YOURS, JANNAH

#EIGHT

Aisha traipsed to where she is, took her shoulders in both her hands and pivoted her around. She didn't hug her, she doesn't know how she feels about body contact because not everyone loves just anybody touching them, just like her. She must be too comfortable with you before you get that chance.

"You are insecure about your body?" She asked in a mild voice enough to balm any gaping wound but not Jannah's.

"I'm not and I can't tell you why. Even I don't know why I don't feel bold in my own body. I love my skin though." She blinked away the tears, looking anywhere but at Aisha's face because she cannot do that.

"I get it. But I'm going to force you to walk around like that. It's a new assignment so you can get comfortable in those dark glowing long legs and svelte body that is elastic. I actually love your body. You gave birth but nothing will give that away if not Imara herself or maybe the little stretch marks I saw earlier but those are freaking normal! You brought a human into the world, it's not an easy breezy work you do everyday." Aisha couldn't help it now so she embraced her, tightly.

At first Jannah was weirded out for a few seconds there then she slowly raise her hands to wrap them around Aisha's back, gently placing her head on her shoulders. It was two minutes later of Aishatu just rubbing her back in an emollient way that they pulled away. Jannah blinked back her tears, looking at Aisha in a new light now.

"You are my friend right? You won't ever betray me or turn your back on me if something ever goes wrong in my life?" The questions fell from Jannah's lips before she could think with the rational part of her head.

Aisha gulped. She doesn't give her friendship away just like that. But she could clearly see that Jannah's friends from her hometown let her down just like hers did her when her father died and they suddenly yaw poor. They are in the same boat of having fake friends that do nothing but dilapidate your life. Turn their backs on you when you needed them most, it is daunting.

At that moment she vowed to become Jannah's best friend. She is going to protect her from any evil, even if that person happens to be her husband himself. The Draco.

"I'll be your friend, Jay. And I mean through thick or thin. Even when you don't need me, I'll be there, I promise." Her eyes filled up with tears for reasons queer to her.

Jannah let go of the hijab around her and gave her new friend another hug filled with gratitude. In that hug, she felt her heart lightening and the rhyme perfecting. Jannah could feel goosebumps heightening from tactile sensitivity, her chest expanding. She knew deep within her something good is coming out of this friendship of theirs and she is looking forward to it. Even the bad times as long as they'll face it together.

They pulled away minutes later knowing they all felt the change within.

A genuine smile that reached their eyes split their faces, their eyes lightening up with another glow different from any they've seen in each other's eyes few weeks ago. Their face softened, all tension leaving their facial muscles and their entire body. Aisha held Jannah's hands in both of hers, she gave it a squeeze that was returned enthusiastically. They are like two young teenage girls after escaping the claws of death together.

Aisha was first to stand up, clapping her hands together. "Now that aside, I already love the way you walk so that's out of question. Next, we have makeup."

Jannah scrunched up her face, looking a bit like Imara. "I don't like makeup. Can't we skip that?"

Aisha rolled her eyes. "The other Jannah doesn't do makeup and this one too shouldn't do it? Is that how you plan on making him go cuckoo?" She crossed arms beneath her chest.