Heartless Until Him.

The confusion

Abraham’s Pov:

Back in his room, Abraham sat on his bed.

The puzzle box was on his desk. He had opened it,alone. Yesterday, he didn't need Hurrem's help at all.

But he didn't tell her that.

He wanted to see her face. The way she leaned closer. The way her fingers touched his. He liked it,maybe too much.

Do I really like her? Or is this just an attraction ? He asked himself.

He needed to be sure. Attraction could be fake. It could disappear fast. He didn't want to hurt her for no reason.

So he decided to wait. Watch. Test his own feelings.

If he still thought about her every day after a week? Then it was real.

If not? He would leave her alone because he don’t wanna hurt or give any false hope to her.

He looked out the window. The city was quiet.

His phone buzzed. A message from his father: "Remember. The business is a secret. You gonna turn 18 the next year. Then everything is yours and you will have to come back to handle it all alone."

Abraham put the phone down. He didn't care about the business right now.

He cared about Hurrem.

Let's see if this feeling lasts, he thought. If it does I'll tell her the truth.

He closed his eyes and smiled. Not dark. Just curious.

Hurrem’s POV- The Trick

Three days after the disaster behind the gym, I had officially decided: Abraham didn't exist.

Okay, that's a lie. He sat two rows behind me. I could hear him breathe. I could smell his stupid soap when he walked past. But in my mind, he was invisible.

“No more gifts. No more hunger. No more hoping.” I said to Lara.

Lara was proud of me. "Finally," she said. "Some common sense."

Then John happened, I saw his mischievous eyes and I knew he is upto something.

It was during history class. Mrs. Tan was writing dates on the board — something about wars I didn't care about. Most of the class was half-asleep.

Abraham was quietly reading his book. Being boring, being invisible.

John was drawing something on a small piece of paper. I watched him from the corner of my eye. He kept looking at Abraham. Then at the paper then back at Abraham.

“What is he up to?” My whole attention was onto him.

Before I could figure it out, John leaned over and slipped the paper onto Abraham's desk. Right under his book.

Abraham didn't notice. He was too focused on reading.

Mrs. Tan turned around. Her eyes scanned the room. Then they stopped on Abraham's desk.

"Abraham," she said sharply. "What is that?"

Abraham looked down. He pulled the paper out from under his book. His face didn't change — but I saw his jaw tighten.

He held it up so Mrs. Tan could see.

It was a drawing of her. With a mustache. And the words "Queen of Boring" written underneath.

The whole class went silent.

Mrs. Tan's face turned red. "Abraham. This is unacceptable. Go to the principal's office. Now."

Abraham opened his mouth. "I didn't —"

"Now." Mrs.Tan said angrily.

He stood up. No argument. No pointing fingers at John. He just picked up his bag and started walking toward the door.

“He's going to take the blame”.I realized. “For something John did.”

I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe I was still angry at John for being a coward. Maybe I just wanted to prove that I wasn't as heartless as people thought.

I stood up.

"Mrs. Tan, it was me."

The class turned to look at me. Lara's jaw dropped. Even Abraham stopped walking and looked back.

Mrs. Tan narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

"I drew that picture," I said, my voice steady even though my heart was pounding. "I put it on Abraham's desk. He didn't know anything about it. He's innocent."

John was staring at me like I'd lost my mind. Good. He should feel guilty.

Mrs. Tan folded her arms. "Why would you do such a thing, Hurrem?"

"Because I thought it was funny," I said. "I was wrong. Punish me instead."

A long pause. Then Mrs. Tan nodded slowly. "Abraham, sit down. Hurrem, detention. Today after school. One hour."

I nodded. "Fair."

Abraham didn't sit down right away. He looked at me with those dark, unreadable eyes. Something flickered across his face — surprise? Anger? I couldn't tell.

Then he spoke. "Mrs. Tan, I'll stay with her."

The room went quiet again.

"What?" Mrs. Tan blinked.

"I said I'll stay with her." Abraham's voice was calm. "If she's taking the blame, I'm taking the punishment. It's only fair."

Mrs. Tan looked between us. Then she sighed. "Fine. Both of you. Detention. My classroom. 4 PM. Don't be late."

Abraham sat back down. He didn't look at me again. But I felt his eyes on the back of my head for the rest of the class.

---

Hurrem’s POV - Detention

At 4 PM, I walked into the empty classroom.

Abraham was already there. Sitting in the front row. Hands folded on the desk. He looked up when I entered but didn't say anything.

I sat as far away from him as possible. Near the window. Let him talk first.

Mrs. Tan came in, handed us both a sheet of math problems, and said, "No talking. Finish these by 5, or you stay another hour." Then she left.

The door clicked shut.

We were alone.

For five minutes, neither of us spoke. I stared at the math problems. I didn't understand any of them. My brain was too busy yelling at itself.

Why did you take the blame? Why is he here? Why does he still look so good even when he's annoying?

"You shouldn't have done that."

Abraham's voice was quiet. I looked up. He wasn't looking at me. He was staring at his own paper.

"Done what?" I asked.

"Taken the blame. You didn't draw that picture. John did."

I froze. "You knew?"

"Everyone knew. Except Mrs. Tan." He finally looked at me. His face was serious. "I was going to take the punishment. I didn't need you to save me."

"I wasn't saving you," I said, my voice getting sharp. "I was saving John from being a coward. Someone had to."

Abraham shook his head slowly. "Don't do things for me, Hurrem. Not ever again."

Those words hit me like a slap.

Don't do things for me.

After I spent my pocket money on him. After I stayed hungry. After I took the blame today. And this is what he says?

I stood up so fast my chair almost fell over.

"Fine," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "You know what? Fine. I won't. I won't do anything for you ever again. Not a single thing. You want to take the blame for something John did? Go ahead. You want to solve your own riddles? Do it. You want to be cold and mysterious and annoying? Be my guest."

Abraham just watched me. No expression. No reaction.

That made me even angrier.

"I was stupid to feel bad for you," I continued. "Stupid to spend my money on you. Stupid to take the blame. You don't deserve any of it. You know what you deserve? Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

I grabbed my bag.

"I'm leaving. Tell Mrs. Tan I got sick."

I walked out. Didn't look back.

Behind me, I heard Abraham say something. Quietly. I couldn't catch the words.

I didn't care.

Hurrem’s POV - After Detention

I sat on the steps outside the school. The sun was setting. My eyes were burning, but I refused to cry.

“Don't do things for me.”The words kept repeating in my head.

What kind of person says that to someone who just took a punishment for them? A horrible person.

My phone buzzed. Lara: "How was detention? Did you kiss?"

I wanted to throw my phone across the street.

Instead, I typed: "He told me not to do anything for him. Ever."

Lara's reply came fast: "WHAT. I'm coming."

Before I could respond, I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned. Abraham.

He was walking toward me slowly. His hands were in his pockets. His face looked different — softer. Almost nervous.

"What do you want?" I said. My voice was cold.

He stopped a few feet away. "To say sorry."

I laughed. No humor in it. "Sorry? That's it?"

"No." He took a breath. "That's not it."

He reached into his bag and pulled something out. A small paper bag. He held it out to me.

I didn't take it. "What is that?"

"Open it."

I grabbed it roughly. Inside was a sandwich. Still warm. And a small bottle of juice. My favorite kind.

I looked up at him, confused. "Where did you get this?"

"The cafeteria. It was still open." He paused. "You said you stayed hungry that day. For the gift. I remembered."

My heart did something stupid — it skipped. I hated it for skipping.

"That doesn't fix anything," I said quietly.

"I know." Abraham sat down on the step below me. Not too close. Just close enough to talk. "What I said in detention was wrong. I'm not good at… this."

"At what?". I said

"At letting people do things for me." He looked at his hands. "In my family, everyone wants something from me. No one gives without asking back. So when you took the blame… I didn't know how to handle it." I stared at him. This was the most he'd ever said at once.

"So you told me to stop?" I asked softly

"Yes." He looked up at me. "Because I was scared. Not because I didn't appreciate it."

I wanted to stay angry. I really did. But the sandwich was warm. And he remembered I'd stayed hungry. And he looked… honest.

"You're still annoying," I said.

A small smile tugged at his mouth. "I know."

"And I'm still not doing anything for you ever again." I said sternly.

"Fair." He said with a soft smile.

I opened the sandwich and took a bite. It was good. Really good.

Abraham stood up. "I should go."

"Wait." I surprised myself. "The picture. You knew John drew it. Why didn't you tell Mrs. Tan?"

He looked at me for a long moment. "Because John is your rival. Not mine. And you looked like you wanted to punch him yourself."

I snorted. "I did."

"See? I know you better than you think."

He turned and walked away. This time, when he left, I didn't feel angry.

I felt something else. Something warm. Something I didn't have a name for that kind of emotion.

I finished the sandwich and smiled at the sunset.

“Maybe he's not completely horrible.” I said while laughing at my own thought.