•Hamza

"You're the worst honestly!" I said with my eyes focused on the road.

"I was only helping her. You said you've changed but I know you're lying. Do you know that she knows Fauziya? If she even knows what you did she'll hate you entirely."

Fauziya is one of Yusra's friends I befriended at a point in my life. I think at that time Yusra was in her first year while I was in my third year. She would always have sleepovers with Fauziya once every two weeks during the two months holiday we were given.

One night I came into the kitchen in the middle of the night to find something to munch on during my movie marathon then I stumbled upon a crying Fauziya.

She told me that her parents had forced her to study a course she didn't want to and now that she's failing, they're blaiming her without listening to her side of the story.

We connected in a way because I was also forced to study the course I had studied just that I managed to pass with good grades.

I advised her to speak to them and try convincing them or study harder to see if her grades would improve. She thanked me and we started talking about other things then she brought up her ex who she missed but had to part ways with because she cheated on him.

From consoling her to showing her funny videos on my phone, we ended up kissing and things that weren't supposed to happen happened.

She caught feelings after a week of talking non-stop and pretending nothing happened. We took it as a mistake and decided to forget.

She came back another night for her regular sleepovers. This particular night she snuck out of Yusra's room and came to mine. She didn't have to knock because we were on a close friends basis now.

I felt someone hug me in my sleep and again we did something we weren't supposed to do and even went further than the regular make out sessions we held.

She said she loved me in the heat of everything and I said I did too. The next day she assumed we were officially a couple.

When I came downstairs, I met her and Yusra gossiping then she ran towards me and hugged me.

After that she hits me with a 'Yusra knows'. At first I was confused but then bits of the previous night started to come back to me and I'd never regretted doing anything more irrational.

I wait for Yusra's explosive reaction but all she does is smile. I feared she'd blow it out of proportion and it'd reach our parents but she surprised me with an unusual comment, 'be careful'. Yusra had no idea that I knew her guilty pleasure. I don't know why she does it but I see she doesn't want to stop. Maybe she knew that I knew so she was trying to keep me at bay.

Who knows?

I know there's never a good ending for someone who chases men for money. You have a father that provides everything you'd need and want so why? I ignored the thought and tried to figure out how I would  face my problem.

I started hiding from Fauziya since after that day. Until she snuck into my room one night to tell me that she was pregnant.

Out of anger, I pushed her and she fell on the floor, hitting her head on the wooden leg of my vanity. I tried to help her up but she pushed me and ran out of the room, limping with her hands on her slightly bleeding forehead. Thankfully, my parents were both gone for the whole month so only me, Yusra and Zahra were in the house while Fadila was at Aunty Balaraba's house.

Since that day, I decided to get help for my anger issues and promised myself to never hurt a woman in my life ever again.

Weeks later, she fell ill and I heard she lost the baby and also isn't friends with Yusra again.

THE WORST MISTAKE EVER.

I know right.

You'll wonder why her parents never came.

They died of high blood pressure upon getting the news of their daughters pregnancy.

After that, I never heard of her again.

"I didn't mean for all that to happen. After the first time, I stayed away but she kept coming back till we did it."

It was easier to talk about things like this with Yusra because she understood and had had a fair share of what I did but has completely stopped because she was preparing for her wedding that was to come in a  few months.

At least that's what I think.

"You should've thought of that before getting someone's child pregnant and being the cause of my friendship with her ending." She rolled her eyes and hissed.

I pull up in the driveway of Summerlake hotel where we were supposed to have the dinner for my parents thirty years anniversary. I slowed down, searching for a place to park the car while Yusra kept on with her complaining.

Upon sighting an empty space to park the car, I stepped on the pedal with force and drove to the spot I found.

I turned off the ignition and got out. Yusra who was taking her time had to redo her make-up and loosen her turban to tie it again before getting out.

She trailed behind, catwalking as if she was on the runway.

"Kiyi sauri mana (be fast)!"

"Oya kill me!" She stood akimbo.

"Abi you want to beat me?" She continued.

I ignored her and continued walking till I reached the restaurant.

She kept throwing glares occasionally to my direction while muttering inaudibly underneath her breath.

It didn't take long to figure out where my parents were seated as they started waving immediately they sighted us.

We walked further into the restaurant and sat down. Unfortunately, I had to sit beside her as she continued frowning and talking to herself.

"Ina wuni Umma, ina wuni Abba." We greeted.

"Sannun ku da zuwa." Our mum welcomed us.

"A toast!" Our father said, raising his glass of whatever flavoured juice he had in the air.

Everyone rose theirs and smiled, waiting for me and Yusra to do the same.

I poured mine in sync with Yusra then we lifted the glasses up and immediately, the dinner commenced for us all.

"To the years me and my beautiful wife shared and will continue sharing." He cheered.

"May Allah bless this union." Zahra chipped in.

"Ameen!" We hollered.

"Why are you shouting? You're going to embarrass us!" Yusra hissed and shoved my arm with her elbow.

"I-am-not."

"Shut up!"

"Yusra don't start this!" I hissed, glaring at her.

"Don't start what? You're the one looking at me like an animal!"

"Who's the animal here? Don't let me expose you." I said, pointing a finger at her. "You think I don't know ko? Just be careful, idiot."

"Who are you calling an idiot? I haven't done anything wrong for you to expose. I should be the one saying I'll expose you."

Fadila laughed while Zahra just remained quiet, staring at us as if she had something to say but kept shut for some unknown reason then our mother decided to intervene.

"Keep quiet both of you! Have you no shame?" She said, angrily.

"I'm sorry Mama."

"You can't apologise ko?" I looked sideways asking Yusra.

"Shut up! I'm sorry Umma."

"Now eat and keep your mouths shut. Don't destroy this night for us!"

"Alright ma."

"You're lucky Umma killed this thing if not, wallahi the whole world will know what happened to Fauziya!" She whispered.

"Shut your trap! You think I don't know about Alhaji Usman ba? And the others. Even Huzaifa. I'll finish you this night if you don't compose yourself."

And with that she kept quiet for the whole night.

Fadila brought up a topic and we talked about it. From there we reminisced about old times and the stupid things we did as kids till we

finished eating.

On our way out, we meet a colleague of our dads who was staying at the hotel. He gave Fadila some money saying '*yar auta have this for ice-cream ko?', then congratulated our parents and prayed for them before proceeding into the restaurant.

Soon we were out of the hotel's building and at the parking lot. I asked Fadila to carpool with me so Yusra would go with my parents and Zahra to avoid another argument.

After a few stops at an ice-cream parlour and a candy shop, we were finally at home. Fadila had already fallen asleep by the time we reached the house.

I woke her up and waited for her to leave the car before I pressed the remote control to lock it then I went straight to my room.

Now that I didn't have anyone bothering me, I called Aaliyah. At first I assumed she was still busy with Mr Harrison abi Mr Morrison but I knew she must've been done with him by now because it was a bit late. She probably just decided to put me on 'do not disturb'.

No worries I'll try again and if she doesn't I'll leave a message, hoping she'll call tomorrow when she is less angry.

I send the message after leaving twenty missed calls then I plug my phone to charge before going in to take a shower.

After the shower, I pray my Isha salat and stare at the ceiling, thinking about my entire life and why Yusra just had to pull this one on me.

Now I'm caught up in a twist.

Aaliyah hates me.

How do I even start to explain myself?

I know I need to come clean but how? She's probably telling Bilal now. I need to speak to him so that he can put in a good word for me before I mess up real bad.

I unplug my phone immediately and dial Bilal.

"Bilal oooo I'm in trouble!"

"What is it?" He asks, sounding irritated.

He was probably sleeping.

"I found out today that Yusra and Aaliyah are friends."

"That's good. I like that."

"No! That's not good. She told her that I am a player and now she hates me. I don't know what to do now."

"You were a player. Note the past tense. Just call her and try explaining everything to her. I need to sleep bye."

"Wait now! She has refused to pick my calls. You already know I've changed. Just call her and talk to her please."

"Alright I'll call her or visit her after all this is taken care of. Just get some sleep. You know we're meeting with the foreign investors tomorrow and my step dad is only going to watch us so get ready because this will prove to them whether we can handle ourselves or not."

"Toh sai da safe (Goodnight)."

He hangs up without replying.
_________________________

*Yar/Dan auta-This simply means 'last born'. It'll only make sense in Hausa because it's used as an endearment for the 'last borns''.

Goodnight guyssss❤️

~Aisha Safiyanu🥀