Over and Over

Rose

EL-BAAZ MANSOR,
KANO,
NIGERIA.

LAYLA'S POV

The following day came with a tense calm over the Mansor.

The L'ftou dinner, which was once a distant event, now loomed over me like an inevitable storm.

The invitations had been sent, the preparations were underway, and the wheels of tradition continued to turn, indifferent to my growing dread.

I had hoped, perhaps foolishly, that Hakeem's desperation would fade, that the L'ftou dinner could somehow be derailed.

But each passing moment reminded me of the unrelenting pace of my life, one that i had never truly controlled.

The dresses, the jewellery, the family's joy-they all felt like chains, binding me to a future I hadn't chosen.

And Hakeem? He had become an inescapable presence. His words from the night before still haunted my thoughts.

"I'm past romantic, Layla. I'm desperate." Those words echoed in my mind, shaking me in ways i didn't fully understand.

That morning, i sat alone at the family's garden table, a cup of tea cooling in my hands.

The late summer air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of jasmine that always bloomed this time of year.

Normally, the smell comforted me and reminded me of simpler times.

But today, it only made me feel trapped. The air around me felt heavy with the weight of expectation.

NARRATOR'S POV

Hakeem was pacing his office, running his fingers through his hair.

He hadn't slept much since the encounter with Layla in the burgundy dress.

At the way she had looked at him-half defiant, half vulnerable-had stirred something deep inside him, something he hadn't been prepared for.

He thought he had control over the situation over his emotions, but that moment had shattered his calm.

He didn't just want Layla to comply-he wanted her to want this, too, to choose him willingly.

But the harder he tried to reach her, the more distant she seemed to become.

"Mr. El-Baaz," came the soft knock at his door. It was Hashim, his business partner and close friend.

Hakeem sighed, his frustration barely masked.

"Come in," he muttered, sitting down at his desk.

Hashim entered, his expression neutral, but there was a knowing look in his eyes.

"You're distracted," he said, closing the door behind him.

"Is it that obvious?"

Hashim raised an eyebrow, sitting down across from Hakeem.

"You've been staring at your phone for the past five minutes without saying a word. So, yeah, I'd say it's pretty obvious."

Hakeem rubbed his temples. "It's Layla. She's... she's complicated."

Hashim chuckled. "Aren't they all?"

"It's not just that," Hakeem said, leaning forward, his voice low.

"She's not happy about the L'ftou. And I can't shake the feeling that she doesn't want this marriage at all."

Hashim frowned, his playful demeanour fading.