The Marriage Agreement (completed)

chapter nine

Aaliyah

It had been weeks. I was happy, we were happy and everything was okay. They was no more pain nor regret only acceptance. Sadiq and I were more together than we had ever been.
I could say all of these, but they'ld all be lies. Nothing was okay.

Ever since what happened at my father's house, you'd think we would be okay, but we were not. I tried my best but Sadiq had totally cut me off and ignores me like never before.
Somehow, someway it didn't bother me much maybe because I was still hurting even though I had forgiven him.

Our routine was back to the way it was. We barely spoke to each other and he never ate my food anymore. Two things have changed though, one good the other bad. He never looks into my eyes again, he used to glare at me all the time, but now he always tried hard never to meet my gaze, the good part is that he didn't get drunk anymore, I couldnt tell if he stopped drinking, all that I can tell is that he was always sober and they were less late nights.

~~~~~
"Hey Ree," I squealed as I picked up the phone and brought it closer to my ears.

"Chu chu, how are you?" Ree's velvety smooth feminine voice echoed in my ears.

"I'm alive. So are you still coming tomorrow?"

"Do I have a choice?" I could almost swear that she was rolling her eyes. She sighed and I could sense worry in her voice. "Are you sure your husband is okay with me staying at your place?"

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, "for the hundredth time Raina, he is totally cool with it."

"OK toh. I'll call you soon, I have a meeting now." She rushed the words out and hung up before I could reply.

Raina, (I call her Ree), we were like sisters although she was a few years older than I was. We had grown up together. We lived in the same neighborhood until her family moved away a few years ago. She was always the prettier and popular girl and you'd know that just by seeing the number of boys that were always flocking around her. So while she was cool and all, I was the girl who was shy and had never had a boyfriend.

I understood why Raina always got all the attention and I honestly never cared for the attention either. She was pretty, bubbly, tall, fair skinned and curvier, and I may not have been ugly, but I was never as attractive as she was, not even close.

I remember when I had my first crush on Amir, he was Raina's friend. I would always catch him staring when I was with Raina, so I actually thought they was hope for both of us, but it turned out he wasn't staring at me, he was staring at Raina.
Raina said yes to him when he asked her out despite knowing I had a crush on him and already having a boyfriend.
Being the teenager I was, I kept malice with her for a few days, until she apologised and I took her back immediately because I missed her, even though she remained with Amir.

I didn't know what happened between her and her boyfriend but for me all it took to get over Amir were a few books and chocolate.

Time passed, we grew older and wiser, our bond loosened but we still managed to hold on to the very few strings.

She lived in calabar but she had to come to Abuja because she was sent on an assignment. She had asked to stay with me for a few days and I told her I had to ask Sadiq if he was okay with it and when I asked him yesterday morning, he nodded and I took it as a full yes.

I had it at the back of my mind that Sadiq and i would have to put on our usual pretense act but I was surprising looking forward to it.

A DAY LATER

SADIQ

I've always hated noble idiots. You know the kind of guys who let go of the women they love because they feel it is what's best for them or the men in movies who hurt a woman because they love her. Unfortunately though, I had become a noble idiot.

It had been weeks and I had had to compel myself to avoid the woman my heart was beating abnormally for. I was afraid of thinking or admitting to myself that it was love. I couldn't love a woman like Aaliyah, she was better off without my love.

They was barely two months left for our agreement to end. she deserved her freedom and I was going to grant her that even if it was the last thing I ever did.

I walked into my home and a familiar yet uncomfortable feeling consumed me. My heartbeat increased. When I said Aaliyah made my heart beat abnormally, I wasn't joking.

I took in deep breaths and mentally prepared myself for the facade I had been putting on for the past weeks. It wasn't easy to pretend not to care about someone you care too much.
I heard female voices, and I guessed it was Aaliyahs friend whom she said was staying over for two days. It suddenly hit me that we had to pretend to be a real couple since her friend was also among the people who believed we were.

It meant I could hold her if I wanted to, I could smile at her and I could look into her beautiful eyes.

"Salamu alaikum," I greeted as I entered the living room.

"Was alaikumul salam" the two women's voices answered, Aaliyahs voice standing out.

Aaliyah walked towards me with a big smile on her face. She winked at me and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. I had to stiffle my laughter because it wasn't exactly a normal wink with one eye closed, it was unique like her, both her eyes were almost closing.

she held my arms and I swear it felt like it was the first time I was breathing again in years. It felt good.

"Come meet Ree, she's here," she said happily. It was nice to see her happy again.
I followed her to the middle of the living room where a woman stood.
She came closer and then everything started spinning around me. She smiled and my heart tightened to the extent I felt like it had stopped beating.

"Raina this is my husband Sadiq" I could vaguely hear Aaliyahs voice after the first word; Raina.