Chapter 5 Unspoken Tides

I had barely managed to get my foot out the door when Vera's sharp voice cut through the morning air. "Do you have something you'd like to explain to us, Nena?"

I didn't even look at her as I crossed the threshold, my shoulders tense with the weight of her gaze. "Hello to you too, Vera," I muttered, keeping my voice sarcastic to mask the irritation bubbling inside me. "I still don't understand why you're so worried. Now, early in the morning, you're starting again? Please, stop. I'm not a child anymore, and I don't owe you an explanation for everything I do."

I could feel her seething, the silence thick and uncomfortable, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I had bigger things to deal with-like the guilt gnawing at my insides from last night.

I started to walk away, but her voice followed me, sharper than ever. "Nena!"

Samuel's calming presence stepped in just in time, his hand gently resting on Vera's arm. "Wait, let me talk to her. Both of you are angry right now. Calm down first, and then you can talk to her later."

I could feel the tension between them, but I didn't stop. I just kept walking, hoping I could get some space to breathe, to think, before I lost my mind. But then I heard Samuel's voice behind me.

"Nena! Nena, wait!"

I stopped, my heart speeding up for reasons I couldn't quite understand. He caught up to me quickly, out of breath, his face flushed with the effort."I treated her so badly, Samuel," I confessed, my voice quieter than I'd intended. My emotions felt too heavy for my chest, and I had no idea why I had said those things to Vera.

"Don't worry about it," Samuel said, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "I talked to her. It's fine. But... what's the situation with the car?"

I hadn't even thought about the car until now. The rush of yesterday's events had pushed everything else to the back of my mind. I slapped my forehead, groaning. "Damn it, I completely forgot! The car is still in the garage. As soon as Mom leaves, we'll take it out."

"And what about class?" Samuel asked, the lightest teasing edge in his voice.

"If my mom sees the car like that, there won't be a Nena left to attend class," I said, a nervous laugh escaping me. It was a half-joke, but it was the truth. If my mother caught me now, I'd never hear the end of it.

We waited in silence, both of us hovering near the door, pretending not to look at the clock. Finally, my mother locked the door and stepped outside, and Samuel and I wasted no time in rushing to the garage. It wasn't glamorous, but it was efficient.

"You think we can fix it?" I asked, peering at the old Toyota Alphard as we stood in front of it.

Samuel gave me a reassuring smile, his eyes soft with kindness. "It's not too bad. I can get it fixed in a day or two."

"Really? That fast?" I raised an eyebrow, impressed.

"Normally, no. But for you, Nena?" Samuel grinned, his voice teasing. "Anything's possible."

I couldn't help but smile back. For all his teasing, Samuel had a way of making everything feel lighter. And in that moment, I realized just how much I appreciated him, how much he did for me, no questions asked.

The rest of the day dragged on in a blur, my mind too preoccupied to focus on anything else. Every few minutes, my eyes would flicker to the door of the classroom, wondering when Amer would show up. His injuries still weighed heavily on me. After everything that had happened yesterday, I couldn't ignore him, even if I tried. I had to know if he was okay.

Finally, he walked in, his usual black attire making him stand out even more. But what caught my attention immediately was how the injuries on his face had already healed. His skin, once bruised and cut, seemed almost completely recovered.

I stared, momentarily frozen in surprise, before I caught myself. It wasn't just his physical appearance that shocked me-it was the way he had managed to recover so quickly. How?

Amer seemed to notice my gaze, raising an eyebrow as he approached his seat. "What's wrong? Why are you so surprised to see me?"

Without thinking, I pointed to his faint scars. "Yesterday, you were badly injured. How did you recover so quickly?"

He brushed it off, his voice dismissive, as if he didn't want to discuss it. "I was hurt, but now I'm fine. There's nothing else to explain."

The dismissal stung more than I cared to admit, but before I could respond, Ms. Dora walked in, cutting the conversation short. I had no choice but to focus on the lesson, though my thoughts kept drifting back to Amer. Why did he have to act so indifferent? His eyes held secrets, ones I didn't understand but couldn't ignore.

Class ended, but I wasn't ready to let go of the tension between us. I packed my things and turned to him. "When are we going to the library?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, but there was an edge to it I couldn't hide.

Amer didn't answer right away, continuing to gather his things, as if my question didn't matter.

I tried again, irritation seeping into my voice. "When are we going? This project isn't just for me."

He finally looked at me, his smile smug. "I told you already-go ahead and start. I'll join you later."

I felt my patience snap. "This is a project for both of us! And believe me, I'm not dying to spend time with you either."

His smile widened, and with a simple "Alright," he walked out of the classroom, leaving me fuming.

I couldn't let it go. His attitude was driving me mad. As I walked home, I muttered to myself, my frustration building with every step. Why did everything have to be so complicated with him?

But when I reached home, all that anger dissolved in an instant. There, parked in front of my house, was the car, looking better than it had before. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Samuel's number, my voice filled with disbelief. "Samuel? You're amazing-you're the best!"

"Judging by your reaction, I take it you've seen the car," he said, his voice filled with amusement.

"Thank you so much. But how did you manage to fix it so quickly?"

"For you? Anything's possible," he replied, his voice soft. "But promise me you'll be more careful next time."

"I promise! Thank you again." My relief was overwhelming, and the weight I hadn't even realized I was carrying lifted.

Just when I thought the day was over, my phone rang again. It was Vera.