43 UnWelcome Detail (2/2)

We both shared moments of silence that followed us. I was shocked. She was embarrassed.

I turned around and started walking away from her. Amaan broke her silence and spoke before I left her room.

”You're just going to leave? Nothing to retort?”

I turned around, barely holding my laughter inside. My puffed cheeks and red eyes showed Amaan everything was back on track.

If only…

”I don't feel like staying here, because you may try to do weird things to me. So, I'll see you tomorrow.”

If only…

Amaan broke into a hearty laughter. I turned around, with hands in my pocket. I kept the restless attitude as I walked down the stairs. I was twitching. I was feeling something.

What was it?

It was not laughter. It was not acceptance.

It was doubt. A breach of trust.

I clenched the condom in my pocket and decided to go to the roots of this.

If only I…

The next day I attended college like always. The guy whom I saw yesterday on my street was noisy as ever. I stole a glace to look at him murmuring something among his friends but thought nothing of it. It was not business to intervene.

The classes were over four hours later. I was the last one to leave. Since I was feeling a little under the weather, I decided to buy a cola from canteen before heading home. As I made my way through the crowd to the front of the line in canteen, something caught my ears. At a distance I heard Amaan's name and a shush that followed immediately after.

I looked around and saw the same guy on first floor among his posse. All of them were on their respective phones, salivating.

Call it human emotions, or rage, or stupidity, but I made a connection between the guy and Amaan.

I got my glass bottle of cola and thanked the teller. I started drinking my chilly beverage and it started finding its way through my body. All the time, I didn't move my eyes off of the boys.

Five guys. One woman. Time to Play.

I climbed the stairs and could hear their murmurs lowering in voice. I decided to stick with my instincts. The empty glass bottle in my hands started making constant clanking noises against the railing that ran along the staircase. The boys had stopped talking. After a loud shatter, I could feel their legs twitching in anxiety and fear. They finally set eyes on me and froze on the spots they stood.

What they saw was a woman, basked in hot sun behind her, equipped with broken glass bottle. The aura of hostility emitted from her. and the five targets were directly in front of her. the eyes of all of the involved parties were vastly different.

In a quick motion, I covered the distance and stood behind their group. Two of them were in front, three behind me. Instead of trying to assault me, they bailed on their allies and found their own paths to escape. The look of fear and smell of their sweat really made me feel pity for them.

I grabbed one with the collar, and brandished my broken bottle like a trophy in another boy's face.

”I need some answers. I am just curious,” I let them know I was not playing around. ”Nod if you don't feel forced.”

They did.

”What were you talking about right before I came?”

One of them responded,” We're club members. We were discussing club activities.”

”While being on your phones?”

”We- We were sharing schedules.”

”What was with the giggles.”

”We were enjoying our time before you showed up.”

”Ho… What is the club's name?”

There was silence.

I had to wave the bottle in my hand to stir them into responding to my question.

”A1 club,” He said.

”Huh? What is that?”

”We are named A1 club because…”

The other boy elbowed him to silence him. I glared at him to inform the possible pain he can endure at my hands.

”Continue,” I said to the other boy without looking at him.

”Do you know the story of 'Cornerstone'?”

I didn't.

”Well, go ahead and read on it. One of the major figures that come up would be A1. Please. It'll give you all the answers, I promise. Just don't make us say it.”

I instructed the boy to take out his cellphone and open the article he was talking about. He did. He handed me his cellphone and I put it in my pocket, promising to return him tomorrow.

I turned around and started to leave but gave them a disclaimer as to what would happen if they talked about it. They nodded in cold sweat. I walked down the stairs and threw the broke bottle in the nearest trash bin. Then I broke into a stride, lamenting over my behavior. But I had gotten answers. Or at least a part of it. An answer to the unasked question. An undesired one.

If only I had trusted Amaan.