Two Brothers, One Heart

Chapter 39

"School Sucks"

Firdausi has been feeling down and frustrated lately because Goggo has been nagging her. Goggo would make her cook and then criticize the food afterwards. Firdausi, on the other hand, isn't really into culinary arts like Islam is. She's more passionate about creative arts.

That morning, Firdausi sat in her room, sipping on her cocopops, and thinking about how life has been without her sister. She finally got up from her bed, still wearing her pajamas from last night, and walked down the hallway to Zaynab's room.

Without any hesitation, she barged into the room, only to find it empty. "Mama, Mama," she called out, but there was no response. Eventually, she heard the sound of someone throwing up in the bathroom and quickly rushed over to check on her.

"Mama, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with concern, as she saw Zaynab washing her face in the running water at the basin. Zaynab gasped a little and allowed herself to be led to the bedroom, where she sat down while her daughter wrapped her arms around her.

"I'm fine, what is it?" Zaynab replied, her face looking tired as she wiped it with her scarf.

"You keep saying you're fine, but you've been throwing up a lot lately. Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, genuinely concerned and curious.

"I said I'm fine. Now go and get dressed for school so you won't be late," Zaynab said, she shrugged her shoulders dismissively, and walked out of the room.

In her own room, she couldn't help but ponder about all the strange things that had been happening lately. Everyone seemed to be acting differently, especially her parents, who weren't as close as they used to be.

She dressed herself in a white huckaback, rubbing some Vaseline on her skin before tucking in her neatly pressed uniform. She assessed her appearance in the mirror, admiring her profuse tufted afro.

She also noticed that she had gained a lot of weight in a short period of time, probably because she had been indulging in all kinds of junk food without Islam there to restrict her.

She grabbed her satchel and made her way down the stairs to the kitchen, where she spotted some slices of bread. Unable to resist, she slathered a generous amount of peanut butter on the bread and devoured two slices at a time.

"Let's go," Zaynab said, appearing in her fancy abaya and carrying her bag. She walked to the garage, jiggling the keys, and wiped her mouth with a napkin before storming out of the house towards the black Bugatti. They sure had a collection of flashy cars.

The journey to school began, with Firdausi reclining on her seat, gazing at the posters and billboards of different advertisements. She glanced at Zaynab, her mind consumed with thoughts about her current condition. She kept throwing up after every meal and had become more of a foodie, unlike her previous self who cared about her body.

A thought crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. She knew Zaynab couldn't be pregnant at forty-three, even though she was still in her prime. Firdausi wondered what it would be like if there was a baby on the way, but she pushed the thought aside as they pulled into the enormous school.

Zaynab parked in the parking lot, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and drove through. Ready to tackle the day at school.

Everyone seemed to be taken aback while scrolling through their phones. She noticed how they watched her then quickly opened the school's community and there was it - her nudes.

The whole school was now against her, and she had become the talk of the town. Everyone had expected her to be poised and good, but they were all disappointed. She looked at Afra and Fatima, hoping for their support, but they just stood there, staring at her. It didn't take long before another bucket of water came, this time hitting her ear and making her feel like it would deafen her. But she didn't move, even as they continued to bully her.

Just then, a bike came speeding in, scattering the crowd. It pulled up in front of her, and it was Mubarak, her confidant and glimmer of hope. "Let's go," he said, and she quickly climbed onto the bike, not realizing how close she was sitting to him, resting her head on his back. They rode away from that miserable place where the critics were, without saying a word to each other, which made her wonder.

They drove far away, stopping at a flyover that was peaceful and serene. It was still morning, and the sun was rising.

She climbed down from the bike and huffed before saying, "Thanks."

"Thanks? How could you be so stupid to do such a thing?" he asked, his voice filled with fury. She could see the anger in his flared nostrils.

"You also don't trust me," she replied, her voice brittle as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Trust? How could anyone believe you did it? Are you happy now that it cost you your dignity?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the air as he locked eyes with her.

"You're just narrow-minded like everyone else," she retorted, her words filled with frustration.

"At least I'm not like you," he retorted, his words piercing her soul. He mounted his bike and said, "Have fun," before driving away, leaving her standing there, feeling vulnerable and alone.

She was shivering from the cold water, her body worn out. She bent down, burying her face in her hands, crying her heart out. Thoughts of how her parents would react when they found out made her cry even harder, and she felt reluctant to go home.

She walked aimlessly, not knowing where she was going, lost in her thoughts. The sun was already shining, and the street was bustling with activity, but she was unaware of it all.

Suddenly, a car pulled up beside her. She glanced over and saw a man with a questionable look in his eyes. Instinctively, she tried to run, but he grabbed her hand, forcing her into the car. In a desperate attempt to escape, she bit his wrist.

"What's going on?" asked a man who was trying to help. She quickly hid behind him, expressing her fear and distress, while the driver swiftly drove away.

"Are you okay?" asked the man, who turned out to be Ali Jamal Nagogo.

"Yes," she replied, her voice trembling as tears continued to stream down her face. She couldn't hold back the overwhelming emotions that had built up from everything that had happened.

Ali, showing empathy and concern, bought a bottle of water for her to help calm her down. As she confided in him, sharing the details of the troubling events, she felt a sense of relief knowing that someone was there to listen and support her.

Feeling uneasy about going home, she asked Ali if he could drive her somewhere else. Without hesitation, he agreed and drove her to his book company, a place where various kinds of books were published and sold. It was like stepping into a magical world, a gigantic library filled with endless possibilities and captivating stories.

As she explored the shelves, she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and solace. Ali's understanding and generosity touched her deeply, especially considering his reputation as the strict Nagogo heir.

Lost in the enchanting world of literature, she sat down and indulged in a delicious stick of suya arranged in it, while reading the novel Ali had handpicked for her. In that moment, she momentarily forgot about the troubles that lay ahead and the potential consequences of her actions.

Stay tuned readers

What if a baby is coming???