Dedicated to friskriel for being the first to vote on the last chapter , and oh yeah it's a double update

Enjoy

Hajiya Fatima tried her absolute best to include Khadijah in their conversation but she kept drawing back, in fact, she had no idea what they were talking about.

Khadijah almost ran out of the room when her phone rang, she embraced the escape.

She checked the ID and answered "Yes Veronica" They talked for a bit while walking around the paved walkway, she hung up a few minutes later and turned to go back inside praying Layla was back.

"So, we meet again"

Fahad Abubakar Barkindo stood a few steps away from her with a big smile on his face, but to think about it, she's always seen him with that smile, he's always looking happy it makes her want to be like that.

"Good morning" it would probably be after twelve but she didn't care, it was the first thing that came to her mind.

"How are you Layla's Dee? I thought we were friends but you've never asked of me, I believe Layla didn't deliver the message but it's accepted" he kept ranting, another thing she realised about him was his chattiness which proves him being related to Layla, they talk a lot.

"Alhamdullillah" simple and short, it was always her answer. They stood in what would be called a comfortable silence except she was anything but comfortable.

Khadijah looked up a bit to see him standing with both hands in his pocket and dancing on his feet, he opened his mouth to speak but stopped when a crying Layla ran past them not noticing, Khadijah automatically followed her.

Khadijah followed Layla who ran for the stairs, her mother was standing when Khadijah entered but no one made a move to follow her, she looked to Hajiya Fatima as if asking for permission and when she nodded, she followed her.

The door was left ajar when she reached Layla's room, she was on her bed in tears, she was sobbing hard unlike earlier when she passed, knowing talking to a crying person is close to useless, she held her close and let her cry.

Layla sobbed hard, she couldn't decide what she was crying about, she told him no didn't she, buy why does it hurt so bad?

An image of Jawad smiling at someone else flashed before her eyes, she hugged Khadijah tighter willing the pain to go away. It wasn't supposed to be like that, she should be happy, she's free of him, Shaheed wouldn't be cold towards her again because she finally gave an answer, maybe not one he expected but he's told her to be clear so he can be at peace.

She felt her body growing weaker trying to fight the whispers, they would soon start yelling if she doesn't fight them but that's something she wasn't mentally or emotionally ready to handle, she embraced the peace and quiet that came with a deep slumber, besides the best sleep comes with a lot of tears.

"She's sleeping right?" Hajiya Fatima asked Khadijah who was trying to close Layla's door as noiselessly as humanly possible, she jumped a bit but nodded, Mamie pointed to the direction of the stairs and Khadijah quietly followed, she's learned not to ask questions even though it was at the tip of her tongue.

They all saw Layla running, obviously shaken, but why didn't anyone bother to try and console her? She's thought maybe it was because she was around, but they didn't know she was behind her or she saw her, they didn't even make a move to go after her and she was many steps behind Layla since she was walking while the latter was running, many thoughts ran through her mind but she didn't voice it, the only thing she wanted at the moment was for Layla to be fine, whatever made her cry like that must be pretty serious, she said a silent prayer for her friend's wellbeing.

"What would you like to eat dear?" Khadijah only shook her head as no, she wasn't hungry, in fact she has lost her appetite for the better part of the week and eating has been moved to the bottom of her list, it was around the middle anyways.

"You have to eat something, I'm sure you haven't eaten anything solid for the most part of the day and it's already Two, pray first and come down to eat, I can force feed you if you don't come down in ten minutes" Hajiya Fatima laughed at the end, but not because she wouldn't make good on her threat.

Khadijah Walked back to Layla's room, she don't notice how much time has passed, she performed ablution and prayed, she was saying her adhkar when she turned to the bed Layla was on, she looked lifeless if not for her steady rise and fall of her chest.

She was considering going to eat or not but decided on going out of courtesy. Hajiya Fatima set the food for her in the small parlour, she thanked for when she understood it was because of privacy.

Khadijah ate the as much as she could which was very little she didn't want Mamie to think she didn't appreciate the hospitality.

Waleedah sat beside Khadijah a few minutes after she was done eating, she was busy typing on her phone she didn't notice her at first, Khadijah sent a final text to Veronica then dropped the phone, it was rude to be on your phone when you have company.

"We've never sat and talked" waleedah started, she and kabir are the only twins in the family, Layla is a few months older than them, it was ironic how they don't get along.

Khadijah with nothing to say only nodded, small talk is not her specialty.

"How is Layla?" they both know she wasn't fine so Khadijah only shrugged.

"If not for the fact that I've seen you talk I would've said you were deaf and dumb" Khadijah didn't find it offensive, she's heard that a multitude.

"You still won't talk? Okay I'll sit here and see" Khadijah almost blurted 'suit yourself' but fought against it.

"Did she tell you what's wrong? I know she wouldn't, it's better that Jawad is moving on, she's held him back for years I'm actually very happy for him" Khadijah didn't know why waleedah was telling her all this but she was curious, what's between Layla and Jawad? Sure she knew he loves her but that's about it, did they have a relationship? Layla didn't tell her and she's asked over a million times. She said she dated a few times in collage when they moved back to Australia but never a serious relationship, the thoughts were making her head hurt so she shook her head to get rid of them.

Waleedah scrutinised Khadijah, she's very beautiful, that's very much obvious and she has unique eyes too, Layla talked about Khadijah's eyes a lot, she couldn't tell from where she sat and she's never seen her up close, except in pictures but it wasn't accurate there.

Khadijah didn't show how uncomfortable Waleedah made her, she kept a blank expression even though her heart was beating erratically. She hated when people stared at her, not only because it was rude, she found it belittling but Waleedah seemed to think otherwise, she kept staring head on like she was a mystery she wanted to solve.

They spent five minutes in awkward silence both thinking of multiple things, Khadijah's phone rang pulling her out of her trance, she mentally groaned when she saw her mother, sighing she picked.

"Khadijah, where are you?" Hajiya Ladidi asked in Hausa with her usual tone, you could detect her sokoto intonation, it wasn't very obvious but it was there.

"I stepped out with Layla, I kept a key for-" she didn't finish when her mother hissed through the phone.

"And you didn't deem it fit to call and tell me?"  she didn't wait for a reply before she commanded her to come back immediately.

Khadijah thought what the matter was because her mother never bothered where she was or with whom she was, not pondering over it she stood up and adjusted her veil, waved Waleedah good bye out of courtesy and ambulated to Layla's room, she was still fast asleep, she didn't want to wake her up so she quietly left the room and moved downstairs, she met hajiya Fatima sitting with Abba who was so engrossed in telling her a story he didn't even notice her, she bid both of them goodbye and left, making a mental note to call later and ask about Layla.

It was when she was standing outside did she remember she didn't have her car with her, she could go back and ask if their driver was free, that would've been the smart thing to do but she didn't want to talk, she walked the length of the driveway, smiled at the security man and walked out of the house.

She soon realised how dumb it was of her to have left with the hopes of finding a cab close by, she would have to walk to the junction, commercials rarely enter the street, but if she was lucky, one might pass and with that in mind, she stood a few steps from the gate leading to the Aliero residence, after ten minutes with no sign of a commercial, the only people outside were guards of houses sitting, a car would pass once in a while, it was like that for fifteen more minutes.

Seeing it was pointless standing there, Khadijah with tired limbs decided to walk to the junction, she realised how foolish it was for not doing that in the first place.

Being tired slowed her down, she wanted to scream but looking like a mentally unstable person wasn't part of her bucket list, she passed the house before the Aliero's own when a car parked in front of her, it was a good thing she was looking at where she was going, she would've been hit, not bothering to check who was in it she sidestepped it about to continue her journey when an awfully familiar voice called her name.

"Mamie was right, come in" She sighed not bothering to argue, she entered through the door Fahad held open for her, she muttered thanks a little above a whisper, if he heard, she had no idea.

He walked over to the driver side and climbed in, he turned the ignition and started driving not asking her for directions, Khadijah wanted to talk but kept quiet, maybe he knew what he was doing.

He took the turn to leave jabi road and kept driving ahead.

"How is she?" he didn't have to say the name, she knew who he meant.

Not knowing how to answer since she also had no idea how Layla was, she settled for the truth "She's sleeping"

Fahad glanced at her for a second before he let out a small laugh, "Did she tell you what's wrong with her?" Khadijah shook her head sideways making him sigh, he hoped Layla won't lock up.

He relaxed his back with one hand on the wheel thinking back to when Layla passed by them, it was cue for bad news so he rushed back to his uncle's side, he'd left to answer Aneesah's call, she ranted his ears off about something he couldn't remember, plus since he knew Jawad wanted-no, needed to talk with Layla, he didn't bother going back inside, Shaheed was still inside which meant he was with his father or brother, or both.

It was his luck when he saw Khadijah and decided to say hi, besides she looked like she wanted to bolt, from what? he didn't know.

Like he expected, Jawad sat with a lost look, it was true his uncles wanted him to marry his cousin that he hates by the way, he knew they would change their mind when Layla agrees because then her father would have a say in it, plus they are afraid of him even if they don't up and say it.

"Jawad?" he looked up with red eyes making Fahad's heart break, life hasn't been fair to Jawad and the only time he looked normal was when he was with Layla, he pretends he's fine but he sees through him.

"What did I do?" He asked in a broken voice making Fahad breath out, he had no idea what to tell him, "Just this once I want, I need something to go right for me, is that too much to ask?" when his voice broke, Fahad took a step forward and bent so he was at eye level with him.

"I'm here for  you, you'll get through this too, you're strong" he tried to hold his hand but he drew back, his broken face contorting into that of anger.

"I don't want your pity" he stalked off with that, Fahad stood rooted, following him would be pointless, he needed time to himself, he has no idea what was wrong with Layla but he wasn't going to force her into a relationship, maybe it's for the best, he just prays Jawad finds peace in his life he needs stability.

I have nothing to rant about sha, it's still a part of my apology for the late update.

Love y'all loads

Amyrah