A distant voice chattering. It was Nana.
*What? Who is at the gate?*
"Mam did you ask Reira to come here?"
I wake up suddenly, gasping for breath, voice trembling with panic,
"Is she really here?"
"Yes. She is"
I got some strength out of nowhere. I stood slowly and cautiously descends the stairs, gripping the railing for support, movements were unsteady, with each step. As reached to the ground floor, I saw her walking towards the stairs.
As she walked, eyes fixed on her phone, scrolling through something, suddenly, felt something blocking her path.
Without warning, she looked up, startled...
She grabbed my right hand's wrist pulled me towards her.
"You Idiot!" barely above whisper, She hugged.
As the hug broke, we both pulled slightly away, but still holding onto. The gaze that followed was typically a mixture of tenderness, warmth, and vulnerability. I grabbed her again closer as I still needed the warmth.
We realized that we were with Nana and parted away as she looked us confused. Reira received a call from the principal. Back at the gate the guard didn't let her pass through without permission from the higher up. So she spoke with John, the principal. She made quite a scene to get to me.
"What have you done?"
"Relax. I'll handle this."
She made sit inside the first classroom near us. It was too cold to be in a open space. She rubbed my hands to keep me warm even when she was on phone. She got the permission to take me out of the campus.
Alice returned with the pills but it's too late. They both tagged along with us. The cab has arrived as we spoke. Reira followed us behind with her scooter. Nana held my hands to keep them warm.
We all reached there. She took me to the doctor. He asked how do I feel. I looked at her like a child who can't express what's bothering. She understood and spoke in my place. He prescribed injection because it's viral. I'm not afraid of it but still I wanted her to be near me.
She paid the bills and took me near to the cab.
"Stay with me tonight. I can take care of you."
"Reira, that's risky. we haven't got permission for that." -Nana
"Or just ride with me."
"Reiraa... We came to the hospital not to hang out." -Nana
"It's fine. I will go with her."
"Huh! Your call then. We'll be waiting outside the gate. Careful" - Nana
"Shall we?" We moved.
"Drive a bit slower. It's freezing."
"You can hug me!" She wrapped my hands around her waist.
To be honest, she was warm.
A rainy night, the sound of raindrops mixing with the hum of the engine as we ride, the moon breaks through the clouds, casting a soft glow on the wet streets. She slowed for a moment, intimate glance at the moonlit sky.
"Hey, look, the moon is beautiful isn't it?!"
My heart skipped a beat. I wonder if she knew what it means because she doesn't know about anime. I leaned on her back pretending I didn't hear any.
"I wish these roads would never end."
A soft, velvety murmur that wraps around you like a gentle breeze in the dark.
Eventually we reached the school gate. Nana and Alice were waiting there.
"Call me when you reach home."
"Ok take care." I sent her off and went inside.
She bought me some food, had them and hit the bed. Almost slept sad because the others had fried rice without me. They insisted to have something lite. I received a call from Rimma. She asked me if I need anything and told me take off to work next day. I knew right away it already started spreading like Covid.
*phone rings* I took the call eyes closed.
"Hello"
"Oi!" I knew the voice.
"Hmm"
"Did you eat? How are you feeling now?"
"Yes. Better than before."
"Ok where are they?"
"In the canteen."
"Will you able to be at work tomorrow?"
"Nope. They told me to take off already."
"That's good. I was about to say the same. You should rest. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Wait."
"Yes."
"Why did you do all these?"
"Well you are not the person who asks for a favor. I understood that you are really suffering."
"How come your parents let you get out at that time? It's was around 9.30p.m"
"My father understood that you are important to me."
"You did it because it was me or..... What would you do if it was someone else?"
"I will make sure that they get pills from someone there. That's the best I will do."
"What if it was your best friend?"
"The same. I did it because it's you."
"I am asking why?"
"I don't know. I just wanted to see you for that moment."
"Reira, Be straight. What am I to you?"
"I... uh!... You are my... friend!"
"Fuck off. You just told me you wouldn't do that to your friends."
"Uhh! I don't know how to put it. Maybe more than friend?!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Uhhh" (awkward silence)
"Have you ever been on a date with a girl?"
"What?! No. Never thought of it."
"Attracted towards them."
"Nope." (not until I met you)
"Do you remember when our colleague, Diya invited us to her marriage?"
"Yeah. Why brings that now?"
"That day when said that if pretty all women gets married soon what would I do."
"And I stopped you. You should not say that in front of everyone."
"Only you were there. Were you jealous?"
"Yeah What if I'm?"
"Jealousy over a friend uhh???"
"Uhhh!! Ah!! Then you tell me. Why you said that you admire me on that when I was practicing?"
"Yeah because I did."
"What!"
"I just speak my mind."
"I know that much but this... doesn't sound you."
"Why should you be the one who flirts?"
"Am I?"
"Of course you are. Even Nanas can say that."
"Ok I agree."
"To which statement?"
"I am into you."
"In which way?"
"In everyway."
"Are you serious about this? Hope you understand what it will cause"
"I do. My brothers were against even when I was with a boy. I know the consequences very well."
"We are just impossible together in our country."
"We can live somewhere where we can be together."
"But..."
"Relax. I will take care of those things and you. What do you say?"
End of chapter
stay tuned.
Looking forward to your comments.
So that I can know that you are actually reading.
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