Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1
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I never thought this day will come. Ya
Allah I am going to college, and not just
any college, the most well-known private
college in England. Ever since we arrived
in Bradford 6 years ago, that’s the only
thing I looked forward too. I am tired of
seeing my mother cleaning people’s
houses for money. I kept going back to
all the things my family had to face to
get here and how long it took for me to
stand here, in front of my very first class
in college. After standing in front of class
for more than a century, yeah that’s how
long it felt like. I finally took a breath and
stepped into my Business
Communication class. I was early as
usual, but I didn’t seem to mind it. I have
always been early; it’s just a habit I
guess. I looked at my watch and the
time was 10:45 am. The class was about
to start in 15 minutes and there was still
not even a single soul in class. I
remember back home in Turkey, all the
kids use to come to class super early just
so we can all talk about our days and
discuss our homework. How different it
is here in England, everything seems so
fast, even though I have been here for
almost 6 years, everything still seems all
foreign. I have only one friend, her name
is Sobia who works with her mother at
a bakery shop near our flat, but she
doesn’t go to college so I don’t even see
her that often.
When I finally looked up from the
sketches that I started drawing when I
got lost in my thoughts, I noticed that
the class was starting to get full. All the
kids were coming in, wearing top-notch
clothes, girls with expensive handbags
and jewelry. That’s the only thing that
kept me worried for all these days. I was
not like these people. I was from a
middle-class immigrant family, who still
had an accent and had a laptop that was
given to me by my mother’s boss 4 years
ago. The only reason why I was here is
because somehow I turned out to be
smart in high school and got a full
scholarship here; otherwise not even in
a million years I would imagine coming
here.
I keep looking around, hoping that
maybe, just maybe someone would
actually sit beside me and maybe say hi.
Why was it like that? Was I really that
invisible that nobody would want to sit
next to me or even smile? Stop it, I told
myself. I can’t let these days get in my
way. I can’t let people affect me like that.
The teacher finally came into the
classroom. From the moment he walked
it, I knew he will be a good teacher. I
could tell. My mom tells me it’s a gift. I
can sense it I guess. It doesn’t take me
long to figure out what people want or
how they are. Instantly, my teacher
looked up to the entire class and
introduced himself. After introducing
himself, he directed everyone in the class
to stand up one at a time and introduce
themselves and tell a fact about
themselves. Since I was sitting all the
way in the back, I was thankful that I am
not going to be the first one to speak.
When other students started
introducing themselves, they used facts
like how they have visited tropical
beaches, how they plan on starting their
own business, how big their house is,
and what their favorite 5-star hotel is
and so on. Jeez, my turn was coming
soon and I had no idea what to say. I
just didn’t know. There wasn’t any cool
fact about me that anyone here could
relate to. Facts about me are too silly, too
obvious, and too ordinary. I can’t tell
people that I am one of those weird
people who likes the sound of thunder,
or who still watches cartoon with my
little brother every Sunday morning, or
who loves cooking and going on long
walks with my mother.
My turn was the next one, after a girl
few desks away from me finished telling
the class about how she attended Paris
Fashion Week last summer, all the eyes
turned towards me. I instantly felt self-
conscious but I didn’t let it show on my
face. I placed my hands on the steady
myself as I rose up from the chair.
“Hello everyone” I said with a smile. But
again only saw wondering silent eyes
reflecting back. “Well my name is Laila
Barakat, I came to England 6 years ago. I
live with my mother and brother. He is
11 years old and loves playing football.
There isn’t any cool fact about me really.
I volunteer at an animal shelter in the
weekends and I received a full
scholarship from this college and this is
how I got here.” I said all of that as fast
as I could, without taking any break in
between and sat back down
immediately.
When the class introduction was over, I
kind of felt relieved. It felt liberating to
let everyone know who you are and why
you have the right to be right to be here
just like everyone else. My teacher
continued on with his lecture, but I still
saw some heads turning my way. I was
used to this type of a reaction. The same
thing happened to me in high school as
well. Nobody wanted to talk to me, to
get to know me, all they did was stare at
me. I was the only girl in this entire
college who wore a hijab. There were
other muslim girls in my class too, but
even they didn’t talk to me.
When the teacher started his
powerpoint slides, I opened up my the
Notepad on my laptop and started
taking notes. After typing what felt like
hours, I suddenly heard someone sitting
down next to me. I looked up and saw
pair of brown fierce eyes. I saw him for
the first time; he did look like someone
straight out of magazine.
“Do you mind?” He said, looking
annoyed. So he was one of those guys,
who knew they were good looking and
just couldn’t bother to be nice to people.
Of course.
“You are sitting on my bag so you are
the one who should mind.” I said back
to him. My bag was stuck under the
chair leg.
He looked at me as if I was speaking in
Gibberish. After staring at me for a few
seconds, at last he moved his chair and I
picked up my bag and placed it on my
lap. I went back to typing my notes but I
still felt him stealing a glance or two my
way. The class went on and on and for
the homework my teacher, Mr. Charlie
assigned us to write a report on
different communication channels that
we use in today’s society. I took down
all the notes and closed my laptop. The
lights turned back on and I gather all of
the stuff and placed it in my bag and
head out.
I was waiting at the bus stop when I
saw some of my classmates getting into
their cars and driving off, but not him.
The guy who was sitting next to me in
the class was just sitting on his bike and
looking my way. I tried ignoring him and
starting wishing for the bus to come a
little early. I adjusted my red hijab and
clenched my bag a little tighter. Why is
the bus taking so long? Jeez. I better call
my mother to see if she can pick Sabir,
my little brother from school today. I
dipped my hand in my bag to only find
out that it was missing. I checked my
bag, and the pockets of my jacket and I
still didn’t find it.
“Looking for this?” I heard a familiar
voice from across the street. When I
looked up, I saw him again. Yes that guy,
who else. I could see an evil spirit in him
already. I saw my dearly blackberry in his
hand, and without a second thought, I
marched across the street and extended
my right hand. “This is mine” I said.
“And?” He chuckled. I can’t believe this
guy! What does he think of himself?
“And it’s mine so give it back” I snapped
back almost snatching it from his hand
but he was quicker than me.
“Not without a price” He smirked.
“I don’t pay for what’s mine” I fired
back.
“Oh but I don’t give things back that
easily, darling!”
“I am not your darling, now give it back
or else I’ll call the security.” I tried to
scare him. Honestly, I had no idea how
to call the security; I didn’t even see any
guards in the school.
“What’s your name?” He asked me.
“None of your business.” I stood there
with my hands crossed over my chest.
“Now stop wasting my time, I have to
make a phone call”.
“Give me your name and the phone is
yours” He demanded again.
“Fine, Laila.” I said it and snatched my
phone from his hands successfully this
time and started walking away. I can’t
believe this guy.
“I’ll see you soon Laila” He yelled back,
mocking me clearly.
“You wish” I mumbled back. There is no
way I’ll be sitting next to him in class
from now on.
I called my mother and told her to pick
up Sabir and got inside the bus. Few
minutes later I received a text from
Sobia who wanted to meet up so I
replied back instantly with a yes and
headed straight to her bakery. I
desperately needed some of her auntie’s
homemade cupcakes.
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