ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

"You think you can now get dressed because you are able to have compromise me?" Fatima walked into their room with a mocha three tiered food serving trolley ladened with their breakfast -pancakes, waffles, bottle of apple syrup, two cups of coffee, sausages, ham with honeyed mustard Mayo. She stopped the wheels beside the bed on a table they've brought up from the living room close to the couch in the room.

Ahmad yawed around to look at his bedraggled wife in her rosewood yoga pants and coral cotton shirt that's changed color after many visits to the laundry. Like every time, Fatima manage to take his breath away yet again even with her disheveled self. Her hair flying all around, her face rid of any artificial makeup except for the slimy oily thing she's applied on her face -savor beauty organic anti-acne kit she's bought. She stood beside the trolley and busied herself with unloading it like she didn't stop him from wearing his shirt. His heart ached at the sight of her working for him, trying and making it.

For the last few days, a week to be precise, she's taken it upon her to help him from the hospital till they finally got back home four days ago. She will help with his bath, dressing him up and even arranging the room because he said he doesn't like filth and disarray. Ahmad was shocked to say the least when she asked him to sit on the bed while she arrange the bed back to it's perfect order. She didn't ask for anyone's help which is another Fatima's behavior, her pride won't let her. She didn't do it well but she's tried, there is no doubt this is her first time making a bed.

"You should've asked me to help you. The edges should be tucked inside the bed not folded underneath." He gulped then when she pivoted around and shoot him a glare that had him raising both hands up in surrender, wincing at the pain that jolted from his chest during the process.

After unloading everything, she sashayed to where he is standing beside the bathroom door and took the shirt he is about to wear. She helped snug his arms into the sleeves of the shirt then button it all the way down with routine efficiency. Ahmad could only survey her bent head then bend down some more to take a whiff of the scent of her hair.

She straightened up unexpectedly and bump into his jaw, she winced with a grimace and glare up at him. "Why are you always bumping and hitting people? Seems like you are getting more and more clumsy. Now come let's have breakfast, I'm starving."

Ahmad sulked, she didn't give him any morning kiss neither had she said anything sweet to him the whole morning, that that he should've expected something like this from Fatima. She won't be that cliche sort of type which makes her his perfect woman. He followed her wordlessly to the couch and sat down close to her just to smell her some more. God, what is wrong with him now acting like a pregnant wanton woman? He cleared his throat and shift away, yawing his attention back to the breakfast in front of him. Nothing moved him, he wants the person sitting beside him.

Something is different today about Fatima but Ahmad wants to think that she is just being her grumpy self. He's noticed that once in a while, she gets moody and refuse to talk to anyone and when he asked why she does that, she told him she's always been like that. Sometimes she hates the sight of everyone around her while the next second she is clingy and in need of excessive attention. Whenever she gets into that mood, he keeps his distance till he is sure she is back to her old self then harangue her. It usually happens in the morning too, drawn in her shell for a few hours.

They've continued their Quran memorization, Fatima pumping up more ginger as if she is planning something. She's given him the whole Al-Imraan few days ago, he only get to ask her to repeat two to three times when he's thought she's made a mistake but in reality, he couldn't believe that she is bringing the whole Surah from her head. The sudden seriousness filled him with pride because with the phase she is moving, she'd complete the whole Quran in just a few weeks. How he wished he's memorized the holy book off-head so he can compete with her but sadly, he knew he cannot do it now. Not because it's too late but because his memory isn't fresh and new, too many things are fixated there.

After their breakfast, Fatima packed away everything and went to the bathroom to take bath. Ahmad grumpily went back to bed and lie down, he's been doing that a lot lately not having anything to do and given a month's leave from work to recover. Fatima has been entertaining, there was never a dull moment with her during his whole stay at home. His mother had come yesterday to see him with Zafaar who cried that he doesn't want to leave his brother but had to leave. Fatima and his mother in the same room... well, that's total disaster!

They didn't exchange words between them but the tension was palpable, the atmosphere awkward and maladroit. Ahmad was confused at first then remembered his mother's dislike for Fatima and Fatima's dislike for his mother because of what she's done to her aunt. He didn't try getting them to like each other, it's something he won't do. If they want, they can do it themselves to avoid further awkward moments whenever they are together but for his sake, he won't ask them to do what they are not comfortable with. As long as none of them will cause any problem, he is cool.

Adda mama... she's been doting all over him since the incident, asking about his favorite food, dessert, ice cream flavor, drinks and so on. She grew a bit distant after they came back from the hospital but when they were there, she hovers all over him like the mother she is. Maybe she thought of giving them a little time to themselves which they need. Ahmad and Fatima have a lot to talk about but it seems like none of them is ready to open up just yet. He doesn't mind telling her about his past, there is nothing out of ordinary about it anyway.

Fatima walked out just then, shivering and clutching his large towel around her. She walked to the walk-in closet without any flirtatious glance or words which further irritated him. He couldn't talk, not wanting to trigger her mood for any reason but he'd be lying if he said he isn't annoyed. Not able to take his mood and calm his raging and racing mind, he stood up and made his way to the closet, leaned against the door and crossed his ankles. He eyed her as she walked around the place in search of what to wear.

Feeling his eyes on her, she meandered around with furrowed brows and raise her brow in question. Leaning one shoulder against the door in a relaxed pose, he cut a commanding figure. Everything about him, from the arrogant tilt of his head to the physical confidence of his posture, bespoke the result of generations of aristocratic prosperous breeding. Fatima experienced an overpowering urge to sneak up to him and poke him in some ticklish place. She would have loved to make him roar with annoyance at that moment but she is not in the mood at the same time.

"Are you moody?" He snaked up behind her, his arm weaved to her waist, head inclined to her head as he sniffed her recently washed skin.

Fatima is moody and she hates that it happens when she felt that something is going to go wrong. She is not the least bit superstitious but she can't help the feeling of helplessness at not able to detect what could go wrong. She is in her home with her husband, her aunt and cousin left the house to go get more groceries, what could possibly go wrong. Maybe she should stop worrying herself or more acnes will appear all over her face. "I'm done being moody now."

She continued to browse through her outfits in his room and settle on 1975 patchwork jeans with candy smock shirt. Ahmad didn't let go of her for a single second.

"Because all I want to do now is spoon you and go back to sleep. The weather is a bit pleasant, don't you think." At that comment, Fatima meandered to look at him with both brows raised upwards. She knew that is not what he is going to do, his sheepish expression gave him away.

She shook her head and went back to hunt for under wears, Ahmad won't be the death of her. "You cannot persuade me with those words, I'm too clever for that. And... I like straightforwardness if you haven't noticed. Coming here and dragging things won't change my mind that we are going to take a walk around the backyard for good thirty minutes. You've been scooped up like a doll baby inside the room, you should've asked me to get you out of it but no, you'd rather keep flirting and nibbling like a philanderer."

Ahmad frowned, this woman should learn how to be romantic for real. With his face muffled, he pursed his lips and let her go. "That wasn't what you were supposed to say. You always never say what I want you to." He huffed, raked a hand through his now full hair.

Her mouth dropped to the floor in exaggeration. "How could you?" Then she rolled her eyes and decided to push him out of the closet to get dressed. Yes, she is suddenly shy to dress in front of him husband or not. "I'm not supposed to be saying what you expect me to, now out you go."

"That's what women do to please their husbands, take lessons from them." He called out from the room after she's successfully pushed him out.

Fatima rolled her eyes again, that man is impossible. She can't chose whether she likes this side of him that is flirty or the other one filled with attitude she cannot stand. It doesn't mean he's stopped with his nonchalance and sassy replies, oh no... if possible, he's managed to heighten and sharpen his tongue with them.

"I don't want to learn, it's either you have me the way I am or you leave. Period!" She called out, slinging her arms into the loops of her bra. There was no reply from him so she focused on getting dressed without disturbance.

Like she's said, they both made it downstairs and to the backyard. She's added a hoodie on her outfit and so did Ahmad who kept swearing and wincing the whole time. Fatima is not sure whether the wound is really paining him, he seem to be exaggerating it needlessly, she didn't comment though. Her look of suspicion didn't escape his eyes, he only gave her a bemused gaze.

They sat down on the grass carpet and face the array of full tall trees. Fatima snuggled into him and close their legs with a cloak, the weather is a bit chilly and not pleasant like Ahmad had said. She snuggled into him, her arms circling his narrow waist. Ahmad's back lie supine against the bark of a tree, his own arms around her shoulders, keeping her head on his chest. The wound only sting but hurts when he exhaust his limbs, he just enjoy seeing Fatima's eyes filled with worry at every sound of discomfort. He shouldn't be doing that, sure but when it comes to Fatima, you need that to see how human she is. That is the only way to get her emotions and he is trying to get her to be comfortable with her own emotions open.

"You should give Adda mama a chance, she is trying too hard that it's making me nauseous." Fatima blurted after a long while, the comfortable silence sliced by her voice.

Ahmad frowned, thinking about how Adda mama is trying too hard to get his attention. Sometimes she will look like Fatima in the attention seeking act while other time Fatima will glare at the older woman and comment on her effort dryly. The relationship between them is purely friendly and he always wonder why she didn't go with her aunt and stay there instead of living with her monstrous father. Raheeb would've been a great older brother figure but he couldn't shake off the feeling that had she lived with them, she would've been married to him by now. There is no looking deep in the way they interact, a romantic relationship would've easily sprouted out. What a relief, it would've been a disaster meeting Fatima as his half brother's wife!

He's never hated her and that fact shook him when he acknowledged it. She was just an obsession after the way she's easily dismissed him like a sleaze dog barking for attention back then in her college. She had obsessed him from the first moment he had seen her. There was no logical reason for it, she wasn't extraordinary. Her skin was the first thing that attracted him, it was shining underneath the sun, so dark and pretty like burned chocolate. Then her depleted eyes that were so empty and deprived, lonely and tired.

"I will give her a chance, I have no choice anyway. Why is her effort making you nauseous?" He grinned knowing fully well why it's making her nauseous. Fatima is not used to so much people around talk less of them showing too much sweet and attention on one another.

She rolled her eyes, pinched his waist. "As if you don't know. You are Mr. I-know-it-all so you definitely understand how nauseating it is watching her display so much affection. She knows I don't like it which is why she tame it whenever I'm around. She's seen me grimacing countless times, it was that bad that I couldn't help it. How could she start crying because you are in pain? Seriously?" She laughed amidst a grimace, it was a sight she never wish to see.

How could the great Zainab Babagana cry because the doctor said Ahmad was in so much pain after he mistakenly hit the wound in the bathroom? Fatima left the room immediately so she won't swallow so much annoyance. Raheeb was also shocked at that, but he had to stay to console his mother that it was nothing serious. Fatima thought the woman was not in her right state of mind because what?! All her seriousness and businesslike facade for nothing? Oh, Fatima despise seeing emotions rolling all around especially sweet ones that could diagnose someone with diabetes.

Ahmad chuckled, the sound vibrating on her head. "Thank God I was not awake then. I'm not too into emotions but when it comes to you, I can't help wanting to see you exhibit them. You are always so blank that I'm afraid you will turn to a statue along the way." He was not kidding, she could hear the seriousness laced in his mirthful voice.

Fatima sighed, she is trying though. She cannot help hiding away in her shell just when she's started getting too comfortable. She is not used to it, she will have to use her own method and fight through it like she's always done. Being lonely and alone for so long gave her the strength and talent to hide her emotions. "I'm just used to it that's why."

He shook his head at that even though she cannot see it. "Not used to it, you don't want to look vulnerable. I admire you spirit, head strong nature, sharp tongue and strong-willed but I can't help wishing you can be more human once in awhile, that is how to start it. Baby steps. You can be vulnerable with me, tired and even afraid, I won't judge you nor think you've lost all your power and charm. You will forever be that quaintrelle to me. Just let them out whenever you feel them, we can battle with them together, you need to fear not. A little change in you will be welcomed, you are becoming boring anyway."

Fatima unceremoniously raise her head from his chest to look at him with a sharp glare. He's just used such aureate that she felt her heart melting away only for him to hit her like always. "I will have you know that I'm never boring. If anyone is boring here, that should be you!" She pressed her forefinger on his chest for emphasis.

Ahmad gave a lazy grin and brought her back to his chest, he liked how she fits in and how warm she is all the time, a shield against cold. "I'm just kidding." He removed her head tie to massage her scalp earning a purr from Fatima. "You make other drama queens look like peasants."

"Yeah, my life have drama than a lorry filled with drag queens." Ahmad laughed hard at that because that's the truth and she knows that. "You have an exquisite laugh." She grinned when she felt him still underneath her before adding. "That's me expressing myself and you are already shocked... tsk tsk tsk."

"I thought you were mocking me." He defended, his smile widening when she groaned at their hopeless situation.

"You see why it is better for us to be the way we are? We'd think the other is mocking us since we are not used to saccharine, odoriferous and honeyed words. I'd rather you be nonchalant all the time but if you dare do that when I'm trying to practice my flirting skills, I'll murder you." She chimed, tracing her fingers around his chest.

"Maybe you are right. But still, be as emotional as you can be and don't be expressive, I'd get shock." He kissed the top of her head, his mouth lingering. "Like that, more action."

"Pervert." She whispered with a grin and snuggle closer into him. "Tell me a story."

Ahmad kept quiet, his hands in her hair stilling for a bit before he replied. "How about I tell you everything related to my past? You've heard half of it anyway, the other half won't hurt."

Next chapter is gonna be lit because this book is about to take another turnnnnnn🤌🏿 comment well and I'll uodate two more😂❤️