Najib looked at me into my eyes then looked back at the door that Umar entered before swallowing hard. I saw his Adam's apple going down. He opened his mouth to say something then closed it before opening it again.

"Hameeda don't trust him," He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. He put his hand through his hair rumbling it before sighing loudly.

"Its getting late,I need to go,"

"But I didn't even finish a page,"

"We will do that tomorrow In Sha Allah,"

"What!! Wait why shouldn't I trust him....."

Before I could finish asking the question he was outside on his bicycle asking Malam Sadauki to open the gate. I ran after him without shoes.

"Please tell me,"

Malam Sadauki has already opened the gate when Najib turned around and looked straight into my eyes.

"Do you trust me?"

I nooded my head.

"Then just do as I said. I am sorry I can't tell you anything now, I have to confirm things first," And with that he rode away on his bicycle leaving me so confused.

What the hell does he want me to do?

After staying like that for a few minutes thinking about what to do. I dragged my body back inside.

Why shouldn't I trust him
What's between Yaya Umar and Najib?

I walked back inside with these two questions in my head. I wanted to go straight to my room but Yaya Rukky called me.

I met Yaya Umar and Yaya Rukky in Mama's living room. They were all smiling brightly as usual. Immeiately Umar saw me his expression changed.

"Who were you talking to earlier on?" Rukky asked.

"It was Najib,"

" Oh, Umar said you were flirting with a stranger,"

'Something is fishy', I thought as I said,

"Awwn thanks for the concern Yaya Umar. But don't worry Najib is my teacher and we were just reciting the glorious book. Wait how come you didn't notice the Quran?"

"Urhh its just that....," Umar started.

Thankfully before he could complete whatever he wanted to say Rukky asked me to bring drinks.

I brought a tray of drinks. As there was no table or stool close by, I just layed the tray on the ground next to Umar's feet, I started walking away when Rukky stopped.

"Where are your manners Meedos? Serve the guest"

If only she knew how my head was about to explode all because of the guest.

"Don't worry I am not a guest, I will serve it myself," Umar said bending down to pour himself a drink. And that was when I noticed it. I felt my heartbeat increasing as I kept staring at Umar's neck. He had an arrow tattoo on his neck just like the guy I saw at coldstone.

"Hameeda are you okay?"

It was Rukky that brought me out of my thoughts. I nodded my head, faked a smile at them and quickly ran to my room. And there I kept pacing up and down.

Najib is different.
He is quiet and shy, doesn't talk much. Apart from our quranic lessons he talks to me only when necessary , that's only answering my greetings , teaching me more about the Qur'an and my deen e.g by translating the qur'an, giving stories about the prophets and their companions, and sometimes only sometimes jokes, maybe when he thinks his classes are so boring or something like that.
He smiles a lot , his beautiful dimpled smile.
He recites the Qur'an in a very melodious voice.
He is cool, calm and collected.
From the way he interacted with my family and I and the few times I saw him interacting with others, I think he is very kind.

If he has all these good qualities why would he ask me not to trust Yaya Umar.

Someone who was my first love. Someone who once meant everything to me. But then just disappeared and came back six years later asking for my sister's hand in marriage.

Why? I was so confused. What should I do? I paced around the room until my legs could no longer walk. I then sat by the corner of the room running my hand through my head. I was in that position when Khaleed came into the room and jumped on my bed as if he owned it. He studied me for sometime before asking,

"Are you okay ?" I turned around and nooded my head.

"Okay so what's up?"

"Nothing much," I lied.

"So I was wondering if you are free tomorrow, we could go for an icrecream and later maybe movies?"

"Sure," I answered. He started talking but later noticed I was not in the mood so he kept quiet and started chatting on his phone. That was why he was my twin, he knew me just so well .

On the other hand, I still didn't know what to do. About two hours later, the next bomnshell was dropped. I was under my blankets still thinking of what to do with my phone in my hands just so that Khaleed wouldn't be suspicious when I heard knocking at my door. Before I could open my mouth. Khaleed shouted 'come in'.

" Hey guys," Rukky greeted sitting next to Khaleed.

"Guess what?" She said excitedly. And like all Nigerians both Khaleed and I asked,"what?"

"You guys are boring I said you should guess,"

"Just tell us,"

"Umar and I have decided to get married in December In Sha Allah, So better start the wedding preparations,"

For a moment I just stayed still. December? In just four months? When I recovered I quickly hugged my only sister whispering, "congratulations."

"Thank God, from the way you acted I thought you weren't happy,"

Oops she noticed.

"It is just that isn't it too soon? As in we haven't even started the wedding shopping."

" Four months is not too soon, we can start the preparations immediately. So which colour do you think will look good on me,"

And that was how she started talking with no fullstops while my mind was completely somewhere else. I needed to act soon, like really soon, their wedding was in just four months.

About an hour later when she finally got tired for the day she left my room taking my mind back to Najib and Umar. By that time Khaleed was sleeping peacefully on my bedroom couch. I tried waking him up but I didn't succeed so I put a blanket over him. He would wake up later on and go back to his room.

My head started aching, my legs and hand felt sour as well from all the pacing I did. So I decided I had had enough for today, I would deal with everything tomorrow. I put on my pajamas ,switched off the lights and went under my blankets but even after two hours in that same position I didn't sleep for a second. I tossed and turned but each time I closed my eyes I saw Umar as a vampire. Only one question kept popping into my head, why the hell shouldn't I trust him? Only one person could answer that question so I took my slippers and went to the twins' room.

It took hours before I woke Hassan up and asked him for his password but when I did and copied danmaula's number on my phone, I triumped in pure joy and ran back to my room. Checking the time, Isaw it was past 2am, too late to call someone , your teacher for that matter so I went back under my blankets. This time I slept but only for a few minutes as a nightmare of vampire Umar drinking Yaya Rukky's blood woke me up. That was when I found my hand over the call button and before I knew it, it was ringing.

"Assalamu alaikum," I heard his deep and hoarse sleepy voice.

"Urhmm sorry I woke you up from sleep," I quickly disconnected the phone call. Not more than a second later, steal my girl started playing.

"Danmaula calling ," I saw. I contemplated answering or rejecting the phonecall. What's the use? I have already woken him up from the sleep I better answer it.

"Hameeda are you okay? Is everything alright? Are Mama, Rukky and the twins okay?" Came his worried voice.

"Everyone is okay," I heard him sigh in relief.

"Alhamdulilah,"

"I can't sleep. I kept having nightmares of Yaya Umar being a vampire and drinking Rukky's blood. Please tell me why I shouldn't trust him. Look I am so confused. I don't know what to do. Give me proofs ,proofs to show he is unworthy of my trust," I felt a lump forming in my throat.

"Calm down Hameeda. I am very sorry for making you peel that way. I am also sorry for the way I acted earlier on. I just have little insecurities concerning him. It is nothing to be afraid of. So chill, say your duas and go back to sleef. We will discuss this when we meet next,"

"How the hell do you expect me to calm down when the bad guy is marrying my sister in December? " I didn't know when I shouted. That was what woke Khaleed up.

"Hameeda who are you talking to, this late?"

"No one,"

"Don't tell me you are back with Hamdan. Or do you have a new bae?" Eventhough the lights were off I could see him winking.

"Naaah,"

"Are you hiding something from your twin," he asked walking towards the bed.

"Nope! Trust me it is no one. It is just Najib. I just need to confirm the pages I will recite tomorrow,"

"You are talking to that your dan makarantan allo teacher that doesn't differentiate p and f at three am about which pages you are going to recite tomorrow? Wow" he exclaimed. He clearly didn't believe a thing. Well who would? It was riddiculous. He seemed a little disappointed too.

At any other day I would laugh with him at Danmaula but today was not any other day.

"So what if he doesn't know how to differentiate between p and f? No one is perfect you know? He has the whole qur'an in his head. What do you have? Nas and Falaq?"

Before I could apologize Khaleed had left the room. Way to go Hameeda. Khaleed and I hadn't fought in the last ten years. Tears started welling up in my eyes. There was just too much on my shoulders. I sighed, thinking I would apologize later, for now I had to protect my sister.

"Hello are you still there?"

"Yes I am, you were talking to someone,"

"Yeah it was Khaleed,"

"What was he doing at three am in your room, sorry forget I asked that question."

That was when the water works started.

" You said they are getting married december, Wow we need to do something fast, really fast"

" I am not helping you if you don't give me reasons not to trust him," I sniffed.

"Are you free tomorrow?,"

" I have a meeting in school, I will be free after that,"

"Okay I will meet you at the school gate,"

"Thank you," I said wiping my tears.

"There is nothing to thank me for. Wait are you crying? Flease stof crying Hameeda Habibti. I know all this is too much. But bear with me for the mean time. We will solve it together in sha Allah. Don't worry yourself too much flease?"

"Okay," I whispered.

"Rest for now we will talk tomorrow,"

"Tohm,"

But I couldn't sleep an inch. The phone was still on my ears and I could hear his breath so he hadn't disconnected it yet. He was waiting for me to sleep first.

"Najib," I called out.

"Yes Hameeda," Yes, he was still awake, he was waiting for me to sleep first.

"I still can't sleep, Recite something for me,"

ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ

1. Alrrahmanu.

1. (Allah) Most Gracious!

عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ

2. AAallama alqurana

2. It is He Who has taught the Qur'an.

خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ

3. Khalaqa alinsana

3. He has created man:

عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ

4. AAallamahu albayana

4. He has taught him speech (and intelligence).

ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ

5. Alshshamsu waalqamaru bihusbanin

5. The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;

وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ

6. Waalnnajmu waalshshajaru yasjudani

6. And the herbs and the trees - both (alike) prostrate in adoration.

He started reciting suratul Al Rahman for me, my favorite surah. I put my phone on speaker and put it on my bedside drawer. And hearing the melodious voice of Najib I drifted to sleep.

*

I kept checking my wrist watch. anxiously waiting for the closing time so that I would know what's between Najib and Umar. Remembering yesterday, a smile appeared on my lips. The way he comforted me and the way I slept hearing his beautiful voice made a funny feeling in my stomach. Because yesterday I was so confused and not in my right state of mind yesterday I didn't get that feelings even after he called me Habibti. Eventhough I knew he just said that to comfort me and maybe he didn't even know when he said it. Remembering the way he pronounced the 'h' kaman yasha shayi made my stomach to start fluttering.

"Hameeda where on earth are you?" Leena nudged me by my shoulders.

"Sorry you were saying?" I quickly shook those thoughts off my head.

"Which colour are we wearing for the graduation?"

"Anyone you like?"

"Come on, choose," one of my classmates said.

I used to choose everything for our classmates, unknown to all of them I now didn't care at all what we wete wearing or the venue or anything else.

"Okay what about the theme for our prom night?"

All eyes turned to my direction. After all I had been preparing for prom since Js3.

"Just check the internet and choose anyone you like," I had better things to worry about apart from graduation and prom.

I had never known how hectic preparation for graduation was. As in for days I didn't even have time to breathe. Throughout the days all we did was discuss about the graduation and prom. If we were not on a life meeting, we were either on a phone call or chatting on our whatsapp groupchat. It was not easy at all. And with the news I heard yesterday , there was just too much on my shoulders. I felt like blocking my eyes and ears and just sleeping. Yes just cuddling with my teddy bears and sleeping , forgetting about everything and anything. But unfortunately I couldn't.

I checked my wrist watch one more time, and seeing it was five minutes to closing time, I started packing my things getting ready to go.

"Hameeda the meeting is not over yet, come and sit down," Leena dragged me back to my seat. I reluctantly sat down back and joined the conversation. They were talking about prom dates.

"Should we choose prom dates from among ourselves or outsiders?"

"Anyone you like," I was the first one to talk. I was not interested in the conversation at all. I couldn't wait to hear the bell and go meet danmaula.

"Classmates," Walid shouted winking at Leena. Leena scrunched up her face.

"Outsiders,"

"Let's vote then,"

"How I wish we can choose from among our teachers. I could have chosen Mr Alex,"

I eyed Leena as my other classmates kept saying which teacher they would have chosen as their prom date.

"Leena if we are asked to choose prom dates from our teachers, who are you going to choose? "

"All the teachers are so gross, I can't take any of them to prom,"

"If only someone was here she could have chosen him," Bilal said in a singing voice

"No I couldn't have, wait who are you talking about?"

"Who are you talking about?" someone else asked.

"She knows who we are talking about," I answered playing with my phone.

"I don't,"

Bilal and I gave her that 'why must you lie' look?'

"Okay don't blame me, Mr Muhammad is the hottest teacher I have ever seen, of course I could have chosen him,"

We laughed for a little while before deciding you can go with either your classmate or an outsider. Few minutes later, the bell marking the end of day went off.

As Najib promised immediately I reached the gate, I saw him leaning there. Looking as handsome as usual in his black three quarter jallabiya. He wasn't wearing any cap so his curly hair was on full view. He had shaved his hair and side burns a little. His beard was there looking longer and curlier than the last time I saw him. As he saw me , his eyes twinkled, he smiled and his cheeks itched inside showing his beautiful set of white teeth and dimples.

"See this hot guy," one of my classmates whispered.

"He is coming to our direction," Leena squealed.

" He is not your type,Trust me. I know him, he is my uncle's friend."I told them.

"All handsome guys are definitely my type," one of girls said.

" I think he is going to ask for our numbers," another one whispered excitedly.

Najib walked calmly to our direction.

"Assalamu alaikum,"

"Hameeda flease can you hurry up. Go to your car I will meet you there," he said and with that he walked to where his bicycle was parked and picked it up.

"Okay Hameeda is right. He is definitely not our type. I don't want a friend that doesn't know how to speak English,"

"Me neither, nor do I want someone that rides bicycle," Another one said laughing.

Such is life. Few people will appreciate who you are. One minute they were all over him and the next they were against him. I couldn't believe it. I felt kind of bad for laughing at him since we were quiet close now. But they were right. No one wants a friend that doesn't know how to speak English or that rides a bicycle because of his financial reasons. I hated to admit it, but they were right. He was not our class.

I hopped into the backseat of our range rover. I saw Najib knocking at Malam Dauda's window. He politely asked Malam Dauda to open the boot. He put his bicycle there and entered the passengers' seat.

"Where are we going?"

"Yawo,"he answered nonchalantly .

"Please tell me where we are going to "I pleaded as I heard him giving Malam Dauda directions.

"Yawo,"

"Mama may get afraid if I show up late,she may also get angry,"

"Don't worry I have already told her that I am taking you out and she is okay with that,"

My eyes grew as wide as saucers and my mouth as wide as a pot.

"Wait which Mama. Not my mother right?"

"Your mom,"

"I can't believe it,"

"I have my ways," he said as he turned around and winked at me.

What?wait!Did he just winked at me. So uztazai can wink? I had been getting so many surprises since I started being informal with him yesterday's night.

Whenever you are around
I always seem to smile
And people ask him how
While you are the reason why
Am dancing in the mirror
Singing in the shower

I have changed my ring tone to shower. I was so surprise when I saw the ID. My Twin💕. With shakky hands I amswered the call.

"Twinnny!!,"

"I thought twinny is too girlish,"

"It is. But aren't you a girl? Girlish things can never be girlish for a girl,"

I laughed. He had already cooled off. Eventhough I knew he must still be a bit angry with me , one of the things I loved about him was he never hold grudges.

"Look Khaleed I am so sorry for the words I said yesterday.......,"

Before I could finish apologizing he said, "Shhhh Darling, the love I have for my twin won't allow me to stay angry at her for more than few hours,"

"Awwwwn I love you too twinny," I wholeheartly said completely forgeting I had company.

"Naci wanka . I have been waiting for you for hours. The movie is starting at 4."

I was in deep shit. I had completely forgotten we were going out with Khaleed today.

" Omg I am so sorry Khaleed. I don't think I can finish before four, I have completely forgetten about our outings. I could have cancelled it but I promised Mr Alex I will complete it today. I am truly sorry, I promise I will make it up to you,"

"Because I am not that important to you, you even forgot about it," he sounded really hurt.

"Haba twinny it is not like that, its just that I have too much on my shoulders . You are the most important guy in my life,"

"I am at your school, tell me the class you are doing the things. I will help you,"

"We are not doing it in school, we are doing it at Leena's house."

"Okay I am on my way,"

"Urhmm you don't know the house,"

"I know Leena's house. Her brother is my friend remember?"

"It is not the house you know. They have moved. I mean not moved as in moved but they are living in their aunty's house,"

"Send the address or give me the directions,"

"Khaleed you don't have to worry yourself. The house is really far and it is not easy to give the directions. And we have so much work so we may take long. I don't want to keep you waiting,"

After all my long surutu he kept quite for few minutes and then disconnected the call. I took a deep breath. It was not easy. He knew I was lying but he couldn't do anything about it. Likewise I didn't have a choice. I couldn't tell why I was hanging out with Najib yet. I needed to confirm everything before I tell a soul. I made a promise to myself immediately I confirmed everything Khaleed would be the second person to know. The first being Rukky.

Saki linzaminka me nasara kwankwaso. Jama'ar mu mutan Kano. Mun gane gaskiya. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso dawo dawo. Malam Dauda's ring tone filled our earbuds.

"Malam Dauda please answer the call. The volume is too much," He rejected the call and few minutes it started ringing again.

"Malam Dauda danAllah answer the call,"I wished I didn't say that. Malam Dauda answered the call and put it on speaker as he didn't want to talk while driving.

"Salamu Alaikum Malam Dauda,"

"Wa alaikumu Salam Khaleed anyi ni lafiya,"

"Alhamdulilah Malam Dauda. Kana gida ne? Inaso na dan futa dakaine,"(Are you home? I want to go out with you)

" A'a fah na futa da Hameeda,"( No I am out with Hameeda)

"Oh ita dawa?"(Hameeda and who)

"Ita da wannan Malamin nata Najib,"(Hameeda and that her teacher, Najib)

Innalilahi wa inna alaihi rajiun shikenan asiri na ya tonu.(I have been exposed). I rested my head on my knees hugging it tightly. I stayed like that for few minutes thinking about how to apologize to Khaleed.

It was when I heard the car slowing down I got up from my position. Malam Dauda parked the car in a very busy street and turned around asking Najib, "is it here?"Najib nooded his head and that was when my heart started beating very fast. I completely stopped thinking about Khaleed but Umar instead.

I wondered what I would see today. What I would see that would make me not to trust Umar anymore. I couldn't move , my heart was beating very fast and my whole body was shaking.

I stayed still in my position until Danmaula got out of the car and opened my door for me asking, "are you ready?"

A/N

Helloooooo Darlings. Belated eid Mubarak. I hope you didn't eat too much Nama.

So how was the chapter? It is now 3:17am,I have so much more to write but I decided to leave it here so that you wouldn't get tired. Sorry for the late update. Wattpad has been giving me issues wallahi. I wrote this chapter twice and each time more than half of the chapter gets lost. I got so angry and deleted the whole chapter and started it all over again. And I got an even better chapter than the one I previously wrote. Bayan all the wahala I got I wrote another 4000 words. I derserve some votes and comments don't you think?

This chapter is for those beautiful queens. Thanks for all the support. I love you.

The chapter is also dedicated to my bestie, Aheed Nazeer. All that graduation wahala reminds me of Khaleed, Zee and you. Mun sha wahala de amma at the end it was worth it.