Habiba's POV:
Makeup has never been my cup of tea, just Vaseline, lipgloss, and Turare were enough to beautify me.
While growing up, I severally received praise from people on how blessed I was with natural beauty, so since I was little, I was very much aware of my physical features, which I got from my parent.
It was already 10:am in the morning when I finished getting ready for the party in my best clothes, my hijab gown.
"Habibti!" Mom smiled, calling me by my pet name, which means sweetheart.
"Mom, how do I look?" I asked excitedly.
"You always look pretty dear." She smiled.
"What do you have there?" I asked, noticing a jewellery box in her hand.
"This is the first gift your dad gave me before we got married." She smiled as she locked a silver locket around my neck.
"So now I'm passing it unto you, trusting that you will keep it safe," she adds.
"Mom, this is beautiful; you should keep it as Dad's memorial...
"Shush! it's now yours," She laughs.
"I want you to keep it safe with you as this may be the only thing I can give to you before you...
"Before I leave?" I asked nervously, observing Mom's instant changed mood; she suddenly looked gloomy.
"Mom, why am I leaving?"
"Go and have fun at your graduation party, we will talk later." She smiled and quietly left the room not giving me a chance to ask more questions.
***
As I strolled off to school, I couldn't take my mind off Mom's strange behaviour, which was beginning to scare me; whatever it was, I must get to the root of it.
"Glad you made it!" Jamila threw me a hug.
"I'm also happy." I smiled back.
After arguing about whose clothes were finer, we soon found a vacant bench and continued chattering.
"I must say your dad has good taste," Jamila concluded while she admired my locket.
"Sure." I laughed.
Just then Hafsat approached us with a sad look.
"What are you doing here?"Jamila scorned.
"I'm not here to cause any trouble; I just came to apologize for yesterday; I'm sorry." She pouts.
"Thanks," I replied while being surprised at her sudden change of heart.
"Can I sit with you guys if you don't mind?" She asks gesturing for the free spot beside me.
"Sure, you can," I replied but Jamila was in no support when she yelled
"No!"
"You're not welcome!" She lashed out.
"C'mon, she has already apologized," I whispered, trying to convince Jamila, who was grumbling.
"You're too naive, I don't trust her one bit." Jamila frowned.
"I know, but let's give her a chance."
After convincing Jamila for more than a minute, the school party began with the principal's opening speech following it up with social events and the presentation of gifts to the most deserving students.
"Habiba Aliyu!" My name was called by the principal.
Though I was expecting to be amongst the lucky students to receive gifts, I wasn't expecting to be awarded the overall best student.
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Romansa"Don't get attracted to what you see, unless you wanna get burnt." Najib smirked, pinning his hard gaze on her. "W...what do you mean?" Habiba's voice breaks at the intensity of his piercing gaze. "Expect nothing from this marriage and most importa...