"Yaya please i'm sorry, it wasn't intentional." Laila pleaded, making her best puppy face. "You look so takeaway, i can't resist the urge to hug you" she added, holding his hands; in a pleading way.

"What do you think you did?" He yowled. "Can you imagine the pain she felt? I saw a glint of sadness amd pain in her eyes" he abruptly remove his hands from her grip. "Don't ever do this again to me, she might lost her trust in me" he added.

"I'm very sorry Yaya, i will never do it again." She hold her ears; using both hands. "Let's go outside and sit down. You're narked."

"I don't want to, just leave please" he yawed from her side. "I have to call her and apologize" he added.

She abruptly felt a pang of jealousy in her heart.

"You don't have to do it now, she won't listen to you, let her cool down." She said ostentatiously, trying to shangai him.

"No! I must call her. Can't you see she ended the call first? She might be crying" carrying his phone beside him, trying to dial her number. "Leave, before she pick the call please"

She suddenly collect the phone from him. "No! I'm a girl, at this kinds of situations; we need to cool down first." Holding his hands, she's trying to lead them to the door. "You have to cool down too"

"Okay" he said, laconically.

They went out and sat under a tree shade, vacantly looking at the stars. Everyone lost in his thoughts.

"Yaya, i'm craving for ice cream. Wanna get some?"

"I'm too" he said, lacklustrely. "Let's go and get some" he added, lackadaisically.

They stood up and Laila entwined their hands. He looked at their hands; ready to remove his, when something creep in his mind. What is wrong with us entwining hand? Afterwards, she's my sister. And if i yank my hand; she'll feel bad. I promise to love her all my life, and i still love her!

"Yaya look at that couple, aren't they impressive?" She asked, gesturing at a romantic couple.

"Yeah, they're" he answered, laconically.

They walked to the ice cream bar and come back. Their sojourn was memorable for Laila, she hugged his torso, held his hand, ensconced herself in his warmth. Indeed! It was memorable.

***

"Mama, i must call her. How dare her?!" Ya Yusuf snapped, fuming with rage.

"Don't call her Yusuf, what if she tell your father? She's capable of doing anything" Mama said, lugubriously. "I told you this because i have no one to talk to, not for you to act upon it" Mama added.

She told him about Ummi's situation, and he's now fuming with anger; saying he wants to call Aunty and warn her.

"But Mama..."

"No but's, Yusuf. Just go please"

Sulaiman walked lackadaisically and sits beside Mama. "Mama what happened to Ya Yusuf" he asked, looking worried.

She just played the voice note and thrusted the phone to him. Sulaiman being the lachrymose he is; has already started crying. He hates it when Ummi cries.

"Mama we have to tell Baba about this, it's getting worst"

"No Sulaiman, it's just a matter of time"

"Hmmm, i despise that woman" Sulele said, through gritted teeth.

"I don't want to hear that again" Mama warned.

"But Mama" he grimaced and advanced to his room.

***
"Ohh! So stupid of me" she said, rummaging for her phone in her purse.

"What happen?" He asked, lackadaisically.

"I'm supposed to call Hajia since yesterday, she must be worried. Though i know they told her we landed safely" She answered and dailed Hajia's number.

L:This goes to sweetest grandmom ever!

H: You never change Laila, how are you? How's studies? Hope you landed safe?

L: Ohhh Hajia! Which one will i answer first? Okayyyy..... All fine.

H: Alhamdulillah. Be meticulous in your studies dear.

L: I'll insha Allah Hajia. Let me give Yaya the phone.

H: Okay give him, shakiyi( stubborn).

A:I can hear you tsohuwa (old woman), how're you?

H:I'm fine, how's my Ugly jika(grand child) doing?

A: I'm handsome. you're just jealous tsohuwa, i won't marry you.

H: How will you marry me when you get that zankaleliya(tall lady) beside you?

A:No! My wife to be is neither short nor tall. Moderate.

H:You still didn't change your mind ko dan nan (this child)? I've finalize it, you must marry your blood. Final!

A: Hmm.. i'll love to see how this will happen. I'm tired of talking to you, bye.

L:My granny.

H: Listen to me, you should do whatever it takes you to, make sure you get his love before you return.

L: Hajia why all this?

H: Don't you love him? It's okay if you don't. May be it was an obsession.

L:Noo Hajia, i still do.

H: Okay don't mind my dear. He's all your's.

L:Wow! Thanks Hajia, I love you! Bye.

H: Okay Bye.

"What did you still do?" Comes his question, abruptly.

"I still love you" she answered, smiling sheepishly, fumbling with the designs on her gown.

"Laila i can't marry you, i have someone i love. And you know that" Said Al-amin, lacklustrely. "Don't be selfish please" he added.

"But Yaya, I love you"

"But Laila, I don't love you!"

His words besetted her, she stiffened; trying to emote her feelings with her eyes. "I promise you Yaya, you'll be mine" she extempore.

"Stop day dreaming Young lady, i'll never be your's. Don't let Hajia's namby-pamby talks decieve you. I'm already someone's else, you knows it" he said and stood up. "Good night lil sis, it's kinda cold here" he added, walking towards the door.

"Goodnight Yaya, I love you" she stuttered and leaned in; pecking his cheek.

The amalgam of her luscious lips and his skin galvanized his lips into making an 'O' shape.

He stood their watching her leaving the apartment, mouth agape. He never imagine this. He touched where she pecked; An unexpected smile tucked up his lips. A smile with mixed feelings.

He sprawled on his bed, reminiscing the picture of Laila's lips on his cheek. An undefined smile plastered on his lips.

The peck; revived what he thought had already died in his heart. You shouldn't have done this Laila!

***

Ummi checked her phone for the umpteenth time; expecting a call or a text from him. She wiped away her tears with her thumb; smiling lopsidedly.

Why will you do this to me Al-amin? Why? I don't deserve this! I wish i can remove your love from my heart, I wish i never know you. Had it been i can leave you; i would've done that since the first day i saw that creepy-crawly girl. But i cant! You broke me but didn't even bother to call and apologize. Why will i still love you? Why? She was deep in her thoughts when she was intruded by a pat on her shoulder. "What are you thinking about Ummi?" Ummu asked, sympathetically.

"It's nothing Ummu, can we go?" She answered, standing up. "I was waiting for you since" she added, slipping in her flat shoes.

"We have to wait for Usman, he'll be back around 10:30 and it's 10 already" Ummu said, while they were going out of the house.

She had already told Aunty she'll go to Agege, to do her hair. That was around 8:30am when Aunty was making lunch. How vile!

"It hurts beyond words" Ummi hushed.

"Ummi, don't be ruminative please" Ummu stuttered.

***

"Good morning" Ummi greeted Maama and Momy.

"Good morning,Ummi" They answered, smiling at her.

She hushedly advanced to Ummu's room to wait for Usman.

"Ummi, Dady said i should clean his apartment" Ummu informed. "I've told Usman, he'll drop you" she added.

"OMG! Ummu i can't go alone. I don't know the area, talkless of the woman's house" Ummi grimaced, lonesomely looking at Ummu.

"He'll drop you at Iya's house, someone will escort you to Aunty Mansurat's house" Ummu assured.

"Okay, Fine"

She went to where Usman is and they zoom off.

***

"Usman you should come and pick me up, i'm through" She said through the phone. He gave her his number to call him when she's done.

"Okay, i'll be on my way" he answered and she ended the call.

It's already past an hour since she called Usman but he didn't pick. She's under a roof of a shop in the areas market; it's raining. Perks of living in Lagos!

Usman didn't came until it was 6pm, she hushedly entered the car and they zoom off. She got no strength to talk, she've cried her life out.

She came back home, called Mama, Ya Yusuf, Husna, Meeno and gist them about what Usman did to her. Today is the nadir of her stay in lagos, it hurts more than Aunty's cheekiness.

She didn't wait for Baba, she's knackered.

She finished her businesses, changed into her pj's. Her phone in her hand; hesitating wether to send the text or not.

Should i send him the text? But i'll proved that girl right; that i'm not classy. What will he think of me? He's the one supposed to text me, not the other way round. Different thoughts kept rummaging in her brain before she finally shangai herself.

"I should let him know; our relationship, is way much better than my ego" she hushed and hit the send button.

"I know i'll wake up and see his reply" she hushed and close her eyes, glumly.

She says her sleeping supplications and suddenly, mother nature take her to dream land. Today was hectic!.

***

Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!

"Baba, i'm awake" she said and hurriedly take her phone, expecting a reply from the Love of her life.

His silence besetted her, she thought he'll reply her text, but he didn't. It hurts!

How can he snub my message? He never done that!

Huh!😥😧😧😧 Finally💃💃💃 I can now breath.

I'm sick guys😤 need your du'as. Not get well soon's, but real du'as in your five daily prayers.

Hmmm.... Hajia can be something else fa.

One word for hajjaju...

That peck, i wish she didn't. It transmogrifies everything wallahi. All of a sudden.

Laila even had the chance to hug his torso abi? Gaba gaba dai.

A word of wisdom for our beloved Laila. Note the sarcasm.

One word for Usman please...

Did you ever heard of where a lunch is being cooked since morning? Aunty is a tormentor wallahi.

One word for her..

So Ya Yusuf got hyped up abi? I wish Mama leave him to call Aunty wallahi💃💃 she would've heard kalamai.

A soothing word for Ummi.

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