Royalty Gone Bad novel Chapter 14

Asahd’s POV:

Five the next morning, I was already up and warming some water for my tea and bath. My eyes were so swollen because I wasn’t used to waking up that early.

“Fuck, I look terrible,” I’d muttered in front of the little mirror in the toilets, “Guess I can say goodbye to my beauty sleep, as from today.”

-

After a hot cup of tea that made me feel less sleepy, I put some warm water in a bucket and took a quick bath. Then I got dressed warmly because there were cold winds in New York recently, probably announcing autumn that would soon be around the corner.

I grabbed the schoolbag Djafar had bought me and put my uniform and wallet in. Then I grabbed my earphones, phone and glasses, before leaving the apartment. I wore the glasses to cover the heavy sleep bags under my eyes.

As I walked down the hall, I met a neighbor whom I ignored completely. I wasn’t going to start socialising with these people either, was I? Tsk! And apparently she didn’t plan on greeting me either, from the way she looked at me. She gave me the same stare many other people had recently. People who didn’t like others because of their race or so. I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to be the least affected by nonsense because I wasn’t there for them.

She was unlocking her door and stared nonstop at me, like I was some criminal. Feeling amused rather than insulted, I took my shades off and stopped in my tracks. I gave the woman an even uglier stare.

“What?! You think I’m a terrorist?” I asked out loud and she literally jumped, entering her apartment immediately.

“Stupid,” I chuckled and put the glasses back on. Then I went to the elevator and got in.

***

Writer’s POV:

At a few minutes past six, Asahd had found his way into the subway station.

′All the germs. Oh my. I’m so, so low! I’ve been reduced to taking the subway! A metro train!′

The thoughts disgusted him as he reluctantly slid his way, along with many others, into the train that early morning.

He was quick to find a seat. There was no way he wanted to stand.

He ignored everyone and put on his earphones, listening to music and manipulating his phone while the train finally drove off.

-

At a point, it stopped and picked more passengers. Amongst, Brittany, one of the girls that worked in the same place Asahd did. She spotted him on his phone and approached him without him noticing.

“Hey,” she said, touching his shoulder and he looked up. Surprised to see her, he smiled a little and took his earphones off.

“Hello,” he said.

“I see you’re early for your first day of work. Good start. You’re gonna get the boss’s favors if you keep up.”

“I just hope to keep this one job,” Asahd replied. “I need it more than you think.”

“We all really need our jobs,” the girl mused. “And you don’t look like you’re desperate for a job.”

“What do you mean?”

“You look like a soft kid. You know, a rich kid,” she laughed.

“Yeah right. With these pathetic clothes?” Asahd scoffed, a sting in his chest as he remembered his wardrobe back in Zagreh.

“These clothes? Pathetic? They look new. And you definitely didn’t get them from a thrift shop.”

“If you say so,” he went on manipulating his phone.

Brittany stared at him. Of course she found him cute. Asahd left that effect on most girls he came across. In Zagreh or elsewhere, it was same.

“Where are you from?” she asked.

“Morocco,” he continued to manipulate his phone.

“Cool.”

They were silent for a while but she spoke again:

“So, you’re not gonna give me your seat?” she joked and Asahd looked at her, very amused.

“Nope, I’m good. I’m pretty sure I don’t look like a gentleman,” he replied casually, surprising the girl with his undisturbed nature.

“Aha! Wow,” she mused, clapping a little. “I feel like we’re all gonna enjoy you working with us, Asahd. You are so annoying. But in a funny way," she added with a laugh and then walked away, going to find a seat at the other end.

Amused, Asahd put his earphones back on and continued to listen to his music.