Again Shauqina

Chapter 15 Aftermath

Two days after we met Miss J, the college was abuzz again.

Firstly, a rumour has started again that Miss J had come to school, met the teachers and told a completely different story than had been circulating. Many came up to our study group to ask the truth. However, we all kept our promise of silence. Even Wilma was cooperating. She had personally apologized to Zack, details of which I was not too keen to know. As there was no more fuel to flame up the stigma on Isaac, the speculations stopped as suddenly as it had sprang up. Isaac was absolved of all wrongdoings.

Secondly, we had to keep our silence because Miss J secretly treated all of us—Isaac's study group members—at Swenson's and there, amidst mouthfuls of chewy chocolate ice-cream and tall glasses of strawberry and cookies and cream ice-cream, she sweetly apologized to Wilma and Isaac indirectly. The ice-cream melted everyone's heart I guess, for all were forgiven. Miss J has forgotten one thing about seventeen year olds—we feel too much but forgive much, much, more.

Predictably, only Isaac was missing from this pow-wow. Anyway, he was already eighteen years old so that perhaps somehow gave him the license to be irritatingly stubborn.

Thirdly, Isaac's father, Mr. Williams, made a surprise visit to school. Mr. Chong had cancelled the meeting with him but he had insisted on seeing the Principal to 'discuss' Isaac's future in the school.

To say that Mr. Williams was good looking was an understatement. Mr. Williams was drop-dead gorgeous—even more handsome than the already good-looking Isaac.

He was taller than Isaac and lean for his age, no 'prosperity pouch' there for sure. Isaac took after his father's dark brown hair—but his father's was shorter and neatly cropped, rather like an Army Officer. He came to school in a long-sleeved white shirt, with a deep brown tie and formal, polished shoes. He was really a striking figure. However, unlike the sulky Isaac, he was all smiles—dimples and all. Come to think of it, Isaac too had those same dimples but his was forever hidden in that haughty mask of an expression he puts on.

In fact, seeing both son and father walk together—the mature Mr. Williams and Isaac striding side by side was like being on the set of a Hollywood film. There was already an entourage of giggling, wide-eyed girls walking a short distance behind them.

However, I saw them and I fled. I had promised myself, Allah forgive me, a life of a nun until I am thirty years at least and seeing them had caused my hormones to go crazy.

I went straight to the ladies and hid there.

I did not want anything to do with Isaac's father. Nor anything more with Isaac. Like Zafirah had predicted, I was getting too close to Isaac without realizing it and I want to be in full control of my emotions before I lose it. No. This time I plan to win, Akhi...

Thus did I find myself again sitting on the bench meant for those who used the shower? This time I had no company so I just sat, smiling at some friends who came, pretending to prim up my hoodie, my socks, my anything. Luckily I had no lectures nor tutorials until later in the evening.

When I thought I was there long enough to lay eggs, I put up my hoodie and stepped carefully out. Heaving a sigh of relief, I walked a corner and immediately had the scare of my life.

'I knew you had to come out sooner or later. Exactly one hour, eleven minutes and...thirty-seven seconds,' Isaac said, squinting his eyes at me, his body leaning against the wall, his arms across his chest, one feet propping behind him against the wall. Then I noticed the empty drinks cans on the floor.