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. Her Mom brought her her pancakes and Zainab mouthed her thank you. Her Mom raised her daughter's chin up examining her face.
"Zainab what happened to you? Are you ill?" She asked.
"I'm okay Mama." Zainab said smiling a reassuring smile. Khadija glanced at her, shaking her head in a negative way.
"But you look pale just look at her." Mama said addressing her husband.
"Are you sick habibty?" Baba asked concerned.
Yes, I am sick Baba. I am sick emotionally. She thought.
"Um... maybe it's cus I didn't apply em.. kohl today." Zainab said munching on her pancake.
"Ok." Mama said and sat down opposite her husband.
Yaya Ameer finished up his breakfast and stood up.
"You kids should hurry up it's 7:14 fa." He said.
"See pot calling kettle black. Aren't you a kid?" Khadija sneered at her brother.
"Hello, I'm older than you with six years so keep your limits and give a little respect." Yaya Ameer said wearing his snickers. "I'm off Mom, Dad see you. And you kids should meet me in the car." He then went out.
"Respect my foot." Khadija muttered under her breath. Her Mother shot her a glare.
Five minutes later they all filed in the car and went to school. Zainab and Khadija are in the same school and were the first to be dropped followed by Abdullah who is in P4 and then Yaya Ameer who is in KASU.
"Are you sure you are going to be okay with "him", Khadija said air quoting 'him' with her fingers.
"Yeah, I will. How hard can it be?" She said glancing at her sister smiling.
"Good." Khadija said nodding. "I'll be heading to class oh spelling bee is today."
"Spelling bee?" Zainab asked shocked. "I've forgotten wallahi."
"Yeah you will, with all these Isma'il issues you will." Khadija teased.
"Deeja! Go to class." Zainab said giggling.
"Okay, okay." Khadija said and jogged to her class.
Zainab shook her head. A voice spoke to her from the back, startling her.
"Easy there, it's just me." Isma'il said grinning.
A lump formed in Zainab's throat which she swallowed, gathered up her courage and spoke softly to him.
"Hi friend." The word friend sent a shiver down her spine, which she chose to ignore.
"Only Hi friend that's all." Isma'il said shaking his head. "Your friend is even better than you."
She knew which of the her friend he meant. Maryam.
"Yes, I know." She said coldly. "You can have her if you want." She then walked to her class, leaving him staring at her.
Zainab walked over to her friends.
"Zainab!" Jamila yelled and enveloped her friend in a hug. Aisha joined in the hug too.
"Are you okay?" Aisha asked. "You look pale or is it that you didn't apply kohl?
"Yes, I guess" Zainab said.
"Zainab hope you're well and didn't stress yourself over that thing called Isma'il." Jamila asked.
"Don't worry. He wants to be friends, we'll be friends." Zainab said determined.
"Jamila told me all that happened and I'm very sorry." Aisha said making soothing circles on Zainab's back.
Maryam walked over to them smiling warmly.
"Zainab, can I have a word with you? It will only take a minute."
She said."Ok." Zainab said still rooted to her seat.
"Alone." Maryam said gesturing outside.
Zainab heaved a long sigh and stood up. "Guys, I'll be back shortly." She said addressing her two friends.
They both walked to the girls toilet.
"Zainab, first of all, I'm sorry for being harsh to you the other day. Can you forgive me?" Maryam asked with pleading eyes.
"You're forgiven." Zainab said smiling.
"Thank you." Maryam said. "Second of all, the reason why I burst at you that day was because I heard some bad news about him."
Zainab listened without uttering a word and Maryam continued.
"I heard that he dates girls and dump them like trash. They fall for his good looks and charms and then he dump them in a short period of time." Maryam now held Zainab's hand giving it a light squeeze. "I swear Zainab that is what he is. And as your friend I don't want you to get hurt. Please Zainab just let go."
It took a second for Zainab to process all what Maryam said. She nodded at her friend and said thank you.
"You're welcome." Maryam said. "Now here's an idea. You'll write a letter to him telling him you know his true character, and you won't fall for his tricks and more."
"Yes, I think that's what I'm going to do. Let's go."
They went back to the class and saw them going to the field.
"It's time for our volleyball practice. The spelling bee follows." Jamila said. "Let's go."
"I'll catch up with you guys later. I've got an important thing to do." Zainab said.
Jamila and Aisha gave her a 'we'll talk later' look and walked away. Maryam dictated what she was going to write.
Ismail,
You're a good friend and all but I've heard about how you control girls and change them like caps but I'm not like that. Im not a toy that you could play with, hope you understand me. Isma'il, I hate you and your habit. I will only like you as a friend when you change your ways. Yours sincerely, Zainab Abdulkareem."Perfect." Maryam said. Wait, hold on a second." She then started writing a letter to Abba. When she was done, they put the papers inside their lockers and headed to the field.
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
Maryam's povI was really short for words when i heard Zainab talking back for the first time. But I composed myself and shot back. When I pushed her Jamila held her and I kept taunting her. To my surprise she twisted my arm and knocked me on the floor. The next thing I did was wail and I kept saying my ankle my ankle. My vision was blurry and I can't make out who was kneeling in front of me squeezing my ankle lightly. I was half conscious and the next thing I knew it I was on bed whilst the school nurse inspects my ankle."Maryam right?" She asked and I nodded."Where are my friends?" I asked her referring to Hafsat and Yasmin."They just went out to attend the class. I'll send for them before break. Right now you have to rest. I've bandaged your ankle and in four days it will heal quickly, but for now on you'll be using a crutch because you can't just limp about. A