The moment Mamii stepped out of the living room to welcome them, Yasmin took her chance.

Jawwad wasn't paying attention.

Her heart pounded as she swiftly turned back and rushed up the stairs, her hands gripping the rails tightly. She didn't stop until she reached Laylah's room, slamming the door behind her before dashing into the bathroom. She locked the door, pressing her back against it as she struggled to catch her breath.

This can't be happening.

She ran a shaky hand over her face, her mind racing. If Jawwad saw her now, everything would be ruined. She couldn't risk it—not now, not when she was finally making progress.

She couldn't stop coming to Laylah's house.

Not just because of the things she got from her, but because of Jawwad. This was the only place she could get a glimpse of him, the only way she could keep their connection alive.

No. She couldn't let that happen.

Her breathing was still uneven when a sudden knock on the door made her jump. Her stomach twisted as fear gripped her.

"Yasmin?" Laylah's voice came from the other side. "What's wrong with you? Why did you just run off like that?"

Yasmin squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to think fast. "My stomach," she groaned, turning on the faucet to make it sound real. "I think I ate something bad. I needed to use the bathroom."

There was silence for a moment, then Laylah muttered something under her breath and walked away.

Yasmin exhaled slowly, pressing her forehead against the cool tiles. That was close.

She waited a full ten minutes before stepping out, her body drenched in sweat from all the panic. Laylah, who was lounging on the bed, gave her a disgusted look.

"Wani irin shirme neh wannan?"

Yasmin hissed, waving her off. "Forget it."

Laylah rolled her eyes. "Anyway, Amina left already. She said she couldn't just sit around waiting."

Yasmin shrugged, but deep inside, her panic had returned. What now? She had to get out of here without running into Jawwad.

She needed to act normal.

Forcing a small smile, she moved to sit beside Laylah. "I saw Jawwad when he came in."

Laylah's whole posture changed. She sat up straight, her eyes lighting up with frustration. "Did you see how Khairi was behaving? That girl has no shame! She was being all nosy and clingy, acting like she belonged next to him."

Yasmin clenched her jaw. Another problem. It wasn't just Laylah she had to worry about—now there was Khairi.

Laylah let out a long sigh, falling back against the pillows. "Do you know what's worse? Ya Umar and Jawwad went to pick them up, meaning she was in the same car with him! She must have been breathing in that heavenly cologne of his."

Yasmin's nails dug into her palm.

She felt like tearing something apart.

Laylah was here, fantasizing about the man she loved the most.

Her lips pressed into a tight smile, but inside, she was boiling. "Maybe she suffocated from it."

Laylah snorted, rolling her eyes. "I wish."

Yasmin stood abruptly. "I have to go."

Laylah sat up. "I'll walk you out."

"No need," Yasmin said quickly, shaking her head. "Don't bother."

Before Laylah could insist, Yasmin grabbed her bag and hurried out of the room.

As soon as she stepped into the hallway, she fetched a face mask from her bag and put it on. She needed to be careful.

Instead of using the main entrance, she took the kitchen route. Luckily, no one was in the compound, so she used the opportunity to slip out unnoticed.

Once she was a safe distance from the house, she pulled out her phone and ordered an Uber. While waiting, she kept walking, her feet unconsciously leading her to the mini-mart.

The place where she first met Jawwad.

The moment she stepped inside, the young man at the counter greeted her. She barely nodded in response, her mind already drifting back to the past.

That day...

She could still remember it vividly.

Laylah had been so rude to him, hurling insults without a second thought, not even realizing who he was.

But Yasmin?

Yasmin had fallen at first sight.

She saw him before Laylah did.

She loved him first.

And if anything, he belonged to her.

Lost in thought, she pretended to shop, running her fingers absentmindedly over random items.

Until she almost bumped into someone.

She jerked back, her lips already parting to snap at the person—

Then she looked up.

And her breath hitched.

Jawwad.

She felt like the ground beneath her had disappeared.

He stood there, tall and imposing, dressed in a perfectly tailored sky-blue kaftan with a matching cap. The fabric hugged his broad shoulders effortlessly, making him look even more powerful than usual.

His expression was unreadable—calm, but with a sharp edge. Was he relaxed? Was he angry? She couldn't tell. She couldn't read him.

But the most intoxicating part?

His scent.

That deep, rich cologne.

It was the same one that always made Laylah weak, the same one Yasmin had spent nights dreaming about. A scent that was fresh, woody, with a hint of spice. It filled her lungs, sent a rush of heat through her body.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched the basket in her hand.

Why now?

Why did she have to see him now—when she was completely unprepared?


"Yasmin?" His voice carried a mix of hesitation and surprise, like he wasn't sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him. His sharp gaze settled on her, scanning her face with curiosity. The way he looked at her made everything even harder, but she quickly pulled herself together, masking her emotions with a forced look of surprise.

"Jawwad?" she responded, her tone mirroring his, as if she was just as shocked to see him. Her heart pounded, but she kept a calm front. "I—wow, I didn't expect to see you here."

Jawwad's brows furrowed slightly. "What are you doing in this estate?" His voice was cool, but there was an edge to it, like he wasn't fully convinced she was supposed to be here.

Yasmin's throat suddenly felt dry. She stammered at first, struggling to find the right words. "Uh—I, um—" She swallowed, forcing herself to think fast. "I came to visit a friend," she finally said, her voice steadier now. "She just moved in with her family, so I decided to come and check on her."

Jawwad studied her closely, his dark eyes lingering on her face as if he was searching for any sign of a lie. His silence made her nervous, but she held her ground, giving him the most innocent look she could manage.

After what felt like an eternity, he gave a faint smile and nodded. "I see," he said simply, though she could tell he wasn't completely convinced.

"Where do you live?" he asked, his tone casual, but she knew he was still observing her.

"Kado Estate," Yasmin lied smoothly, forcing a small smile.

Jawwad raised a brow. "Kado Estate? That's not far from here," he said, his voice calm, yet unreadable. "I never knew you stayed there."

She chuckled nervously. "Yeah, well, I don't really go out much, so maybe that's why."

Jawwad just nodded again, his expression unreadable. "Hmm."

She quickly changed the topic, not wanting him to ask more questions. "But honestly, I can't believe this!" she said with excitement, clasping her hands together. "I mean, we've never met each other in person. And now, out of nowhere, we just bump into each other? It's almost like fate was playing hide and seek with us, but look—" she spread her arms dramatically "—we finally won."

Jawwad let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "You're still the same, Yasmin on phone, no doubt."

She grinned. "I take that as a compliment."

There was a short pause before he glanced at her again. "How did you get here?"

"Oh, I took an Uber," she said quickly.

Jawwad nodded, then casually offered, "I can take you home."

Yasmin's eyes widened slightly, but she masked her panic with a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Ah, no need for that! My Uber driver is actually just a few minutes away," she said, checking her phone.

Jawwad nodded like he expected that answer. Deep down, he knew he had only asked out of kindness, not because he actually wanted to be in the same car as her. He was still a bit distant, still not completely comfortable around her.

They started walking towards the exit together, Yasmin talking the most. "Honestly, I'm so happy we bumped into each other," she gushed. "I mean, I was even wondering if you were really in Abuja. You just seem so uninterested in me, no room to even speak to you on phone let alone see you in person."

Jawwad smirked slightly. "I've been around. Just busy."

"Busy doing what, if I may ask?" she pried, tilting her head slightly.

"Work," he replied simply.

Yasmin sighed dramatically. "Work, work, work. That's all you people ever say. You should learn to have some fun."

Jawwad gave a small chuckle but didn't say much. His calm, nonchalant attitude only made Yasmin more drawn to him. He wasn't the type to talk too much, and that mystery only made him more attractive.

"But at least now that we've connected, you better not disappear," she continued, her voice playful. "I expect you to create time to see me."

Jawwad glanced at her, then shrugged lightly. "I'll see what I can do."

Yasmin tried to hide her excitement, but she failed. "Ah, don't just 'see what you can do' oh! I'm already eager to see you again."

Jawwad smirked. "Noted."

A car pulled up in front of them, and Yasmin immediately turned to it. "Oh! My Uber is here," she said quickly.

Jawwad didn't say anything at first. He walked to the car, opened the door for her, and then, without a word, reached into his pocket, pulled out some cash, and handed it to the driver.

Yasmin blinked in surprise. "You didn't have to do that—"

"Just get home safe," Jawwad said simply.

Her heart fluttered slightly. She blushed, biting her lip as she stepped into the car. "Thank you," she murmured, looking up at him.

Jawwad gave her a small nod. "I'll call you later tonight."

Yasmin couldn't hide her smile. "I'll be expecting your call," she said softly before bidding him goodbye.

He took a step back as the car pulled away, watching it disappear down the road. He stood there for a moment before heaving a deep sigh and turning back toward the mini-mart. He needed to check on the shopkeeper before heading home.