Chapter: 5 Who Saved Me?

Canteen 

I told Amir everything and returned his phone to him. He was also taken aback by how Jonathan found out about their plan and when he stole his phone.

"Amir, I'm not sure what I should do to get him to talk to me and share his pain; I love him, and this feeling is out of my hands." I almost cried out, staring at him helplessly, because Jonathan's rude behaviour was having a serious impact on me.

Amir just drew me into his arms and rubbed my back to comfort me. I badly needed this; I felt a little better, but my soul yearned to feel Jonathan's arms around me.

"What are you both hiding from me?" We broke the hug as soon as we heard Nora's voice, and I decided not to hide anything from Nora. She was my friend, and she had a right to know everything about me.

She looked at me with a serious expression on her face, waiting for me to respond, and I stood up from the chair.

"Nora, Amir will tell you everything. I have to leave. I’m not feeling well." I dashed out of there before Nora could stop me.

I entered the house, perplexed by Jonathan's words. I couldn't understand why he was acting this way towards me and why I wasn't ready to let him go. I became even more depressed when I heard dad yelling at mom from their room.

I rushed out of the house and cried after coming outside because I felt lonely and my heart was aching terribly. My heart was becoming increasingly void.

I went to the bar and started drinking because I had no other choice. I desired relief and the ability to forget all of my sufferings, most importantly Jonathan. I knew it wasn't a good idea, but I kept drinking without halting. My mind was not under my control.

When a boy asked me to dance, I wasn't in my right state of mind and went with him. We danced for a few minutes, but then he started touching me inappropriately; I tried hard to push him away, but couldn’t because I was too weak.

Everything went black after that, and I had no idea what happened next. I just remembered that the next morning I awoke in my bed. My head was throbbing with excruciating pain as if it was about to explode.

"How did I get here? Who brought me here?" I tried to recall by placing my hand on my forehead, but I couldn't. After the dance, everything was blank.

When my phone rang, I picked it up from the side table; it was Amir's call.

"How are you, Mia?" He asked concernedly as I placed the phone over my ear. 

"Amir, my head hurts like it's going to explode," I told him, holding my head, irked.

"Go and have lime water, you will feel better." He advised me. 

"I'm going, wait." Without disconnecting his call, I went into the kitchen, and after drinking lime water, I felt better. 

"Did you bring me here yesterday, Amir?" I asked, returning to the room.

"I got your message last night that you were drunk and that you wanted me to pick you up." As Amir told me, I tried to remember when I messaged him, but couldn’t recall anything.

"Mia, why did you go to the club alone and get drunk? How many times have I told you that we are with you and that you are not alone?” As he chided me, a small smile touched my lips, seeing him concerned for me.

"I know you and Nora are always there for me, and I am grateful to have friends like you both, but sometimes I don't know what happens to me." I tried to explain things to him.

“Moreover, I also don’t like to get drunk and put myself in trouble after that,” I added.

"Take care of yourself, and today don't come to college, take some rest." He instructed me.

"Okay, my caring friend," I responded and smiled.

"Now, I'm getting ready. I'll call you later." 

"Okay, bye." 

"Bye, take care." He disconnected the call. 

I sat on my bed, wondering what had happened in the bar. I didn't know why, but I had a strong feeling that Jonathan had saved me last night and that he was the only one who had sent the message to Amir via my phone.

I decided to return to the bar to get the answers to my questions.

I took a quick shower and dressed in a blue summer gown.

When I got to the bar, I noticed the person who had misbehaved with me the night before. I was taken aback to see him injured. His head was bandaged, his arm was plastered, and his face was covered in bruises. I approached him because I was curious about who had beaten him.

He scurried out of the bar as soon as he saw me, as if he saw a ghost. I followed him outside and yelled at him to stop, but he ran away. This took me by surprise. I had no idea why he was afraid of me.

I returned inside, perplexed. Fortunately, the same bartender who had served me the night before was still on duty today.

"I need your help, I mean I want to ask you something," I spoke up. 

He gave me a small smile. "Yeah sure, Mam, you can ask me anything." 

"What happened the day before? Did anyone come here last night to save me and beat the man who was dancing with me?" I inquired, and I received the expected response.

"Yes, a tall man came here yesterday and beat the man and took you with him." He responded to my question.

I immediately showed him Jonathan's photo and asked, "Did he save me yesterday?" He glanced at the photo and nodded, moving his eyes back to me. 

‘So I was thinking right, Jonathan saved me yesterday. I’m on cloud nine.’ A broad smile flashed on my face because I was overjoyed after learning that Jonathan had saved me the day before.