Your Imperfections

Chapter 19

Adian and I wouldn’t be considered the perfect couple. I wouldn’t say we were better than othes, but still we tried to stay by each others side.

Weeks flew by so quickly. Adian continued to have his mood swings, and so did I. He would be so sweet sometimes, take me out for dinner, movies that sounded good, and what not. We even went to Sarah's restaurant, and turns out I am new fan of her pancakes dripping with maple syrup. She was extraordinarily sweet to teach me the recipe so I could make for Adian at home. But mine didn’t turn out as good as hers, though Adian said otherwise. He literally couldn’t stop licking his fingers afterwards.

There was another thing we had to think over. Our studies. We just couldn’t put a stop to it. And we also had to find a job, because I really didn’t want Mr. Sohail to keep with our finances. I spent days and nights worrying over this, how to manage our finances. Adian was adamant in letting me work, since I was gonna start high school soon. I managed to convince him though, and then he got a little pissed with me.

Winter was just around the corner.

Back in Pakistan, everyone was wondering if there was some good news. I had told them Adian and I were too young for it, to be parents. Every other day a new story would be dropped on me about Adian’s past, and I’d cry myself to sleep. He had dated girls before, I already knew that, but it was still a shock to me when he had said it out loud. Funny as it may sound, he was the one who had stopped the tears, even though he was the one who actually caused them.

One month had passed by, and although there were some moments where I had to see Adian’s Dad, I managed to control my emotions. I was getting pretty good at it.

After two months of staying in my apartment and doing nothing while Adian joined his father’s business, I was so ready to join the local high school and study more.

“But I won’t be there to protect you from those losers.” He tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear, frowning down at me.

I pass him a reassuring smile. “I can defend myself. And besides, nothing would happen where you’d have to show off your biceps,” I joke, grinning.

He has been going to the gym a lot lately. He states gym takes his mind off the stress and panics he has been getting since I told him about my messed up past. He was moved by hearing the rest of the story about Maheen. She was murdered by his Dad, but since I was the only one who caught him taking my sister’s life away, everyone dismissed it as a shock since my family couldn’t believe it ever that Mr. Sohail could do or even think about hurting us.

He fake hurts by pushing out his bottom lip and placing a hand over his chest. “I am wounded, wifey.”

I laugh. “I don’t think anything I ever say could wound you. Hey, what do you want to eat for dinner tonight?”

He shrugs, flopping on the bed. “Anything would be good. But if you want to order, we could just order.”

“No, we will eat healthy,” I smile sweetly, making him laugh.

The next morning I wake up to my alarm going off at 6:30am. I hurriedly reach over and turn it off before Adian wakes up. It wouldn’t hurt to let him sleep for another couple of minutes.

I sleep on the sofa bed, just because sometimes I stay up late doing some work on my laptop, and mainly because Adian takes the whole of bed to sleep. As soon as I get up, the nerves start to kick in. High School, something most teenagers dread these days.

To me, the thought isn’t that bad. I don’t have to dress to impress, or give those ‘eyes’ to boys to get them trailing behind me like a puppy, and neither do I have to worry about being a cheerleader. I am solely going there to complete my studies.

It took me literally 3 minutes to brush and wash my face. Then, another 2 to throw on some comfy clothes and on top of it my jilbab. Today, I chose a blue one with a zip in the front.

“Adian!” I tried to wake him up, simultaneously fixing my scarf.

He didn’t budge an inch. I yelled his name several more times, and only stopped when he bolted to a sit, his eyes drooping with sleep. He rubs them sleepily, then narrows his eyes at me.

“Why are you yelling so early in the morning!” he whines, and falls back on the bed.

I watch him from the mirror, drawing lazy patterns in the air.

“I have school today. I am doubting it slipped your mind,” I say.

“Of course not. I’ll just get ready. Gimme five.”

As he disappears inside the bathroom, I suck in a sharp breath, mustering the strength to face all the rude remarks I will get today from all the students. They won’t be sweet with me, that’s for sure. But maybe, just maybe I will be able to find at least one good girl, who would become my friend, because staying lonely isn’t the best thought ever.

Leave it to Allah, I silently say in my head. He will make everything alright.