"What is this?" Rabia asked, tasking a spoonful of the heavenly cold tasting delight again. She doesn't think her taste buds will ever get used to that. She'd never had anything like it before. They just had dinner and Maria had just given them the ice cream she promised. That was the next day after she arrived in America.
"Ice cream" Noah corrected, placing the wooden spoon of his into the tub.
She whipped her head to look at him, her brows drew in, "Huh?"
"That" He pointed to the tub in her hand, "...is called an ice cream"
"Ans krim" She repeated, licking the wooden spoon clean before dipping it back in the tub to fill it up again.
Noah chuckled at her pronunciation, "It's ice cream" he corrected, "How old are you? Seven?"
Rabia turned around to glare at him with everything she had. "I'm twelve! We're the same age"
"You're dumb" He teased, leaning back on the couch, "I'm older than you. I'm fifteen"
"Fifteen?" She asked, taken aback. She didn't know why but she always thought that they're age mates, maybe because they are about the same height, and because he doesn't speak a lot. She had spent the entire day with him and it wasn't as bad as she thought it'd be because he was slowly warming up to her. Now, they're at the level where they tease each other and laugh.
That's a huge improvement from the passive response she got from him last night when they arrived.
He shrugged, "Yes. That makes me your elder brother now"
"I've never had an elder brother before, or any sibling to begin with" She played around with the ice cream, the thought of never having a sibling slowly dampening her mood. She never cared before since she had Rahma. However, due to the circumstance she is, she couldn't think of anything relating to the girl without feeling sad and blaming herself for the loss. That, coupled with the lack of sibling dampened her mood beyond words.
Noah smiled slightly, not noting her sudden change of expression. Or maybe he did, and decided to just ignore it. "Me neither" His voice dropped as his eyes held a distant look. Perhaps, reminiscing a painful memory. He suddenly shook his head, a small grin on his face as he looked at his new sister, "But we have each other now, and that makes us siblings"
She nodded in agreement, a full blown grin masking her features as she cheered a bit, "I have a brother!"
He just chuckled, amused by her response.
She turned around to face him, pushing her half eaten tub of chocolate ice cream to him.
He raised a brow, "What?"
"I'm sharing my ice cream with you since you're my brother. I heard somewhere that siblings share things, right?"
He smiled, and for the first time in a long time he's actually grateful for his father's decision in adopting her. He had always yearned for a sibling, and having one at the moment felt surreal. He picked up his tub and pushed it towards her, "Then we're sharing mine too. Like siblings do"
She grinned, "Yes. We are siblings now"
Rahma's eyes welled up slightly as fear slowly ate her up. She gulped thickly as different scenarios on how bad this could end for her played in her head over and over. I'm done for. She thought as she looked into his eyes, looking for any sign that will send her off running as far away from he and Maria as possible. But there were none.
This is it for her. This is how she'll end and rot back in prison. Her mind raced with such thoughts as her nails dug into her palmâthe pain was the least of her concerns though.
The man standing in front of her, the only sibling she'd ever had in her life, even if it was just for one day is about to expose her, right when she got an information that would actually help her move forward in the case. How could she not fear for her life at the moment.
There's no way that Noah wouldn't recognize her. Maria didn't but Noah...he's a different case.
"....you before"
She was too caught up in her thoughts that she didn't hear what he said, only some part of it. "Huh?" She asked, her heart thumping loudly against her ribcage as she gulped again. She seemed to be doing that a lot. Her palm suddenly felt sweaty when he tilted his head slightly and his lips set into a tight line, a sign that he's thinking. She discreetly wiped the sweat off on her denim, wanting to get rid of the warm perspiration that's a proof of how she's about to be doomed.
"I've never seen you before" He repeated the same words he said earlier when she wasn't paying attention. "You are?"
She waited for a second, waiting for him to call her dumb for falling for his game or tricks. She waited for him to call her out or for her to see the mischievousness behind his eyes. She waited for anything that would show her that he's pretending.
Except, there wasn't any. He genuinely did not recognize her. Either that, or he's a good actor. But then again, why would he bother to pretend?
So she decided to get herself back together and calm. She stood up straighter, chin up slightly as she forced a smile she hoped looked genuine, "Rahma...." Her fingers curled around her clutch tightly to ease her nerves, "I'm Rahma Turaki. Nice to meet you"
"The name sounds familiar" He muttered as he tried to remember where he heard it before. He muttered the name again and that was when it dawned on him, Tahir told he and Mubarak about her. He mentioned her name as his 'soulmate'. Some nonsense that Tahir had never said before. He still smiled though, wanting to see what's in the girl to have his friend act that way over her. "I'm Dr. Noah Malik. Maria's son" He hated saying those last words but he had saying the same thing to everyone for years now. He had to stick to it if he wants to live freely.
She held back the thought of commenting about how he'd changed so much. He smiles more frequent now, and he talks unlike back then when he was reservedâonly talking to people he had grown close to. However, she knew if she wanted to nail the whole act around him, she had to act like Rahma Turaki and not Rabia Malikâhis sister. "Malik..." She repeated the name, face scrunched up slightly in thought.
He chuckled, understanding why she had that expression. "I'm not the Minister's son hence the different surname" He explained, seeing the realization dawn on her father saying that. "Everyone knows that..."
"I didn't grow up here, that's why some information is still new to me"
"Where are you from?"
"Morocco" She hated lying to him, but she had to for her sake. And for the sake of proving to him that she didn't kill his father.
He nodded, a small grin on his face. "Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Rahma. I have to go now"
She nodded, a smile on her lips as she watched him side step her and walk in the direction she just came from. "Noah!" She suddenly called him, making him stop in his tracks.
Surprised, he turned around to look at her.
"It's good to see you again" She said, watching the confusion in his eyes. "It's good to finally meet Maria's son" She corrected, when she noticed her slip.
He shrugged, smiled at her before he turned around and continued walking.
Once he has his back to her, she exhaled in relief as her shoulders slumped. She turned around and quickly walked away.
She walked so hastily that she accidently knocked off the tray in the hands of a waitress. "Sorry" She said quickly, leaning down to help the waitress pick up the broken pieces of plate and cups hastily, not wanting to cause the woman any trouble because of her carelessness. "I'm sorry" She repeated again, looking up for the first time to look at the waitress since the woman hasn't said anything.
Her eyes widened when she saw the creepy smile on the woman's face. At first, she was a bit scared because the smile really made her look like a creepy clown. But after a couple of seconds, she realized the face. "Zarah?!" She whisper-yelled, watching the woman from top to bottomâas much as their crouched positions could allowâtaken aback by how she looked nothing like the chic attorney she knows.
The attorney really wasn't kidding when she said no one would recognize her as a waitress. Not with the outfit and makeup. It's impossible for one to tell. Rahma was only able to do so too after a while, and since she knew the plan. Else, she wouldn't have been able to tell.
"Shush" Zarah muttered as she picked up the broken pieces too, looking away from Rahma to the ground. She picked up the pieces slowly, wanting to buy them time to talk.
"I have some information. We have to talk" Rahma muttered, looking down too as she understood what Zarah was trying to do. It would seem suspicious if she and a waitress talk to each other informally when they're supposed to be strangers. Some might not care, but the more careful they are, the better for both of them.
"Let's leave soon then" Zarah said, picking up the last piece of broken glass.
"Okay"
~*~
Meanwhile, Maria's friend laughed at the supposed threat. She snorted, a smirk taking over her features as she watched Maria's expression. Tilting her head to the side slightly, she crossed her arms, "What?" She disgustedly snorted, "Are you scared of the girl? Tell me, are you that scared of her that you'll go around throwing empty threats?"
Noah stopped by the door just as the woman said those words, he only heard what the woman said and from that alone, he could tell whom they were talking about.
"I'll handle the girl. She would never get out" Maria said, taking a step closer to the woman as she narrowed her eyes.
The woman snorted again, "That's what you think. Anyways, good luck with that. But remember, do make the right choices. We both know how bad it'll be for you if I become your enemy" She flashed Maria a wide smirk before she turned around and headed out.
She held the door handle and pulled it open, stopping midway when her eyes fell on Noah who stood, unmoving, watching the two womenâa clear indication that he heard their conversation. Her smirk didn't waver though. If anything, it widened as she turned around to look at Maria, "Oh look! It's Noah" She grinned when Maria snapped her gaze to them, eyes widening slightly.
She then turned back to Noah, flashing him a fake smile before side stepping him, walking away from the two.
"Noah..." Maria started, watching as he took a couple of steps into the room.
His jaw clenched, cocking his head to the side before he shook it, as if not believing what he just heard. "What are you planning to do to her?" He didn't need to say her name; they both know who he's talking about.
"Nothing" She lied straight through her teeth. They both knew he didn't believe her so she sighed, "Nothing you should worry about..."
"We talked about this" He cut her off, "We agreed to not get involved with her ever, whether she gets released or not that's none of our problem"
"Noah, I know. I'm doing this for you"
"Like I told you before, I never asked you to do that or anything for me" He opened his mouth to criticize her more, but decided against it.
She scoffed at his words, "That's what you always say but we both know that if not for me, youâ"
Noah took in a deep breath, then held it in for a second before he released it harshly, "I'm done talking about this" Anyone could see the visible tension in his neck, shoulder and arms due to his rigid posture as he flashed her an icy glare.
When she didn't say anything more, except for the glare plastered on her face, he turned around and walked out; making sure to slam the door shut loudly.
Maria sighed when he left, backing up till she reached the chaise lounge and slumping on it. For the first time in ten years, she couldn't help but wonder.
Did she make the wrong choice back then?
~*~
Maria released a sigh of relief when the car parked in the parking lot. She muttered a 'thank you' to the driver before she got off the car, her left hand holding her hand bag. She pushed herself to walk into the house despite the exhaustion she felt at the moment.
It was night time already, and she's finally home. The event was a success, and as the host, she had to make sure that everyone left before she did. Rahma, who sponsored the event had to leave earlier than expected. Apparently something came up and Maria didn't question her. She bade her farewell after they agreed to meet again soon.
Noah however, after the heated argument they had earlier, she doubts he'll come back home any time soon. She has a feeling he'll stay at the apartment he owns for a while since he wouldn't want to see her face or get involve with her for a while now. What she doesn't get is why he's so angry at her when everything she ever did was for him. That was the promise she made and she made sure to keep it no matter the length she had to go.
She pushed the front door open and stepped in. The scent of incense she usually has the maids lit up filled her olfactory lobes, making her sigh in contentment. Feels like home, she thought.
"You're home" A voice had her snapping her gaze over to the stairs where a man, seemingly in his early fifties walked down the steps in a casual outfit which was a huge contrast to the formal clothes he has on all the time.
She smiled at her husband, feeling some of the stress leave off her body when he smiled back. If there's one thing she's actually thankful for in Nigeria is getting married to her husband. Despite what others might say about himâprecisely his ex-wife and daughterâhe's actually a good and honest man. Frankly speaking, both he and his ex-wife were responsible for their marriage falling apart. But, that's in the past now since he's married to Maria. "Yes" She said.
He reached down the steps in no time, walking towards her he nodded, "You seem worn out, I can tell the event was tiring"
She nodded, shaking her now throbbing head, "Tell me about it" She muttered.
"Well, I'm thankful that you're supporting me this much. Thank you"
She smiled genuinely, seeing how different they both were. While he does everything for the sake of the people, she does everything for him. That's all she could do considering he helped her for the better. If not for him, God knows how she'll end up at the moment. "I'll go freshen up"
He nodded, "I have some work to do too. I'll come up when I'm done"
She walked up the steps while he went in the direction of the study room where he works when he's home. She pushed the door to their room open and stepped in, closing it firmly behind her. Every step she takes seems to take the bit of energy she has left in her. After most event, she usually wasn't this exhausted but after the drama she had to keep up with her friend and Noah, it took a toll on her.
She sat on the stool by the vanity table, keeping her bag on the table while she took off her studs. The rings came off next when her phone vibrated. She kept the rings on the table then shoved her hand in her bag, picking up the phone that's still vibrating.
Her brows furrowed when she saw the unknown number calling her. It wasn't a private number buts he doesn't know who the number belongs to. She kept the phone down and ignored the call, hoping however it is will eventually get tired and stop.
However, it seems like the person has a different intention because the phone kept buzzing even after she had a shower and changed into a nightgown. She sighed loudly and decided to just pick the call. Angrily swiping her hand over the call button, she pressed the phone to her ear, "Hello?"
"We need to talk"
Maria sucked in a deep breath as her eyes widened. She recognized the voice. She could recognize it after so many years, it could never leave the place it imprinted itself in her brain. "When did you...when..." She stuttered unable to find her words. She glanced at the door, making sure it's closed so that no one outside could hear.
She wasn't satisfied with that privacy though so she walked over to the balcony, and still then, she whispered, "Why are you calling"
"We need to talk"
~*~
Yessss
It's a double updateðð
Bless me with comments nowðð𥺠I might update again soon.
Goodnight for real this timeð I know I made your night.
Again, share please!!!
Love, Jannah.