#FewWords
Don't wait for perfect circumstances. They don't exist in this world. Do your best today. Don't wish it away by waiting for better days to come. Trust the Almighty to give you what's best.  Remember, He will always provide. Keep obeying Him and your blessings will follow!

RECAP

That was how Hammad and Nasir kept on blabbering while the security personnel just turned from this side to the other. When he got tired, he had just allow them leave.

"Damn, this girl can sleep like a log" Hammad complained after 15 minutes of knocking and she didn't open the door.

"Let me call her" Nasir suggested

"Open the door" Nasir said immediately she picked up.

"What are you two doing here?" She gnashed her teeth as she made way for them to go in.

Hammad and Nasir just smiled

"Well, we came to help you, help youuuu, prepare for your presentation, yes, your presentation" Nasir blabbered

"Yes...yes, that's true" Hammad raised his hands up and dropped them back

Salma just stared at them.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Sakma's POV

I stared at them because I knew they were both lying, Nasir looked around my room looking for an excuse before he answered my question, Hammad's response is even worse than Nasir's. I locked the door and sat down opposite the two of them, they both a "don't ask another question smile".

"Soooo..." Hammad started 

"how far have you gone with your..."

"I'm almost done just a few things left" I answered his question before he even asked me

"Do you guys need something?" I asked them again, it was obvious they needed something

I tried to get a reason why they were in my room at this hour but it wasn't successful so i just left them, at the end, their presence really helped me a lot. My presentation would be among the best, I just know it.

"Wake up you lazy bag of chips" I shook Nasir for the third time.

I didn't sleep, i found the room uncomfortable, how can I sleep in a room with two male friends, our friendship isn't even up to five months yet. It's understandable, any girl in my position will know.

Hammad didn't want to sleep too, it was clear but he had because no one can cheat nature.

It's 4am but I want them to leave my room because I hate complications and I can't possibly do anything in the bathroom when they are here, when I realized they won't wake up anytime soon I went straight to the bathroom and filled a bowl with water.

"It's rainingggg" Nasir mumbled half asleep

"I'm awake, it's okay" Hammad woke up

After a few minutes they were all awake, eyes open.

"It's past 4am, you need to leave so I'd get myself ready" I sat down on the bed and looked at them.

"How will we leave?" Hammad asked Nasir

"The same way you came back here" I answered his question

"Lame, Salma, lame" Hammad walked to the door

"We didn't tell her" Hammad immediately stopped as if Nasir told him to stop

"What are you talking about?" I asked them, clearly I was curious, what are they talking about?

"Well, listen...hmm, don't take any drink from anyone, any Waiter or friend" Hammad turned and looked at me

"What do you mean friends? You three are the only friends I have, the rest are just colleagues and you know that" I walked to my drawer, what do they mean by that, how can they tell me such a thing.

"It's for your safety, someone is..."

"No one, nothing, just don't take anything please" Hammad said

"Wait, what's the time now?" Nasir asked

"It's 2 minutes to 5am" Hammad answered him

"Let's fast, tomorrow is Monday..." Hammad and I just looked at Nasir, it's like he's crazy

"...yeesss, let's fast and pray to Allah for victory in our game" Nasir made things clear.

"I don't like this idea Nasir, I have a presentation and..."

"Just try please, it's a good thing.. "

THIRD PERSON'S POV
It wasn't very easy to convince Salma to fast but after a few minutes she was convinced.

Hammad and Nasir went to their room without much trouble from the security personnels.

"Wow, they look so handsome"

"Hmmmm"

Comments like this and more was what girls were saying when Jackson, Hammad and Nasir walked into the hall meant for the presentation.

"I feel shy dude" Jackson started laughing

It was clear he was just whining around.

"Wait till these girls find out we are all players of our school football team" Jackson whispered into Nasir's ear

"Oh please Mr Jack, you guys are old players, I'm the new one here" Nasir playfully bumped his body on Jackson's body which as a result, almost made Salma who was briskly walking into the hall trip.

"See you guys later, I'll be sitting in that section, that's where I was instructed to sit" Salma talked so fast that if one wasn't looking at her lip, they won't know what she was blabbering about.

"Why there?" Jackson asked but Salma had already left them

"Well, only the representative of the school for today's presentation are meant to sit there" Hammad pointed at an empty spot in the hall

"Hmm, what's uppp, it's a day away, hope you are readayyyyy" Jackson fist bumped a player he just met the previous night, he was well built, looked like he plays well.

"What?" He asked Hammad and Nasir who looked at him weirdly

"I was just trying to get a rhyme scheme dudesss" he laughed and sat down quietly.

"You are smart Nasir, you just prevented something huge from happening to Salma, I don't know how she'd have reacted if anything happened to her" Jackson who was told about everything that happened in the night commented.

"The list of Activities on the Agenda isn't even much" Hammad stared at the papers that were shared to everyone

"It's a good thing, we'd finish in no time and have time to do something else" Jackson beamed

The event started immediately the chairman of the day arrived, he arrived at the right time, that is a good thing because it shows how punctual he is. It's such a bad thing when special guests arrive late at an event that they know more or less won't be possible without them. Some people even go to the extent of not apologising for been late, they just go straight and sit down as if nothing happened.

The opening prayer was done by a Christian and to be frank, he really respected the fact that not only Christians were present, he used the general praying perspective and it's a good thing. He must be a renowned Person that knows the in and out of different religions for him to approach the opening prayer the way he did.

The chairman's speech was one of the best speeches, he made a quote during his speech that made 95% of the people present in the hall node their heads slowly in agreement to what he said, people including students, guests, teachers etc.

There were a few other intellectual activities, the students were engrossed. From the looks on their faces, they all were enjoying them, the host school had a drama too.

"I'm sure you all must have enjoyed yourselves...can I hear a yes...yes...yes" he pointed the mic to the audience and they all shouted an excitement yes

"That's just a pinch of the main thing for today's event, the school Representatives, get yourself ready please" He walked back and forth

"You are welcome Mr..." That's how he started calling each representative of the school's present at the event

They were students representing their schools, of which only 2 were girls.

While a representative of the third school was giving his speech, a boy that sat down at the back of Salma laughed and whispered to another student beside him

"This girl is going to mess up, I know it" he laughed again

"How do you know? Well, it's obvious, look at her appearance" the second student chuckled

"It's remaining just 3 schools to go and we all know that at this event, there's just one winner, so far, we all sincerely know that these students have outdone themselves, the judges will have a hard time choosing the best" the MC was back on stage

The audience nodded their heads, truly the students were spectacular!

"The second school's representative is a whole vibe, he's really good in what he does" Hammad whispered

"Yeah, he carried the audience along, it's just one winner and runner ups" Jackson replied

Nasir was looking at the section Salma was sitting.

"Nasir, do you want to swallow the poor girl" Jackson laughed

"Stop, I don't like this, we are just friends please, I'm just waiting for any Waiter to take a drink to that direction and the person will be in hot soup" Nasir said, his eyes still staring

"That's true" Hammad supported him

"I think they'd try to drug her at the last minute"Jackson pointed out a possiblity

"Yeahhh, that's true, there are two more schools after this school, our school is the second to the last school" Nasir changed his eye direction when he felt an intense stare at his back, he looked back and his eyes met Jax's, beside him were a few girls and Brenda who was clearly not paying attention to what was going on around him.

Jax plastered a smirk on his face, then he raised his hand making a peace sign with his fingers.

"Look at that guy, look at him" Hammad tapped Nasir when he saw a waiter offer Salma a drink.

"Jackson, get up... Hammad, just stay here" Nasir uttered as he quickly got up and walked to where Salma was sitting.

"I don't want the drink, I'm fasting" Salma calmly said

The waiter went on to continue telling her she needs the drink, it was clear he was trying to force her to take the drink.

"She said she's fasting" Jackson gnashed his teeth, he was about 50cm away from them when he said that.

The waiter was alarmed when he saw Jackson walk directly to where he was. He tried to walk backwards but he bumped into Nasir who came from the back. Nasir stood tall and looked at him with a smile showing his dimples.

Salma looked at the two of them, confusion was clearly written on her face.

Jackson just smiled at her and followed Nasir who has already walked out of the hall with the waiter.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to..." The waiter started but he was interrupted by Nasir

"Who sent you?" he gnashed his teeth and was dangerously in a calm posture.

"No one, no one sent me" the glass cup in his hand fell down and the content spilled on the floor. The shatter of the glass cup got attention to them because they weren't in a much secluded spot.

"Let's go" Nasir strengthen up and walked away leaving the waiter standing.

"I hope all is well" Hammad whispered

"Partially, Just chill..." Nasir said

"It's Salma's presentation now, listen up" Jackson tapped Nasir.

"Good day..." Salma started her presentation, her dove eyes were fixed on her laptop, she had no smile on her face, the seat at the podium must be really happy one of the most intelligent students is making a great use of it. she was attentively doing what she was good at.

She used her hands to demonstrate once in a moment during her presentation.

She raised her head from the PC and her eyes fell on Nasir as if the eyes were directed to do so.

Nasir's eyes were fixed on her all the while, so their eyes immediately met and a smile was plastered on Nasir's face, he didn't look away but in 2 seconds she broke the contact.

"I'd love to get access to the projector" Salma's request roared through the speaker.

In a few seconds, a connection was made between her PC and the projector.

"What does she want to do?" Hammad couldn't keep quiet because she never told them she'd use the projector to display anything.

"Well, let's see" Nasir narrowed his eyes.

After about 3 minutes, Salma succeeded in changing the mood of the entire hall, applauds were made for her. No student used her method of presentation.

"Those pictures are amazing pictures of the school's achievement u know" Nasir said

"Yh, they are" Hammad replied

"Wow, wow this young lady has already given herself the award" the MC of the event said and the entire audience burst into laughter.

The last school's presentation wasn't a threat to Salma, the boy didn't really put in much efforts.

"And the winner of this year's..."The MC started

"After much consideration from the judges, you should know that the audience can't determine the winner, the winner isn't who you think it is". He continued, his tone changed with the automatic change of the atmosphere into a thick and tense environment.

"You see, one thing about presentations is, the content..."

"Call the winner!!" The audience couldn't take his suspense anymore.

"Salma Ahmad" the entire hall was in applauds for her

"Woooo, woooo" a few of Salma's schoolmates shouted

"Congratulations, I'm really happy for you" a random girl congratulated Salma, they shook hands and the girl left.

"Hello young lady" Salma felt a hot breath from her back and a thick voice immediately followed

"What the bananas is fudging wrong with you?" Salma turned while shouting and a few number of people around immediately looked at their direction.

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End of Chapter 22, thank you so much for your reads and don't forget to vote, comment and share.

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This is late but Eid Mubarak Muslim Watty friends💗