EPISODE TWENTY EIGHT 28: SHE LIKES HIM.

**Michael's POV**

Winter dance day had arrived, and honestly, I couldn't have cared less. I lifted my curtains just enough to see two beautiful blue birds nestled together. One flew off suddenly, leaving the other behind. The lone bird soon followed, flying in the opposite direction.

Why does life always feel so unfair? The sun, peeking through the clouds, hinted at better days, but I wasn't convinced.

Maybe not for me actually, I didn't think someone with one eye could sweep me of my feet. That beauty beneath the covers that I always beg myself not to touch like she was some purified creature, no she is a purified creature.

It's almost comical how everything I love seems to slip away. I never let despair take over; I keep my helmet of preparation firmly in place.

The sound of the door handle jerked me back to reality. I'll never tire of the scent of my mum's lavender perfume.

"Michael," she called.

"Yes, Rachael?" I replied.

"How dare you!" she feigned hurt.

"Dad calls you that. Why is it a problem if I do?" I asked.

"Your dad is my husband, and you are my son. 'Mum' sounds beautiful coming from my son," she said.

"Yeah, Mom," I replied.

I wanted to laugh or at least smile, but it felt like I had forgotten how. Maybe I was just too wrapped up in my paranoia.

"Michael, your homeroom teacher called. She said the winter dance isn't optional-it's compulsory. And you're not dressed yet," she said.

"I haven't gone in four years. This is the fifth year, and you still have hope. Give me a break," I said.

"Kwame, I know you don't feel like going, but it's good for you. You'll have fun," she insisted.

"Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to 'enjoy,'" I said.

"Michael Kwame Williams, you will get up right now, have a bath, look your best, and rock that party. Am I clear?" she commanded.

"Yes, ma'am," I said, scrambling off my bed.

This was Momzilla mode. I didn't want to end up crushed.

"I'll pick out an outfit for you, and you'll wear it as soon as you're out," she said.

"Okay, Mom," I replied.

After taking a shower, I wrapped a towel around my torso, with one cleaning my hair, I think I'll start working on having a low cut I'm tired of long hair, I thought.

My mom had picked out a fancy suit for me. I've always hated suits-they felt like a noose around my neck because of the tie.

I put it on and headed to school.

The first thing I saw blew my mind: Hadizah. She looked stunning, without a trace of makeup, yet effortlessly beautiful. Her dress clung to her body, accentuating her curves.

"You know, if you like her, you could just go up and tell her," a voice jolted me back to reality.

I turned and almost knocked over a table of juice.

"Ethan," I gasped.

"What do you mean by 'like her?'" I asked.

He pulled me away from the loud music.

"You don't have to hide your feelings all the time, Michael. I'm your best friend, and I know it," he said.

"We've been over this. You're not my best friend," I snapped.

"Pushing everyone away won't bring your sister back," he said.

It took every ounce of patience not to punch Ethan. But who was I to do that? The truth is always bitter when you've been feeding yourself lies.

"I didn't ask for your opinion," I said.

"You don't need to ask. I'm your friend, and I'll always be," he said.

"Ethan, please just leave me alone," I asked.

"I won't until I'm sure you're okay and you don't need therapy sessions again," he said.

"How do you know about my therapy sessions?" I asked.

"I'm here for you, man," he said before walking away.

I realized I was losing sight of what mattered.

I decided to stay outside until the party was over, planning to be picked up by my driver.

As I reminisced, I felt lost. In my penultimate year of high school, I still didn't know my future ambitions. I was what you'd call an indecisive brat, drowning in my own cruel world, my inner demons feeding off my depression.

Then I saw a vision that always made me sad. It was something I had grown used to but could never stop from breaking me down: Hadizah with Julian. Their innocent laughter filled my ears. If only she knew how intoxicating she was without even trying. She wasn't hot, or badass, just purely, adorably beautiful. I wished she could be mine, but she was already with that Demon.

If only she knew about his past from his former school. Maybe he was trying to be better, like I was. Who was I to ruin that for him? I wasn't going to be selfish because she didn't even like me. Besides, he was Muslim, and I wasn't even close to that.

He was perfect for her, and they were in love. Who was I to come between them?

Hadizah doesn't even like me and yet here I was sulking over my darned love for her, love what the hell is this, I thought as I bit my lower lip in agony.

Then they moved closer, almost kissing. No, they wouldn't-would they? It would go against everything she stood for. She was an angel; her lips shouldn't be tainted by his. But it seemed they had different plans.

"Hadizah!" I called out, and the two of them pulled apart, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

"What do you want?" Julian demanded.

"I wasn't talking to you," I retorted.

"Michael, what do you want?" Hadizah asked.

"So you're just going to side with him because he's your boyfriend?" I asked.

"You know very well I don't date, so keep your stupid assumptions to yourself," she said.

"No, you better f**k off, man," Julian said.

"So your boyfriend uses the f-word? How very Muslim of him," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't you dare say anything you don't know about me," Hadizah said.

"I might not know much about you, but I know one day you'll regret getting close to this loser," I said, turning to leave.

"Hey, come back and be a f***ing man," Julian shouted. But I wasn't ready to satisfy him. Instead, I walked back home to my solitude.

**Julian's POV**

If only I could rip Michael's head off for ruining the moment. This was personal now. I was falling more in love with Hadizah. She was the angel God sent to help me see the light.

All I could think about was getting her plump lips on my mine, but no I'm going to restrain myself till the end.

"Julian, if you keep staring at me like that, I'll start thinking you're a creep," she laughed melodiously.

"I just want to say I'm sorry one more time for testing you," I said.

"I've accepted it. It would have been better if Michael hadn't ruined the moment," she said.

"Yeah, that bastard," I mumbled.

"Julian, what did I say about swear words?" she said.

"Okay, fine, Mom. I won't use them again," I said.

"Julian," she called.

"About what you told me the other day, I like you too. I've been trying to get rid of this feeling, but it's been impossible. I like you and can't deny it any longer," she said.

I lifted her chin to look at me. She was the prettiest when she was shy.

I couldn't believe she said it-the words I had always wanted to hear. She confessed her love for me. Was this real? Yes, it was. Hadizah loved me.

"I'm glad you said so. I'll try to understand your religion better just for you," I said.

"I can't wait," she said.

"The party's over, and your painting sold for two thousand pounds. I think I should drop you home," I said.

"Yes," she said, blushing. I wished I could tell her everything.

She got into my Range Rover, buckling her seatbelt.

I turned on the radio, and "I Don't Care" by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber played.

I'm at a party I don't wanna be at

And I don't ever wear a suit and tie, yeah

Wondering if I could sneak out the back

Nobody's even looking me in my eyes

Then you take my hand

Finish my drink, say, "Shall we dance?" (hell, yeah)

You know I love you, did I ever tell you?

You make it better like that

Don't think I fit in at this party

Everyone's got so much to say (yeah)

I always feel like I'm nobody, mm

Who wants to fit in anyway?

'Cause I don't care when I'm with my baby, yeah

All the bad things disappear

And you're making me feel like maybe I am somebody

I can deal with the bad nights

When I'm with my baby, yeah

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh .

"You chose that song on purpose, right?" she asked, almost as if she were questioning.

"Nope, it's all coincidence. Maybe even the universe sensed love in the air," I said, chuckling.

She playfully hit my arm.

"Julian," she said.

"I trust you and don't want you to ever break my heart. I know you don't have to say it back. All I know is that you trust me, and I'll never break your heart. I'll always keep it safe," she said.

She didn't even have to say it. I knew I could trust her, and I always would.

"I know," I said, holding her hand tightly.

She tightened her grip in return.

"Here's your stop, I guess," I said.

"Yes, and this is goodbye until we resume next year, right?" she said.

"Yeah, but I can visit the park near your area once in a while," I said.

"Yeah, bye Julian," she said, giving me her smile one last time.

"Hey, wait," I said, handing her a gift pack from my back seat.

"What's in there?" she asked.

"Check it when you get inside," I said.

"Okay," she said as her magenta hijab flew in the snowy breeze.

"Bye," I said.

"Bye," she replied, her smile lingering in my mind as I drove home to the beat of Drake's music blasting through my ears.

I arrived home to find my baby sister watching her favorite show-Sofia the First.

"Julian!" she shouted, running towards me.

I lifted her into my arms.

"How is my darling Daya doing?" I asked as she tousled my hair.

"I'm good. Mum made apple pie, my favorite," she said.

"Which is also," I said.

"Your favorite,"but she finished for me.

Suddenly, someone yanked her away from me.

"Did you touch my ring light again?" Anna demanded, shaking her.

Daya only cried.

"How many times do I have to f***ing tell you not to bring your miserable self into my room?" Anna yelled at a four-year-old.

"I'm sorry," Daya said.

"You better be," Anna said coldly.

Sister Maryam emerged from the kitchen.

Anna glared at my stepmother.

"You better tell your daughter to mind her steps," she said.

"That's no way to speak to our mother," Anne said.

"Let me get this straight. She'll always be your mother, not mine. She's not a person who came from a country of killers," Anna said.

"Anna!" Dad shouted.

"Oh, please. It's not like you didn't know this before marrying her," she said.

"One more word from you, young lady, and you won't receive your monthly allowance for a whole semester," Dad threatened.

"My content creating money is enough for me," Anna retorted.

"So be it then," Dad said.

"Fine," she said going up.

"Zendaya, let's go upstairs," I said, lifting her into my arms.

She curled up against me as I carried her to bed and tucked her in.

"Can I dye my hair ginger?" she asked.

"No, you're the most beautiful brown-haired girl I've ever seen," I said.

"That's a lie. I want to be as pretty as Anna and have a big TikTok channel like she does," she said.

"You don't need it. Now say your prayers and go to bed," I said.

She mumbled her prayers, and I kissed her forehead before turning off the lamp.

I went to my room and lay on my soothing blue water bed. A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in," I said.

The door creaked open to reveal my stepmother.

"I know you haven't had dinner yet, so I brought you a slice of pie I made," she said.

I struggled to find the right words.

"Uh, thank you," I said.

"You don't need to thank me. I'm your mother," she said, reaching out to touch my cheek. I flinched and pulled back, not ready for this.

She was hurt by my actions, but she quickly proved that she was matured.

"I don't want to rush you. I'll wait until you're ready to accept me like Anne has," she said before walking out.

"Sister Maryam," I called.

"Hmmm?" she answered.

"I'm sorry about the way Anna spoke to you tonight. I'm sorry on her behalf," I said.

"I'm used to it. I know one day she'll come around," she said with a smile.

I wondered how she managed to endure my sister's tantrums every day. She left as my door closed.

I took off my shirt and prepared to sleep after saying my night prayers. My phone rang, and I reluctantly answered without checking the caller ID.

"Hello, Jay speaking," I said.

"My man, looks like you're making great progress on our agreement," Bryson said.

My body tensed. I had completely forgotten about it.

"Yeah, I'm making progress," I said.

"Good to hear. Do this holiday right," he said.

"Yeah, this holiday," I replied.

"Goodbye, and Julian, DON'T F*** WITH ME," Bryson warned.

"Yeah, you're my best friend. I'd never do anything stupid," I said.

"Bye," he said before hanging up.

I clutched the phone tightly, hoping I was making the right decision. It had to be right because I was doing it for my sister. As sleep overtook me, I hoped my choices would turn out well.

WRITER'S NOTE :

What do you think Julian is hiding, it's got to be some dirty secret right, but anyway have a nice day and keep commenting and voting for my BOOK.

QOTD :

I'm not perfect, but at least, I'm not fake.