Too Little, Too Late

24

Ibtihaj stopped pacing in front of Kingstone's entrance when the blue Chevrolet Corvette pulled in the parking lot, occupying the spot between the Adeolas' Sienna and the Abdulazizs' Rav4. A brow of hers went up when both doors of the Corvette went open, Ibrahim and Ayra stepping out a moment later. A deep breath was the only thing that stopped Ibtihaj from swearing in Yoruba at the tall man her friend ended up being married to.

At the car, Ayra shut the door and caught up with Ibrahim, her hand naturally seeking his. She returned the small smile he gave her and then they headed towards her best friend who had her arms folded, her brow still sky-high. Ayra's smile widened. "Ibty!"

Ibtihaj couldn't help but smile back. "Ayra...You look happy."

"Well, I'm working on it. There's still a lot to talk about but I'm a little better."

Hoping and praying that her best friend had not succumbed to the charms of her beloved husband, Ibtihaj turned to Ibrahim and her smile dropped. "Ibrahim Fahad."

Ibrahim had the decency to look ashamed. "I'm sorry."

She held up a hand. "I really don't want to hear it right now." She let her hand go back to the other, folded across her chest. "I should have you know that I meant what I said. I'm not forgiving you and please let your friends know that they're blocked until further notice. The only reason I haven't blocked you too is because Ayra's still married to you and I need to be able to get through to you should you decide to be a werey again."

Ayra's heart dropped. "Ibty."

Ibtihaj ignored her, refusing to turn away from Ibrahim who stared back at her as calmly as he always did. "And I also meant it when I said you should send Ayra back to us if you're not going to man up. I'm not going to allow my best friend spend the rest of her life crying simply because you couldn't decide if she was more important or if your career is."

"We're not separating, Ibty." Ibrahim told her. "I know I'm... No, I know I've been wrong and I'm going to do everything I can to make it right."

She eyed him. "I'd like to see you try." She then unfolded her hands. "Anyways, I've got my eyes on you and the squad, Ibrahim Fahad. For now, you should go in and assure everyone that you didn't do anything wrong because there are a lot of questions regarding why you didn't show up and why your family didn't too." She then smiled at Ayra. "I'll just talk to Ayra for a bit."

Ayra didn't smile back and Ibtihaj did not care. She watched as husband and wife promised to see each other inside and when Ibrahim was gone, Ibtihaj spoke before Ayra could.

"Yes, I sent him that message and I don't care if he got hurt because of it. I'm not apologising for it either. And yes, I believe he should divorce you if he's not going to stop being the same person who's hurting you after promising to love you and make you happy. And yes, I blocked the others because they want to kill me with sorrys and mio feh gbo rara (I don't want to hear it). Oya, go ahead and tell me that I shouldn't have done that and I will say it again that I do not regret it and I will not apologise for it because your happiness means the most to be and all of them are mad, especially that Tobi with his head like –"

Ayra hugged her. "You talk too much."

Ibtihaj easily melted into the hug. "Iffa slap you."

Ayra laughed, pulling back. "I love you either way...Ibrahim told me about the message you sent and yes, you did hurt him and seeing him hurt made me hurt too."

"Ehn?!" Ibtihaj wagged a finger at Ayra's face. "Walai if you tell me you forgave him because of small cry that he cried, I will –"

"I didn't forgive him so easily. He's going to make up for it. I just..." Ayra sighed. "It just made me understand my parents each time they fought and my mum came down to get my dad from the sofa he was sleeping on. I hated the fact that Ibrahim was hurting and he explained everything to me. Look, he didn't do things the right way and he's acknowledged that. I've also told him clearly that we can't continue this way with him being more at work than at home."