DECE-P-TION

DXIII

I arrange the throw pillows on the sofa, preparing the bed to sleep. The door opens as I turn to see Falah sauntering back into the room. "I couldn't find you." I scoff. "I left there over an hour ago and you noticed now?"

"We were talking with the groom."

"That doesn't justify it. All I asked of you was to act like a good and normal husband for a few hours and it's not like we have to be together all the time. I sat there for a few minutes and two people spoke to me about you ghosting me for another woman."

"Who spoke to you about it?"

"Does it matter? All I know is that now I'm a laughing stalk to your family and friends. I didn't objectify when you and her were being romantic in the car, why embarrass me when I have never done the same to you. I treat you well normally and I act like we're a great couple when I'm with your family." 

He takes a step forward but I shake my head. "You can go to her room at this point and stay there till we leave. I survived today, I can survive tomorrow without you." I lie down on my side of the bed, turning away from him. I close my eyes, planning on how to deal with anyone who comes to talk to me about that again to taunt me.

**********

I lock the bedroom door when I see Falah walking  towards me. I open the room, putting the key in my bag while I walk. "Hey." I hear Falah say as I raise my head to look at him. "Hi." I respond, zipping my bag. "I want to talk to you about last night."

"Falah, can we talk later? I'm getting late." He nods and I continue walking. I don't need him anymore, he can do whatever he pleases. Rather than making myself miserable, o think about solving the problem and getting to it. I don't have time to be fighting over a man I don't love. Sultana can take him but I also have to put her in her place.

Since the drive when I let her spend time with him, she's been acting rudely towards me. Maybe I'm looking into it but I prefer to solve the matter before it progresses.

I walk into the beautifully decorated room that has cushions for sitting down on the floor for each woman and most of the cushions are taken. I meet eyes with women looking at me in a glaring manner.

"Ally." Zulaika calls me walking towards me with a smile plastered on her face. "Hey." I say smiling as she hugs me. "Hi, you look beautiful." She compliments me.

She pulls away before turning to face her friends. "This is Alya, she's Falah Nadeem's wife." They weakly mutter, with some women smiling. My eyes lands in sultana who's sitting close to Zulaika's chair.

I smile at the women as she leads me to a chair next to hers. "Please seat, I kept this for you specially." I sit, keeping my bag on my lap. "Thank you."

"Let's start spa day!"

************

I sit in the steam room feeling like a dumpling being cooked. I take a deep breath, closing my eyes as I hear someone open the door. I open my eyes for a plot second to see sultana and I close them back before she sees me. She sits down for a minutes without saying anything.

I open my eyes to look at her. "Sultana, you're here. Let me greet you first then, good afternoon. How are you?" She smiles. "Afternoon, I'm fine, thank you." I close my eyes, leaning back to the wall.

"You left early during the event."

"You noticed? How caring of you. Yes, I did." I don't bother to give her more information or open my eyes. "I see, you looked great. You both did." I smile, shrugging. "We try."

"You don't really love him, right? It's just the two of us here." She says. "I'll make sure to talk to you if I ever have any concerns." I shift to feel more comfortable. "Okay."

I smile internally at how she's trying hard.

********

We get back to the room seeing the men there as well. I lock eyes with Seyi and I grin, walking towards him. "How's my sister doing?" Seyi asks glancing at Falah who's sitting on the chair by the wall. "Great, how's everything going?"

"Fine, splendid. You're all glowing." He looks at the other women as well. "Yeah, we went to the spa. Zulaika isn't playing." He chuckles. "They're all glowing." Seyi says before I see Falah standing beside me.

"Seyi, it seems like you're getting chummy with Alya." I feel him wrap his arm around me. "She's my sister, the wife of my brother is my sister."

"No, she's the wife of your brother. I don't like sharing attention." I force a chuckle and made it sound sincere. "Don't let him separate us, I'm your brother and you're my sister. Isn't that right?"

I nod. "Definitely, always." I respond. "She's being polite." Seyi rolls his eyes. "Ofcourse."

"Okay, I'm being extreme." Falah suddenly admits. "Now you're being true to yourself." Seyi crosses his arms, waiting for him to finish. "Alya is your sister just like zulaika is my sister as well."

Seyi shakes his head. "No." We burst out laughing. "Fair play." Seyi commends as he finally takes his eyes off the door. "Where's Zulaika?"

"She's getting ready in her room, she'll be out soon."

"I'll go check up on her."

"Okay." He walks away and we find our seat. Some women who had their husbands sat with them, some sit idle and other flirt with the groomsmen. Me and Falah share a sofa, sitting in silence.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, I shouldn't have embarrassed you in front of my friends and family. I'd like to make it up to you."  I glance at him, keeping eyes contact with him. "You're making up for it already." I give him a weak smile looking away.

I shift my eyes when I see sultana. This should be fun. I lean back into Falah's arms, holding his hand. I look around when I see the chubby guy who spoke to me last night. "Falah?"

"Mm?"

"Who's that guy? The chubby dark one with the white shirt." I look up at him. "That's rhino, he's a friend of mine. What happened?"

"He's the one that was mocking me yesterday. You're really friends?" He nods, staring at him. "Why do you call him rhi..?" I trail off, smiling. "Don't tell me it's because he's...". I burst out laughing and he joins me.

"You're cruel." I try to stop myself from laughing so my tummy doesn't hurt. "It started when we were kids and it just stuck."

"It's creative though." I glance at him as I find him looking at me. "You look good." He compliments making me roll my eyes. "You don't have to make it up to me like this."

"You do look good, not great, not beautiful but good." He jokes making me chuckle. "You're saying I look good and bad at the same time?"

"Pretty much sums it up." I chuckle, sucking my teeth. "You're walking on dangerous waters, Falah Nadeem."

"I've always been a risk taker." I scoff. "You don't believe me?" I clear my throat. "No, I just cleared my throat." He chuckles. "I love risks. The adrenaline rush is addictive."

"So you're an adrenaline junkie?" He pauses for a few seconds. "Yes." He admits and I clap my hands quietly. "I love your bravery to be able to come out and admit to your ways."

"Thank you so much." I giggle as he pulls me closer to him, kissing my head.

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