𝓜𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂, 𝓶𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮

21# FINALLY

THE KHALIL RESIDENCE,
ASOKORO.
JANUARY, 2021.

The wedding was in two days.

Before, Jamilah had been watching the whole thing like an outsider; Watching others plan the eating, seating, gaming arrangements for the nikkah.*

But now, with the D-Day so close, Jamilah felt like a truckload of pressure had been heaped on her.

She couldn't tell if it was pre-wedding jitters, but she suddenly felt nauseous; thinking, rethinking, overthinking!

Even when she stepped out of her room for fresh air, the bustle of the house did nothing to calm her spirits.

So she stepped out of the house.

And that probably was the worst decision she'd made.

The second she stepped onto the porch, heading for the gazebo, she met Jamil.

And he was with someone, a lady.

The woman had a full hair of dark, bouncy curls, her skin a beautiful shade of brown, well proportioned features.

She was beautiful.

But it wasn't her beauty that took Jamilah aback.

It was the fact that Jamil had just laughed.

A full out laughter she'd never heard him make before.

Rich, deep and beautiful.

But nothing about the laughter made her happy, not when he was laughing because of this unidentified woman.

Jamilah knew somewhere that her feelings were irrational. She really didn't want to feel like she did.

She hated feeling like asking the woman to leave the house or separating the two of them at least, but she couldn't deny that it was the way she felt.

She had no idea how long she stood on the porch for, but when Jamil caught her gaze, she was positive that she was crying.

And she didn't even know why!

She went to the gazebo, following the back route.

And when a few minutes later, she heard those slow steps approach, she knew Jamil had followed her.

"Go away", she muttered, facing away from him.

"Jamilah", his voice came, in the manner it always did, unfailingly, cool and lacking warmth.

Jamilah almost shivered, but reigned it in, turning to look at him.

He took the seat opposite her in the gazebo, leaving quite a bit of distance between them.

When he was finally seated, long limbs and all, he glanced towards her direction.

"Are you okay?", He asked, brows furrowed in concern.

Jamilah's moment of teariness was already over, but she still felt the embers of a flame that hadn't been snuffed out simmer beneath her skin.

"I'm fine".

Her voice had the slightest edge to it, which surprised her, and by the looks of it, Jamil too.

"Did I offend you?", He asked, his voice laced with confusion.

Jamilah should've been astounded that Jamil was actually speaking to her, she should've been shocked he knew of things like concern and gentleness.

But the only thing she felt was hurt. A confusing, misplaced hurt.

"I'm sorry", she said quickly, disregarding his question. "...I really don't mean to be rude or anything", She elaborated, trying to communicate her apology through her eyes.