"She's on in five."

I heard the gaffer come in to the trailer I shared with a supporting character to tell Zainab what I already know. It's one of the last scenes in the movie and I'm a bit nostalgic, also one of the hardest, most expensive since I have to get it all on one take.

I looked through the page of the script on my lap again in trepidation, knowing that if I don't know my lines now or how to portray them, it will be a huge loss.

"Zainab, let's go." She nodded, got up, picked a small no internet phone and called the gaffer who came to call them earlier. He told them where they were needed and they began to walk over there. The area around Usman dam was soggy with water, but an area around it was very dry as though there was no source of water around it.

"Ah ma, this your leather jacket is something else oo, it shining in the sun as if they poured oil on it." I rolled my eyes and forced myself not to laugh out loud as she teased and praised me repeatedly. I suddenly stopped and she slammed into my back, I turned around and watched her from my vantage height point. "This one you're ogling this jacket, do you like it?"

She shook her head with a smile and I turned around, flipping the ends of my calf length leather jacket that hid my black jeans, turtle neck top and gun hostler. My hair was hidden in a black cap that kept my hair well away from sight. My feet were well encased in Yellow leather boots that were my trademark.

"Let's go see what they have for me today?" She smiled and followed me. I have an affection for Zainab, knowing she has my back anytime means the world to me, nothing could fight the fact that she's part of my life, of the success that is now me.

When we reached the main set, it was around the very dry land in the area, reminding me we're doing a car blowing up scene. I walked to the Umbrella, where the assistant director Teni Adebowale was waiting for me, she winked at me and sent me a look at the fuming white director.

"You're late." He said by way of greeting, I smiled at him apologetically, he nodded. We've had this back and forth since shooting began and Teni says she thinks he has a crush on me and the only he can express it is by getting angry even when I'm just a minute late for anything.

Teni doesn't look at him anymore, stifling her laughter, she shows me parts of the script she wants my attention on. The only unfortunate part is, we have to do the entire scene in one full take, no retakes.

"Why?" I ask indignantly. That is a lot of pressure to put on any actor, even if they're Will Smith and don't have retakes. She rolled her eyes and passed me a look that only Nigerians understand, 'Ask him'.

Seeing her look, I sighed. It's only a test, it will help me get better at my acting. So I rolled my shoulder and nodded, Teni smiled at me and spoke into a microphone to the camera people, light people, and even the tech guys. She wanted everyone in attention.

"Ah, Miss Teni, the dynamites and the officers are here. They've asked you and Mr Greenwood to take delivery of it." A messenger delivered information from the gate of the set. I stepped aside and watched as Teni and Mr Greenwood rushed to where the vehicle was waiting.

The law of the Nigerian army states that, especially in the light of terrorism in Nigeria, every explosive will be taken delivery of by army officers and a commander, to ensure no terrorists have hold of explosive devices. I'm sure that's why they're here as my last scene for today has me walking in front of two blown up cars, my enemies in it. I mutter a dua for safety as I wait, because, Allah forbid it, anything could go wrong and it could all go horribly.

"Beebah, you're up." I walked to the main set, unzipped the leather jacket and watched the gaffer show me how to walk around the cars to ensure me leaving there in time, making sure my clothes don't snag anything, he also explained how many minutes I had to spend acting, so I nodded heavily. All the information was in my head, I retained all.

"Are you ready?" I put up my left hand and waved it, looking behind me at the two men who were supposed to be pursuing me. I said another Dua and waved my right hand, let the show begin.

The scene was called and I began driving, seeing the men in their own car behind me, I swerved, somewhere along the line, someone threw a lot dynamite in the front seat and I quickly threw it into the back seat of the car the men where in. They'd pulled down the window to shoot at me.

I heard the sound of muted explosion behind me and then remembered I was supposed to throw two dynamites, the one beside me was flickering about to blow, I opened the car and flew out of it, landing on what looked like the ground but it was a huge bed painted to look like the ground, I coughed and watched as my own car exploded.

Knowing I was still being filmed, I shut my eyes and got up, and began to walk away, raising a hand as if to say bye at the men and the cars I'd bombed. Right then, the director called for stop.

I saw Zainab rushing up to me with huge bottle of water, and when she hugged me I finally understood that the film was finished. It was over. She handed me the water, reminding me to drink.

We finally reached the rest of the crew and everyone hailed me as I entered the umbrella where the directors were. Teni smiled widely at me, then I knew I did well.

I got up again, knowing the kind of busy day I have, I began to walk back to my trailer. Someone fell in step beside me and I raised my head, shielded my face from the hot sun to see Major Sa'ad Lamido. My lips widened into a smile on its own accord.

"Assalamualaikum." He greeted. I smiled even wider before replying the Salam, then I remembered what I had just finished. Did he see me do all that? Innalilah!

"What you did back there was amazing. Wow." Somehow I didn't feel like it was a compliment, it felt like I just made a fool if myself in front of him.

"Really?" I asked and I watched him nod eagerly. I shut my eyes and calmed myself down. I'm supposed to be cool, calm and collected, I have no idea who this Labeebah is. At all.

I heard some noise, it was from one his soldier colleagues, so he nodded tensely at them, turned to me and asked, "Can I call you later?"

I found myself saying yes with a good nod of my head, then watched him walk away in his uniform,  boots and beret. I shut my eyes, fit army officers walking around in their uniform should be illegal, it should be ruled out. Downright illegal.

When he had walked far away from me, I remembered he had no way to reach me. I shrugged, he'll reach me on any of social media. He's not a child.

******

"So you were mute?"

For a moment I regretted my decision to tell Rabiah that I saw Sa'ad. I could not even touch my face because it was getting made up by a popular make up artist Leemah's glamour. I leaned back and let the woman line my eyes slowly, Rabiah came to my ear and asked again, "What did you feel when you saw him?" I opened my eyes slowly, testing the weight of the liner of lashes on my eyes.

"Nothing." Liar! My subconscious swore at me. Your heart beat out a stacatto. Stop lying.

I swallowed and stared her down. She had given me a dubious look, knowing me for so long means she knows my own emotions like they're hers. She pursed her lips and nodded continuously, making me smile.

"Just keep lying to yourself oo, keep lying." I hissed and got up. The makeup session was finished, I'd told her I wanted something very medium coverage, no too much powder that would overwhelm my skin.

Rabiah filmed me taking out my dress from the plastic suit bag that it came in, removing the hanger and the tag. I fingered the sky blue voilé lace and nodded, it was exactly what I wanted. I walked to my room and slid on the gown, it fit and I nodded again, it wasn't cut too close to me. Just enough not to look like I was wearing two sizes over.

"How do I look?" I asked when I reached the living room again. Rabiah awwed the moment I walked into the room, then I knew I didn't make a bad choice.

"Your daddy is going to be so proud." I rolled my eyes. I hope he is proud and doesn't think I'm embarrassing him, since it's his party's campaign inauguration shindig. He only told me to wear blue since I'll be his date, I cried when I dropped the phone because it's like having a father all over again.

"Let's tie your scarf." I found my way to a chair and Rabiah sat in front of me, helping me fit my feet into a pair of black butterfly heeled sandals. When she finished, she leaned over and picked the pearl necklace and earrings I'd picked out to wear and wore them for me. Making my look complete.

"Thank you Rabiah Na. Love you." She kissed my forehead, not even worrying about coming in contact with powder on my face. I've learned to indulge her because she fell ill several times while I was recuperating, her husband says she cried herself to sleep on many nights that I was wrenched away from her just like that and she had no idea what to do.

"Beebah, your dad is outside." I got up gingerly, looking to Iyamé to see the makeup artist out after I've left. She nods perceptibly.

At the gate, one of my dad's security opened the door to Baaba's car, he was surprisingly driving. I sat in the passenger seat next to him and he turned on his car, signaling his security to move. He smiled at me when we'd left my street.

"How are you doing? How was your day?" I nodded shyly, looking in the backseat and seeing no one there, I asked of my siblings. He shook his head, "Falmata has an exam early tomorrow, Bilal and Munir opted to stay at home. Why, I have no idea." I smiled lightly and sighed. This is the third time they've done this, you know hear we're supposed to go out together and then ditch Baaba when they hear I'll be there. It's not doing anything great for their image at all.

Silence reigned in the car as we drove to the international conference center where the party would be holding in one of their side halls. My phone rang just as we passed Dutse road, I looked at it, seeing an unfamiliar number, I silenced it.

It rang again, and then I remembered Sa'ad was supposed to call, so I picked, smiling apologetically at Baaba. "Hello." I breathed out.

"Hi. You sound like you're in a car? Are you going out? If you're busy we can talk some other time." I considered it, it would not do to talk and then I'd have to cut him off when we reach the venue. So I agreed.

"We'll talk after Subh prayers tomorrow? How's that?" I asked, when I heard his hum of acceptance, I ended the call and put down the phone.

Baaba looked at me and asked me, "Is that someone I'll be meeting in the near future?" I stared blankly him, not able to help the blush that climbed my cheeks.

Oh Baaba, I have no idea. Its only if Allah will, only if Allah wills it.

*****
Heyo guyssssss, how are you doing?

Who missed me? Who also went to follow leboubouchateau on Instagram? Thank you so much.

So, they've met, they're here, Baaba has heard of it. What do you think? Yay or Nay?

See y'all very soon.
TheOmoope 💙💛