Chapter 9: A Drive Home.
1538 Words
Behind every beautiful thing, there's some kind of pain.
- Bob Dylan
Arsala's POV
When I finally snapped out of the trance I walk towards the parking lot. On getting there I saw a white Mercedes pulling out of a parking space.
It has a tinted glass so I can't exactly see who is on the driver seat. Whoever was in the car drove up and park right in front of me. The window roll down and it Imran on the driver seat.
"Come on in." He urge for me to get in.
"My brother would come pick me up......"
"Get in Arsala I'm not going to harm you, I'm just going to drop you off at home." His tone is calm yet pleading.
The way he says my name hits different. Arsala, he makes me love the name even more.
"Say that again." I blunt out without thinking.
"Say what again?" He asks looking confuse.
"My name." I reply chewing on my nails and hoping this doesn't stir up the wrong impression.
"Arsala!" His tone bear uncertainty.
Its sounds nothing compared to when said my name some seconds ago. This time it sound so different.
"Did I say it wrong?" He ask feeling a bit guilty.
"Nope." I nod in response.
"Okay, get in!"
"Don't tell me what to do!" I frown at him.
"Get in!" This time his tone is more commanding than the first time.
I open the car door got in, slamming the door hard.
"Listen to me, don't you ever in your life again tell me to shut up or command me like that again." My forefinger is pointed at him and the pissed off look on my face is undeniable.
His lips gradually forms into a smile. "You're so unpredictable." He say smiling at me.
"Whatever......"
"So......" He drives out of the parking lot. "You think its okay to threaten me and tell me to shut up but the same doesn't apply to you?"
"You deserve the threat." His car smells really nice. Something like those Arabs perfume.
I'm obsessed with perfume, its my kryptonite.
"Its not my fault we look good together...."
I quickly turn my head towards his direction.
"I mean......"
"The threat was because you refused to say something about the rumors. You were letting them spread lies." My eyes are glue on him taking in his side view.
"I really don't have the time to explain what goes on In my life to anyone. So I just let them make assumption." He took his eyes of the road to glance my way.
"That's understandable but some assumption need to be cleared up..."
"I know." He interrupts me.
"Its just?" He comes to stop at a traffic light.
"Its just what." My tone Sounds a bit scary.
My brain cells are telling me he is going to say its because the rumors are not important to him. It would a wrong thing to say, I know I'm going to get pissed off.
"Its just you're the first girl who isn't pleased about being matched up with me." His eyes are glue on me.
"Most girls would play along and use this as a good opportunity to get close to me...."
"Move....." Before I could finish the car behind us is already hooting.
"Shit......" He drive forward and finds a space to park by the road side.
"The question is why weren't you pleased about it?.." He asks killing the car engine.
"Why would I pleased about it." I answered his question with a question, giving him a weird stare.
"Look at me." He adjust his sitting position.
"I can see your face......"
"I'm straight A student, the president of the honour society, the SGA president..........."
"Do I look like I care about your life achievements?" I interrupt his before he could finish.
"You could have all that and still be as rotten as a spoilt egg on the inside."
His lips parted a bit as he stares at me in disbelieve.
"I care more about actions than words. I care more about the energy you emit than what a piece of papers says." That's me, I can be friends with anyone as long as you have a good heart.
"I can even point out some of your flaws mister straight A." Sarcasm lace my voice a bit.
"Go ahead." He leans a bit into the driver seat.
"You smoke, drink and also a narcissist." I hold up three fingers, pointing out his flaws.
"You are no saint sweetheart." Realizing what I blunt out, I quickly use my palm to cover my mouth.
Why did I just called him sweetheart?
"Okay!" He chuckles gently nodding his head. "How do you know I drink?"
"Oh.....that was a guess." A right guess.
"You're a good guesser. Point noted." He pick up his phone from the cup holder.
"Why do you smoke......"
"Its getting late let's get you home." He interrupt me.
It just indirectly says he doesn't want to talk about it. Asking that question was a stupid move, I'm getting too comfortable and nosy with him.
"Where do you live?" He asks connecting his phone to the car GPS.
"I can......"
"Why are you so reluctant about let me know more about you?" He question again before I could say anything.
"I just value my space and privacy a lot...." An adhan went off from the car backseat.
I look back and saw my backpack. We both try reaching for it at the same time. Which lead to us both bumping our heads against each other.
"Ow!" I wince in pain. I gently massage the spot that sting with my hands.
"Hey, you good?" He ask handing my backpack to me.
"No..." I took the backpack from him. I took out the phone and turn off the adhan. Its time for maghrib.
"Sorry." He reach to the backseat.
"Here." He hands me a of bottle water.
"Why is my head hurting me this bad and yours isn't?" I took the water from him.
"You bumped your head against mine."
"It was mistake....sorry." He tone is apologetic.
"Bismillaah." I gulp down a large quantity of water.
I brought it back down and cap back the bottle. We were both silent, the awkward kind of silent.
"So your address?" His voice broke the ice.
I look his way, one part of my brain is screaming don't give him your address. The other part is screaming give it to him you're just a few minutes away from home.
"I don't....."
"Arsala." He voice bears soothing tone.
"Um..." I instantly blunt out like I was under some spell.
"I'm just going to drop you off at home. I promise you I have no intentions of harming you. If I did I could have sedated the water I just gave you...."
"What!" I shriek out.
"Calm down its not sedated." He chuckles softly.
He is laughing at my expense. Its my first time seeing him laugh this hard, I'm not tripping but his laughter is a beautiful sound.
Home is a few minutes away from where we are, there is no harm in giving him the address. Beside for some weird reasons I feel like he can be trusted.
"Okay fine." I say giving in.
15 minutes later
"So this is your sanctuary?" His eyes were taking in the outer view of my home.
"Yup...." I reach for the door handle.
"Imran." I call out, gaining his undivided attention.
"Na'am cupcake." He reply.
Why does he keeps calling me cupcake?
"Why did you kept on saying I'm not going to harm you?" I over think things and this didn't settle well with me. Especially when he repeated those word twice.
"Did you had any intention on harming at first?" I ask afraid of his reply.
"I have no intention of ever causing you harm....."
"I feel a but coming." I say, interrupting him.
"But....." He chuckles a bit. "Your body language said a lot."
"My body language?" I stare at him with confused eyes.
"Every time I asked where you live, you had this terrified look on your face."
I stay silent. How is he able to read me so easily? Its like he knows what I want to say right before I say it. Its like he knows what I feel without me uttering a word.
"We all have secrets and I'm not a saint or the best man to walk the earth surface. I just need you to know I'd never hurt you." He eyes are staring directly into mine.
I stay silent as his words echos in my ears.
I'd never hurt you!
I'd never hurt you!
I'd never hurt you!
I'd never hurt you!
"Cupcake!" His voice cuts me off from my train of thoughts.
"Are you okay? Can you breath? Is it another asthma attack?........"
"No I'm completely fine." I interrupt him.
He let out a breathe he was holding.
"You scared me there?"
"Thank you for giving me a ride home." I step down from his car.
"You are welcome!" He smile at me.
"Bye." I walk into the house and he drove away.
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- Writer
