•••

Sitting in the living room with Ammar's family was one thing, but being placed under the limelight was another.

"Did he hurt you? Did he do anything to upset you? Did he choose to touch you without your permission?" His mother, Umma, gathered Janan into her warm embrace as soon as Janan stepped foot into the room.

All the while, Janan felt needle-like prickles all over her body. Umma's questions made her extremely uncomfortable. How could she ask her such questions, especially in front of his father and cousin no less!? Janan groaned inwardly.

African families and no filters on their mouths.

"U-Umma, kidena damuwa (stop worrying). None...of that sort happened." Janan grabbed the palms that were on her cheeks to hold in her hands instead. 'Well, not yet.' Janan added as an afterthought as she smiled down at Umma.

"Well, of course, Umma. We raised our Ammar to be the gentleman he is today." Ya Yusrah giggled from across the living room. Janan wanted to scoff, but held herself. She looked at Ammar who seemed to find the plush, nude carpet really interesting.

'Gentleman...huh? Yeah, leaving your wife sitting alone to fend for herself while you were enjoying at your so-called meeting is so gentlemanly.' But Janan thought it best to keep her comment to herself.

His father coughed, gaining back their attentions. "Enough with your embarrassing discussions." He shot a warning glance towards his wife, who winked back at him mischievously. "What we're really here for, is to discuss your honeymoon. I know Janan must've been stiff and exhausted because of her academics. I suggest you select a place to go and relax. Anywhere."

Janan's eyes bulged out. She was about to deny when Ammar spoke up, "Well, Baba, if you don't mind, I'd like to go to that private resort." He emphasized 'that', leaving Janan to become insanely curious.

Janan's muddy orbs went from Ammar's, to Umma's and then to his father's. "Wait, which that? Tell me the place-"

"Oh, you mean that place. The one I took your mother on our honeymoon? Sure, why not." The father's smile had a hint of mischief laying beneath it.

'Abba, not you too!' Janan pinched Ammar's arm, who sat next to her, silently telling him to tell her what the heck was going on. He flashed his pearly whites at her, ignoring the fading pain on his arm.

"Ooh!" Umma's mouth formed an 'O'. "I remember that place. Ah, good choice my son." She leaned over to pat her son on his back. Leaning back, she faced Janan's pouting face. "You're going to enjoy it, Janan." She cooed as she closed her eyes, relishing her past memories.

"What? What's the name? Come on Ammar tell me." Okay, the curiosity was eating Janan as she pleaded.

Umma's eyebrows rose, "Oh sweety, he didn't tell you? Well, it's-"

"I'd like to keep it a secret please." Ammar cut off his confused mother. They all looked at him weirdly, so he added, "As a surprise, I mean. Nobody snitch." Ammar press his long finger to his lips and smiled lopsidedly, which made Janan's blood boil.

"But-!"

"No buts."

Janan huffed and folded her arms childishly. She'd learn the details later. The three of them laughed at Janan and Ammar's antics.

After a while of endless chatter, it was time for his family to leave.

"Well, we will be taking our leave now. May Allah bless your marriage and help you with whatever hardship you're facing. Maman Ammar tashi mutafi (let us leave)." They headed to the door with a giggling Yusrah tagging behind them.

Both newly Weds heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you for visiting our home, ya Yusrah." Ammar smiled down at the bubbly female, who sent a floaty wink over her shoulder.

"But of course. I missed your wedding, so it's the least I could do. Well, best of luck and don't eat each other up." She was already in the car before they could shout their words of protest.

-
They went back inside and just stood there awkwardly with Janan's back facing Ammar.

"Um, I'll go and clean the table. You should go ahead and eat. The maids have already prepared your food." She sounded so submissive, the complete opposite of the devil incarnate he knew of, that Ammar want to eat her instead.

'Wait... Where is this coming from, Ammar?' Cupping his bearded chin, he shook the thought away.

"Uh, sure. But... You should join me... I guess?" It came out more like a strangled question than a friendly suggestion. He thought she wanted to come to a truce, but oh no, Janan proved the opposite.

"I'll have to turn down your offer as I have already eaten. But don't worry, the 467 bitches you have in your timeline shall keep you company." She swiftly turned and headed straight into the kitchen.

Ammar had never been this shocked his entire life. He never faced such an obstacle like Janan was. All the girls he had encountered just threw themselves on him without the need to lift a single finger. But with her, it's like lifting your body whole, your spirit, your soul, and many more. Ammar smoothed his hand over his hair.

Pissed, he followed her into the kitchen. He signalled the maids to leave when he spotted Janan who was balancing on her tippy toes in order to put the clean plates back into the cabinet. Ammar stormed towards Janan's direction- who was about to reach for the rag -and snatched both of her wrists, effortlessly pinning them against the wall. Ammar's eyes had a fire lit in them as he glared down at Janan's panicked ones.

"W-wah? What are you doing!?"

Ammar's scowl dissolved into a smirk when he saw her reaction. She should know her place because he's the alpha male in their house. He had thought.

Releasing one of her wrists, he pinched her chubby cheek, to which she tried to bite at. His heart did a weird flip.

'Fiesty.' He flicked the same cheek he pinched, making Janan cry out in pain.

He watched as Janan's lips curl up into a small smile. He wondered what she was up to, but didn't have to wait much longer as her face morphed into that of fear,

"Oh look, a cockroach!"

Ammar visibly flinched, released an undignified squeak, and in an instant, turned around to kill the vile, disgusting creature. To his disappointment (and utter relief), he was faced with his reflection on the sparkling tile. If Ammar was annoyed before, then he was enraged now.

She made a pathetic fool out of him!

"Son of a- Janan!" Before he could even think about catching his naughty wife, he heard the bedroom door close with a loud bang. Hungry and quite frankly exhausted, he decided to let it be, for now.

After he dumped his stained plate into the dishwasher, a sudden chime of bells rang throughout the whole house, alerting him. His eyebrows creased in confusion as he headed for the door.

Only for his eyes to widen and his forehead to start sweating when he revealed the person behind the door.

"Hello Ammar, long time no see." Came an alluring voice that had a tint of malevolence in it. Ammar dreaded for this moment.

He stepped out of the house and shut the door behind him carefully. His blood was boiling at the sight in front of him.

"What the fuck are you doing here!?" His voice dripped with venom as his eyes clouded with what could be described as sadness.

"Oh dear, what a silly question. I came to take back what was rightfully mine. Though, it seems like I was a bit late. I see you're married now. Considering what I did to you, I thought you'd die a lonely soul." Her giggles sent a chill down his spine. Not a good one though.

"Listen closely, you wicked witch. I want you nowhere near me or my house, if you truly love yourself." He raised a threatening finger and stepped forward.

She gave a hearty laugh at his threat as she knew he still had a soft spot for her. She turned around and sashayed down the steps, her red-bottom heels clicking.

"By the way, have a nice honeymoon." Her sickly sweet voice only sent more chills down his spine.

"Leave me alone, Yusrah." His barely whispered words came out broken and enraged at the same time. The unidentified female came to a halt, only to throw a scathing glare back at him.

"We'll see about that."

-
Ammar entered their shared bedroom with a clouded mind and a heavy heart, only to see Janan struggling with the bedsheets as she somehow ended up a tangled mess.

He couldn't help it but burst out laughing because she looked like she was in a cocoon. He gave an annoyed look at the silk bonnet she always wore to bed. He wanted to see her long, beautiful braids set free. The angry, struggling lump known as his wife, popped it's head out to yell at him.

"Stop laughing and come help me, you sadist!"

Ammar held his hips akimbo, sighing exasperatedly. Ammar was indeed in for a long ride.

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