1 She forgot what you can not...
Chapter 1
“How do you sleep knowing that your child is not next to you, how do you eat when you know that your child has not been fed?” Is what grandmother always asked herself pressing the child onto her chest for comfort. “ a father…” she thinks swallowing huge chunks of pain, “ a man I carried for 9 months, a man I grew and nurtured… How does he feel looking into the mirror knowing that his child is not secure, that she could easily face hardship, that he is the first man to break my girls heart?”
“But can we blame him, he was removed from this earth… my only child?”
Haxel was Arylans father the only child grandmother Biel decided to have in this life. He was a father to 2 young women and a wife to the missing Yasmin.
Arylan was the frail girl grandmother felt the need to protect. The only grandchild she could find after the entire incident. A girl who faced dreadful hardships as a toddler, losing everything including her own identity. For years not much could be done, so a new identity was adopted for the child who grew into a blossoming flower.
“ Eric, psst,” she whispering and throwing hand gestures towards him.
He immediately rolled his eyes and followed her to the back of the school, “ what is it?” he asked lighting the cigarette that he had bought earlier.
“ I couldn’t stand all the final year talk… it wasn’t working out for me.”
“ can we at least behave this year?”
“ Says the guy who’s taking a smoke near the disciplinary office, drop the good boy act and leave it for Sunday braais.”
“ I like how you always have a lot to say about me, let’s not mention the whole I’m innocent act you showcase in class.”
“ Whatever, all I’m asking is for you to bunk peacefully with me.”
“ Okey dokey your highness.”
“tsk.” she said unwrapping a sweet. “ by the way you promised your mother that you would stop smoking around me…”
“I always promise to shower but here we are hey.”
They rushed back to class as soon as the bell rang, two history students both crack heads. They grew up together and loved each other like siblings, who had an umbilical cord sticking the two of them together.
Arylan lived without her parents for years, being that grandmother Biel is her only family, with uncle Tim as their moral support.
Currently in her final high school year, and one step away from tasting adulthood.
“Today was super boring.” Said Arylan dragging her feet.
“ that’s because you don’t have a phone anymore.”
“ true, grandmother was pretty upset when she found out about me watching series in class.”
“at least now you’ll focus, we both need to get our buts to university.”
“yes sir!”
Uncle Tim served as a father figure for the girl, an old friend of grandmother Biel. They went to high school together.
Arylan remembers little to nothing about her life before living with her grandmother, the last thing she remembers is red flashing lights, waking up with a sore body.
Arylan had these few people around her for as long as she can remember, the few hiking adventures, the nights spent camping under the stars near the campfire listening to stories of the sahabah, and the occasional family braais filled with laughter and joy.Of course, everyone has their ups and downs, their little family feuds and uncontrollable misunderstandings, but Arylan always put her families interest before hers.
“ are you going to start with the application form or do I have to do that for you as well.”
“ shut up, I’m trying to find out who the new students are,” She said handing the form to him.
“ okay. You’ll find me in class then,” he said leaving
“ Okay, salams!”
She pushed her way through the crowd and stood on her toes holding the window ceil, before being pushed to the back of the crowd. She muttered a few curse words in anger and dusted her skirt.
“ excuse me,” he said patting her gently on her shoulder.
She looked towards him furiously, trying to hide the annoyance that she felt, “ yes, and… you are.”
“ I’m Aiden, nice to meet you… can we talk later I’m looking for the hall?”
“ it’s the crowded area behind me, Good luck,” she said leaving
“ thank you!”
It was rare for the school to accept learners into the matric classes, the school worked on a variety of matric lessons starting from grade 10, so there were zero new learners for the past few years.
Arylan, sipped on her coffee as she flipped through her textbooks yelling at Eric about equations. They were interrupted by the teacher who entered with a few learners. A boy, and 2 girls.
He introduced them to the class, and Aiden the boy from earlier took his seat near Eric, who quickly analyzed him.
“ Well hello there,” said Aiden.
“hi, are you perhaps the Aiden from primary school… the short chubby kid?”
unfortunately yes, I hoped people would have forgotten the child me I was embarrassing.”
“ and rude, did you forget about the whole bullying fiasco?”
“yes, but I’ve searched all over social media and I couldn’t seem to find her, I want to apologize.”
“humph, Good luck,” he said moving to another desk.
The class began and Arylan remained clueless for the entire day until after school where Eric broke the news to her on their way home.
Her anxiety grew and the mere thought of him, the occasional teasing, and the stupid shoves. She heard his ringing voice repeat itself, In her mind. If there was one person she did not want to deal with it was him. She wanted to spend the year peacefully, no fights or accusations from any of Eric’s girlfriends, and most certainly no bullies.
“ he said his different now, just talk to him.”
“ why would you even ask that of me?
“ just because his slimmer and slightly more attractive on the outside...that does not change who he is on the inside.”
“ if you say so, I’m leaving now. I have to meet my cousin this afternoon.”
“ enjoy, Asalamualikum.”
He left her at her doorstep. She tossed her shoes to the side of the living room grabbing her slippers.
“ Ouma ( grandmother) I’m home! ”she yelled.
“ coming,” said grandmother rushing downstairs.
She would help her cook dinner before doing her homework. There was hardly any noise in the neighborhood except for the train that passed by at least once every two days. The children would often play in the streets and send her bouquets, Eric lived two houses away from hers.
The next day she was hesitant to go to school, unfortunately, the school fined matriculates who stayed absent without valid reason.
She had her breakfast, before walking to school with Eric.
“ are you okay?”
“ jee(yes), why wouldn’t I be?”
“ Well, for starters you’ve been kicking stones around since I picked you up.”
“ I’m just stressed about our tourism assignment, that’s all.”
“ Arylan white….I’ve known you since you were 10, are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he said stopping in the middle of the street
“ fine,” she muttered unwillingly. “ I’m just a little worried about Aiden bringing the past out. I tried my best to forget it.”
“don't let it get to you, and like when we were young…. I’ll always have your back, so cheer up okay.”
“ Jazakallah Eric.”
“Always a pleasure idiot.”
It was easy for the teenage girl to avoid him for the first few weeks, focusing on her books. Soon the first term would end. This year she won’t be having a camping trip but rather summer classes. Eric’s parents had private lessons organized for Eric, so she would have to attend the classes on her own.
"Reports will be handed the next term," the principle says closing the assemble. It was the last day of school, so not much was done. An overview of the next term was given and revision for the current one was done. She handed her summer school application and took a taxi to a near café with Eric. They treated themselves and rushed back home before the sunset.
Summer school has begun with a 3D fight at the gate, a risky thing to do as a matriculate, something about stealing a girlfriend… she walked passed and rushed to class.
She took her seat and waited for the tension to clear itself, Aiden unkwonwly sat beside her. For the first few hours, they both did not recognize each other. The day went on with the same obliviousness, and the only recognized each other and the school tuck-shop.
Arylan toppled over after being pushed by a few boys but he caught her and helped her get up.
“ thank you so much!” she yelled relieved.
“ anytime, be careful…wait are you the girl from the hall?”
“ Aiden? If I’m correct.”
“ yes and your name?”
“ Arylan. I’m here for pure math classes.”
“ me as well, and your name sounds quite familiar.” He said handing her a coke. “you were the middle school girl, the one with really pink cheeks?”
“ and you’re the chubby Aiden who pushed me to the back of the line, funny how you’re the one catching me now.”
“ I’m sorry about how I behaved back then, I didn’t mean to… I admired you, you were pretty still are.”
“Whatever,” she said storming off to class.
They were stuck sitting together in class. Aiden’s attempts in apologizing for the past few weeks did not go smoothly. Arylan ignored him completely. She rejected his gifts and invites to lunch or dinner. Imagine having your biggest bully at your feet.
“ Can I borrow your pencil?” he asked whispering as the teacher taught.
“ no… stop talking to me I’m trying to pay attention.”
They were warned by the teacher and given a warning.
“ but i need it, someone stole mine.”
‘ I told both of you to behave, if you find this class boring, you can go teach yourselves outside.’
And so they were chased out and punished.
“ Why couldn’t you just shut up?” she said furiously.
“if you gave me the pencil, we wouldn’t be here.”
“oh, so it’s my fault now?”
“ you know what drop it,at least I have your attention now,” he said walking towards her, “ I’m sorry I behaved like a jerk back then… I had my issues and I wanted people to suffer just as much as I did but I am a different person now.”
“Aiden,” she said pushing him. “ why are you doing this to me?”
“I just want to make peace, and heal the wounds I’ve caused…I’m genuinely sorry Arylan.”
“ Sorry, of course, you imagined that I’d forgive you on the spot… but that isn’t the case. Why would I forgive someone who turned me into an anxiety machine?”
“I’m sorry… just one more chance.”
She sighs, moving to the other side of the hallway.
“ Arylan at least allow me to earn your forgiveness?”
“ Okay, I guess that’s reasonable… but it won’t be easy.”
“ I’m sure I’ll get through eventually.”
He stayed beside her during class and lunch. He kept her company and made her laugh. Arylan did not realize that the boy who once made her cry turned her into a bubblier person, and without realization had lost all hate for the boy who carried a minion bag with a short haircut.
