Splash.
Splash.
Noor splashed water on his face inside the washroom.
Sigh…
"Hah…"
What in the world really happened? Is it a dream? No… no way it is.
"I can't believe Miss Jenne just proposed to me… but why?"
"I'm just fifteen… I have no idea about her age."
"No… that's not even the case. Why me?"
He stared at his reflection in the mirror.
Brown.
Ugly.
Skin filled with dark spots.
Dark circles under the eyes.
A big forehead already showing signs of receding hairline at this age.
Short as hell.
Noor stared for a few seconds.
Suddenly his chest burned.
His expression twisted into fury.
Smack.
The loud slap echoed in the empty washroom.
"Why me…?"
"Why meee…?"
"Why an ugly piece of shit like me…?"
"Why?!"
Smack. Smack. Smack.
He kept slapping himself.
"Why someone like me…" his eyes filled with tears. "I never wanted this. I never thought this even in my dreams. Why God… why…"
He broke down on the floor.
---
Some time passed.
Noor came out after taking a shower. He glanced at the mirror.
His face was burning red from the slaps.
"Hmph. Who cares…"
He sat on his bed.
Knock.
Knock.
"Who?"
"It's Rosy."
Noor quickly covered his face with a towel and opened the door.
"Hey Noor, how are you doing?"
Noor froze.
(She used to call me 'sir' every time… now she's calling me by my name?)
"Oh—sorry, I should call you sir—"
"No, no. It's okay. It's just sudden… you surprised me. You can call me by name from now on," Noor said, scratching his head.
"Are you sure?" Rosy's eyes sparkled.
"Sure, of course."
(What's with her… she looks happier than usual. And she's not in her maid uniform… she's dressed like she came from a special occasion.) Noor thought.
"Oh, can I come in?"
"Okay."
She closed the door behind her and they sat on the floor.
"Why are you covering your face?" Rosy asked.
"Oh… I just took a shower." Noor hid even more behind the towel.
"But Miss Rosy, there's something odd about you. You're acting different than usual…" He changed the topic.
"Oh? What's different?" she asked, closing her eyes shyly.
"What the—" Noor widened his eyes.
"I mean… your dress. It's unusual."
"Do I look ugly in this?" Her expression fell.
"No—no! (Who in their right mind would call Miss Rosy ugly? She's more beautiful than an actual rose itself. Anyone who says she's ugly deserves death.)"
Oops. He said it out loud.
"Noor, stop… you're embarrassing me…" Rosy blushed hard.
(I'm surprised… her blushing doesn't cringe me like others. She's pure… and beautiful. God bless her.) he thought.
"So Miss, you wanted to say something to me. What is it?" Noor asked.
"Oh… it's just…"
She leaned close and whispered:
"I went on a date."
"What?" Noor stared at her, puzzled.
"Awwww, nooo…" She covered her face in embarrassment.
"B-but with who?"
"Mr. Rahim…" she whispered.
"Oh."
"…OH—WAIT, SERIOUSLY?!" Noor's jaw dropped. The towel slipped off but he quickly covered his face again.
"Now it makes sense. I couldn't find you two. I had to walk to school!" Noor complained.
"But Mr. Robot didn't seem like that kind of person…" Noor teased.
"Hey Noor, that's mean!" Rosy pouted.
"Why not? He's always busy like a robot. If anybody treats him badly, he acts like nothing happened. He barely shows emotion, never talks about himself. But he's a really good person. And he's a handsome man."
Pfft—
Rosy giggled.
"What's so funny?" Noor asked, annoyed.
"Hehe… nothing. It's just… that's exactly what I like about him." Her expression softened.
"Oh, I see…"
"But Noor, why are you still covering your face? The soaked towel will make you sick."
"No, Miss Rosy—"
Snatch.
Before Noor could finish, Rosy grabbed the towel.
The finger-shaped red marks on his cheek were revealed.
"Noor… what happened? Who did this to you?" Rosy's voice turned furious.
"No—Miss Rosy, calm down."
"Then WHAT is this?!"
"It's just…"
Sigh.
"I hit myself." Noor looked away.
"But why…?"
Noor explained everything.
Rosy stayed silent for a while.
"Noor… look at me."
"…Hmm," Noor replied quietly.
"I know it's a shocking situation. Even Jenne didn't talk to me about it. I'm as surprised as you are. But why did you hurt yourself that badly?" Rosy said sadly.
"Because I'm really ugly… and pathetic," Noor whispered.
"No, you're not."
Rosy gently cupped his face.
"You're a beautiful and pure person… the purest I've ever seen." She smiled softly.
"Don't lie… that's cringe," Noor muttered.
"I'm not lying. Your heart is pure. Your soul is beautiful. I can see that."
Rosy's eyes glowed red for a split second.
"Huh…? (Did I just see something?)" Noor thought.
"Don't worry. As Jenne said, she won't bother or cause trouble for you anymore."
"But… I think I really behaved rude. I treated her badly. I thought she was a monster… but she saved my life." Noor said with regret.
"If apologizing will make you feel better, I'll talk to her for you."
"Really?" Noor's face brightened.
"Sure." She patted his head gently.
(That warmth… I lost that warmth long ago when my parents used to pat my head.)
Noor smiled faintly.
"Oh wait—Miss Rosy, I told you everything. About Miss Jenne's identity. Won't that put you in trouble?" Noor panicked.
"I was aware of that from the beginning. I raised Jenne. Nobody in the world knows her better than me."
"But one thing bothers me… why your father brought you here despite knowing all this…" Rosy said curiously.
Noor's expression darkened.
"Oh—don't stress yourself. Nothing will happen to you. What surprised me even more is how calmly you accepted everything."
"Oh… it's maybe because I'm just like this, haha…" Noor scratched his head.
"Miss Rosy."
"Hm?"
"How old are you actually? I thought you were in your late twenties… but you said you raised Miss Jenne—"
"Noor."
"Huh?" he gulped.
"Let me give you advice… never ask a woman her age." Rosy smiled with closed eyes.
"Eek… (She looks scary when pissed.)"
"Now go to sleep. You have school tomorrow." Rosy stood up.
"Good night."
She closed the door.
"Good night…" Noor said, still sitting on the floor.
…
Pfft.
"Haha…"
Noor cracked up, lying back on the floor.