After Midnight

Chapter 19

Turned out, the evening wasn’t as awkward as I thought it was going to be. I gave credit for it to Harry for keeping the conversation going and replying for my answers which I couldn’t think of at that moment. What can I say, I can be pretty baffled sometimes.

“So, how did you guys get married so early?” I almost dropped the fork in my plate. I could never know how to tell people about this. . .stuff. And Ahsan was ever the curious guy, when he also asked, “And getting pregnant at such a young age?”

I almost choked. He was so blunt!

“It wasn’t planned,” Harry answered, an edge to his tone. He was getting more and more annoyed by Ahsan’s too personal questions. “And if people can date and have physical relations at the age of fifteen, then we can definitely have a baby when we are practically adults.”

There was utter silence on the dining table. I ought to break this tension. But how. . .

“So, what are your plans? When are you gonna settle down?” Aaila threw her question at Ahsan in a mocking tone. Phew. I would thank her later for diverting the all the questionnaires away from Harry and my life.

A mischievous grin lit Ahsan’s face. “Whenever you’re ready.” I choked. Aaila coughed. Harry snorted beside me. While the two elder ladies pretended to not hear him and continued on with their own conversation about some season.

“I’m joking. Actually, I haven’t found the one yet. Perhaps when I do, I will get settled with her. But,” he passed Aaila a lazy grin, “commitment scares me.”

Aaila gave what could be called the most selfish snort. No joke. I narrowed my eyes at her in warning. She shrugged, looking slightly ashamed.

The guests were leaving. Except Harry. He wanted to stay a bit longer.

“Should I apologize to him?” Aaila whispered to me. Ahsan was busy shaking hands with my husband. “I was so mean earlier.”

“I think you should.” Ahsan walked over to us with a bright smile marring his face. “You definitely should.”

“See you later, ladies.” He gave a low bow, and I couldn’t help but grin at his cheesy behavior.

“Ahsan, wait!”

He turned around and c****d a brow at Aaila. I casually started looking at my phone screen, wanting to give them some privacy but not making it obvious as well.

I heard Aaila take a long intake of breath. She was really trying hard.

“Look, I am sorry for how I acted earlier. It’s just that you seem to trigger the nasty side of me.”

Close enough to an apology.

There was a moment of silence before Ahsan replied in an even voice, “That’s fine. Besides, I like girls that are feisty.” When I looked up, he winked at her and followed after his Mom in the car.

As they drove off, I chuckled in the night. “Very intense he is. And, you should definitely marry him before some other stupiddd girl does.”

Harry c****d a brow at me from afar, perhaps at my suddenly good mood? I dismissed it without even a shrug. Does he forget quite often that we aren’t on talking terms yet?

“He’s pretty. Very handsome. But a womanizer, and I am not looking for such a guy.”

We all went in the house. Aaila and I slipped inside her room, Harry sat in the kitchen watching some tv, though I knew he just wanted to stay here for longer because he doesn’t watch tv, and Aaila’s mother disappeared inside the kitchen, making oreo shakes for us. I love that woman.

I sat on the chair and put a hand over my eyes while Aaila changed into her pajamas.

“He was so into you, Aaila!” I proclaimed, annoyedddd. “I was noticing that he stopped using his phone when you joined us on the table and all of his attention was directed towards you, you AND YOU ALONE!”

“I am dressed. You can open your eyes now.” I did, and gave Aaila a blank look. I was going to change her mind. “Don’t give me that look. I am not changing my mind. There’s no way I am marrying that prick.”

I rolled my eyes heavenwards. God. This woman was getting on my nerves. “Fine. Have it your way.” I rose from the chair and walked over to the door. If I stayed here in this room any longer, I might’ve cried in frustration. Aaila didn’t ask me where I was going when I exited the room. She made a good choice of not asking.

Harry looked up from his phone when he spotted me.

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah.” My reply was short and I didn’t give him another chance to have small talk with me because I went into the kitchen that smelled amazing.

“That can’t be just oreo shakes. What else are you making?” I leaned against the fridge and watched the lovely woman do her work. She looked like a professional chef in an apron and her hair tied neatly atop her head.

A spark lit her eyes when she saw me. “Oh, it’s you. You should rest, honey. And to answer your question, I am baking cookies for Haaris. He loves my cookies, so I thought of making some for him.” Yeah, he loves her cookies.

I nodded. “You love to cook.”

“That’s an understatement. I will make your child fat by making him all kinds of different foods,” she laughed while crushing the Oreos’ in a plastic bag.

I grinned cheerfully, my hand automatically going to my stomach. I couldn’t wait to feel him/her move inside me. I would literally cry from happiness. “I can’t wait for that. He or she is going to love you. I have no doubt in that.”

And just like that an hour passed while I just chatted with her. It was so easy to get along with her that time seemed to fly. Harry ate almost all of her cookies, and so did Aaila. I enjoyed mine with some milk, devouring their yumminess. I felt content in that moment.

Then it was time for Harry to finally leave. He stopped in the doorway and smiled at me.

“You looked beautiful today. I’ll see you soon. Have fun.” He pressed his lips together. “But not too much fun. Call me if you need anything. Or. . .when you decide to come back to me.”

Emotions clogged my throat. All I could do was nod my head because if I said anything, I might have given away how badly I wanted to go with him. He gave me a wave and I closed the door after I saw him leave safely.

Days seemed to pass by faster than expected. My morning sickness made school ten times more difficult, and I felt bad for Aaila who had to tend to me everyday and rub my back while I puked in the bathroom.

It was a usual Wednesday: I lay in bed while Aaila massaged my head.

“How much time till we leave for school?” I asked in a hoarse voice. I really didn’t feel well and my voice told so.

She did the magic with her hands. Although my eyes were closed, I could practically hear the eye roll she had performed. “Stop asking about school. I’ll let you know when there are fifteen minutes left and then you can throw on your scarf.”

“Hmmm.” God. I didn’t even have the energy to nod my head or speak for that matter.

After around twenty minutes, I practically shoved Aaila outside so she could have her breakfast while I stepped in front of the mirror and just. . .stared at myself.

I still looked the same thin, but my tummy had grown slightly bigger. I turned to the right to confirm it—and yes, it was definitely growing.

The alarm went off on my phone. I quickly grabbed it and my eyes widened when I saw the reminder: Doctor’s appointment.

“Great,” I muttered under my breath. I didn’t have the previous files I would need to show the doctor, which meant I had to pay a visit home today. Harry’s home.

I sipped on my smoothie. “You drive like a maniac, you know that, right?”

“No, I definitely don’t.” Aaila wheezed past a motorbike, making me almost spit out my juice. “I am just trying to get to our usual spot before that Stacey parks her stupid rich pink car there.”

“It’s just a parking spot, quit being a kid. Besides, nobody’s name is carved there.” The thing was, it was not just a parking spot. Not for Aaila and Stacey (the school’s cheer captain) at least.

“Whatever. Hey, so I was thinking we could go out today,” she suggested, glancing at me. I c****d a brow. “You, me, Haaris and. . .maybe. . .Ahsan.”

Ooo. “Ahsan? Are you sure you nothing happened to you this morning? You’re talking craaaazyyy talk,” I giggled.

“Shut up. I was thinking about what you said last night. How he was so interested in me. I just think maybe he is not who I think he is. He’s not perfect, I know that. but neither am I.”

Woah. “Woah.” I chuckled.  “That’s something you said right there. I want you to have that same thinking, remembering always that nobody is perfect.”

We reached our school, and my worries were confirmed.

“See, she already has parked her car in my spot,” my best friend growled. I noticed her knuckles going white because of how hard she was gripping the steering wheel.

“Calm down. She just wants a rise out of you, and you’re giving in.” looked her over. Smirked. “Are you thinking about Ahsan? Because you are blushing.” I laughed out loud.

She killed the engine. Rolled her eyes. “Ha ha, do you think you are funny?”

“Very.”

As expected, when we parked opposite to Stacey’s car, she was leaning against a boy I know from English, and smirked our way. She has had problems with us always. With me, because she couldn’t have Harry (as if he would actually be with her pfft), and Aaila, because she replies back and defends her cause.

“Hey Aabirah!” she waved a hand at me. I glanced at Aaila and we exchanged confusing looks.

The boys surrounding her gave me a once over, their eyes lingering on my belly for a tad bit longer. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, trying to give them the hint that I was pretty uncomfortable under their observant gazes.

“Oh come on guys, have you never seen a woman carrying a baby? Stop staring at her. Jeez.” Stacey rolled her eyes.

To say I was baffled would be an understatement of the year. Stacey Johnson standing up for me? Me, who practically married her crush? Something is fishy about all this.

“Hi, um, did you want to say anything?” I asked.

The smirk she passed me gave me chills. Bad ones. Beside me, Aaila took a step forward, like, to hit her?

“Why’d you leave that awesome human alone, Aabirah hon?” She tilted her face to the side. Examined me. “What does he even see in you? Oh!” she clapped her hands in excitement, a spark in her eyes. “I met him yesterday. He was pretty sad, so I stayed over to console him.”

I almost stopped breathing.

“You know, like, just in case you would wonder why he smelled like me if you met him today.” She winked at me, and then they were all gone.

I always used to wonder how I could be so lucky that my man was only interested in me, and no matter how many hardships we faced, or pretty faces he saw, mine would be the only one he’d like to see. A pang of jealousy coursed through me as tears blurred my vision. I refused to cry, but it was like I couldn’t control the burst of emotions within me.

“Look at me. She is lying. Okay? She is just a prick who still hasn’t got the hint that Haaris just loves you. There’s nothing she can do to change that.”

Nothing she said made my heart calm down. I felt shattered. Ruined. How was it possible that a person could cause such pain to someone just with their words?

I heard him before I saw him. “What’s wrong? Why is she on the floor crying Aaila!”

“Stacey said she spent the night with you. Is it true?” Aaila’s voice echoed through my ears. I felt as if I was in an empty room, far away from them.

Hands, strong hands gripped my shoulders just when my head started spinning and I was about to fall back.

“Shite. Help me pick her up.” I was being lifted into his Harry’s arms. Despite my condition, I was still in the perfect health to protest against his damn strong arms. “Quit being a baby. Stop it!”

I stopped thrashing and let my head rest against his chest, tired from all the drama. I wanted the comfort of my family, and the only one on good terms was Harry.

As I was being carefully put into the passenger seat of Harry’s car, I grabbed his jacket and forced him to meet my eyes. I wanted the truth. Now. “Did she really stay the night with you?”

His eyes got dark. He snapped them shut for a second before opening his mouth to speak. I noticed how his lips were crusty and dried. He didn’t look good as well. In fact he looked crap. Hungover.

“She did, but—“

She did. She did. She did.

That’s all I could decipher. All my head heard. I watched Harry’s panic through blurry eyes and then there was utter darkness.

I heard my best friend, but all that was going on my head was Harry cheated on me Harry cheated on me Harry cheated on me.

“No, he did not cheat on you!”

Was I saying that aloud?

My arms were grabbed. “Aabi, it’s Haaris. Your Harry. You know he would never do that you. Ever.” She took hold of my chin. I had no other option but to look into her eyes. They were fierce. “That Stacey is a low life girl who clearly needs a lesson.”