I dare you to comment on each paragraph for an update maybe later?

KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

"I cannot calm down." Afaf shook her head hard, looking down at the papers in front of her then back at her two best friends.

"You need to. Don't act just like that without too much thought or ruin yourself." Labiba advised, taking the papers away from the table to read through because even though she was the one who got them, she didn't go through them. Why would she invade?

The other friend and last occupant in the class chirped. "No, don't even think about calming down. This is wrong on many levels. Go fight for this betrayal!" Sumayyah goaded, always been the troublemaker and one that likes action other than words.

"I honestly don't know what to do. I don't have the prerogative to confront him about this but what else can I do? I won't be able to just live with him without bursting out." Afaf sighed, her back lagging forward as she hit the desk with her chest. She is so tired of everything, she wants to sleep it off.

She got kidnapped just the day before yesterday but had to come back to school for her final exams. She is signing out now but her graduation is not until two weeks to come and she cannot wait. What she didn't expect was to bump into her husband's ex-fiancée in her school and found out they have more secrets than they let out. He hid this from her, she understand that it is a past but she felt betrayed.

How could his ex-fiancee do this to her? She married him because she was forced to. Even the crush she's had for him few years ago won't allow her to marry him but Imad wouldn't have it. Her friend Sumayyah confessed to telling him the secret of her crushing on Nazir Jalo when he came to ask because in her words, she cannot lie nor deny the prince what he wants and besides, he was her brother in-law.

She met the so called ex fiancée earlier when she was about to come into the school and fast forward, she hates her.

"Hey. You are Afaf right?" The girl had asked beside the gates after they've walked in together. She's felt someone walking with her but didn't know it was the tall lady beside.

"Yes, I am." She gave a small smile, maybe someone has heard about her and is now an aficionado. Who knows? The school is wide and everyone is acting in their own weird way.

The woman then gave her a gentle smile but if being a lawyer is anything to go by her knowledge and study of people is working correctly, she is not genuine. She can read people like that and sometimes it irks her because she just wants to be with some fake people and have fun without knowing they are fake. But this woman here is not trying to hide it because the smile itself screams I'm not here for pleasantries.

"I have something for you." The girl didn't make any move to give her or bring out what she has for her.

Afaf is done playing nice so with a raise of her brow, she inquired. "What is it?"

"Nothing much, just a few papers about your husband. His past? Have you searched anything about it or are you just so in love to not want to find out?" This lady is playing the riddle game which Afaf loathes but she find herself playing along to get her curiosity out of the way. Not many people know about her marriage with Nazir, only her friends and family then his. How did she know though?

"What husband are you talking about now?" She crossed her arms underneath her bosom, happy that her paper doesn't start in another two hours or she wouldn't entertain this public nuisance.

The girl laughed, the one that says 'don't play that card with me or you fail' but Afaf is not melting down her resolve. "The husband you married. Nazir of course."

Afaf's brows both shot up at the same time. This woman had to be stalking her or is close to Nazir to find out about the marriage, she was supposed to be Amirah. It got more interesting with the way the girl is scrutinizing her from head to toe as if judging what she is wearing. At least she is not wearing anything stupid or bend down select. Her outfit is beautiful and straight from her boxes.

She'd be leaving with Nazir later when she is done signing out to his home. Aunt Azima has left already some hours ago because her son is sick and her husband needs to go back to work and like they've agreed, she is going to her husband's house the day Aunt Azima leaves their home. Her boxes are waiting right by the door to their boy's quarters since Amirah don't want anything to do with the boxes. That it rightfully belongs to her.

So she is wearing a crisp white shirt that is tucked into an ebony godet skirt. She has on an opera necklace across her neck, loop earrings and two rings. She wants to dress up for her last day as a student of Bayero University Kano which is why her boxes cried for a bit. Black converse closed her legs and matching veil wrapped in under-the-shoulder style. She feels beautiful, her hair packed up below to make it look prettier.

In other words, she is ready to meet her husband today and get welcomed back there.

"Oh, my husband? What about him now?" She crossed her arms again, really getting bored for being kept in the dark.

"If you really want to know what this is about, come get the papers at the microbiology block around twelve in the afternoon and it will be sorted. Now you have exams, don't you?" Afaf nodded slowly, feeling weirded out by how the girl know a lot about her. "Good luck, boo." And she left her standing there staring at the place she's vacated.

And that is how twelve in the afternoon after she's rambled everything to her two besties, they went to the lady and took the papers. Afaf couldn't go because she don't want to find out anything about his past, she doesn't want to. His past does not concern her especially when he married her as a substitute and he is not in love with her but her sister. It always aches when she remembers that but she is trying to accept it as her fate. What has been written for her.

The papers in front of her spread out what that girl did with her husband now when they were dating. Yeah, she was his ex fiancée whom he broke up with after their very first night together out of wedlock. She wasn't a virgin and wanted to tie him with her when she got pregnant but he promised to sue her if she does that and her family aren't strong enough to stand against his so they opt for abortion. It didn't reach to that anyway, they fought and she fell resulting to her miscarrying the baby.

Afaf don't know what to think of this bad past of his. Does she have the jurisdiction to stand and confront him about this or she should just act like she doesn't know about it? That is something she cannot do because her emotions are always at her sleeves, something a lawyer shouldn't have but she cannot help it. He will see it written on her face and she will be seeing him with it till the end of time and if he doesn't ask, she won't talk.

Will that help their marriage work though? He told her they should try working it out and even planned a liaison for them later in the evening but now, she doesn't know if she can do it. How could she? He has been with another woman and that woman confronted her with this confidence that she didn't like. And the fact that she knows about their marriage did not sit well with her. It was a private affair for family not ex fiancée.

What is she to do now? Confront him about it or just let it go and go with the flow of what the future has in store for her? Can she do that though? Let everything go only for it to backfire at the wrong time and place? Maybe she should erase everything from her mind and will herself to start this from the beginning. It'd be better like that!

She got galvanised off her unhealthy thoughts by Labiba's voice. "Don't confront him about it, Afaf. Just let it be what it is and In Shaa Allah everything will be sorted in no time. Give it time." Labiba pressed a comforting hand on her shoulder while glaring at Sumayyah.

"Ahap, I don't believe you. She should talk to him knowing how Afaf is. It will keep eating her up and she won't ever be comfortable with him if that is not out of the way. I need her motivation to ask Salman to send his wards home." Sumayyah shrugged, always the blunt and outspoken one. She speaks what she thinks is right even in front of her parents. That is how she is.

Salman is her boyfriend, she's been on and off about him for awhile now but she is done with school and her friends are married. Not Labiba, she'd be married in two months so she can't be the single one in the gang. She's asked him to send them the day after their graduation but is gingering Afaf into making use of her married life. She said she wanted separate rooms but they convinced her otherwise. They are waiting for news now.

Labiba narrowed her eyes then nodded, she is right. Afaf knew herself more than they do but they've been friends for more than four years to know the girl will talk about it one way or the other so it'd be better if they talk it out. But that woman ruined their signing out, Afaf is not in the mood to get her shirt signed by her fellow course mates. The girl doesn't even school there but she came to ruin their day. Bitch!

"Let's go get our shirts signed." Afaf cheered, standing up from her desk to gather her papers inside her backpack.

The girls grinned widely and stood up, the vibe is back. No one could ruin it for them anyway!

After they got signed all over their white shirts, they made it to a shawarma palace inside the building to eat something before going home. They are actually waiting for Nazir to come then leave in public transports or maybe call their men too? Not really. They want to see Nazir Jalo as their friends husband and not the attorney that came to lecture them about law. This should be fun!

Afaf's phone rang, she checked it to see Nazir calling her. She sighed, she felt that happiness but also nervousness creeping inside of her. She will be living with the man now in the same room as husband and wife when they have so much to find out about one another. Totally not how she expected her married life to be but she won't complain. Her sister is happy, she can sacrifice her own for her sister's which is all that matters.

"Hey?" She answered, her greeting coming off as question. He normally was the first to talk whenever he calls but he is quiet today for some reason and she almost thought he wasn't on the line.

"Hey. I'm inside the school around the law block. Are you there?" His words are thin and emaciated and the first thing that came to her mind was, he saw that woman. Why else?

She closed her eyes picturing the lady trying to seduce Nazir. God, it hurts like bitch! "Can you ask for shawarma's palace? I'm there eating."

"Alright. I'll just ask around." And he hung up, she stared at the phone in confusion. Why is he acting all weird? Is he also nervous about her coming to live with him or what?

Few minutes later, his car rounded the corner and packed right where he saw her, in front of their table. All the student bodies stared at the car -Mitsubish out-lander- then the man that dismounted it, featuring this pearl expensive looking getzner that shone under the sun along with his Omega wristwatch. His feet are clasped with jet black long wing shoes, she can only imagine it's price or who polished it like that. It is also burnishing unlike her unruly self!

"Omo, is this guy getting hotter?" Sumayyah jeered, her mouth hanging open to stare at her friends husband. She could swear he wasn't this fine when he came years ago to lecture them.

"Maybe married to Afaf is doing the job." Labiba giggled, watching as he eat up the space between them, eyes on no one but Afaf. It is as if he caught her eyes the minute he dismounted the car.

When he reached their table, he gave a charming smile and greeted them in that gentlemanly way. His smile is blinding and even Afaf couldn't find the nervousness or rage of finding out he's been with another woman before her. All she could do is stare at him but when he stopped talking to her friends and yawed his attention to her, she blinked profusely and gave a small smile as greeting.

"I'll call you guys." She hugged the two girls, took her bag which Nazir collected from her -earning a blush when the girls awed- and they made it to the car disregarding the attention on them.

"He is her husband!" She heard Sumayyah yelling to the people there. She could only imagine her friend rolling her eyes at their nosiness and hypocrisy. She is done hiding the fact that she is married to him, there is nothing wrong with that. Even the alliance with Amirah wasn't that loud for everyone to know she was a substitute.

"Mom arranged a small family walima for you." He told her, his hands swerving around for a u-turn. They are going to stop at her home for the boxes and take Husna with them.

Afaf felt the nervous flutters inside of her and warmth enveloped her. "Oh, cool." She acted it off as the aforementioned word.

Afaf bid Husna's grandparents good bye and they took Husna with her small luggage for a sleepover with her new friend Heyam -Nazir's youngest sister- which Afaf had to interfere for the old woman to agree. She's been nervous since their kidnapping but Afaf assured her of the girl's safety. They can have someone bring her back home tomorrow safe and sound. They all need a bit break from people and their surrounding anyway.

Their arrival back to her own house, she's been there once when she was supposed to see Amirah's house but the place is now hers. There are cars outside the lot packed and she has a hunch who these people are so she got down from the car with Husna and together the three of them made their way to the house. Her steps are nervous as she relax a little on Husna for support knowing her mother in-law and whole family are in there waiting for them.

But she felt welcomed!

Heck, they are very welcoming and especially his mother who won't permit her to sit by without eating. The whole family is there, her role model Haruna Isah Jalo, his family also there with him and Nazir's siblings. His younger brother is eying Husna and she is not liking it, she feels possessive over the girl. How could a twenty six year old be staring at seventeen year old? To her, that is child abuse but she didn't say anything.

He was actually very nice too, serving her Chapman and stuff. Her face ache from smiling a lot throughout the dinner. His siblings didn't do anything stupid, like mentioning Amirah or the failed alliance. She won't be able to take the humiliation, honestly.

When everyone left, she is back alone in the clean house -courtesy of her mother in-law's maids- with her husband staring at the television. She didn't get to go around the house but sitting there with him makes her want to strangle him and hug him at the same time. They've never been physical except when he came to visit her after the kidnap looking all worried and held her hand in his when she woke up. Aunt Azima said he was there with her the whole time.

"Do you have something to say?" She jumped at the sound of his voice, lost in her thought.

"Why?"

He shrugged. "You look like you have a lot to say, feel free."

"Your ex fiancée came to me today and told me about your innuendoes." She blurted out, not even knowing what she's said because she didn't want to. Why, oh why? Her mouth will land her in trouble everyday.

He narrowed his eyes at her, his nose flaring but she couldn't read his emotions. He sighed after a few seconds and told her what has happened. They never did have sex with one another and she is going around lying with his name, she had fake proofs that she has been using against him. He took her to court few days ago and sue her for what she's done. She stopped that but seems like his warning didn't reach out.

"But in everything you've said, you forced me to marry you when Imad never threatened Amirah's safety. Why?" She crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly angry at him.

He scratched his head, looking out of words and guilty. She stood up and left him sitting there, went in search of a room she could sleep in. There is no way she is going to be with that man in the same room now. He lied to her to get them married because he wants to save his family's reputation! He is a selfish man and he does not have a place in her heart. She might just ask for divorce in a few days now. Their relationship's roots are based on lies!

Nazir felt guilty but at that moment, that was all he could do. He rushed to follow his wife, not wanting her mad at him for some odd reasons. He found her unlocking their bedroom and grinned only for it to fall when she crushed the door close. He was quick to open it and enter before she could latch the lock, the woman is one fierce one.

"I'm so sorry." He leaned close, pushing her back against the door so she cannot run away from him while he talks.

"Sorry for what exactly?" Her eyes are glazing over at him because fury would be an understatement.

"For everything. I lied to you about that because I cannot lose you after I've lost Amirah and there is no other girl I would want to be with other than you. I'm not saying this to make me look good but that is the truth. You are her sister and I know you can be her or better than her and I promise you, I've moved on from her. She is a married woman, I don't know how but the thought of me loving her doesn't appeal me anymore. Maybe because she is married? Believe me, I swear I like you. I don't want to go through another phase of looking for a wife when you were involved. I didn't fight of Imad because I didn't want to lose you, I could've done that but I didn't. That is not because of my family's reputation, I swear on it." His palms are holding her elbow, Afaf is paralysed there.

She has no words for this man in front of her so when he leaned down and took her lips with his, she welcomed the distraction only to close her eyes willing herself to relish her first kiss. Her hand swept to his arms while his removed her head tie to massage her aching head, as if he knows she isn't feeling much good. Unlike Amirah, she has longer hair just not too longer but good for doughnut when styled.

She felt giddy, flutters in her stomach increase with each passing second and she find herself aligning her body closer to his if that's possible. They are literally merged together now.

"We should wait." He breathed on her lips, moving away from her because things are escalating.

"Yeah." She blushed, using her fingers to trim down her hair.

Ah, the secret is next chapter wallah. I don't want to update😹

Maybe tomorrow in the afternoon? It's going to be a busy day but pray I get to edit today. Dandandan, it is time! *drumrolls!

Juma'at Karim!!