop caring cos it's obviously not favoring you. It makes you appear fake. You should be yourself."
      
"I can't be like you, Hameed."
      
"I never asked you to. But I think it would be best if you'd try to be like me. At least, I'm true to myself."
      
"You're a psycho, Hameed."
       
"Yeah. When it comes to you."
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Karima     
       
We remained locked in the room for almost thirty minutes with no hope of coming out yet. Amina's battery died down and my own phone was not with her. I had left it my room. Now, I wished she had taken it with me to the bathroom.

Amina sat up on the bed and I sat on the farthest edge to avoid bodily contact with her.
  
That snitch of a sister.
  
I hated that of all other people, it had to be that I was trapped in the same room with Amina. I despised everything about her from the way she pretends to be innocent and naïve, to the air she breaths. She had always ended up ruining me in a way or another and even succeeded today in preventing me from attending Salma's wedding party.