Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

Author:Hanna Alkaf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2022-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

UMBRAGE

twelve points

noun

displeasure or resentment

verb

shade

On my way down to the lobby, I reach for my phone and look through my favorite contacts for Alina’s name. If anybody knows anything about a fight, it’ll be Alina.

The phone rings once, then twice, then my little sister’s face fills the screen; she always holds it way too close for video calls.

“Hi, Kakak!” she says cheerily. “What’s up?”

“Hey,” I say. “I have a question.”

“Okay. Hold on.” There’s a clatter and the world on the other end of the screen tilts, then rights itself again as she leans it against something so she can see me while she ties her hair back. “I don’t know if I have an answer, but you can ask.”

“Were Trina and I fighting about something?”

“What? I mean, you fought sometimes, I guess, but…”

“That weekend specifically, though.” I fiddle with the fringed end of my hijab. Please, Alina, give me some answers. “Did I mention anything?”

“Um…” I search her face for clues, but all I’m getting is confusion. “What are you talking about, Kakak?”

“Did I tell you anything about us arguing, or having some kind of disagreement? Or anything at all?”

She shakes her head and grabs the phone to bring it closer; her face is worried. “No. Kakak, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“No you’re not.” Alina is visibly distressed now. “You know what Dr. Anusya said. You’ve got to eat right, get enough sleep, all of that. You know how much worse it gets when you don’t take care of yourself.”

“I am.”

“Stop lying to me.” Even through a phone screen, I’m having trouble meeting her gaze. “What is this about?”

I swallow a sudden lump in my throat. “Nothing. I have to go.” I hang up before she can say anything more.

I pull out my notebook once again, and I write it all down, all of it: everything Yasmin said about that day, and about Mark, and about the fight. When I’m done, my head feels like someone is squeezing it in a metal vise. So Trina and I were in a fight, yet somehow I didn’t tell Alina anything about it; Alina, who knows all my secrets; Alina, who knows me better than anyone else. What was I keeping from her?

What was it about this fight that was so personal, so big, that I couldn’t tell my sister about it?

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.