"But ma, it's forbidden in Islam."

"I said you should cut your hair, not your head o. What's bad about that?" She laughed as she noticed from her words that Zainab was bold and confident.

"You don't know anything. When I was your age, I was still shaving my hair. I started plaiting hair after I gained admission into the university, just like your sister. It's not as if your hair won't grow again. Just a few years, at least. Till you've completed secondary school. Just to save the stress." She explained with an smirk that betrayed all innocence.

"A girl should be dressed as a girl and a boy should be treated as one." Zainab suggested. "With due respect ma'am. What if Humaira ask me why. What would I tell her?"

"Tell her you need to study well, that's why. Please, focusing your studies so you'll become successful too. Plaiting hair would only distract you, ehn."

"But ma..."

"No more buts... " Mrs Bala interrupted her abruptly. "We already have enough jist for today." She concluded and stood up.

About to leave, she turned back again. "Before I forget, make sure you respect my sons. They're still the owner of this house anyways." She smiled.

"Yes, of course." Zainab agreed.

***
The day crawled in like a thief out of darkness. Casting a buttery hue across the bright sky. It was Monday morning. Humaira didn't sleep throughout the night. She'd been studying her every words and their definitions. Kelechi too slept with her. Their legs buried in a cold bucket of water. It's as if she wasn't feeling fine but Humaira guessed it was malaria.

All the students were prepared for their papers. They were asked to form a long queue outside the examination hall and was thoroughly be searched before entering. Some might have hidden the answers inside their undies while others, under their wigs. Despite the fact that all the students are aware of the punishment of examination malpractices, some would still copy notes on their laps and palms that morning. Anyone being caught, would get expelled and would never get the chance to school within the state again.

It was just 8:00 a.m. Humaira caught up with Firdausi. Immediately, flash backs from Saturday evening came pouring through her mind. The whole part of it was that, Firdausi didn't act or pretend as if she knew her. She just  walked passed her as if they were never friends.

It didn't freak Humaira out, but she wondered what kind of human being she had been dealing with. She wasn't just mean, she was wicked as well.

'You betrayed me and you're expecting me to beg you? It would never happen. I'll just have to forget about you and that devilish soul that deceived me. They've all deceived me.'
Humaira pondered on the thought before it finally got to her turn. The woman in-charge scanned her through with her large eyeballs.

"Hands up!" She commanded and Humaira did as she was told.

She touched her body swiftly and asked if she was holding an expo.

"No ma, I'm well prepared for this exam." Humaira muttered convincingly.

"You girls with long hijabs are the worse. Just get in!" The woman hissed, not caring if Humaira was actually hurt or not.

"Next!"

An invigilator directed her to sit somewhere. Just a step away from Firdausi.

They were invigilators all around, watching the students. Finally, they were asked to start. It was an hour exam that almost lasted for two hours. Long and tiring. They wrote two papers that day. And all Humaira could do was to read, and to study harder. Just to come out with flying colours by the end of the day. She was determined but something brought her down.

Memories.

The memories of all that had happened. And for no reason, she find herself heart broken. It was just months since she met Mubby. She was never interested in him, even for once but why does it hurt like this? She thought of Mubby, and Firdausi. Trying to stop the memories from flooding back but the more she tried to forget, the more she remembered.