Shadows of Love

Two

HANAN

Who said studying law was easy? The whole constitution thing was boring and our lecturer's drawl wasn't making it any better.

This is the third day I am attending the lecture and I'm already bored out of my mind. I can't believe I'm going to keep attending this lecture for a whole semester, kill me already.

The lecture came to an abrupt end thankfully due to an impromptu staff meeting that was about to be held. I head out of the hall and made a beeline to the cafeteria, wanting to get a bite in before my next class.

Halfway through my journey, I heard a masculine voice calling me from behind. I halted my steps and spun on my heels, brows creased in confusion. My confusion morphed into a smile when Ammar came in my line of sight.

"Ammar, hey."

"Hello to you too beautiful. How you doing?" he jogged to my side.

"I'm doing great and you?"

"Same. Where are you heading to?" he questioned.

"The cafeteria. Sa'adah's waiting for me."

"Oh that's cool, I'm heading there also."

"Cool."

"Shall we?" he gestured at the exit, beginning to walk.

"Sure," I replied falling into step with him.

We chatted all the way to the cafeteria and I can't say how grateful I was having his company. I was so tired of walking to the cafeteria alone. Ammar's actually a really nice guy and I'm glad I have him as a friend.

' wait are we friends now? ' I asked myself.

I chuckled inwardly at my thoughts.

"What's funny Hanan?" he queried with an amused look.

' Urgh! He heard me ' I mentally face palmed myself.

"Nothing. Just remembered something," I shook my head.

"Okay."

We got to the cafeteria a few minutes later and head towards the table Sa'adah was seated at.

"Hey girl was wondering when you'd show up. Thought you ditched me up," Sa'adah said as soon as we sat down.

"Oh please! You're the only friend I have here. How in the world will I ever ditch you?" I asked with an eye roll.

"Oh I'm honoured to be your one and only friend," she replied all smiles. "By the way how come you two came here together?"

"We met at the hallway," I replied.

"Kay." she shrugged.

I stood up to go get my food but Ammar stopped me.

"Don't worry I'll go get it."

"It's alright," I declined politely. "Don't bother."

"I insist," he stood up.

"Alright," I nodded then resumed my earlier position.

"So what would you like to eat?"

"Fries please and a coke," I replied.

" Sa'adah? " he asked, his attention now on Sa'adah.

"I'll have what she's having."

"OKay will be right back " he said.

He came back a minute later with our orders, placed them before us then took a seat next to me, opening a can of malt.

"Thank you so much," we chorused, digging into our food.

"Anything for you ladies," he winked.

***

I was walking hastily, trying not to be late for class, still clueless about my way around the school and this is the first time I'm attending the lecture. God! I should've asked Ammar or Sa'adah the location of the hall.

I brought out my map and reread the number of the hall which I had memorized by now, checking the numbers on the doors before me.

Students were whispering amongst themselves as I pass them but I couldn't care less. Being the new girl in the middle of a semester really sucked especially when it was the first time a student was admitted then. People were bound to talk about the unusual admission but hey, money talks.

Wow she's pretty

She's from Seychelles

What's she doing here?

She's so arrogant

I paid no heed to them as I was busy trying to locate my class. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going till I came in contact with something hard but definitely human. I almost fell down but quickly righted my footing due to a year of ballet classes Leila had forced me to go to. How much I've missed that nutter.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going," I apologised to the person I ran into, picking up my map which had fallen.

"It's okay." he replied grumpily.

That voice, I think I've heard it somewhere before. I glanced up and my gaze clashed with his as he also was staring at me, unsurprising that is.

"You're the guy who helped me get to class the other day," I gasped, finally connecting his voice and face. "I didn't get to thank you."

He just nodded his head in recognition, "The map girl."

I quirked up my eyebrows at his nickname for me.

"Thank you," I replied hastily then spun on my heels but was stopped by Ammar's voice calling my name.

' Ammar thank God ' I muttered, mentally dancing.

"Hey man," Ammar fist bumped the dark haired guy as I stood by watching. They must be friends I thought, waiting for his attention to return back to me.

"Oh I've seen you met Khalifa already," Ammar said pointing at the dark haired guy.

Oh so this is the Khalifa Sa'adah was talking about the other day.

I nodded then checked my wristwatch. I've still got ten minutes to get to class. "I have to go Ammar," I hollered as I began walking. "It was nice meeting you Khalifa."

"Don't want to be late for class?" Ammar's eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah. Now why don't you be a gentleman and help me get to class. You know it's not nice letting a lady wander alone in these huge hallways," I taunted, pausing my walk.

"Sure. Where to Ma dame?" ( my lady) he nodded, taking bait.

" LPI lecture hall."

"Okay let's go " he said turning towards the corner I just left. Oh! I really need to know how to use this stupid map.

Luckily for me, I arrived in class just on time. I thanked Ammar and Khalifa for their help before I slide into the class.

When class ended, I went into the washroom to freshen up. I was washing my hands in the basin when I was confronted by three girls. They seemed to be a clique from the way the look almost identical in their clothing except for their skin color. The girl in the middle was fairer than the rest. They looked snobby with their expensive clothes and typical caked up faces.

"Stay away from them!" the girl in the middle warned, wagging her finger in front of me.

"Away from who?" I asked dumbfounded, drying my hands with my hand towel.

"Ammar and Khalifa," the girl by her right replied in a duh tone.

Oh Gosh! Is this high school? I haven't even lasted a week in this uni and I'm already confronted by jealous girlfriends. What do you know? Cue eye roll.

"They're out of your league," the girl by her left replied.

"Wait. Hold on," I said raising up my hand to stop them from talking."This isn't high school. If they're your boyfriends then you should know how to keep 'em but don't come here and try talking bull to me."

I have a lot on my plate and a jealous girlfriend is not what I need. Besides I just met the boys, how in the world was I supposed to know that they had girlfriends?

It wasn't like I shared a deep connection or conversations with either, I've only spoken to Khalifa like twice since I arrived in the cool.

I sidestepped them and made for the door, having had enough of them. Barbie grabbed my hand forcefully, halting my movement.

"Just who do you think you are walking out on me like that? Do you know who I am?"

"No I don't and I'm not interested in knowing," I replied shoving her hand away from me. "Don't try to touch me again."

"b***h!" she hollered.

Uh-uh barbie. You did not just call me a b***h. I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to refrain myself from doing anything stupid. I opened the door and walked out without a glance at her.