TRIALS (Completed)

Twenty-nine

As another laughter threatened to escape past Meena’s lips, she held it back by placing a hand over her mouth, then turned from her lying position to glance at her bedroom door. Satisfied that no one had come to check if she was running mad. She placed the phone back on her ear,
“Stop jor.” 

Badr responded with a laughter that sounded like a motorcycle struggling to start, “Stop what, what did I say now?”

Plopping on her pillow, she replied, “You know what you said, and you know gossiping is not good.

“Ah, how is this gossip na? Oti o.”

She chuckled. “Okay.” She waited for him to speak, when he didn’t, she checked her phone, still running. “Hello?”

“Hi.” 

She rolled her eyes. “Why are you now quiet?”

I was giving you space to catch your breath, you’ve been laughing too much and you know too much laughter kills.”

“Says who?” She sputtered, smiling widely. 

“Me o, I know a friend that-”

“Ehn ehn, I don’t want o, don’t start that your gossip again.”

“Ah, I don’t understand o. Somebody cannot tell story again.”

“Which kain, you that will finish talking about someone, the next thing you’ll say is, ‘the person is even here sef.”

“Ehen, It’s true na.”

She hissed. “Gossip.”

“Oh, na you sabi o.” 

He kept quiet again, while she waited. “What is it again?”

“I was just thinking,”

“Of?”

“If you’d like to go on a fridate with me?”

Her brows furrowed, “Did I hear you correctly?”

“Only if you don’t have ear problem.”

She smiled despite herself. “You said fridate?”

“Yes, as in a date on a friday.”

She sat up and wrapped an arm around her torso. The sun sent slants of rays across her face. “So you’re asking me on a date?”

He sighed, making her smile. “Or you know what? forget it.”

She burst into laughter, but inside, she was wondering whether to say yes. This would be the second date. “Forget what? Chill jor. I want to think.”

“Of the date or saying yes?”

“Both.” She shrugged. 

“Okay o, when you’re done, let me know. I have to go now. Unlike some people, I don’t take breaks on Friday.”

“Jealousy.”

“For what, las las i will make more money than you.”

“Yes!” She said, surprising herself.

“Um, yes for…”

“The date, it’s a yes.” 

There was silence. “Oh. Oh wow. That’s Masha Allah. Umm,” there was a loud thud. “That’s awesome. Let me um, call you later then.”

“Okay but-”

“Bissalam.” He said quickly and ended the call.

Meena stared at her phone for a while. Did she scare him away? She smiled and fell back on the bed, closing her eyes and spreading her arms wide. She had a feeling about the day, a good feeling. But what of… She halted her thoughts and opened her eyes. No, she deserved this. After everything, she deserved this. As she turned to bury her face in her pillow, her phone vibrated beside her. She turned to it, smiling. Mr. shy shy was back. But then the vibration cut off. A flash? She thought. Weird.