'Just a little reminder that you've been on my mind today... any chance we'll cross paths soon?'

Jawwad glanced at his phone, a deep frown forming as he read yet another message from Yasmin.

With an aggravated hiss, he tossed his phone onto his side table, his annoyance obvious. He hostilely packed his suitcase, stuffing in clothes and essentials with more force than necessary.

His mind kept flashing back to Bilal's shameless words—how he only wanted Laylah because of her father's wealth. Jawwad kept telling himself it wasn't his concern, that it was none of his business if Bilal had those intentions. But a part of him, a stubborn and lingering part, didn't believe that. He kept blaming everything else—his dad's irritating message, or Yasmin's nagging texts—for his foul mood.

The message from his father popped into his mind, just as he had shoved it aside earlier. It read, 'Remember to prioritize family over these fleeting ventures.' Jawwad clenched his jaw, stuffing his last item into the bag, annoyed. Family? That was easy for his father to say.

After packing, he strode into the bathroom, letting the cool water rinse away some of his irritation. The sound of the shower soothed him, washing away the wrath, but the stiffness remained beneath his skin.

Afterward, he slipped on a crisp, sky-blue shirt and a pair of dark jeans, simple yet stylish. He reached for his cologne—one spritz of Oud Wood, another of Spice Blend. A blend of rich, earthy notes that made him feel calm yet sharp.

Stepping out into the night, the gentle breeze touched his face, calming him a bit as he inhaled deeply. He shut the door and headed next door to greet his Mamii before his trip. As he approached, he spotted Umar in the courtyard, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Jawwad!" Umar greeted warmly, pulling him into a firm handshake, smiling wide.

"When did you get back?" Jawwad asked, unable to hide his surprise.

"Just yesterday. Got back from the operation," Umar replied, his tone casual as they walked inside.

"You always seem to miss daddy," Umar added, an easy grin on his face. "He just stepped out for an emergency."

Jawwad's brows shoot up in shock. "Everything alright?"

Umar shrugged. "Yeah, just some work matter. He'll be fine."

Jawwad exhaled, though a small part of him felt relieved. He wasn't ready to meet Layla's father yet and he wasn't sure he was ever going to want that but one way or the other, they will cross paths as long as he keeps coming to this house. He sometimes sees him in the masjid but he makes sure he avoids him.

As they stepped into the living room, a soft, sweet scent of burning incense filled the air, casting a calming haze over the space. Laylah was there, cradling a small burning incense holder, smoke swirling gracefully from it. Her gaze briefly met Jawwad's, her eyes gentle, as if hoping for something in return.

But he looked away, his expression cold and indifferent. She felt a pang in her chest as his dismissive reply followed her quiet greeting, yet she forced herself to keep her face calm, hiding her irritation behind a poised sly smile.

"Sannu da zuwa," she greeted him and Jawwad barely answered.

Umar then instructed Laylah to go upstairs and call Mamii. She nodded and slipped away, leaving Jawwad and Umar alone. That's when Jawwad casually mentioned, "I'm traveling tomorrow. Just came to say goodbye to Mamii before I go."

Umar's face furrowed in surprise. Jawwad chuckled, the smile brightening his handsome features, his caramel skin seeming to glow in the soft light. "It's only for a week, but I didn't want Mamii to worry if she didn't see me."

Just then, Mamii entered the living room with a cheerful smile, her warm presence lighting up the space. Jawwad, ever respectful, kneeled down to greet her. "Mamii, Ina yini," he greeted, his voice soft.

"Lafiya kalau, Jawwad. Kana Lafiya?" she replied, patting his shoulder with affection. "How have you been?"

"Alhamdulillah, I'm well, Mamii," he answered with a polite smile.

Just as they settled down, Umar gave Jawwad a sly grin, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Mamii did you know this man is older than me?" Umar began, barely hiding his smirk, "Oga, it's high time you present a wife, hmm? Don't keep us waiting too long!"

Mamii shot Umar a playful glare, her tone instantly turning protective. "Leave my Jawwad alone!" she scolded lightly, shaking her head. "All of you are grown men, but I don't see a wife anywhere, so don't you start troubling him! You should all look at yourselves first."

Umar laughed, holding up his hands. "Alright, alright, I'll leave him alone...for now."

Meanwhile, Laylah sat silently beside Mamii, her gaze fixated on Jawwad, barely blinking as she listened intently to every word. Her eyes held a certain softness, a hint of curiosity mixed with something deeper, though she made no effort to hide it. Jawwad, aware of her stare, pretended not to notice, acting as if she wasn't even in the room.

With a faint smile, Jawwad finally spoke up, his tone calm and steady. "Don't worry," he said, glancing around the room, "I'll present a wife very soon. Just wait and see. She's coming soon."

At his words, Laylah's heart skipped a beat. She felt a strange flutter in her chest, a sudden rush that made her catch her breath. He noticed her reaction, the way her gaze shifted, but he didn't acknowledge it, maintaining his calm expression as if oblivious to the effect his words had on her.

Mamii's face lit up with excitement, clapping her hands together. "Yes, that's what I like to hear! Don't be like Umar or Mujahid and Abdallah, Jawwad. Bring us a wife soon, In sha Allah!"

Laylah's gaze sharpened, her thoughts drifting back to the girl she'd seen Jawwad with at the mini-mart a few days earlier. A pang of jealousy struck her, catching her off guard.

Was that the one he's talking about? The idea left her feeling slightly irritated, but she kept her expression neutral, though a spark of annoyance flickered in her eyes.

Jawwad, noticing her sudden change in demeanor, kept his face calm, acting as though he hadn't noticed the tension simmering beneath her gaze. Meanwhile, Mamii continued to chat, her tone light and cheerful, oblivious to the silent exchanges passing between Jawwad and Laylah.

Around 10 p.m., Jawwad turned to Mamii. "I'm heading to Lagos for a business meeting, Mamii. But I'll be back in a week."

Mamii looked at Jawwad with gentle eyes, her hands resting on his shoulders. "May Allah keep you safe, my son," she murmured softly. "May He guide you, protect you, and bring you success in all that you do. Kuma Allah ya dawo dakai Lafiya."

Jawwad's heart warmed, and he smiled. "Ameen, Mamii. Thank you."

She nodded, her eyes lingering on him a moment longer before saying, "Now come eat please. You'll need your strength." She urged him to the dining table, and he chuckled, not daring to refuse. After finishing dinner, he stood up, ready to leave.

Umar, standing by the door, patted his back. "Shall we?" he asked, a grin on his face.

Jawwad returned the smile, stepping out with Umar by his side. As they walked toward the gate, Jawwad's phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out, glancing at the screen to see Yasmin's number flashing.

He let out a soft hiss.

Umar's brows lifted, noticing. "Who's calling?"

"Some girl," Jawwad muttered, rolling his eyes. "I don't even know her. Don't know how she got my number, either. I'm not interested."

Umar chuckled, nudging him. "Maybe give her a chance? Could be something there, you never know."

Jawwad shrugged. "Not sure about that."

"You're so secretive, you know," Umar said, glancing at him thoughtfully. "I get that you keep things to yourself, but sometimes it's good to open up a bit. I'd like to know more about you, Jawwad. We're brothers, right?"

Jawwad felt a small pang of guilt, looking away for a second before brushing it off. "Yeah, we're brothers," he replied, patting Umar's shoulder. "Goodnight, Umar. I'll catch you tomorrow."

He turned, heading through the gate back toward his house. Just as he stepped inside, his phone rang again, Yasmin's name appearing on the screen once more. He sighed, remembering Umar's advice, and after a pause, picked up the call.

"Hello?" he answered, trying to keep his tone neutral.

"Jawwad!" Yasmin's voice sounded excited, almost too sweet. "I was starting to think you were ignoring me. Why don't you ever return my calls? Or my messages?"

He shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat. "I've been... busy with work."

"Oh, of course," she replied, her voice teasing. "Isn't that what every man says?"

He tried not to sigh audibly, keeping his responses short. But Yasmin seemed determined to keep him talking, her tone growing flirtier with each word.

"So, what have you been up to?" she purred. "Thinking about me at all?"

Jawwad chuckled dryly, though he was eager to end the call. "Not exactly. Like I said... work."

She laughed softly, unfazed by his lack of enthusiasm. "You know, I've been thinking about you non-stop, Jawwad. I can't get you out of my head," she continued. "I want you to give me a chance. I want to be there for you, love you, care for you..." Her voice softened, almost a whisper. "And I want to give you what you've lost."

Jawwad froze, her words piercing him deeper than he'd expected. His chest tightened, and he closed his eyes, swallowing hard. For a moment, he struggled to find his voice, feeling a strange ache settle over him.

Finally, in a low, strained tone, he replied, "Goodnight, Yasmin." Without waiting for her to respond, he ended the call, exhaling slowly as he lowered the phone. Her words echoed in his mind, and he couldn't shake the lingering pain they had stirred.

'Why did she have to talk about what I've lost?'

He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a moment, the old memories settling over him like a shadow.