Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Ibraheem

Ibraheem stretched, the mid-day sun glowing on his face. Today was the first day at camp. He had woken up early, and took a rather cold bath by the stream. He glanced around, at the environment that would be his home for the next few months. He walked to the board pasted a bit far from the tents. Today would be random activities mainly the students enjoying themselves. The competitions were to begin tomorrow during which everyone would have been settled. He sighed, feeling homesick suddenly. Well, it was just for a few months. Then everything would return to normal. Someone walked up to him. He turned, looking at Drew who by the looks of it just got up.

“Heyy,” Drew yawned.

“Hey,” Ibraheem smirked. “Not an early riser, no?”

“And most definitely not a morning person.” Drew replied, feeling the side of his head pounding.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it. Cheer up. Let’s get some breakfast. I bet you will feel better then.”

Together they walked to the main house, when almost everyone was sitted at the large dining table. Ibraheem took a seat to Jameela. He glanced at her feeling his heartbeat rise faster. This camp would be the start of something new, he was sure. Something different. Forever, he prayed. For a long time, he had enjoyed the company of his friend but slowly it had turned into something more. There was something different about her. She was just natural. He couldn’t imagine his life in the future without her. Yeah, some might say it was just the teenage hormones, but he knew what he felt. It was something real. From the corner of his eye, he saw her take a sip of her coffee, her eyes far away. Then, he caught a hint of a smile. Huh? What was she smiling at? Curiously, his eyes followed where she was looking. Mr Alessio. That jerk. He wondered what she saw in him. It was no secret amongst the friends that the jerk and his beloved Jameela were an item. Item indeed. Ibraheem silently made a vow to himself. By the end of camp, Jameela would forget all about Mr Alessio. He would make sure of that.

Just then, Mrs. Sana rushed in with a bowl of hot steaming meat pies. Everyone looked up, the meaty aroma clearing their blurry morning heads. “Sorry. These came late.”

“Ah. But don’t worry, Mrs Sana. These look delicious.” Ibraheem replied with an air of enthusiasm. He loved Mrs Sana, so much that she reminded him of his Anne. Soon, everyone put down their phones down, digging in.

After a few minutes, most of them had finished eating and were rushing outside. Ibraheem hung back with Jameela and Nina. “Do you think we could go by the pool? It’s already hot here.”

Jameela shrugged, her eyes directly on the kitchen. He was slouched down by the cooker preparing God knows what. Jerk.

As they reached the swimming pool, the sun seemed to be burning brighter. The deep blue swimming pool shimmering and glittering against the wild sunshine.

He stood hands akimbo, looking around. He noticed Mari by the water, applying sunscreen. Something brewed in his mind. Ha! Last time, she had poured water on him. Today it was his turn. "Hey, Mari." Ibaheem called. As soon as she turned, he splashed cold water on her face. Her complexion turned red instantly. He huddled back, laughing. The look on her face was priceless. He wished someone had taken a shot. He would be sure to tease her about it all her life.

"No. You just didn't," She fumed.

"Uh-oh." Drew squinted to the far end of the pool. They knew what was going to happen. Mari never let anyone bully her and get away with it. Ibraheem shut his eyes tight, and prepared himself for the splash. But nothing. He decided to peek open his eyes. As he did, he saw her. Carrying a bucket of ice in his direction with a furious look. "But that isn't fair. I only splashed you water.”

Mari smirked, "well, sorry friend. But that isn't how I roll." With that, she poured the contents of the bucket in a rush before he could make a move. Ibraheem shivered and ducked into the pool. It was no use. He felt ice cold. Shivering, he walked out wrapping himself around a towel that Drew had brought. The hot weather felt like a relief to him.

He sat on a deck chair, wiping his face as Drew, Nina and Mari laughed so hard. Of course, they would. He rolled his eyes. "It's not funny, guys."

In a way he had to admit that it was actually finny. He smirked, shaking his head. A sharp familiar laugh interrupted his thoughts. He turned towards the sound. What he saw dampened his mood instantly. Jameela and Mr Alessio were walking by the long swing he had set up yesterday. His eyes narrowed, taking in the carefree way she leaned into the swing, one hand on the rails, another dangerously close to Mr Alessios’. They were standing too close. His hand managed to brush up on her arm. Just a tiny little brush but Ibraheem saw it. As clear as day. He gasped feeling a sudden ache in his chest. His brain went into hyper mode. What did she see in him anyway? He's not good for you, he wanted to scream. But she was blind. Love-struck with him. Mr Alessio was the type of guy to just use a girl and dumb. Jameela wasn’t like that. Ibraheem knew her much more than himself. Way more. She deserved someone better. Someone who would know her worth and cherish her. She shouldn't be with him. "Let's go playing softball." He murmured to Mari and the others.

“Softball?” he heard Drew mutter. Ibraheem didn’t care. He just wanted to anywhere but there.

At the yard, he still felt uneasy. With nothing left to do, he went back to his tent and spent the afternoon lying. His vacation would be boring, he fathomed. Why did that jerk have to come along? Why! It hurt so much to see Jam with that guy. What teacher would be with his student? Even though she had once explained how when they met, none of them had any idea they were teacher and student. Blah blah. But still. But it wasn't right. They should have stopped seeing each other as soon as they realised they were teacher and student. Ibraheem felt the urge to run out and attack him. Pounce on him, and shower him with insults. Hours passed by. Ibraheem lay there still, not moving an inch. Why do people never love those who love them? He had never understood why Jam, his best friend would rather be with that man than with him. Couldn't she see it? He loved her. Their life had been intertwined as long as he could remember. The first time he was her, he was three. But he remembered that incident clearly. He was playing alone in the prenursery class.

As a child, he was timid and awkward. Hated being near people. So in his class, other classmates were quick to make friends except him. He was always alone. One day, as he sat playing with his toys, a shadow loomed over him. Raising his head, he saw the most fascinating person he had ever seen in his few years alive. A girl his age, face as radiant as the moon, smiled down at him. He smiled back, exposing a tooth gap. She sat opposite him and that was the start of a never ending friendship. As they grew older, they got closer. He would let her ride his favourite bike, even though he spent months saving money for it. Even when she broke it, he didn't create a major fit. But only because it was her. She was the only one that he felt really comforted by when his dad died. His dad, a construction worker, always working hard to provide for them. Anne and him. Even at that, he would manage to come home early to spend time with them. He knew Ibraheem’s favourite foods, hobbies, ambitions.

During Ramadan, he would help Anne in the kitchen, checking through the food catalogue for varieties of food. They went on vacations to islands, parks, especially during Festivities. There was one time he booked a flight to Paris on Eid il Adha. They missed the flight but he booked another one two weeks later as a surprise. Everything about his parents was perfect. They were so much in love. He was the only child due to problems his mom developed three years after giving birth to him. Endometriosis. It had spread to major parts of her organs when she was diagnosed.

However, she knew that it was Qadr. Destiny. She never disbelieved and took it upon herself to be happy. Whatever happened was the will of God. He will never forget her words that day, after she confided in him. She said, “in this life, I could pray for many things. But I pray for only one thing. You. You are my everything. My life, my soul. I will not be the same without you. I live for you. I do everything for you. Always remember that.”

Ibraheem remembered that faithful day. The day his life turned upside down. It was raining when he returned home from school. As soon as he entered the apartment, he knew something was wrong. The TV was on. So weird because Anne never turned up too much volume. The kitchen was a mess. His mom was a tidy freak. A glass was broken, shreds of it scattered on the floor. His heart leapt, as he rushed straight to her room. She was silent. Sitting on the bed, tears flowing down her cheeks. When she managed to tell him, he was dumbfounded. Then as the words finally made sense, he became devastated.

For weeks, he felt different. As if an entity was invading his body. He longed to be free of it, return back to his true self, and be normal. His friends were there for him. Especially Jameela. She would stay from morning till night every day for weeks. It became her routine to bring them food that she cooked with care. Anne always told him how lucky he was to have a friend like her. But the thing is, he didn’t want her to be his friend. He wanted her to something more. Much more. And he would go to any length to achieve that.