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“Give me another chance.” Jamil whispered.
Those were the words that would be Kalim’s undoing. With desperate hope, Kalim had jumped at the chance.
“Of course!” Kalim had agreed, desperate for his best friend back.
Jamil had seemed so sincere, so honest, Kalim hadn’t considered that it could be fake. Maybe he should have. It started with a cough. Jamil had made his dinner like always and while Kalim had thought the texture was a bit off, he had eaten the whole thing. That night, Kalim couldn’t sleep. He had a cough that just would not go away. No matter how much water he drank or how many cough drops he sucked on. Jamil was by his bedside all night, kind and caring, gentle in a way he hadn’t been in years.
From then on, Kalim had a cough. It rattled in his chest and his throat would hurt by the end of the day, but Kalim never let it slow him down. Kalim would wave off anyone’s attempts to help him, convince them that it was no big deal, just allergies! Change of seasons! That’s all! Even when Azul and the twins attempted to point out that he only started coughing after he ate something prepared by Jamil, he brushed them off.
Then came the weakness in his limbs. The first morning it happened, Kalim got out of bed, only to fall to the floor when his legs couldn’t hold his weight. Jamil was there in a heartbeat, helping Kalim to his feet and back into bed. Even as Kalim protested, told him he had to go to class, Jamil just assured him that he would gather his notes and bring back his work. Kalim trusted him with this and took the day to relax. Later on that morning, Kalim felt his strength come back and eventually was able to get out of bed for his late morning class.
If Jamil seemed annoyed to see him, Kalim played it off as concern. After lunch, however, Kalim collapsed to the floor once more when his legs failed to hold him up. Naturally, this caused concern, but Kalim just waved everyone off with a laugh as Jamil helped him to his feet and helped him out the door.
Days went by like that, random bouts of weakness that left Kalim unable to stand or even use his arms at times. Jamil was always there, by his side, every time it happened. When people tried to tell him something was wrong, Kalim laughed it off. After all, how could anything be wrong? Jamil was back!
“Kalim, I’m sorry, but something is wrong!” Azul said, face flushed with annoyance.
“Azul, I told you alright, it’s just a cold or something!” Kalim said, laying in his bed.
“Sea Otter, ya really think that?” Floyd asked curiously.
“Of course! What else would it be?” Kalim asked.
The three looked at each other before there was a knock.
“Kalim, lunch.” Jamil said as he walked in, a tray on his hip.
“Lunch huh?” Jade muttered, rubbing his chin.
“Thank you, Jamil!” Kalim beamed as Jamil put the tray on his lap.
Jamil turned to the other three and raised an eyebrow.
“I didn’t make enough for you three.” Jamil said coldly.
“As if we would eat it.” Floyd replied before Azul slammed his elbow into his side, making him whine.
Kalim dug into the soup, devouring the whole thing as Jamil and the trio went back and forth. Hand reached for the glass on the tray next to it, he downed most of the glass before something at the bottom caught his eye. Remains of a white powder sat at the bottom of the cup. Kalim stared at it before he swirled the remaining liquid around until nothing was left and then finished the glass.
“Finished already?” Jamil asked with a smile and Kalim smiled back.
“Of course! Jamil’s cooking is the best!” Kalim replied before a coughing fit hit him.
Kalim watched as the trio took their leave, though their concerned eyes never left Kalim’s hunched form. Eventually, he pulled his hand back and stared at the pool of red before he turned to Jamil and smiled.
“Can I have more soup?”