Part 1

“Class, warmly welcome your new classmate from Iraq. Please do take care of him, I’m counting on you.” said Miss Sebastian with a gentle smile. She directed the dark brown skin, jet black hair teenager with a shy smile to the empty seat near the back of the class.

“He does not speak much English, that does not mean any of you can press him with anything hard, is that clear?” warned Miss Sebastian sternly.

A group of guys sitting at the side eyed the silent handsome teenager as he walked to his seat.

“I wonder if he has been too much of a ‘terrorist’ until he was banned from Iraq” whispered Yusef, the so-called hunk in the class.

All his faithful followers snickered just a little too loud, earning a swift glare by Miss Sebastian. Instant silence swept the whole class as he sat in the empty seat.

“Hello, my name is Nasim. What is your name?” asked a pretty dark head sitting beside the new guy.

“Hello, I am Riyaz.” replied the shy teenager.

“Why did you come to Ecuador?” asked Nasim as she took out her textbook.

Riyaz’s face seemed to darkened all of a sudden. Without giving an answer he forced a little smile and turned to the front facing Miss Sebastian, leaving Nasim with the question hanging unanswered.