"Melody...! Wake up!"

A tender whisper invaded my dreams, pulling me back to consciousness. My eyes snapped open when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Akram's face was inches from mine, his warm breath brushing my skin. It seemed like I was having a pleasant dream. I stared at him, perplexed, and narrowed my eyes for better vision. My mouth dried up so I cleared my throat. What's he doing here?

"Sorry. I had to wake you up. The film is ending and I thought... you'd prefer to get up before the lights are on." He pressed his lips together in a barely restrained expression that gave away his amusement and probably his great effort not to laugh at me.

My eyes were still drowsy, I rubbed the sleep off and then my memory recovered all at once. I scrambled to push the Up button on the armrest when Akram moved back.

"Oh God! Did I really fall asleep?" I smoothed my hair hastily with my fingers and straightened my clothes down, adjusting the shawl to cover most of my body.

Oh, snap! I look hideous when I wake up!

"You've been out for about an hour. You must have been tired." His answer was a soft murmur, a bit of concern touching his face again in the shape of a soft wrinkle between his eyebrows. He stood up, holding out his hand to help me to my feet.

I stumbled trying to slip my shoes on (I forgot I even took them off) but Akram gripped my hand before I fall and humiliate myself again, a sympathetic look in his eyes.

The audience were already leaving as the credits appeared so we stepped down the aisle to leave the place, his hand clasping mine. I was still unbalanced and a bit disconcerted of my unexpected behavior.

I fell asleep!! With strangers around me!! And Akram beside me! The zombie apocalypse must be near!

Sleep never came easy to me in my own bed, let alone on a chair in a public place. Also, I was frustrated I didn't know how the film ended. It's always annoying when I didn't finish something I'd started and I desperately wanted to know the end of this one, even though I'd already read the book. What if they changed the ending? What if they messed it up? I just needed to know

" So what happened? How did it end?" I turned to ask Akram, angling my head up to look at his face that had his serene glow back on under the bright lights that shone back in the theatre.

He sighed.

" The boy had cancer and he died. " he pursed his lips in displeasure.

I gasped.

"Was it very gruesome?" I bit my lip in disappointment, recalling the last moments I watched before lethargy took over my head. I was hoping for a new happy ending or something different. Obviously that wasn't the case.

"Oh yeah! God knows, I'm glad you didn't watch that part." He grimaced, scrunching his nose for an instant. He obviously hated it!

I perfectly knew what he meant though. I would had been blubbering non stop until now. But I felt guilty I let him watch it alone. He must had been bored to death.

"But honestly, how interested could you be? You slept in the middle of the movie. I think you were extremely bored." He shook his head, looking at me with a fake frown- this cute jutting bottom-lip thing giving it away.

My eyebrows lifted to the roof. I wanted to laugh but I was still in shock. "No. No, I really liked it. I don't know what happened to me."

We got out into the lobby and then I stopped, shyly turning to face him while a flock of people flowed towards the exit.

"I'm really sorry," I said in genuine regret.

His eyes widened "No! Don't be. You needed to rest. "

"So... Did you like the movie?" I asked, expecting a negative response.
Of course he was bored. He probably didn't really watch it. Men don't watch this genre, I supposed. Except, maybe, to humor a girl. And he didn't really have to.

He ran his fingers through his layered hair, meeting my eyes with a thoughtful scowl.

" Frankly, I didn't like the characters. I thought they were too arrogant for star-crossed lovers. I mean, sure they're dying of cancer and it's sad. But they've already accepted their fate. So did their families. How vain it is to expect life to stop when they're gone. The whole plot was based on their fear that their families would fall apart when they die. Seriously, I think that was sort of childish egotism." He kept his tone serious. "And the separation didn't make sense at all. They're in love. They're eighteen. They're old enough to get married and just... die in each other's arms but they fuss about staying apart. I've always preferred the couple in 'A Walk To Remember'. They made the right choice." A solemn expression lingered on his face as he finished.

Wow! I totally didn't see this coming. He actually watches romance??

My mouth gaped open a little. I was impressed he paid attention to the story but still, I frowned, a tiny bit offended.

The thing was I've always related to tragic stories. Even though I didn't always empathize but I often felt real pity for the unfortunate characters and they kind of stuck with me for days afterwards. Perhaps I was just a perpetually grim person who likes to wallow in sadness. Although I knew how my sulky tendencies were earned. My personal life story was one intricate tragedy by its very nature.

It might sound sick but I actually felt that tragedies were therapeutic. Watching people who'd lived through worse than I had gave me a little hope and helped me cope with my reality. Knowing that things could've been worse comforted me in a twisted way. I'm weird, I know!

"Akram, You're being too harsh. I could relate to them more than you think." My comment came out accompanied by a wistful smile. My head drooped down, playing with my fingernails to avoid his possible sarcasm.

The prompt response I got from him next shook me to the pit of my stomach. I wasn't paying attention to Akram's face at first but, as soon as I finished my sentence, his body stiffened. His hands extended to grasp at my shoulders at arm's length and that's when my head snapped up to look at him in alarm.

His expression was extreme. Intense. His face turned a shade whiter. His burning gaze raked through my face, which twisted in a pained expression . The ever cheery cinnamon eyes - wide with what seemed like a mixture of horror and shock- darted frantically across my features.

What happened?! Did I upset him?

My forehead puckered and I felt a jolt of tension overcoming my body. Blood drained from my face as I stared at him in speechless bewilderment. I just couldn't understand!

Did I say something wrong?

Akram swallowed and opened his mouth slightly. It took him a second or two to start talking. "Melody... is that it? God, I knew there's something wrong. Are you....? Do you have.....?" His face was distorted, his voice quaked a bit, struggling to ask a strangled question.

The words seemed to choke in his throat in a way that made me want to reach out my hand to console him for a reason I didn't even know. It was my first time to see him lose his happy face and it startled me.

Folding my arms over my shawl-clad chest, I froze for a long moment to resist this urge to comfort him.

Losing contact with my busy surroundings, my brain strained to process the situation. I stared at Akram's dismal expression, reiterating the last words I'd said in my head until realization hit me.

"Oh, God!...No, Akram... I don't have cancer! Not that I know of any way." I put together a wavering smile, attempting to calm his overreaction. To be honest, I thought his response was beyond reason. I just felt bad that it was because of me that he came to be so troubled.

Akram's face relaxed gradually. He released my shoulders, his hands dropped to his sides and the tension seemed to ease up. He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose and folding his other arm across his chest. A moment later, he sighed deeply and peered at me with narrowed eyes, his look unreadable.

" You'll have to pay for this," he said, nodding his head.

"What?"

"You dozed in the middle of the movie, you scared me to death, and I'm sure you haven't eaten dinner yet... It's payback time. We'll make it a double feature! " He cracked an unexpected boyish grin, "We'll get dinner in the foyer, get the tickets and catch another show of my choice." He arched an eyebrow and twisted his lips, faking an evil look.

"Are you serious?" My eyes widened in disbelief but I almost laughed at his expression.

"Dead serious. " He nodded smugly.

I frowned, mulling over the idea.

"Akram, I'm going to be late. Really, I need to go back to the cafe. Asha is waiting for me to go home. "

I had to come up with something before he insisted to escort me home this time. I didn't want to break curfew but I didn't want to leave him either. I didn't know when I'd see him again. He was going to be away the whole summer! at least three months!

"It's still early. You'll be there by 10 p.m. maximum. I promise " He assured me, looking at his watch. " I won't take No for an answer. It's the least you can do to make up for the fright night you just gave this poor guy. " His head fell and he gave me this irresistible heart-gripping look from under his lashes. Almost like the cute ' Puss In Boots' face in the animation movie.

Aw!!!

"Pleeeeease?" He begged, crossing his fingers and holding his hands over his chest. His look could've melted a heart made of stone. I couldn't say no, of course, since I'd already felt guilty that I ruined his evening and snored the night out. Besides, I really wanted to stay! God, I was going to miss him all summer!

Curse you, Cinderella!! You had two more hours than me you ungrateful brat!!

"Alright..." I chewed my lips, sinking in regret. "Sorry I was such a bore. And sorry I picked a movie you didn't enjoy watching."

"Believe it or not. I definitely enjoyed watching." His eyes lit up as he laughed as if there was some joke that I'd missed. " Let's sit somewhere. I'll go get the tickets. "

He steered us through the crowds, to the food court tables where the concentrated smell of junk food made my stomach growl, which reminded me I haven't eaten a thing since breakfast which was only an apple and some crackers. Akram guided me to an empty table on the far end of the foyer area. He pulled a chair, indicating for me to sit down.

"Don't go anywhere," He warned, pulling up his eyebrow again and pointing his Index finger towards me. Then he winked.

I nodded with a faint smile. Of course I wasn't going anywhere. I was his useless stalker.

He left for the box office to buy the tickets; he didn't say which movie. Apparently, he wanted to surprise me.

Once he disappeared, I wrapped my arms tightly around my body, locking my ankles under the metal chair. A sudden feeling of loneliness filled me to the rim. My eyes scanned the crowds to catch sight of where he had gone. Feeling lonely wasn't at all new to me, only this time was twofold.

Those few hours I spent with Akram were so filling that I felt empty once he went out of my sight. As if fate decided to give me a small reality check. It was just a recess; a reprieve of my hard life.

This temporary joy was changing me into this other, almost carefree, person who could smile and laugh and fall asleep in weird places.

Maybe it's his smile? His Cheerfulness? His politeness? His breezy manner infecting me? I can tell my mind gets in a better place with him and it's confusing... is that happiness? Maybe that's the right word!

The thing was, I'd already adjusted myself to live a difficult life. Since I've lost hope to belong to a family, or live a normal life, there was no good in being drawn into a less likely scenario.

Am I?!!

It felt like I was getting more greedy by the second. I wished I could cling to this happy and carefree feeling much longer. To imagine that this could last forever. And maybe, just maybe, to be someone important in Akram's life? To mean something to him?

Alright. Now I'm being unreasonable!

Akram was kind. Perhaps his mixed culture was what made him so different from everyone else? Or being musical had something to do with his sympathetic nature? Isn't it proverbial that artistic people are more humane than others? He'd been feeling sorry for me since the park and he was showing his gratitude for saving him from the flirtatious blonde in the cafe. He was friendless too. Living solo in the big apple isn't easy without someone to talk to. That much I completely understood and it was a good reason for him to hang out with someone like me; only for friendly company in this stone cold city. It was ironic that people could get so lonely in the city with the highest population in the world.

Well, I don't mind being his buddy. Not at all. I can live with this! I can!

In fact, I was trying to find a guiltless justification for being around him for any length of time.

Stroking my upper arms absently, I couldn't stop my dark musings from chiming in, thinking of how I got used to being near him so soon, how It felt exactly right, yet I knew deep inside this was so... wrong, how being attached to someone could only lead to being hurt in the end. I knew better than to hold on to false hopes or unrealistic expectations but I needed this just the same. I needed care. I needed hope. Friendship. I needed to feel safe and welcomed. Anything would feel better than being cast away with my own shadow. Or being stuck at the shelter all my life with people like Vivian lurking around.

A warm shadow interrupted my thoughts as Akram arrived and stood beside the table, placing a couple of paper boxes and two cokes in front of me.

My head jerked up in surprise watching his lovely smile. Again.

He dragged his chair back and sat down opposite me.

" I brought dinner. I hope you don't mind. I picked the one with the least calories on the menu." He winked, the curve of his lips giving away his merriment as he rested his face on his hand.

" Oh! Thank you. " I gave him an inquisitive look, tilting my head.

" It's grilled chicken sandwich, is that okay? I can get you something else, I just didn't want to keep you waiting because... I thought you must be hungry." He sounded unsure, his smile fell a bit as he watched my face carefully.

"No. No, it's perfect. Thanks. It's really nice of you to pay attention to my nutritional habits." I simpered. He was actually paying too much attention. I was more flattered than nervous right now.

His eyes crinkled up just as they do each time he smiled. "Any time."

" You... smile a lot," I noted.

"Do I?" His smile stretched further, illuminating his whole face. "Is it too creepy?"

"No, it's beautif---!" I trailed off and blushed like crazy.

God, now I'm creepy!

"It's just because I'm happy to see you," he interrupted my awkwardness.

"Thanks."

Taking my time to avoid his gaze, I cast my eyes down and busied myself with unwrapping my meal, only to realize there was only one sandwich and a large French fries.

"Where's your dinner?" I asked Akram, Abruptly thrown off.

"Actually, the fries are for me. Nothing appealing on the vegetarian menu." He pursed his lips.

"You're vegetarian? "

"Not really. Only sometimes." He chuckled then his tone turned more serious when he noticed my confusion. " It's a religious thing. I can't eat meat anywhere unless it's butchered according to Islamic tradition. So I basically stick to vegan or seafood. Except when my mother's cooking, of course, it's always safe." He sighed deeply, pulling his food closer across the table.

" And you chose to eat the most unhealthy vegetarian food ever?" I gave him a dissatisfied look, shaking my head.

"Hey! Don't be so judgemental. I love fries and I need a break from my New York diet." He pouted. " I basically live on cereal and canned tuna. You wouldn't imagine the enormous amount of tuna I consumed since I've moved here. It would make the feline population green with envy." His mouth twisted into a sneer and my uncontrolled laughter followed.

He squinted at me and grinned as I tried to harness my giggles.

"Let's eat! We have a movie to catch. " He pointed to the food, a contented expression on his face, then he looked down and started feasting on his fries.

It was unsophisticated of me, but I caught myself watching the shape of his mouth as he bit and chewed his food, admiring the way his jawline formed a nearly right angle with his cheek bones. The way his Adam's apple moved as he swallowed captivated me that I almost forgot I had to eat too.

Blood raced to my cheeks and I mentally chastised myself for being such a creep. A stalker was enough bad reputation for one lifetime.

Eventually, I willed my eyes to look down at my meal, checking out the sandwich he picked for me - Whole wheat bread and lots of fresh vegetables and it looked extremely appetizing.

A tiny smile invited itself to my lips when the usual guilt I felt toward food didn't churn my stomach as I expected it to. That's when I started tasting my sandwich, savoring each bite with relish as if it was my last meal... Ever.

****

Hello lovelies,

Ok this is probably taking me too long and I'm not exactly satisfied about it. Also there will be a part 3 which is a first :$ I still hope you enjoy it and please share any remarks you have in mind.

=why do you think it was easy for Melody to fall asleep in public for the first time?

*do you think Akram overreacted when he thought she was sick?

*what do you think will happen next?

Please share any thoughts good and bad. Because I♥LOVE♥U ;)