"Sadness flies away on the wings of time."

-Jean De La Fontaine

•

C H A P T E R E I G H T

"What was so urgent that you couldn't wait for me to get back?"Hammad questioned stepping a foot into the air-conditioned room. Fahad stood up and walked to the drawer that was beside the window, picked up the paper, and handed it over to Hammad.

Hammad gave a confused look before reaching out for the envelope.

"It came from the hospital."

Hammad abruptly pulled his hand back with a long gasp. "I...I..."He stammered unable to spit out words. He staggered backward thank goodness Fahad was there to stop him from falling. He held his forehead rubbing it slowly.

"Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?"Hammad retorted, absolutely pissed off for no reason. "Do I look okay to you? It came from the hospital, right? I know there is nothing good that's there for sure."

Fahad sighed and guided Hammad to the couch and sat him down. "You haven't even read it yet and you think is bad? Hammad for once please stop being negative. All these negative thoughts won't help in any way, rather you should keep on praying for the best."

Hammad was quiet for a while. "Do you think I'm not praying for the best?"He cried. "I feel like a bad person whenever I get reminded of this.."He pointed at the envelope. "I'm responsible for it!! I'm fvcking responsible for it!! I can't handle it, don't you get it?"

This is not the first time Fahad is seeing Hammad cry, He is so freaking emotional that he can't even hold it back, they just roll down his cheeks all the time.

"And how many times do I have to tell you to stop blaming yourself, it's high time you gather the courage to finally accept the truth and move on Hammad. It's not your fault, you were busy with your own life, even though you had so many things to handle you didn't forget about yourself, whatever happened was his fault and not yours."Fahad reasoned.

"What's his fault? He was my responsibility! And I couldn't look after him, it's my fault, don't try to blame anyone else for my mistake."Hammad buried his face between his palms, sobbing quietly.

How he wished he was more concerned, none of it would've happened.

"He isn't a child anymore, so whatever he decides to do with his life it's his problem, I just don't understand what's wrong with your head, you are smart enough to understand this."

Hammad sighed shaking his head continuously. "You won't understand Fahad, if it wasn't my fault then why did Maami change all of a sudden, the way she used to talk to me, and so much she has changed a lo..."

Fahad cut him off. "Maami hasn't changed, but you've changed Hammad. You were not like this before, Maami didn't distance herself from you, but you did. Whatever it is you think is going wrong around you it's your fault. If you want to see change, then start from yourself!"

Fahad dropped the envelope beside Hammad on the couch and left.

Hammad rested his head on the couch and took in a sharp breath. He is tired! Tired of everything! How he wishes he could make everything right in a blink of an eye! But what to expect? This is reality! You can't easily change what has been done already!

Such is life!

You never know, when, and how life would play a cruel joke on you! It's always when you least expected it.

In this kind of situation, someone tends to lose control of everything, their state of mind, and even the people surrounding them. You'll feel lonely even if you are not lonely, you'll feel like you're a shame to the society, to the people around you, and to almost everyone else.

Is it Anxiety?

Nope!

Is it Depression?

Nope!

But Guilt! He wasn't in any way the reason for whatever happened but because of selflessness, he feels like he is at fault. Not because he is guilty but because of the relationship he has with the one it happened with. He should've been more careful, but that's not it!

He just pray for everything in his life to get back to normal, the way it was! He wants to live a normal life like a normal person and not as the successful Architect the world knows him with, No! He wants to say his full name with confidence! People should respect him for who he is and not what he appeared to be in front of them!

But do you know what the funny thing is?

It's just not possible for him, maybe for others.

But he wish it was!

•

Saturday, 4th November, 2021.
8:15 am.

He stood in front of the mirror clad in a black and white blazer, combing his soft curly hair down. Done with that, he buttoned up his blazer, picked up his phone with his wristwatch, and left the room while putting on his wristwatch. He met Fahad standing by the fridge drinking nothing but monster energy drink. No matter how many times Hammad will say 'keep taking that thing someday you go high' he won't stop, he won't even react or say anything he'll just shrug and drink up his thing.

He has this 'It is what it is attitude that can be so annoying.

"Looking dope mehn!!"Fahad hyped shaking hands with Hammad.

"As you can see I'm not in the mood for any of your sh*ts today."

"Ouch!"Fahad faked shutting his eyes as if he was indeed hurt. "Guy you no try at all, I dey hype you but you no wan give me change make I use am hold body."

That made Hammad chuckle, what he likes most about Fahad is that there is no boring moment when you're with him except when he is giving out his oldies lectures about life y'know.

"The way you dey speak pidgin be like say you were born in Nigeria I hail you boss."Hammad replied with the same enthusiasm bringing out his coffee mug.

"I no stay for Naija but I sabi pidgin pass you,"Fahad argued sipping his you know what.

"Haba that wan na big fat lie stop deceiving yourself bro, if not for Twitter and all these social media platforms you no fit learn anything."

"Sha you're right, I won't argue with the big brother of pidgin,"Fahad stated bowing down a little to be more dramatic.

He is a drama queen.

Oops, drama king ha!

"I bet all the girls there will be drooling over you."Fahad teased with a wink.

"Don't make me change my mind about this party, I honestly didn't want to attend but because you were on your knees pleading, and begging with me to go so that you can follow me and meet babes Abi?"

"What about the bro code? Why you con dey shame like this nah? No naked me for that place o guy I get class."Fahad was pissed fr!

"And don't even think of changing your mind about the party, you've to go the whole thing was your design! You have to take credit for it."He ended with a wink while Hammad hissed in response.

"I don't know why the hell she invited me! For goodness sake, she is too clingy! I've been praying like mad during the project to hurry up and finish so that she and her wahala will end, and now this? I know she'll be all clingy and I'm afraid today I won't be able to take any nonsense as I'm not in the mood, to top it all my uncle is going to be there, how nice!"

Negativity mode on!

Fahad rolled his eyes skywards. "Forget about them, who knows maybe you'll meet someone special today."he wiggled his eyebrows at him.

Hammad huffed with an eye roll. "Yeah, right!"

"I can't really wait, let's go..."Fahad dragged Hammad by his elbow. He only said they should leave because he was done with energy drink. He needs the energy to chase girls at the party, that's the only energy the drink gives him.

"I hope Henry is here."Hammad prayed referring to his driver.

"Hope so too."Fahad replied pressing the button to the reception and the elevator closed up automatically. They strolled down to the parking lot and it was not very surprising when they didn't see Henry. He took a day off because it's his girlfriend's birthday, imagine! If not for Fahad he wouldn't have given him a day off with such a stupid excuse.

Wai girlfriend's birthday Hammad shook his head, pulling his car key out of his pocket. He has to drive now, wow! What he doesn't fancy doing!

"Yalla let's go what are you waiting for?"Fahad smacked him before walking to the car.

Hammad only shook his head and entered the driver's seat. He sighed deeply before igniting the engine to life, as if Fahad was eagerly waiting he connected his phone to the car stereo.

And boom! He started playing for my hand by burnaboy. Hammad glared at him before setting his eyes on the road.

"Whoa, girl, I want to be dancin' with you forever
You see through the storm and take me as I am
Baby, it's magic any time that we're together
I make I just love you and hold you for my hand."He sang along yelling on top of his lungs. He was enjoying it and also testing Hammad's patience because damn! He was so freaking loud! And the most annoying part was he was also dancing, shaking his head like Indians.

"Hold you for my hand, my hand, my hand
Hold you for my hand, hold you for my-"

That did it! Hammad offed the stereo.

Fahad was trying so hard not to laugh, he might've turned the stereo off but that won't stop him. No one can kill his vibes. "I wanna be in your life until the night is over. I wanna hold you so tight, so tight, come in closer. It's been a hell of a ride for every single moment, You were there by my side..."he hummed dancing with his head, his eyes closed.

"If I drop you off here I'm sure you can find a way yourself."Hammad threatened with a serious face.

Fahad zipped his lips, stifling a laugh. "I beg your pardon sir."

Heyyyy!!! Not much I know!

Sha it has been long, how are you guys doing???

So how was the chapter? I hope you've enjoyed the chapter!

It's like our Hammadudu is going to Madam Diana's party 😁 do you think he is going to meet with Mehreen? Kai I don't think so 😌😂 I don't want them to meet b'cause whenever they do is always trouble 😂😂😂 so I hope they won't meet sha, for the best and peace to reign.

ameenarhnaseer read before you go 🥺🖤 I hope you've enjoyed it!

Ma'assalama 💕