Dark coffee

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning when I work up at 7 o'clock, I went immediately to Darell's house to help Hassan studying for his math exam he had this afternoon. It was his last exam before his Chrismast holidays. It had been about a week that I helped him in his studies for his finals. He and I had gotten very close because of that. I even started to consider him as a little brother I never had.

When I came to Darell's place, Hassan was still sleeping. Darell went to wake him up. Since his grandparents were back from Ghana, I chatted a bit with them while waiting for Hassan. Darell's grandmother gave me what they call Puff Puff but for us South Africans it's called Magwinya or Amagwinya (donuts) and tea. I ate and talked with her even if she wasn't really speaking English.

I had time to finish eating before Hasan arrives in the kitchen to grab some food himself. While he was eating I went into the living room where Darell and his grandfather were. They were installing Christmas decorations. I helped them till Hassan was done eating. Then I went with him to his room and we started the revision for his exam. I asked him questions and I gave him some math problem-solving exercises to do that I had found on the internet. When I felt he was getting discouraged I explained to him his mistakes and how to solve the problems. We studied for an hour and a half.

When we were done because I felt he understood and was ready, he said to me, "For real though, you explain much better than my teacher! I don't understand that with you, it took an hour for me to understand everything, but with her, throughout the year, I didn't understand shit!"

I laughed then asked him "Hassan, tell me something."

"What do you wanna know?"

" You're such a smart guy, why are you doing everything to ruin your life?" He didn't answer me, so I added "Your brother cares about you and only wants your good. I hope you know it?"

"Maybe, but it's like he treats me as if I were still the little boy of 8 years old and it pisses me off! I'm 16 though! I know what is life! I ain't no stupid!"

"Still, Hassan, you are his little brother. You're not stupid but trust me you don't know everything about life like he doesn't either and I don't. Actually, nobody knows. We make mistakes, we grow and we learn. My brothers treated me as a child as well, but I talked to them and they understood."

"Yeah, but Darell doesn't understand! He acts like he's my dad. I just want him to act like my big brother that's all. It's not complicated." He said with anger.

"Don't you think that maybe if you stop acting like a kid, doing stupid shit and ending up in messed up situations, he would stop being in your back and he would treat you like an adult? What do you think?" I said nicely to him

"Yeah, maybe." He replied.

"You have to understand that he has responsibilities towards you. He must give you an education and acts a little like your dad because if he doesn't do it, who will do it? Tell me?"

He took a moment before answering then he said "No one, you're right. I'm glad my brother found a girl like you"

I smiled at him "You are adorable."

He laughed and I hugged him. "Perfect, now I will leave you. Try to have some fun before your exam. You deserved it"

He laughed again. "Ight, thanks again Dahila."

I smiled and left his room to go to Darell's room which was in front of Hassan's room. As soon as I stepped in, I closed the door. Darell approached me and hugged me out of the blue.

"Why are you hugging me for?" I asked him smiling feeling loved.

"What? A boyfriend can hug his girlfriend now?" he replied.