Blue ✓

♠ nine ♠

"What's your name?" She asked him the third time they talked.

It was strange. That she felt free when talking to him.

She had never been the most social child. Even in school, she'd been the girl at the back, quiet, reserved, not talking unless talked to. She's never been part of a social circle, nor anyone she could call friend beyond a classmate.

The closest people in her life have always been Suhayl and Ammi.

Whereas before she had interactions with people other than them, since her loss of sight and recuperation at the hospital then home, Suhayl and Ammi were the two constant presences around her.

She loved it.

She hated it.

Because now they treated her like fragile glass, careful and tender.

In the beginning, it made her feel cherished, loved and cared for. Now, three months into this careful treatment had left her drowning. Ammi, who never scolded her anymore, and Suhayl, the boy who argued with at every turn, never argued with her anymore.

They both were so... placid.

So agreeable.

So... frustrating.

Now this boy, who didn't really censor his sarcastic, biting words.

Most of the days, he is there in the evenings until maghrib, when both Ammi and Suhayl are not home. They both just sit there, separated by the wooden fence. She can hear him turning the pages of the book he's reading.

He doesn't talk unless Aiyla starts a conversation. So, Aiyla will make a small comment and he'd reply.

Funnily enough, she didn't feel awkward saying anything. Maybe it's because she'd never known or seen him, she doesn't care of the impression she leaves on him. It's strangely liberating.

She refused to dwell on the reasons.

"Sorry, I don't make it a habit to give my name to strangers."

Aiyla's eyebrow twitched. There was a time where Suhayl used to talk to her like that.

"Technically we're neighbours, not necessarily strangers."

"I could have broken into this house."

"Oh no. Let me call the police," she deadpanned.

The boy gave a startled laugh at that. "I don't live in this house."

"I know."

"How? Are you stalking me?"

"What, you thought I'd sit here with the suspicion you might a serial-killer?"

"So, what do you know about me?" He sounded strangely nervous.

"That you're an idiot."

He gave an affronted sound at that. "Excuse you. I'm an extremely refined and intelligent gentleman."

"I see."

"Pretty sure you don't." He froze as his words registered.

"..."

Aiyla blinked. She could literally feel him stiffen up at her silence.

"I-I mean..." he began stuttering out what Aiyla assumed would be an apology.

She should be offended...right?

He had just made fun of her blindness.

Made a joke out of it.