Chapter 17 Slipped
Amrah
The more I got to know Zayd, the more I found out unbelievable facts about him. He usually looks so unapproachable with his unreadable expression and dark eyes.
“Uhm… sorry, I.. I will leave now” I stood up to leave but was pulled back immediately.
My butt landed right on his groin and I felt something move, my eyes widened. I shot up immediately.
“I'm sorry, so sorry… I didn't mean… oh Jesus” I was flustered that I just blurted out strings of ‘sorries’.
“It's fine, I will sleep now. I can't hold it back any longer” he muttered with his eyes closed.
I moved back to the couch to allow him to sleep in case I can't control my hand from touching him again. I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing.
It was Daphy.
“Hi dear”
“Hi,” My voice was groggy because I had just woken up.
“How is he? Are you still at the hospital?”
“I'm still at the hospital and he is fine. He is asleep now” I informed.
“That's good, I was wondering if he would be able to sleep amidst so many people”
“We moved to a private ward”
“Oh, you are such a sweetheart, Amy. Thank you”
“What are you thanking me for, he is my friend as much as he is yours”
“Okay ma'm. I just didn't think of that earlier”
“I know. How is your situation?”
“Not bad but not good. I will be back tomorrow. Which room was he moved to?”
“Room 501”
“Alright, see you tomorrow. My regards to him”
I checked the time after the call disconnected and realized it was already late, past six pm. I had fallen asleep while watching him sleep.
I looked over to Zayd and found him still fast asleep. I stood up to cover him well, as the covers were not covering him well and he probably was not able to do that himself.
Chris walked in right as I pulled the cover over Zayd’s arms. His expression turned livid on seeing the position that Zayd and I were in.
“What are you doing?” he asked,
“Shhh, he is resting?” he eyed me but kept quiet.
I arranged the cover over Zayd before going to the couch to pick up my bag.
In Chris’s car.
“Why haven’t you checked up on me since yesterday?”
That was the first thing Chris asked after we got into his car. I looked at him trying to process his question.
“Chris, your friend is lying in the hospital and that is the first thing you will ask?”
“He is fine, isn't he?”
“Chris!”
“Don’t fucking yell. I asked a simple question”,
“Okay, I haven’t checked up on you since yesterday because I have been busy” I felt a bit angry.
Just because I haven’t checked up on him for one day, he is getting angry at me. I always checked up on him for weeks without him replying to my calls or messages and I don't get angry at him.
“You were busy, but you were not too busy to be acting all close and cozy with my best friend,” he retorted.
“Yes, I wasn’t too busy to be with your friend because he was all alone and the hospital called your number, but you didn’t pick up. He got into an accident and had no guardian”
I regretted speaking to him so harshly immediately, but I just didn't understand why he was being so insensitive and focusing on the wrong thing.
“Are you talking to me like that? Because of Zayd?” He frowned in disbelief that I would reply to him that way.
“I… I am just trying to explain myself.” I had a lot to say but I held myself back because I was afraid of getting him angry.
I was also angry, but also guilty of what I did with Zayd last night.
“Zayd is your friend, my boyfriend's friend. He needed help and I only offered my assistance” I added seeing he was quiet.
“It's fine. I was jealous because I saw you very close to him the moment I walked in. I got jealous because I love you, okay?”
Surprisingly, he didn't press further. He cupped my cheeks in his palm and his thumb grazed my lower lip.
“I'm sorry, babe. I was so stressed out and I didn't get any message from you. You know, your messages keep my day going even though I don't have time to reply”
The last line used to make my stomach mushy with warmth whenever he told me, but I felt nothing at the moment.
I was just relieved that he didn't push further and they guilt weighing on my chest felt heavier. He trusted me and loved me so much, while I was thinking about his best friend.
Zayd spent three days at the hospital before he was discharged and the cast on his arm was taken off.
“You can't do strenuous activities with the hand until the doctor says otherwise” the nurse reminded.
“Is it just a sprain?” Chris asked.
“Yes, but a fatal one. It was almost dislocated” the nurse replied.
“Alright, he will be careful” I interrupted, seeing that Chris was about to say something else.
I was excited to see him out of the hospital because I didn’t like going to the hospital, it reminded me of so many memories I didn't want to think about.
“Thank you so much, Amrah” Zayd thanked me once we got to the car.
“You are welcome” I replied stiffly, feeling Chris’s eyes on me.
We got into the car and Chris drove us out of the hospital premises.
“Are you free during the weekend?” Zayd broke the awkward silence.
“Who? Me? I'm not of course” Chris responded.
“Not you. Amrah” my head whipped back to look at him before I could stop myself.
I have been avoiding his eyes because Chris has been carefully watching how I behaved around Zayd the past three days.
Zayd was sitting relaxed, typing away on his phone, he looked up when I turned around and our eyes met, he had a small almost unnoticeable smile on his face.
He looked very energetic in fact.
“I… I'm not sure” I swallowed and turned back to face the front as I tried to stop the heat creeping up my face.
“When you are free let me know. I want to buy you lunch or dinner”
“Why?” Chris butted in with a deep frown on his face as he drove into the underground parking lot.
“I want to thank her for taking care of me at the hospital of course” Zayd stated calmly.
“No need for that.” Chris dismissed.
“I think there is” Zayd insisted and got out of that car.
“I will think about it,” I said, causing Chris to turn to me with a frown.
Just as he was about to counter me, a brunette in a shimmery green dress came down from a blue jeep and walked up to us with an excited expression.
She looked familiar, a student at Minaret Towers
obviously.
“Zayd,” she exclaimed excitedly with a wide smile.