Laylah arrived at school and quickly found a parking spot, squeezing her car into a tight space. She got out, locking the door behind her, and started walking towards her department. The day was already hot, and the sun was beating down on her. She could feel the heat rising from the pavement beneath her feet as she trekked across the campus.

As she walked, Laylah pulled out her phone and dialed Amina's number. "Kina ina?" she asked, slightly out of breath.

Amina's voice crackled through the speaker. "I'm at the parking lot inside the school," she replied.

Laylah nodded, even though Amina couldn't see her. "Okay," she said, hanging up the call without another word. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and changed direction, heading straight for the parking lot where Amina was waiting.

As Laylah made her way down the path, she heard the soft rumble of an engine behind her. She turned her head slightly, just in time to see a sleek car slow down beside her. The tinted window rolled down, and her heart nearly stopped for a moment. Her first thought was that it was that arrogant neighbor of hers that she hated, Jawwad.

But then, as the window rolled down completely, she realized that the man in the driver's seat wasn't Jawwad. This man had lighter skin, a stark contrast to Jawwad's caramel complexion. She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, her heartbeat slowing down just a bit.

The man leaned out the window, a playful smirk on his face. It was Jhamal, Jawwad's stepbrother. His eyes glinted mischievously as he looked her up and down. "Hey, beautiful," he called out, his voice smooth and confident. "Why are you walking when you could be riding with me?"

Laylah rolled her eyes, feeling her irritation spike. She didn't have time for this nonsense. "If you want what's best, I suggest you get lost," she replied curtly, picking up her pace.

But Jhamal wasn't deterred. He drove alongside her, matching her speed. "Aw, come on," he coaxed. "Don't be like that. I can give you a lift. Or maybe something more?" He grinned, his eyes lingering on her as if undressing her with his gaze.

Laylah hissed in annoyance, her face contorting with irritation. She kept her eyes forward, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. She could hear his friend snickering in the passenger seat, clearly finding the whole thing amusing.

Jhamal continued driving beside her, not giving up. He leaned further out of the window, his voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper. "You're missing out, you know. I'm not as bad as you think."

Laylah's fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to scream, to tell him to leave her alone, but she knew what to do.

He then stopped the car, parking it by the curb. He and his friend got out, laughing amongst themselves as they followed her on foot. Laylah could hear their footsteps behind her, but she didn't slow down or look back. She kept her head high, her face set in a mask of indifference. She wasn't going to let them see how much they were getting under her skin—not just yet.

The moment Laylah spotted Amina, she quickened her pace. Just as she was about to reach her friend, she heard him call out again, his voice loud and mocking.

"At least tell me your name and give me your number," Jhamal said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Maybe I could help you out financially because, honestly, you look like you need it."

Laylah stopped dead in her tracks, her entire body tensing up. She could feel a wave of anger rising inside her, like a volcano about to erupt. How dare he! She whipped around to face him, her eyes blazing with fury. She could see Jhamal's smug grin, his eyes glinting with pleasure, and that was the last straw.

"You think you can just throw money around and everyone will fall at your feet?" Laylah snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. "Let me tell you something, you dirty hag. I don't need your money, and I definitely don't need you thinking you can buy me like I'm some kind of charity case!"

The crowd around them began to stir, students slowing down to watch the unfolding drama. Laylah could feel their eyes on her, but she didn't care. All she cared about was putting Jhamal in his place.

Jhamal's smirk faltered for a moment, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. He hadn't expected this reaction, not from her. He was used to girls blushing and giggling at his advances, not spitting venom like Laylah was doing now. His confusion quickly turned into anger as her words sank in.

"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?" Jhamal growled, his face turning red with fury. "Do you know who I am? Nobody talks to me that way!"

Laylah took a step closer, her chin raised defiantly. "Ina ruwana da koh kai uban waye? You could be the President for all I care, and it still wouldn't matter. You're nothing but a manageable liar who you wouldn't pass being my gatekeeper."

Jhamal's eyes narrowed, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He could feel the heat rising in his face, a combination of anger and embarrassment. Nobody had ever spoken to him like this, especially not in front of a crowd. He opened his mouth to retort, but Laylah cut him off before he could say a word.

"And for the record," she continued, her voice ringing out clear and strong, "I should have slapped you when I had the chance. But I will let you off with a warning. So, do yourself a favor and keep your stupidity and your money to yourself!"

Jhamal watched Laylah storm away, his face twisting into a scowl. Who did she think she was, talking to him like that? If she knew who he was and the power he held, she wouldn't have dared to act so disrespectfully. He shook his head in disbelief as he watched her walk off without even looking back, her head held high. This girl had just stepped on a hot flame and he will make sure it burns her when she least expects it.

Laylah didn't care that she'd just walked away from Amina. She was too angry to think straight. As she stormed off toward their department for the 4-6 lecture they had, she could hear Amina calling her name, but she ignored her. She didn't have time for anyone's advice or comforting words. She just needed to walk off her anger before she exploded.

"Laylah, wait up!" Amina called again, finally catching up to her. She matched Laylah's brisk pace, trying to keep up. Laylah was fuming, her eyes blazing with fury as she walked.

"Amina, I'm not in the mood for one of your preaching please," Laylah snapped, not even looking at her. "That idiot got exactly what he deserved. He's always hanging around this school, chasing after girls and flashing his money like it's something impressive. I'm not one of those cheap girls who'll fall for his tricks. Someone had to put him in his place!"

Amina just shook her head, not wanting to argue with Laylah when she was this upset. She could see the annoyance in Laylah's eyes, the way her shoulders were tense with anger. As they reached the classroom, Amina stayed quiet, letting Laylah cool off on her own.

Inside, they found their friends Safiya and Yasmin already seated, waiting for the lecture to start. Laylah slid into a chair, still seething.

Throughout the two-hour class, her mind kept drifting back to what had happened with Jhamal, and then to Jawwad's dismissive attitude earlier. The thoughts swirled around in her head, making it hard to concentrate on the lecture. She wanted to talk about it with her friends, but she didn't want them to think she cared about Jawwad or what he thought of her.

After class, Laylah packed up her things and headed straight home, hoping to forget about the day's events. But when she walked into the house, she stopped dead in her tracks. All three of her older brothers—Umar, Mujahid, and Abdullah—were there, along with mommy. Umar was pacing back and forth, his face twisted in anger. He was still in his army uniform, which meant he'd come straight from work. Laylah's heart sank. She knew exactly what this was about.

The moment Umar spotted her, he stopped pacing and launched toward her, his face contorted with rage. "Zo nan, dan ubanki!" he yelled, making a grab for her. Laylah screamed and ran to mommy, hiding behind her and holding on tightly.

"Ya Umar, what did I do now? Kullin ina cikin yin laifi neh?" Laylah cried out, tears welling up in her eyes. Her mother pushed her away, looking just as angry as Umar.

"Dallah sake ni!" her mother snapped. "When you were out there in public, humiliating people, did you think we wouldn't find out? Toh, wallahi if your Bappa finds out what you've been doing, don't drag me into it! I've done my best to keep you on the right path, but you just keep going off the rails. Haba, Laylah, what are you turning into? So kike na mutu sabida hawan jini?"

Laylah was sobbing now, tears blurring her vision. The last thing she wanted was for her grandfather, Bappa, to hear about this. Aside from Umar, Bappa was the one person she was truly afraid of, no matter how tough she tried to act.

Umar stepped forward, his face dark with anger. He was holding his thick belt, ready to strike. "What did you do in school today?" he demanded. "Who was the man you disgraced in public?"

Laylah's body was trembling. She could barely speak, her voice coming out in a shaky whisper. "Ya Umar... he was..."

Suddenly, a deep, authoritative voice rang out from the entrance. "What is going on here?"

Laylah turned and saw her father standing in the doorway. Relief washed over her, and she burst into tears again, running to him. "Daddy! Daddy, I didn't do anything wrong, I swear!"

Her father's face softened as he looked down at her, his eyes full of concern. "Mamana, what's going on? Who touched you?" He glanced over at his sons and wife, waiting for an explanation.

Umar, still fuming, tried to walk away, heading toward the other door, but Daddy's voice stopped him cold. "Don't you dare walk away while I'm talking!" he commanded, his voice sharp and commanding. Umar halted, glaring at the floor.

"Alhaji," Mommy began, her voice trembling with anger, "your daughter is getting out of hand. She humiliated someone in public again. I'm afraid of what her future will be like. She's so—"

Daddy held up his hand, silencing her. He gently patted Laylah's back, comforting her. "Kiyi hakuri, mamana. Go to your room. We'll talk about this later," he said softly. Laylah nodded, hurrying up the stairs to her room.

Mommy gasped in shock at how indifferent Daddy seemed. He hadn't even bothered to scold Laylah for her behavior. But at the same time, she wasn't completely surprised. After all, he was the one who had spoiled Laylah rotten, treating her like she's the only child he has just because she was the only girl and the youngest child.

Daddy turned to face the rest of them, his expression serious. "I know you all know how much I love Laylah and how much she means to me," he began, looking at each of them in turn. Umar was still fuming, refusing to meet his father's eyes.

"I'll say this once more: if you can't correct her in a gentle way, then leave her alone," Daddy continued firmly.

"Alhaji, so kake ta lalace—" Mommy tried to interrupt, but Daddy cut her off.

"If she does something wrong, report it to me, and I will handle it. Because what were you planning to do, Umar? Beat her because of something you could talk her through? Let me make myself clear: don't let me catch you trying to lay a hand on my daughter again. You've all been warned."

With that, Daddy turned and headed to his room, leaving them all in stunned silence. Mommy and Umar exchanged a look, both of them brimming with defeat and disbelief. They couldn't believe how protective Daddy was of Laylah, despite her behavior. But there was nothing they could do. Laylah was Daddy's little girl, and he wasn't going to let anyone forget it.