Zainab was having dinner with her Dad, Mum, and 3 siblings.
"Khadija pass me the mayonnaise please." Zainab said to her 12 year old sister.
"Ok." Khadija said and gave her sister her request. They continued eating in silence until their Dad wiped his mouth with a serviette and spoke.
"I'm going to your Aunt's house in kinkinau. Who's coming with me?" His eyes darted round the table.
"I'm cool." Yaya Ameer their 18 year old brother said.
"No, thank you." Zainab said and headed to her room.
"Till you come back Baba." Khadija said and followed her sister.
"Baba ka gaishe su." (Baba greet them). Abdullah said and picked his iPad.
Their Dad now turned to their Mother.
"Since the kids are not going then I'm also not coming with." She shrugged. "Send my regards. She then left to her room.
Yaya Ameer and Abdullah laughed."Women." Their Dad muttered shaking his head. He picked his car keys and left.
*********
Zainab was reading a book in wattpad, Acceptance (I just love this book u should all check it out.) When her phone beeped. It was from Isma'il.Isma'il: hey babe, how are you?
Zainab was a little shocked. Did he just called her babe?
Zainab: hi, I've been doing great. Hope you're too.
Isma'il: good to hear. Hope you enjoyed your ice cream too.
Zainab: 😃 yes I did.
Isma'il: so Zainab I've been meaning to tell you something.
OMG he's going to confess. Zainab thought. Her heart was dancing skelewu while her stomach was dancing shoki.
Zainab: carry on 😊
Isma'il: I want us to be friends Zainab 🙏 please.
Zainab felt like she was splashed with cold water. She checked his text again and again just to confirm if he wrote "friend"or "girlfriend".
Zainab: sure. No prob bye gotta go, I've something to do.
Isma'il: ok, bye love.
Zainab sat on her bed and cried her eyes out. She felt foolish. Khadija went over to her and Zainab poured all her previous chats with her now so called new friend. She felt like a midget.
"Maybe he didn't mean this that he doesn't like you or anything. He may be taking things slow step by step." Khadija said and brought her sister to an embrace.
That didn't change anything. Zainab cried more on her sister's shoulder.
"Yi hakuri. (Sorry). Take this, wipe your tears and blow your nose. I will call Jamila." Khadija said handing Zainab a tissue. She took it and did as she was told but the tears kept flowing.
"Yeah that's what I told her too but she won't listen so I thought she would listen to you." Khadija said into the phone.
"Give her the phone. Jamila instructed. Khadija gave Zainab the phone and sat beside he patting her on the back.
"Zainab, I'm sure Isma'il didn't mean that you can't date him or whatever you think." Jamila said gently. "Khadija is right maybe he's taking things slowly. Ok?"
Zainab sniffed. "But I really like him not as a friend but something much more than that." She hiccupped.
"But there's nothing wrong in being friends Zainab. Just pray and soon he will ask you to be his girlfriend." Jamila said. "And even if he'll say you're a low class we'll take him down in a peg or two."
Zainab smiled and then she started crying again. Jamila kept saying soothing words to her friend before she hanged up. Zainab changed into her nighties and lied on her bed crying. Khadija went over to her.
"Are you okay?" She asked worried.
"Yes I am just go and sleep I'll be fine." Zainab said.
"Okay." Khadija said and went to the other side of the bed.
Zainab cried herself to sleep that night.
Zainab woke up with a throbbing headache. She muttered her azkar and went to take panadol then gulped it down with some water. She then headed to the bathroom, took her bath and performed ablution. She then wore her blue tracksuit and her long hijab, sprayed her praying mat and observed her salat. She poured all her worries to the Al-wadud in her prostration. When she was done, she folded her hijab and praying mat and wore her blue short hijab. She didn't bother to apply some kohl on her eyes cus she was not in the mood. She was sick in the inside and outside. She picked her bag and made her way downstairs. There, she met her Mom making pancakes whilst her Dad and siblings were busy digging in theirs. "Good morning everyone." She said sitting and began preparing her tea. "Morning." They all said in unison.
Maryam and Zainab soon joined the volley ball practice. They both slipped into the game, thinking that the sport master didn't notice them."You two, Zainab and Maryam go seat over that bench there and wait for halftime." He said."Uh crumps." Maryam muttered and sat on the bench with a thud. Zainab joined her as they watched the rest of the girls play. She was cheering for her friends' team. There on the other wing of the field were the boys playing football.Maryam smirked at Zainab mouthing tsk tsk tsk.When it was halftime and they were given 10mins to freshen up, Jamila and Aisha dragged Zainub to the other side of the field."Why were you late and what in the world were you doing with Maryam?" Jamila asked raising a brow."That's a long story." Zainab said."Zainab, we're asking you and you're giving a damn answer." Ai
"Bruh that was incredible I didn't know that you can dive like that. And a summer salt that is just too much." Isma'il said to Abba rubbing his hair dry with a towel. They were in the boys changing room."Thanks. I can teach you if you want." Abba said putting on his tracksuit. "Let's go."They headed to their class, unlocked their lockers and brought out their spelling books. Isma'il was about to close it when he saw a paper stuffed into the side of his locker. He hesitated at first but then he picked it and read. He was puzzled as he read it twice, and then thrice. He then held the paper to Abba who also looked baffled as he is."You've also found a letter?" They both said in unison."From Zainab?" Isma'il asked while Abba said from Maryam."But why? Why would they do this? I mean I'm dating Maryam while you aren't dating Zainab. Or are you?" Abba asked curiously.
ISMA'IL'S POV I watched as Zainab's friends talk to her while she only replied with a nod, "uhmm" "okay" and sometimes smiled. Gosh, why am i looking even looking at her. After all she did. She's so unpredictable. I've got to get her out of my mind. I glanced at Abba who has his earpiece plugged into his ears and he's eyes were closed. I shuffled on my seat and closed my eyes too. I then heard Maryam's voice and I opened my eyes to see her smirking at Zainab. "Not again" I muttered."I'm just here to tell Jamila that she should have picked on someone her own size. But I'm not here to make any fuss so don't give me that kind of I-will-rip-off-your-throat look. Thank you for listening." I heard Maryam said but she still stood there her hands akimbo. Maybe waiting for a remark I guess.I can see Jamila trying to stand up but then Aisha whispered something in her which made her relax
Isma'il 's pov"Hello." Yasmin said on the other line. To be sincere I really hate her when I came to the school but she's a really good friend so we're getting along pretty much I must say. And Hafsat too. "Hi Yasmin I was meaning to ask you a really important favor." I said. Damn it this whole thing is really making me nervous. "Ok I'm all ears." She said. Me: u know with all these fight between me and Zainab Maryam stood up for me right? Yasmin: yh go on.
Zainab's povIf wishes were horses beggars would ride......I wish I will have a chance to talk to Badman Binladin. Yeah. I've ever seen him once when I went to my Aunt's house in Abuja to spend the holiday. I saw him in Silver bird. I wanted to talk and maybe snap some pics but my Aunt was like u guys shld hurry up we're going to be late. And that was how she spoiled my mood. To cut my depressing story short, I'm now playing his song, my favorite song super and here is Deeja trying to spoil my mood."Wai why are you obsessed with this Badman ne. You're here worshipping him while his there clueless of your existence." She said. I ignored her as I sang the song with my future husband."Oya do the do super scary scooby doo... ""Your wallpaper, his picture. You even have a special file in your laptop titled Bad
Zainab's pov ? "It was really good hanging out with those two." Deeja said licking her ice cream cone. We just stopped at Kreamy kones."Yeah." I said licking mine too."You really don't give a damn about Maryam now do you. I was really scared that you might have Philophobia." She said. I didn't know what to do but laugh and i earned a you-are-not-serious look so I stopped laughing. I'm immune to Maryam's stupidness btw."Hey don't worry i won't it's not like we dated or anything. Oh that's what I was thinking but insha Allah nothing will happen to me. She smiled at me and we hugged. I love my sis soo much. When Mal Hashimu opened the gate they was an unfamiliar ash and black Sienna parked. Guess we have some visitors."Oh they are back already" Mama said as we walked into the palor. Baba's aunt from Abuja Aunty Salima came with her chi
Dedicated to all the readers that voted from the first chapter and will always keep on voting. Thank u guys sooo much. Zainab's pov Remind me to never share something ever again with Khadija. I told her about last night about that call. Right now she's trying to make my life a living paradise. Note the sarcasm... "I knew it. I smelled that love in the air since ever then. I'm so happy that finally you're gonna move on." The mad Deeja said jumping up and down like a kangaroo. You see why I told you that I regretted telling her. I think she's hyper on something. "Uhhh...you're unbelievable! You always think negativ