Days Later...

Today is exactly two months since Madinah came to Nigeria. I'm not exactly celebrating her coming back into our lives but the pain she brought into our hearts isn't even worth it.

The pain isn't equal to the joy I've seen in Zayd's eyes. He's been so into her that he forgets all the pain she's bought, or problems at least. And I feel he's into this with her. Whatever she might be, good or bad luck, Zayd would never leave his Deenah's sight.

This morning was a cool one. Everyday seems the same and today is no different. At least, to me yet...

I went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast - the usuals - Rice and stew with a piece of fried fish. Others weren't awake yet so I went back into my room to rest a bit.

Just then, my eyes caught the head of books standing on my study-table. They stared back at me and I remembered the story I was working on. I haven't even find a title for my true-life story yet.

'How unfortunate, I'm so in need of money that I had to sell my most expensive assets to a bunch of losers. Or, should I keep this one for future use?' I thought as I opened the big note I was scripting the story.

I remembered where I stopped the story last night, it was chapter 8. Where I and my beautiful family separated through the plane crash.

Too bad, it was on our birthdays. That is why till date, I and Zayd don't celebrate our birthdays. We pray for them instead... Give charity to the poor one this day, just to pray for and remember our latest parents.

Thinking about this brought tears to my eyes. I flipped through the blank papers, skipping two pages to write another chapter - chapter 9. Well, I started with when Zayd and I continued schooling in Nigeria, living with our grand parents and moving on life, taking everything the way it comes. We were only seven.

I still remembered clearly how living without my parents, especially mum... Pissed me off. Them, I was in primary 2 and it was a public school.

"Government Science School, Agege was the school your mother attended and she excelled, you can do even better." Grandma would persuade me.

I hated myself so much that I wouldn't go to school. I would cry almost cry almost everyday until I met a boy, Alifullah Ilesanmi. We called him Alif for short and he was my seat-mate's elder brother. Till today, my memories with him haven't been forgotten because he spends more time with me even than his sister, Amina.

This made no sense actually but after my parents death, I wanted to go back to California. It was where I was born, where I grew up. And for no reason, I feel a connection with there even as a Nigerian.

It was just a visit we came for but, when that visit turned into destiny, it was difficult to easily and willingly accept it. At that young age, most times - I was too upset to think even though I knew I was so stupid to think straight. I remembered grandma would chase me to school with pankere, a very thick and long came, when she's tired of begging me with kpoki, and biscuits. I would throw them all away and end up in school with red and swollen eyes. Many of my classmates would laugh at me, others would simper from behind. After first, Amina didn't care. She was like one out of the other 100 students in my class. So, she always joined in their laughter and wouldn't talk to me except for her friends.

Not until when Alif came to our class one day during break. He shared his goody-goody and lollipop with me that afternoon. And it was like that ever since then. Barrister Bashiru Ilesanmi, Alif's father works as an Attorney in very big firm. He was researching a very big case that was why he came to AJ. Was to stay till he got full evidence to back up the case, the Ilesanmi's originally lived in Abuja.

I resent the idea of explaining myself and and tried to hide my reasons but Alif find a way to learn about me. He studies me like a book.

Then, Zayd was in basic one because he didn't pass the school's entrance exam, yet, Alif was also his friend while Alif was in basic 4.

He would sit next to me almost everywhere and would hold my hand and Amina's as e walked home. He would make sure I and Zayd enters our compound before he and his sister leaves. We even attended the same islamiyyah. Alif and Amina lived about two blocks away from ours, where they rented a flat. And their flat was the best in our area.

Despite my shy nature, I was always free beside Alif. He would always tell me to smile anytime I wasn't. I'm grateful to Alif for helping me with my studies. He made me love school and only because of him, I was good in mathematics. I used to visit him during weekends and he would at times.

In short, Alif was my first and only friend, not boyfriend. We were so little then. I remembered after school, we would roll and fold our cardigans into babies badly time them on our backs. Making funny-family plays and drama.

Our friendship lasted for only two years. It was in the third team when Alif was in his basic 6 that and I was in basically 4 that that his dad transferred back to Abuja.

As it was, his dad was one of the best lawyers in Nigeria. I'm sure he would be a senior advocate now. It was time, Alif and I had to say out goodbyes... It was like yesterday, even though I've long forgotten his face and what he looks like, I didn't have a photography of him, only these memories.

I can still feel when Ilesanmi's family were ready to leave, Alif ran into our compound and I was shocked they were actually leaving. It was so quick and urgent, we couldn't properly say our goodbyes.

"I'm leaving now Zaytoon. Thanks for being my friend all these while. Be good girl and I promise to definitely find you again." He said, holding my hands and staring into my teary eyes. "And don't forget to smile."

I was sad and confused, not knowing what to say or do. I wished he would stay with me forever. I couldn't help but to think about those times we spent together.

No matter how I think about it, Alif was like a passing wind that blew my worries away. He was an angel at took my worries and replaced them with joy. He shaped me to who I am today.

Lost in thoughts, Alif caught a look of my concentration and gave me a goodbye peck on my left chick. I was stuck by what he did and he was too. He was so stupid of him but he left immediately. It's been 16 years ago now since he left, I couldn't even get number to call him with.

I always laugh whenever I think of it
... Stupid me!

As time went on, within me, I started having feelings for imaginary Alif and slowly forgot about him within me as well. As it is, time and distance kills love but not the memories. I kept simpering over and over as I kept filling the pages with Alif's memories... I wonder where he is now.

I'm sure he would have forgotten a girl named 'Zaytoon Abdullahi Akerele.' I paused a bit, smiling to my funny thoughts and writing this is really ridiculous, isn't it?
I asked myself scrolling through the chapters I've been written and the blank pages still.

Chapter 10 is going to start with when we got admissions and how we met Madinah again.

"Assalam Alaikum!" A feminine voice called from outside.
It followed with slow, sharp knocks on the door. I guessed the person must be nervous and in a hurry maybe.

I rushed to get living room to reply the greetings. When I opened the door, My eyes surprisingly flashed at the gorgeous future standing in front of me.

It was Madinah.

Good! I still recognised her foreign face. She felt kind of shy, remembering what happened when we last met at the hospital. She bored her head, staring to the ground as if she was scared of me.

"Madinah! You're here?" I smiled excitedly. "Come in!"