She wore his sunglasses and looked at him before she spoke, "how do I look?" She asked. He chuckled a bit and gave her a thumbs up with his free hand. "You look beautiful, as always."

They were currently relaxing on the pool side of the hotel. Aydah was sitting far away from them and FaceTiming one of her top ten lovers. Maryam and Mahmud has been chit chatting nonstop. He was drowning deeper into the ocean of Maryam's love. Their bond and relationship had grown stronger and deeper.

When their eyes lock, the soft expressions of only a few days ago have evaporated. Mahmud holds her gaze, but instead of the warmth of a lover it is with an icy hostility. She crack a joke about it all being a "strange staring contest" and she giggles, her face impassive but tilted back a little so she's literally looking down on him. After a few seconds she turns her head to the pool, eyes just as still; then she speaks with the same angelic tone, "I even wanted to ask you something since we came. Does your father know about this trip or it's just Umma?" She asked the question he least expected. His mouth agape, "oh! Yes he knows about, totally," he responded. She could tell something was wrong but shrugged off.

"If you need me, I'll be in our room," Aydah interrupted their lovey dovey moment. Maryam blushed and nodded. After she left, they continued to talk and sometimes stare at each other. "So I've come to find out that aydah literally does not like hanging out with us," Maryam spoke, perplexed. Her veil fall of her head and he slowly reached out his hand and fixed it back for her.

The fresh grassy green color swirled into a hazel brown as he gazed at her. As she stared she could feel herself become hypnotized by the changing colors. He smiled and spots of gold danced in his irises and grew to swallow the blue... He knew she didn't love him back, but he couldn't resist. She was completely unprepared. You would think that after all the hours she spent with mahmud- watching him talk, laugh and smile - that She would know all there was to know about his lips. But She hadn't imagined how warm they would feel pressed up against her own. She panicked and pushed him away.

She scrambled up, gasping for air. "What is wrong with you guys? Why are you both using me? Wha- why would you do that?"

"No Manha, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't mean to kiss you....." she shook her head shifting backwards. "Manha No!" Before he could warn her, she fell into the pool. She opened her eyes in shock, as she was falling. Her perception of time distorted, everything slowed down until there was nothing. "Manha?" He called out panicking.

She swimmed out of the pool coughing. "Manha, please just let me explain. I swear, I do not know what came over me....." The world turned into a blur, and so did all the sounds. The taste. The smell. Everything was just gone. She paused trying to hold back the strange feelings rumbling inside her but she couldn't. A lone tear traced down her cheek, and just like that, the floodgates opened. So many tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down her face. Her chin trembled as if she was a small child. She breathed heavier than She ever had before. She was gasping for air that simply wasn't there. Her throat burned forming a silent scream. A part of her dying inside yet, relief...

He handed her a towel to cover herself because she was shivering but she snapped at him and walked away to their room. She hugged her body as she walked fast to the room. She barged into the room and rushed to the bathroom with tear-stained face. Aydah rushed to the door and knocked. "Maryam? What happened? Why are you soaking wet? What's wrong? Why are you crying? Speak to me please."

Maryam sniffed, wiping her tears. She regretted going on the trip. She regretted trusting him. All she wanted that minute was to close her eyes, open and see her at home close to her mother. New sets of tears rolled down as she replayed what happened. 'He brought me here to use me. They're all the same!' She mused to herself.

She removed her wet clothes and wrapped a white fluffy towel. "Maryam? Please what's going on? You're scaring me, just come out let's talk." Aydah spoke softly. Maryam hesitated before unlocking the door. She embraced Aydah as new tears rolled down her cheeks. "It's okay Maryam," she soothed. A soft knock came at the door and Maryam quickly let go of her and rushed back into the bathroom and locked it.

Aydah was confused. She opened the door to see her brother holding Maryam's veil. "Where's Manha? I want to speak with her," he said quickly, peeping into the room. "Yaya I... I don't know what's wrong she just locked herself in the bathroom."

He came into the room and slowly knocked on the door, "Manha please let's talk about this. I swear I did not mean to do that to you. I would never do anything to hurt you," he explained. His heart was beating fast against his ribcage. He was afraid of losing his soulmate. "Please Manha I'm sorry. It's me, your mahmud. Allah knows I did not bring you here to use you. What I did was totally stupid and not forgivable but please.... I know you'd find it in your heart to forgive me."

Her wails increased as she hugged her knees not wanting to hear his voice. She was even scared to look at him in the face now. She felt dejected and betrayed. Maybe Mujahid is even better than him. "Just leave me alone!" She screamed out. He heaved a sigh, resting his forehead on the door. He shoved his into his pocket and brought out the ring he bought for her yesterday on their tour.

He put it back and looked at His sister Aydah pitied him. She didn't know what happened between them but she knew whatever it was, her brother felt remorseful about it. He looked guilty.

••

"This is unbelievable! I am very disappointed in you Halima! How can you allow them to do such stupidity?" Alhaji Muhammad shrieked at Umma enraged. She sat there feeling miserable. Mujahid sat beside his father feeling satisfied for what he did. His plan was going just the way he planned.

"Alhaji, we both know who Mahmud...."

"Shut up! How can you be so careless about this and let them do whatever they want to? Is she his Muharram?"

"But Alhaji, Mahmud is not a small kid anymore." He glared at her infuriated and hissed. "Give me the  number he uses there," he instructed. Hajiya obeyed and left the living room.

"Whatever you're doing you better stop and board the next flight to Nigeria!" Alhaji cut the call and called Maryam's father to ask if he knew about what was going on. He got more irked when he found out that her father too does not have a clue about what was going on because he was also out of town.

Mahmud on the other hand sat on his bed thinking about what to do. He haven't solved what happened between him and His Manha now his father has learned about their trip. He heaved a sigh and dragged his laptop to make arrangements for the jet.

Meanwhile Maryam was still asleep, when Mahmud came in and told them they were leaving tonight. He wanted to speak with her but he knew she was still angry with him. She hated him!

Aydah packed their things, while she was still sleeping. Aydah looked at her friend sleeping. She looked pale and disturbed. Slowly, Maryam opened her eyes. She sat upright, massaging her temple. "Good Morning, how are you feeling?" Aydah spoke softly at her. She sat beside Maryam on the bed. Maryam gave her a small smile and nodded.

"We're leaving tonight. I've already packed our things!" Maryam gave her a questioning. "I also don't know why. He came here few minutes ago and told me to get out things ready. Please, whatever it is, you guys should settle it. He looked so restless when he came in here. He's very worried about you."

Maryam scoffed, getting off the bed and headed into the bathroom to freshen up. Aydah shook her head and let her be. Whatever it is she knew they'll settle things. She grabbed the intercom to order breakfast for them.

It was a bit after five in the evening when they arrived at the airport. The jet was already ready for their flight to Nigeria. Mahmud was dead worried about what was coming next. He knew their parents must be angry with them. Maryam still doesn't know about it. He couldn't get the courage to tell her because she'd hate him more if she finds out he lied about their fathers knowing about the trip. He kept stealing glances at her. She was looking out through the window, lost in her own thoughts. He heaved a sigh and relax his back on the soft sofa.

He has completely ruined their beautiful story. He heaved another tiring sigh and massaged the bridge of his nose. He looked at her same time she raised her eyes and looked at him. Her heart did a back flip as she stared at his eyes full of hopes. His eyes says so much. Guilt, Regret and heartbroken. She looked away avoid herself from shedding tears.

As soon as they landed in Abuja, they boarded a flight to Bauchi. It was a hectic flight from Bora Bora to Abuja. They landed safely in Bauchi. Mahmud knew his father would never send someone to get them. He called his friend ahmad to take them home. The drive home was a bit long but they got home safely. Alhaji Muhammad was furiously waiting for them to come in.

Aydah knew what was happening. "Good evening Baba," Mahmud greeted while kneeling down. "Mahmud I'm highly disappointed in you! How could you do such stupidity. Something that is not right in our religion. Don't even bring aydah into this!" He seethed. Mahmud hung his head low while he listened to his father. "You still have no excuse for what you did! If not because her father is a good brother to me, only God knows what he would've done! He would have even taken us to court for this your foolish act!"

"Listen very carefully! The next time I'm going to hear such nonsense consider yourself disowned! Now get out of my sight!"

"Baba..."

"I said get out!" He yelled again. Mahmud gently rosed up and sauntered out of the house hoping Maryam is okay.

••

Her father angrily landed a hot slap on her cheek, making her to collapse on the carpet. She held her cheek tearing up. Her mother sat on the sofa, also crying together with her daughter. She knew her husband was a no nonsense man. "Don't think because you're the only child I have means you can do whatever stupidity you want to! I cannot take such thing in my home! Are you stupid! Follow a man, not even to somewhere close but all the way out of Nigeria! Look, I can't waste my time blabbering but if you joke with me you will leave my house and I'll seize all your credentials!"

"And for you! Wallahi the next time I'm going to hear another thing happens, you'll face my wrath!" Tears blurred her vision as Daddy stormed out of the living room. Mommy knelt beside her and hugged her. She loved her daughter more than anything. She was her only child, she had to protect her with all her life. "Mommy I'm so sorry," Maryam hiccuped. "Shh it's okay, Maryam. This is not your fault. If I didn't allow you to go anywhere you wouldn't be in this situation. I'm deeply sorry my dear! Your father is just angry but he loves you, okay? Don't you dare think of anything negative." Her mother consoled still hugging her daughter.

The feelings that was once love whenever she thought about him has reversed to hatred. She hated him for what he did to her. He used her to get his way. He used her to get what she was most pride of. He was worse than his elder brother. She sat there in her mother's arms cursing him. That moment she ended their friendship for Good!