CHAPTER XLV

" so, as we already know, I'm getting married!!! " sakeena squealed loudly, almost getting some of the customer's attention. Her friends were also  happy for her. They've been in the eatery for like an hour now and sakeena wouldn't stop getting excited about her soon wedding .

" I really can't believe that you'd be the first to get married amongs us!. This is surreal " badiyya told her with a smile

Sakeena playfully rolled her eyes " I also can't believe it too, girl. "

Rahama was just there, watching the two. She would only smile when she is suppose to and talk when she is also suppose too. Her mind is full of thoughts about sadiq. She hasn't been able to stop thinking about there last conversation. She wished she could meet him again coz her mind was already made up. Rahama wants to tell him how she feels, she don't think she can keep shut anymore. She wouldn't let sadiq escape her again for the second time like he did when he traveled out of the country and time isn't waiting anymore,She isn't growing any younger.

Among the trio, badiyya is the youngest of them.She is two years younger than them but she still act maturely like someone within their age.

" I was thinking maybe we should go for onion color " their conversation later changed to the colour of  Anko they are going to pick.

Sakeena nodded thoughtfully " I think it would be cool. I like that color "

" but don't you girls think we should go for mint green? I feel that alot of occasions that had been holding, that onion color is kind of too common. Why don't we go for a different color but that is if the bride is cool with it though " rahama suggested as she looks at sakeena for response

Badiyya agreed with rahama " yeah you're absolutely right. Last week a friend of mine got married and that same onion colour was the colour of anko they actually picked. I think we should go for the mint green too" she said thoughtfully

Sakeena smile " you girls are the one in charge, you don't need my approval. Anything you go for, I'm absolutely OK with it"

" OK then, it's settled . Mint green it is!"

A waiter came forward to pack their plates.

" bring us some ice-cream please "

" OK ma'am. what flavor would you like? " the waiter asked

Badiyya looks at her friends " what flavor to you two want? "

" our usual " rahama said with a shrug

" ok" badiyya faced the waiter" we will go for strawberry "

" OK." he nodded politely " I will be back in few seconds " he left after saying that.

" Girls, guess who called me yesterday? " badiyya whispered yelled

The two became alarmed thinking it was something so serious " who? " they asked at the same time.

She giggles " it's sagir. We're actually dating for real now"

" ahhhhhhhhhhh" sakeena squealed happily " I knew it. No wonder he woke up happy this morning "

" wow! many good news in one day" Rahama said with a smile " I think it's high time I get myself a man" she jokingly added

The two friends burst out laughing " Don't even try it. Yaya sadiq will definitely kill that person" badiyya told her

" Don't even think of doing that"

Rahama rolled her eyes " then why haven't he confessed his love for me yet?. Look at me girls, I'm not growing any younger. I keep chasing away all the guys around me just because of one man and that same man I'm talking about hasn't even shown any interest. I really don't understand what is happening. I feel as if I'm just wasting my time " she poured out her heart to her friends. Rahama rubbed her forehead

" I think I should just tell him how I feel since he is wasting enough time already. From there I will know what my next step would be"

Sakeena exhaled sadly " I thought we were just joking around, but from what you just said I realized that you my friend have alot going on inside you. I'm a terrible friend for not realizing that sooner and here I am throwing the fact that I was getting married in your face"

Rahama looked at her surprised " ya Allah, please don't feel bad about anything. Don't make my hopeless problems be the reason why you wouldn't be happy for your upcoming wedding. I'm so happy for you sakeena please don't let my problem affect you"

" Remember, you're my friend, infact you're more like a sister to me and I can't just sit and watch you suffer without doing anything. I think it's high time I help out in this, what do you think badiyya? " sakeena asked

Badiyya nodded " I agree with you on this. I think it high time we talk some senses into my brother. I really don't understand him "

Rahama's eyes were wide open " please I beg you two with Allah, don't do anything. I don't want him to think of me as a desperate human being"

" there isn't anything desperate in this. This is called reuniting two lovers and I'd be so glad if we succeed " sakeena told her

" but still" she whined

" nothing like but still. We are going to help and that's what we're going to do. Nothing you say would make us change our minds. Right badiyya?"

" absolutely right " badiyya answerd

Rahama look at the two with a pout. " so there isn't anything I say that would change your minds? "

" Nope"

The waiter came back with their strawberry ice-cream. He gave each of them theirs

" thank you" Rahama said as he hand hers over to her.

" hmmmmmmmm, I love how this ice-cream easily melt . It so delicious wallahi " badiyya said

" me too, wallahi" sakeena replied with her mouth full of ice-cream.

Rahama could only chuckle but nevertheless agree with them. A loud sound was heard. That sound always makes noise when new customers arrive.

" I hate that sound wallahi " sakeena hissed

Badiyya giggled " abeg no one asked you to come here by force."

" let's see who is about to enter self" sakeena said as she set her eyes straight towards the door. As the door opened, three set of people entered and to there surprise it was sadiq, jafar, and the girl in a man's clothes whose name is non other than rahama.

" it's my brother and Jafar! "

" I really don't like that girl " said sakeena in distaste as she gave American rahama a ones over.

Rahama's eyes were set straight on the man with the grey T-shirt. How comes he looks good in everything ? she thought dreamily .

Sakeena and Badiyya noticed that Rahama isn't saying anything, they both faced her and was surprised to see their friend eye raping sadiq who isn't aware of what is going on over here.

They gave eachother a knowing look and then burst into laughter.

Upon hearing the sudden burst of laughter, rahama came out of her reverie. She looked at her friends questioning" why are you two laughing ?"

The two got hold of themselves . Their lips were set straight on a straight line to suppress the laugh " it's nothing "

Rahama looked at them awkwardly " I don't believe you"

" then don't " said badiyya dismissively " That aside, I wonder what that girl is doing with them"

Rahama furrowed her brows " which girl?"

Badiyya and sakeena giggled softly " how would you know when you were busy gaping and swooning over my brother"

Rahama gasped " I wasn't swooning "

" of course you weren't " sakeena sarcastically let out

A tint of blush was there on rahama's cheeks. She was ashamed to be caught by her friends. She decided to cover it up by looking over at where the girl they were talking about was standing. It was non other than her NAMESAKE. She internally scoffed, she even have the nerve to wear a man's clothes ?. Rahama was sure that the clothes doesn't belongs to her because of how big it was . To others, it might not be that big but still, she just knew it wasn't hers. It might be sadiq's. She felt like going over there to slap the girls face.

" I see that you've finally noticed her " badiyya said when she noticed the hate look on Rahama's face.

" She irks me alot. May Allah forgive me"

Sakeena giggles softly " calm down girl. Don't free your lioness self too soon, atleast allow them to finish ordering what ever it is they want to order"

Rahama pout " am Seriously jealous right now"

" girls, girls, they are coming over here. Let's invite them to our seat" badiyya sharply said.

Sadiq was the one who noticed them first. He smile at the sight of his sister and then walk straight to their table leaving his friends behind .

" Lil sis, you're also here" he said with a wide smile.

Badiyya stood up to side hug him " yes yaya and I can see you brought your friend, rahama" she said

Sadiq smile and look at the American rahama who was now standing close to him" meet my sister, badiyya"

American rahama's eyes sparkles " it's so nice-

She was cutoff off as jafar banged all their orders on the table

" Really guys? you left me alone to bring all your orders to you. Aren't you suppose to wait to take it yourself" he said in annoyance but at the sight of his girl, a wide smile spread across his face.

" babes"

Sakeena shyly smiles when the others looked in surprise at Jafar's  nickname for her.

" really? babes? " Rahama asked teasingly and the rest burst in laughter

" guys, it's non of your concern. She is my girl so deal with it" jafar defended not even fazed with their teasing.

" it enough guys. I can't wait to have my launch coz I'm definitely hungry" Jafar said and immediately sat on the chair close to sakeena and that was the chair badiyya was sitting on before she stood up to hug her brother.

" that's my seat " she yelled

" go look for another one then"

" Girl ,will kill you one day " badiyya teased and then rolled her eyes at him.

" thank God she is my girl then. I wouldn't mind if I die in her hands" he retorted back at her.

Badiyya and Jafar have been like this ever since before Jafar travelled abroad. It was more like a friendly teasing which they are already used to. They tend to throw jabs at each other but still ended up laughing about it.

" jafar, atleast you should have some curtsey to ask if you should join them or not " sadiq scolded from where he was standing.

Jafar looked at him with a brow raised " are you for real man? They are family, I don't need to ask. Am I not right, girls? " he asked them

" of course you are " Rahama answered with a small smile.

Sadiq was astonished with her response. This lady surprises him each day that passes. He glanced at her beautiful face, she was smiling happily without a care in the world. This side of her still amaze him. He never knew she will become so calm and loving. He does love this side of her, alot.

" I told you. Even rahama testified it herself " Jafar shoot out a tongue at sadiq childishly. Jafar is a man full of excitement. Their is never hating in his dictionary

Sadiq didn't know when a smile spread across his face. There is no denying it anymore, he  still loves this girl in front of him and he can't wait anymore to tell her. .

American rahama kept looking from the man beside her to the lady who calls herself  her namesake, the two were busy sharing a different kind of smile of that of  two couple communicating with each other through their eyes.

She fumed in anger. And here sadiq told her their was nothing between them!.

" Sadiq, come let's have our seat" she said flashing him a smile just to make the lady sitting down jealous.

Sadiq nodded and wanted taking the seat beside rahama but the American rahama beat him to it. She quickly sat on the seat.

He felt bad but hid it and took the chair inbetween American rahama and badiyya. Badiyya secretly glared at the American rahama. She already knew the game the girl was playing.

" so, rahama how do you find this place? " badiyya faked a smile as she asked.

American rahama who is busy having her fries shrugged " it's OK "

Badiyya grinned " just OK? I was expecting you to say more atleast"

Sadiq gave badiyya a warning look but the girl wasn't even fazed, she kept on asking.

" well, it's nice and has this homey feeling "

" perfect. At least you said something I love, wouldn't want you to go back to your country and tell them about how nigeria isn't nice enough as a  country" badiyya giggles

American rahama  also joined in the giggles " you've got nothing to be worried about. In fact I have lots of good news to take home. "

" I see"

" erm.... Rahama please pass me the chilli pepper beside you" sadiq said

"Ok" the two rahama said at the same time with there hand already outstretched to get the chilli pepper.

Sadiq has forgotten that their are two Rahama. His request was actually meant for the Nigerian rahama since she was closer to the pepper.

Everyone on the table noticed the tensed atmosphere as the two drag the plate filled up with pepper. The Nigerian Rahama was about to let go but unfortunately American Rahama let it go first and the pepper pour all over the Nigerian Rahama.

She gasped in shock . She looked at her now stained clothes full with pepper.

American Rahama actually did it intentionally. She wanted to make Nigerian Rahama a laughing stock but unfortunately for her, her plan backfired because everyone on the table stood up to help her.

American Rahama's heart was burning in hatred as sadiq was the first to standup.

He turn to face American rahama " you shouldn't have done that " he scolded

" I didn't do anything. I only left her the pepper so she could  give you . How would I have known that it would pour all over her? " she defended

He heaved a tired sigh. This girl is already causing too much trouble and he is fed up with that." you're unbelievable "

She scoffed " I'm unbelievable? This is all your fault sadiq,you should have specified on which of the Rahama you're talking to. " American Rahama defend herself

The rest only keep quiet watching the two.

" Erm ....sadiq you really don't need to scold her. Its not as if it entered my eyes. I will just go to the restroom to wash it off" Nigerian  Rahama said

" are you sure " he asked concerned

She nodded " yes"

She stood up and walk straight to the restroom. On her way, she couldn't stop the smile that kept spreading all over her face. Sadiq actually cares for me. She squealed immediately she entered the restroom.

She face the mirror " Does this means that he cares after all?"

***

Sadiq avoided talking to American Rahama the whole time. He thinks it's best he do what jafar had told him before they came here. He is going to be harsh on her,by doing so  she might finally leave him alone.

A loud sound was heard. It was Rahama's phone. They allowed it to ring but when the ringing became too much, Badiyya took it to check the caller ID and it turned out to be her dad, Alhaji Dabo.

" it's her dad and she is in the restroom " she said worriedly

" Give it to me, I'll take it to her " sadiq said suddenly

***

I'm so sorry for the late update🙏. Promise , I'll make it up to you. By Allah's will, the next update will come up tomorrow in the morning. 😄😆😃😍💕💕💋

Another thing, I'm tired of using American rahama and Nigerian Rahama😅 It's kind of too long. What do you suggest we use? 💕💕

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