Flip Chart : Chapter Eleven

Yasmeen heard voices and laughter as she came upon the front door step of her home. She was curious and a bit surprised as she did not expect any guests to be coming over to her place. If there were any visitors decides to pay her family a visit…her mum might have told her in the first hand…but it seems not for that visitation at this point of time. Upon entering her front living room...that chuckling and that voice.....begins to ponder in her thoughts. Yasmeen shuts her eyes as she hung her head low....it was her father with her sister Iman. Such an unwelcome guests.

"Oh! Great.....Yasmeen is back." cried out her mother with full of excitement just like a child upon receiving a stick of fluffy sweet cotton candy. Yasmeen...refused to look upon her unwelcome guest as she went straight into her room....with aloud bang of her shutting door. After she flung her bag pack in anger upon the cream-colored wall....she sat on the floor with tears of anger and slight tinge of sadness in her eyes. A knock on the door...awaken her from her plight. Yasmeen wipe her streaming tears off from her face as she stood up to open the door.

"Yasmeen, please I'm sure you can do this just for me once." pleads her mum in between whispers as she held her hand onto her daughter's palm. Yasmeen shuts her eyes as she held in one huge breath and decides to give in to her mum......and shallow her pride.

Dinner seems like ages and a sheer pure of torment on Yasmeen's side...it just breaks her so much seen her father playing good daddy and husband around her home..but it just makes her feel so sick.

“Please let me do the dishes.” utters Iman, as she took the half soap smeared sponge off from Yasmeen’s fingers. Yasmeen grab on to the sponge so much firmly in her palm, as she stared coldly towards Iman without saying anything.

‘I’m just trying to help. Everyone around here wants to help…but it was you who seems to be pushing us away….like everything happens is due to our faults.” cried Iman with a sigh of disappointment in the tone of her voice.

“You and that man, came just to dismantle the puzzle which has been completed since ages.” hissed Yasmeen as she threw the sponge into the sink causing some water from the tub, to splutter around the kitchen floor…..half wetting part of Iman’s blouse.

Iman bit her lower lips as she held her tears in her eyes….fighting hard, not wanting to let them fall. “Throughout all those years, when daddy and I were away from you and mum, do you know how hard it  has been for him? Not a single night before he pat me to sleep, he will often talk so many beautiful things about you and mum and yet , there were so many unspoken tears and pains which he hide inside his soul.” exclaimed Iman, as she fold her arm close around her chest…trying to control her sob.

"Does he ever think about all that, before he left me and mum, Iman ?" asked Yasmeen scornfully, with broken marks written all over her eyes. "I have so many assignments, which need to be completed.....so don't look up for me, when you both decides to leave." continues Yasmeen as she left the kitchen and went back inside her room, slamming the door shut behind her, making both her mum and dad almost jump out from their seats.

Sharinah stood up form her couch, but her hand was held on by her husband. "Just let it go. I can understand how she must be feeling right now....and I can't blame her for that."

Yasmeen, took her house key and her cell phone as she decides to take a breath somewhere...just to be away from her home....from everyone and everything!!!! Without saying a word, she step out from her home and left. Bringing up the collar of her cardigan closer to her neck, she walks straight ahead towards the park, which was two blocks away from her home. "If only, you are here with me......things might not be so bleak and grayish for me." thought Yasmeen sadly, as Ezekiel's name suddenly came into her mind. It has been almost two weeks now...Ezekiel has not return her call or leave her a message. "Have our friendship meant to end this way.....it is destine to be like this?' question Yasmeen.


"Ezekiel, hey get up......someone is looking for you ? " cried Saif, as he pulls away Ezekiel's warm blanket away from him. It has been almost a month now, that Ezekiel's has been immersing his mind and soul in this boarding school. Going for lessons and lectures...attending phase after phase of presentations and other organisations which has been held up by the school just to past his time....to kill and hide his sorrows. He still felt the lost...he still grieving about the lost.....of his grandma, And now dealing with his current state of motion....it just kills him. "Who is it?" asked Ezekiel feeling annoyed, as he quickly shove his packet of cigarettes, which he left around the side table back inside his bag pack. He sat up on his bed as he pushed his hair behind his ears. Grabbing his pair of glasses and puts it on....as he gets up his bed to welcome the uninviting guest.

"Riley." exclaimed Ezekiel with weird kind of sense....half excited but in the other part of him "What the hell?" but of course his keeping that verb seal in his mouth.

"Hie..I know this may come as a surprised too you. Today, is a holiday, so I wonder if you will like to come along with me to a certain place? " asked Riley, as he came inside their room with both hands inside his pocket pants. Saif look at him and he expect some simple introduction on Ezekiel's side, however Ezekiel was seen busy with his towel, t-shirt and pants. "You must be Ezekiel's room mate?" asked Riley. "Hie, I'm Riley....Ezekiel's.....well ahh...." utters Riley but he stopped as he looks at Ezekiel's sharp looking eyes stared hard on him.....like a warning sign....to keep the mouth shut!!!!

"Fifteen minutes I'll be ready, maybe you can wait for me at the visitor area." snapped Ezekiel, as he walks out from the room and headed towards the shower area.


"I know they served good fish and chips here." utters Riley, as he begins to check on the menu which has been place on the cafe table.

"How's mum?" snapped Ezekiel, as he took out his cigarette and his lighter to light it up....and with a slow drag he took a puff.

"You smoke?" asked Riley as his eyes widen in shocked.

"Non of your concerned. I'm asking you how's mum?" cried Ezekiel as he took another puff.

Riley realized Ezekiel has somehow or rather change...in so many ways, the way he dress up....in those tight fitting shirt and pants with loose sandals. He had redefine his eye-brow.....and running a fine neat line using the eye-liner below and over his eye lid? He seems to be losing weight....and now a cigarette in between his fingers. "Why Ezekiel?" asked Riley, however this time the tone of his voice sounds cold but concerned.

"So, you just want to spend the holiday with me at this inn....eating fish and chips.....what a waste of time!" cried Ezekiel.

"Your mum wants me to give you this." said Riley, as he took a small package from his side pocket jacket and place it on the table, pushing the small package closer towards Ezekiel's elbow.

"She's too ashamed to come and see me herself...that she needs her errand boy to do her stuffs now." said Ezekiel with sarcasms in his voice.

"She's been busy with her boutique...." trails Riley.

"Oh! Really...or busy with her other activities huh? " utters Ezekiel, as he took the last drag of his cigarette and stub it inside the ash-tray which has been provided by the inn. "Just cut the crap....you asking me out because you are lonely....well what goes around will comes back around!" exclaimed Ezekiel, as he took the  beautiful wrap package and roughly tore away the sweet rose flowery wrapper away...and what was inside was a small box. Ezekiel open up the box....and it is a watch....original silver watch. Ezekiel place back the watch inside the box and threw it back towards Riley's corner of the table. "Give this back to her...cause her gifts...it does not meant anything to me at all.!"

"She loves you Ezekiel. Please don't make things hard on her and on yourself too....!" said Riley as calmly as he could sound.

"She makes me kills my grandma.....just the thought of it ...making and driving me nuts!And now, she has shoves me, like some kind of a garbage into this stupid boarding school!" shouted Ezekiel as he stood up from his seat and ran out from the inn.....like a prey running away from the beast. Riley quickly place the payment and took back the watch and chase after Ezekiel.

"Eze......hey!" cried Riley and he was quick enough, to grab Ezekiel's arm and bring him closer towards him.....Riley saw so many unspeakable broken substances inside his eyes.....too much, anger, pain and guilt...and he was only seventeen. Suddenly, Ezekiel breaks down and cries....and wails uncontrollably. Riley pulls him closer towards him and hold on to his shaking body.

"I hate you...all of you. You are all here to betray me...Why?" sobs Ezekiel right in the arms of Riley. Riley gently tap the back of his shoulder blade, but with no words spoken....as he felt so much emphatic towards Ezekiel's dilemma.

"Eze....do you want to come back home with me?" asked Riley. The night breeze begins to set it's full drift of motion, unsettling even more unspeakable shame, of not wanting to let Riley away from his sight...but he's concealing that horrid notion all to his dark soul.

"Just send me back there. I just can't set my eyes on her anymore." replied Ezekiel sorrowfully.

"Eze, please take this watch...it's a gift from both of us. Even if you can't accept it as a whole...but take it in half then...cause I pay part of it!" express Riley with a grin.

Eze smile in between his tear and then he asked," In half..how am I suppose to have it in half? Never mind, I shall take it as a whole.....Thank you very much!"


Riley enters the living room, and slowly sank his back on the long couch as he rub his temple with his fingers while his eyes is close. After few minutes, he opens his eyes with his thoughts fall upon Ezekiel sinking plight. "He's such a bright boy...to see him to be so drown and conceal with this sadness...it seems unfair." sigh Riley. Looking at his watch, it was almost half past ten, but yet there were still no sign of Eva lodging back home. And the sudden physique transformation on Ezekiel...it seems not right....just like out of place."That horrid boarding school, is doing him more harm..than good." lament Riley to himself when suddenly, he heard the front door was open and there stood Eva, with her face beaming with redness...from the sight and waft of it...she must be from one of her night out of cocktail parties.

"You have been drinking again?' questions Riley, with intense stare towards his wife as she chucks her high heels into the shoe closet, slamming the door hard as she close it.

"I was left with no other choice to hold on to my clients. I have to keep my social status alive !" rant Eva looking unpleased. "How's Ezekiel?' she asked, as she sat on the couch picking the newspaper to catch on with the latest updates about the world.

"I thought you might not have asked!" retort Riley.

"Please stop acting like a kid for once....my goodness!" cried Eva, feeling annoyed.

"Act like a real mother to your son then!" continue Riley. Eva almost lose her mind, but Riley would not care less as he felt, he really needs to spell it out all to her." Riley, he looks so distraught....he was just not been himself at all. I have told you in the very beginning, sending him over to that school was a bad idea...it was not doing any good to him, you have just make it worst!" rails Riley, as he stood up with his right arm swinging around his side. "He's heart is breaking..I know, he's still grieving about his late grandmother....he needs us, we are his family." continues Riley.

"If you can survive on your on feet, with just mere fifty notes in your pocket....I just can't figure out. why it is not possible for him then? All his expenses has been paid.....what ever shit subjects, which he dreams of taking in that school was granted, so what's the big deal about all this?" replied Eva shaking her head, in disbelief almost on every words that Riley had said.

"My case is different. Don't try to bring my subject into this picture. Eva, he needs love...he's craving for our attention. You insists on bringing him here over to state...but why did you have to push him away now?" asked Riley with doubts on Eva's real intention and sincerity.

"Because he's my son...and I want to give him the best in everything. Riley, you will never understand. I'm tired just get yourself some sleep!" said Eva as she leave the couch, and headed towards the stairs that leads her to the bedroom. Riley, watches her as she enters the room and close the door behind her.


Yasmeen spend few more hours by the bench stool, while looking at the dazzling stars across the vast dark night sky. Her thoughts was in such a twill. Everything seems does not fall in the right place for her. She had so may friends in her Facebook account, but yet she still feels so lonely. It's has been almost a week now, but Ezekiel, has not accepted her adding request, from her account and that's really sadden her so much. Yasmeen knew...she was feeling this low and begins to get upset, sensitive and just prefer to be left alone in seclusion because of Ezekiel....how she miss him so much, but yet he seems not to care at all. "Does he ever care in the first place?' cried Yasmeen in her thoughts.

Ezekiel has his mini notebook on his lap....as he stared intensely on Yasmeen friendship request. He finds it is hard for him to accept...even though he has forgotten and even forgiven her of what she had done..!!! Bringing their photograph which they both had taken together way back then during their best friends forever moment....it is beautiful actually !!! Full of fun and belly breaking laughter....it's was simply amazing. Ezekiel knew...and read all of Yasmeen messages which she had left on his cell phone...but he was too ashamed to return back her call..because he has changed so much...and it seems impossible for him to revert back like how he used to be. Ezekiel lay back on his bed as he stared towards Oasis snuggling comfortably inside his bowl. Sleep has almost overcome him, when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Saif won't be coming back tonight, as he had left a note saying that he will be sleeping over at the local mosque nearby after his spiritual lessons there. Ezekiel stood up from his bed, as he walk towards the door and opens it. There stood, Qareem or Qaresma....as that what he prefers to be call....a new friend of Ezekiel, whom he get's to know during one of the book club party.

"Eze....the night still early Sweet heart and you are already in bed !!!" cried Qaresma, as he pushed the door wide open and went straight inside Ezekiel's room. "Let's have some fun tonight. I know there's this new place where we can get hot and chill!" rambles Qaresma again, as he adjusted his tight shiny black hot pants against his skinny thighs. His eyelids were almost fully conceal by the over-whelming bizarre metallic blue eye-shadow, with dark eyeliner been carefully drawn above and below his eye-lids. His full lips were shiny with the abundance lip gloss. It seems he was trying so hard to look pretty but he was more on the disastrous sight....and that was Ezekiel deep thinking notion, which he kept hidden in his heart, as he does not want to hurt his new friends's feeling.

Ezekiel looks at his table clock and it was only half past twelve midnight, as he gets off from his bed. "Wait a while..I need to change." Wearing his tight black fitting jeans, that goes along with his mini v collar neck white T-shirt. He removed his glasses as he puts on his colorless contact lenses which reveal his enchanting hazel brown eyes. Next he pat some loose powder on his perfect looking features before he enhance his alluring eyes with a dark brown eyeliner pencil....over and under his eye lids...and not forgetting mascara to lengthened his eye-lashes. Lastly, he gloss his lips with the natural light beige color lip gloss. He smile with full of satisfaction as he looks at his pretty sight. "Another side of me.....my flip chart." utters Ezekiel.