The Bends : Chapter Three

The alarm sound on the mobile phone begins to beep several times much too Aden's irritation. He stir and took the phone in his hand and looks at the time..and it was almost seven in the morning. Aden force himself to get up as he got so many things which he needs to settle. He sat on his bed for a while and then he stood up, pick up his towel and headed towards the shower room to have a quick shower. The heater seems not to be working at all..no matter how hard he had tried adjusting the temperature settings. In the end he had a cold shower instead. After putting on his grey t-shirt and his jeans and went towards the kitchen for breakfast. He make himself some instant coffee and took a box of cookies and headed back towards his room. It seems Zhorif was still in bed. While munching on his cookies, he took his luggage and begins unzipping it. He took out some of his camera gadgets stuffs and place them on his bed. He carefully fix them all up and after his camera was set to his full satisfaction, Aden begins to take few shots in his room. Aden looks out of his window towards the vast skies and he felt that this was the best moment where he could captured more excellent photos ....sun rise. He took his house keys and together with his camera as he leave the house. He headed towards the stairways, but instead of climbing down the stairs, he decides to climb up which eventually will lead him to the roof top instead. Aden opens the door which was the main entrance towards the roof top and phase around the area as he wants to get the best position for him to be in trance with his passion..photography. He came upon this concrete three feet wall and sat on it. The morning sky soon begins to bring in the sunny rays much to his pleasure. He bring his camera towards his face and begins taking few shots of the beautiful, bluish with tinge of orange sky. Some morning birds flying across of it was a bonus point for Aden. Just as he was about to caliberate the zooming of his camera...suddenly he smell something nice..just like a fresh laundry.

Aden tries to locate that sense and as he turn to his right there he saw further ahead of him was few lines of fresh linen being hang onto the wired railing. He walks closer towards that area and he find it was a unique sight and he begins to take some photos of it. Just as he was focusing on the view from his camera lens suddenly..something had caught his eyes. He zoom his lens as he wants to get the clearer picture of that view..and he saw a girl..and she probably around three years his junior. From his lens..he could see she was such a sweet girl..with her long hair flow freely against her bare arms...and she got beautiful almond shape eyes..on her pretty face. That girl seems to be so engrossed with her linen that she was unaware that Aden had actually taken few shots of her as well. Suddenly, she realised that she has been watched and stared directly towards Aden. Aden saw that stern look on her face from his camera lens. He bring his camera down and raise up his right hand and wave at her with a smile on his face. From far Aden knew she was not please with all this at all. She quickly took her half empty laundry basket and bring it to her hips. And then she rush out towards the doors and headed down the stairways. Aden followed suit but she was already out from his sight. Aden give a huge sigh and then he went back to his home. Zhorif was already up and he was getting ready for his class that morning.

"Wow..you are damn early. Where have you been? asked Zhorif as he sat on the couch with a mug of coffee in his hands.

"Early morning is the best moment to get the best shots." replied Aden as he went inside his room and took out his mini notebook laptop. He walks back towards the living area and join Zhorif on the couch. While sipping his coffee, Zhorif watch Aden begins uploading his photos into his notebook..just then something had caught his eyes.

"Hey! How did you get that?" asked Zhorif as he put down his coffee mug and came closer towards the notebook and begins to stare at one of the photos.

"An accident I guess! I got caught by her eyes...she's pretty." replied Aden with a smile.

"Just stay away from her, she's trouble." exclaimed Zhorif shaking his head.

"What? What kind of trouble can a girl next door like her do?" asked Aden in disbelieved.

"Aden, don't ever get close to her..you better listen to me." cried Zhorif again as he stood up and place his mug in the sink.

"I don't understand." replied Aden as he zoom her photo larger to get a closer look of her.

"She's Ilhan's wife..that's why..she's trouble." utter Zhorif and he took his bag and the house keys and left.

Aden could not believe of what he just heard. "She's Ilhan's wife?" that question begins to linger in his mind over and over again. "I guess Zhorif was right, maybe I should just stay away from her." thought Aden to himself again. He brings his mouse towards the delete application and delete all her photos. Just as he was about to pack his bag and his notes for his class which will begins aomewhere around ten in the morning, his mobile phone rang.

"Hello." replied Aden while stacking his notes in his files.

"Hello Aden? It has been only two days and have you forgotten your mum?" it was Zaharah.

"Mum..hie! No of course not. I did call on the night when I had just arrived..did'nt Aleeya told you?" asked Aden bringging his bag and the housekeys.

"I know you did..but you never asked about me and your dad." cried Zaharah and Aden knew his mother sounds upset.

"I did mum, maybe Aleeya might have forgotten." said Aden and he knew Aleeya did not forget. She pretends to forget..and Aden knew Aleeya's been the youngest child in the family and at times can be quite handful. Whatever Aden gets she wants to have double the share...thanks to their father. However Aden understand why..cause Adam their father came back into their lives unexpectedly after his missing for almost six years. It takes time for them to re-adjust back their bond..and Aden knew his father was trying his best to rebond with them again especially with Aleeya who can't really fully accept Adam's sudden arrival into their family as Aleeya has been very close with their uncle Zaki instead.

"How are you and dad?" asked Aden as he walks out from the house and headed towards the stairs.

"Everything fine here...your dad has been busy recently due to the incoming orders of some new engines of the company..and he's opening up another arts exhibiton at the city site propably by end of this week." replied Zaharah. "How about you..how's your place?" asked Zaharah with concerned in her tone.

"Well, it's great...I could have cold shower every morning." cried Aden with a giggle.

"Cold shower huh?" replied Zaharah with her hands on her hips.

"How's Aleeya?" asked Aden again.

"Discovering herself." utter Zaharah as she smile coyly.

"That's interesting for you to put it that way." cried Aden while he headed towards his motorbike. "Well mum..maybe we can talk again later tonight..cause I've got to go"

"Alright Aden, ride carefully." replied Zaharah.

"I love you mum..and send my regards to dad and Aleeya." said Aden as suddenly he begins to feel a tinge of homesickness.

"I love you too Aden..take care alright." replied Zaharah before she hungs up.

Aden rode carefully on his motorbike along the busy street and thankfully the college was located nearby his rented home. He went straight towards the administration office to get his identification pass and sign few documents. The clerk then begins to give some simple orientation about the college, the rules which all student need to abid and then she show him the way towards his classroom. As Aden step into his classroom, he saw there were only few students around seven including himself. His teacher was a middle age woman and she was a professisional photo-grapher. Since it was only their first day of their lesson so nothing much has been taught only introduction of the students and the reason why they had decides to choose photo-graphy as their curriculum. Aden feels that photography has been his passion and it seems to be in his blood. And he felt, he gets that artistic flair from his father Adam. They were given an hour break and then continue back for the next lesson. Aden and his new classmates listen to their teacher with full of interest as she begins to explain the difference kind of lens ect.

It was almost one in the afternoon, their lesson ended. Each student was given some notes and homework to bring back home. Since they were just part time students therefore, they only need to attend their classes three times per week. Aden went back to his motorbike and ride off heading back towards his home.

Upon reaching his doorway, suddenly he remembers that he had forgotten to buy some groceries which Zhorif had told him the day before. Aden went back towards the elevator and as the lift door open someone had rushed out and accidently crash a whole lot of egg carton with eggs onto Aden's t-shirt and pants. His notes was totally soaked with the egg yolks much to Aden dismay.

"Please forgive me sir, I swear I didn't mean it." cried the girl as she tried her best to remove the egg yolks and the whitish stuff off from Aden's shirt. Aden still hanging on to his notes then took a glimpse of the girl and it was the same girl who he had met at the roof top.

"It's okay..I can get back home and change." replied Aden as he begins to stare at her with a smile. She looks up towards his face and then she remember, he was the one who has been taking her photographs without her knowledge. The girl quickly look away from his eyes and took the rest of her belongings and rushed back home...slamming the door behind her as she enters her home. Aden was stunned by her gesture....she seems to be always in a rushed. Looking at his drench shirt and pants...and not forgetting his destroyed notes he went back to clean himself and change into a clean attire. He scratched his head upon seeing his soak notes and place them on the kitchen cabinet before he left the home to get the groceries.

Upon reaching the store he phase around the area and buy all the stuffs which he and Zhorif needed. Before he went out to head back home, suddenly he saw a carton of eggs. He bought that too. After climbing up the stairways he counted the doors...three doors away from his. And then he founds it..the door house which belongs to that girl and not forgetting her hooligan husband Ilhan. Aden picks up his courage and rang the bell. There was no answer and then he rang several times again..still in vain. In the end he place the carton of eggs on the floor, near to the door and left...headed back towards his home.

Maya, stood by the door and she pray hard for him to go away. After she felt sure that he had left, slowly she opens the door and she saw a carton of eggs has been place there. She quickly took it in her hand and slammed the door.

"Who was that?" asked Ilhan scornfully.

"It's the grocery girl..I must have left this carton of eggs and that's why she sent them up to me." replied Maya meekly as she walks towards the kitchen and place the eggs onto the cabinet. Ilhan came forward towards Maya and grib her wrist..pulling it behind her back and push her to the wall. "You better don't try to play any tricks on me..do you understand that." cried Ilhan as he roughly grab her hair. Maya nodded with tears in her eyes. Ilhan looks at her and laugh at the sight of her weakness...he drags her towards their room and slammed the door shut.

"Oh my what was that smell?" asked Zhorif as he enters their home and pinch his nose. "Where have you been..to the chicken coup?" cried Zhorif again shaking his head.

Aden lay on his couch and grinned sheepishly. "Our path crosses again." smile Aden as he stared towards the turning fan on the ceiling.

"Who? Ilhan's wife? Maya?" cried Zhorif as he chucks his bag on the coffee table and lay on the floor.

"Her name is Maya? Sweet name." utter Aden.

"Aden, let me warn you again..stay away from her." cried Zhorif sternly. Aden shut his eyes and pretends to sleep. Zhorif shake his head and went back towards his room and closed the door behind him.

Maya sat on her bed and pull her blanket close to her body. Ilhan had left leaving her sore and empty..as though her whole spirit has been strip off her. She stood up and put on her dress and headed towards the kitchen. And then she saw the carton of eggs which that photo guy have left by her doorstep. Maya took the eggs and headed towards the door. She step out from her home and walk towards Aden's rented home. She place the eggs and walk back towards her home.

Aden must have fallen asleep on the counch...he looks at his watch and it was almost six in the evening. Just then Zhorif came out from his room and was about to leave his home as he needs to meet up with some of his friends and discuss about the project which they had planned. Just as he was about to step out from the house, he saw the carton of eggs and yelled. "What problem do you have with eggs?" Aden was shocked upon hearing his remarks and stood up. Zhorif took the eggs and pass it to Aden who looks glum and confused.

"Well, I've got to go." cried Zhorif as he left.

Aden place the carton of eggs in the fridge and then he took the house keys and left. As he pass through Ilhan's home he stop for a while and stood by the door side. He almost rang the bell however he change his mind and headed towards the elevator instead. Just then he saw Ilhan and his ruffians mates step out from the elevator. Ilhan and Aden exchange intense stared for a while before Aden step into the elevator and pressed the button to headed towards the ground floor.

"Watch his step." said Ilhan towards his hooligan mates.