HWJN (English 2nd Edition) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was. It was hard to believe there would be a girl without a story about a knight, or even about a jerk. There were girls who hid such relationships from their families for years.
    But Sawsan…she was different. And how did I know that? I do not deny that sometimes—very few times—I would go beyond just watching from afar and would nose into her personal life. One night, when Sawsan was studying with her books and computer, a message appeared on the corner of the screen from a person named Eyad, that was her knight’s name!
    “Sawsan, are you online? How are your studies going? I hope I’m not bothering you. But if you need anything, I’m staying up late.”
    She did not respond to the message, but her smile bothered me. That ridiculously absurd chivalry that guys offer only to girls, and the clear confidence of girls that no guy can miss. I found myself, for the first time, getting upset with Sawsan! For the first time, you Sons of man had infected me with jealousy. I couldn’t believe it. Jealous of a Human whose age barely marked one quarter of mine? And named Eyad, no less?
    I avoided admitting my jealousy of this Son of man for a while, even to myself. I justified it as being protective of Sawsan, so she would not be hurt by boys. That excuse allowed me to rationalize my getting closer to her to protect her. Honestly, the Daughters of man are in dire need for protection from the boys of this generation!
    I remember in my childhood how girls had been revered as queens, protected by their fathers, brothers, cousins, neighbors, and even strangers who would stand up with gallantry and chivalry. All of that is almost extinct in today’s world. Today people care only about satisfying their animal instincts.
    So no, I did not like this Human called Eyad. I did not like him at all. I imagined him as one of the many male students at the school of medicine who tried to charm each female student, thinking their manhood was complete though their parents still gave them money for gas and snacks.
    That night Sawsan did not sleep; she stayed up studying. The next morning I followed her to the university. I could not sleep either, as I normally did during the day, because of my racing thoughts. A driver took her to school early that day because of her exams, and she sat in the back of the car, reviewing her material. I sat next to her and watched her. This was a new experience for me. I thought I would be the only Jinni up at that time, but I was shocked by the number of devils that wake with you Humans every morning.
    Rush-hour traffic is a platform for a lot of your sins and calamities. I have no idea how you can tolerate the slow movement. It took us a half hour to get there—I can cross the sea and come back in less than an hour!
    We finally arrived to the university and, as I had suspected, there were many Human males and females entangled in adulation and deception. Sawsan was highly respected by her professors and classmates alike; she was the brightest student in her class, she utilized the hours her female peers spent on makeup, the Internet, shopping, cafés, and phone calls to achieve her goal of excellence.
    I could not immediately make out who Eyad was. I walked behind Sawsan and gazed at her peers, trying to read what they were thinking. Some liked her; others simply admired her brilliance. Others wondered why she had not covered her face with makeup like the rest of the students and only settled for a little bit of eyeliner and pink lipstick that was not really different from her lips’ color.
    Then I heard a guy behind me. “Sawsan, how are you? Ready for the exam?”
    I knew he was Eyad even before I turned to him, just from the way Sawsan smiled and shyly nodded her head without responding. When I did look, I saw he was the definition of a cool guy. He knew how to use just enough fashion to complement his innocent, handsome looks. Tall, athletic, light honey-colored eyes, dark skin, and I could clearly tell