Chapter Three

Farah's POV

“Farah, don't you remember Abdulrahim?” Mom said again, pointing at Abdulrahim, who was sitting opposite me on the other side of the table.

“Yh, why won't I?” I said with a fake smile.

“Hi. How have you been?” I heard a deep voice say.

I diverted my attention away from my mom and looked at Abdulrahim. He looked way better than he did in secondary school.

Subhanallah, Farah. Lower your gaze, my subconscious told me.

“I'm good. What about you?” I replied.

“Alhamdulillah,” he said as we stared at each other.

“Assalamualaikum. You must be the famous Farah that Aunty Hameedah always talks about. Nice to finally meet you. I'm Zayd, Abdulrahim's cousin,” the other guy in a dark blue kaftan said, waving at me.

“Wa'alaikum Salam. Nice meeting you too,” I said as a smile escaped my lips.

Then I heard a beep from my phone. I checked who it was and, to my surprise, it was Zara. We were literally sitting beside each other; she could have just talked to me. I checked the message, and I immediately realized why she had sent a message instead of saying it out loud.

Zara: Farah, you didn't tell me you had a hot bestie in secondary school.

Me: He was not my bestie, and who says he is hot?

Zara: Abeg, he is a 100/10. He's so hot.

Me: Abeg, Zara, leave me alone jare. Stop texting me.

“Hi, I'm Zara, Farah's cousin,” Zara said as I turned to look at her on my left. Abdulrahim and Zayd replied to her.

The elders were gist-ing about God knows what, Zara and Zayd were also talking, while Abdulrahim and I were on our phones.

Before I knew it, Abdulrahim spoke.

“Mom, Aunty, Zayd and I are going now. We would like to just stroll around,” he said.

“Oh, that reminds me. Go tell your aunt that I will be back soon, and you can take Farah and Zara with you. It seems like they are also bored of sitting with us adults,” Aunty Hameedah said as the three women laughed together.

I told them that I was fine there, but Zara just had to insist that we should go with them. Mom also insisted, so I had no choice but to go with them.

We got to Zayd's tent and met his mom. We told her where Aunty Hameedah was and exchanged pleasantries. Then the four of us started strolling.

Before I knew it, Zara and Zayd were ahead of us, laughing and gisting, leaving Abdulrahim and me behind. We were just walking silently before Abdulrahim decided to break the silence.

“So, Farah, how have you been?” Abdulrahim asked.

I wondered how he could act so cool when we both knew what situation we had been in a few years back.

“I'm good, Alhamdulillah,” I replied.

“I know you are still angry at me for what happened, but I wanted to explain to you that it wasn't my fault. I told Khalid and my other friends that they shouldn't go on with the dare, but they didn't listen. I'm sorry. And again, since the day of the incident, I haven't spoken to Khalid or the others again,” he said.

At that point, I felt a little bit angry and, at the same time, guilty. I didn't understand why I was feeling guilty. He was the one at fault, and I still didn't believe his story. How could you and your friend have a bet, and you tell me you weren't part of it?

“Abdulrahim, please don't even start with your story. I didn't want to talk to you then, and my decision hasn't changed even now. I mean, I took you as one of my best friends. I took Aunty Hameedah as my second mother, but you had to do what you did. Da Allah, I'm not in the mood to listen to your rubbish,” I said.

Without waiting for a reply, I went to meet Zara and dragged her back to the canopy. Even though she was in shock and kept asking me what happened, I didn't reply.

When we got to the canopy, Mom and Aunty Hameedah asked us where the boys were. I quickly told them that they had gone to meet some of their friends.

It was already late, so Aunty Hameedah said her goodbyes and left. Zara was trying to ask me why I had dragged her away, but I didn't answer her.

The party came to an end, so we all said our goodbyes to Aunty Memunat, Zara and her siblings, and went back home. By the way, Ya Sodiq had already left.

I quickly went to my room, had my bath, performed ablution, then put on my pink pajamas. I put on my hijab and prayed.

After praying, I lay on my bed and picked up my phone. I started checking my W******p messages because I hadn't checked my phone since the afternoon, after chatting with Zara earlier.

I saw a message from Asma, my childhood bestie.

Asma: Hey bae, how are you doing? And how was Ya Nadia's convocation? Did you meet any hot guy? Immediately you get this message, text me back.

I smiled. Typical Asma, always looking for gist.

Me: Hey girl, the convocation was nice. Ya Nadia graduated with a first-class degree. And no, I didn't find any hot guy. Asma, you know me. I'm so boring.

After replying to Asma, I saw a message from Zara.

Zara: You know you have a lot of explaining to do. What made you so pissed that you had to drag me like that, hmm...?

I had completely forgotten about Zara. I knew she was just offended because she wasn't able to talk to Zayd for a while longer. I saw the way she was smiling while talking to him.

Me: Yes, dear cousin, I know, and I will explain later. Not now. I know you are pissed that I didn't let you talk to Zayd longer.

Zara: What do you mean now? I'm not in the mood for all this nonsense, Farah, okay? Well, remember you still have to tell me why you dragged me from there.

Me: Okay, dear cousin.

I got another message from Asma.

Asma: Yes, bae, I know you are boring, and I know you are tired, so tomorrow you'll gist me about it, okay?

I quickly replied.

Me: Yes, okay, okay. Good night, bae.

I was about to turn off my phone when I saw another message from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hi. I know you are still angry, but at least just forgive me for the sake of Allah. It's been almost three years now, and you are still angry. Forget about everything, and we can start afresh, Farah. Once again, I'm sorry.

I immediately knew it was Abdulrahim. How did he get my number? And I didn't understand why he still didn't get that I didn't want to talk to him.

Kai, some people were so annoying.

Me: Toh, Abdulrahim, I have told you times without number to leave me alone. And how did you even get my number? The next time you try to contact me again, I will block you. Just keep that in mind, eh.

Unknown: Farah, I don't get why you are so angry. I didn't do anything wrong. I even saved you from Khalid, and here you are blaming me. If that's how you want it, then fine. I won't contact you again. If it were any other person in my case, they wouldn't even bother begging for your forgiveness anymore because you are too egotistical. So I will save myself the stress by not texting you or apologizing to you anymore. And by the way, I got your number from your cousin. She exchanged numbers with my cousin, so that's how I could ask her for yours. Keep your forgiveness to yourself.

After reading that, instead of being thankful that he wouldn't be texting me again, I felt kind of hurt.

But I brushed it aside and put my phone away.