Just because you hate me

y

he courtyard with a frown etched on my face. I was squinting against the dazzling sun in hopes of finding Mahmud, my best friend since the sec

artins, the loud thumps both a relief and annoyance simultaneously. It helped

population constantly kept staring my way. It was unnerving and sometimes I really had to struggle to refrain from yelling in their faces. Don’t get me wrong, I am a young man and

n no position to

ng when I crossed them. 8 in the morning and my nerves were alre

of the acres of land and matching sofas were arranged in small groups with a shade propelled for each group. But since summer was still a few months

due to the—I suddenly remembered why Mahmud was nowhere to be spotted

unched a bit lower to speak into the slight openin

te with a bit

order but I backed away, turning around to face the other side as I leaned my back against the counter. Why was i

ound but somehow, I hadn’t noticed the even louder and annoyer clip clop of a pair of heels heading in my direction from the chemistry lab to my

reen, my batch mate questioned in an almost accusatory tone. T

yes. “I’m aware. I’l

ou miss it when Mahmud’

when I refused to continue the conversation but of course not. Her int

in a while. Though I have to say it, I kinda miss it.” Her tongue clicked in

arting just now as those words pierced through my ears, went down right through my heart. I didn’t understand it. I was baffled. I had no idea why suddenly the thought of any har

that’s enough. You’re going t

ood red lips. Was this bold of a lipstick even allowed in school? I

that supposed to mean, Aydin? All of the schoo

ing an end to it,” I bit o

heck was m

iciness bit into the skin of my palm like a thousand needles. I handed over the cash and some tip to the guy

tting low on the bridge of his nose, which he pushed back every two seconds. He was also lean but tall enough to easily be on the throwball team. Weird reference but whatever.

bout young love, how a lover lost their love,

a beat at heari

g you

ie

ni

a

ng

g up my throat and fought against the invi

al step up to the podium, debating whether I should bail on this altogether. Debating whether

d my eye

have food with me. I’m pre

my eyes to face the world again, the old Principal in my perfect view sight. “Today, the A2 batch has prepared a deep, sorrowful, heart-wrenching play for all of you youngsters.

in over-the-top ch

r friend, laughing quietly behind a hand cupped to her lips. I c

ost bench of the row on the level floor, the host of the

eyes at the usual, and wondered why every time this happened, a teacher just had to giv

a single spot light focused just on him, the doors to the auditorium burst open. My eyes went wide in shock just as everybody el

ered and headed straight to the stairs in a rush, her small feel thumping softly a

u’re sure it’s going to explode any moment? That it doesn’t necessarily has to be

h cotton. It was the same smell that was both a reminder of my past and a promise to my future. It smelle