"Hey" someone nudged me awake.
"We are here" It was Hammad. He had a little smile on his face. I silently got out of the car. I had a little energy left from the crying and the sleep afterwards. My head was pounding. We silently went to the doctors and I got my test result. No malaria no typhoid. Just the migraine like I said!
I was now pissed. They stabbed me for nothing and they wasted the small blood that mosquitoes left. Hammad waited outside while I got my results from the reception.
"Hey"
"Hi. I'm done, we can go now" I replied, my voice horse from crying and lack of talking. We left the hospital building and i walked slowly to the car, Hammad close behind me.
Weird my mum hasn't called. Where is the phone sef? I looked around the car and I couldn't find my phone. I had a mini heart attack as I searched frantically. We were in the parking lot of the hospital.
"Hammad could you call me please ban ga wayata ba( I can't find my phone)"
"Sure" he took his phone and dialed as I searched. I heard its faint ringing from under the car seat I think. Relief flooded me. My phone is my life please. I tried to get to it but my hand was too short and stout.
"Hammad could you-"
"I got you" he got out of the car and jogged to my side. I smiled at his kindness. He's so sweet. He rummaged under the seat and brought it out.
"Missed call from founder's favorite huh" he said with a raised eyebrow, amusement on his face. I shut my eyes. I'm ashamed of myself. He wasn't meant to see that name ever!
"That's wham I am to you? ice cream?" He asked chuckling. I laughed silently.
"Well what did you save mine?" I asked as I reached for his phone as I dialed his number.
*incoming call *
*wifey*
I chuckled quietly. Wifey? This guy is too cheesy. I ended the call and gave him back his phone. He was playing with his cufflinks and smiling awkwardly. Is he shy? Oh my God he is shy! How cute can this guy get? I smiled hard. He started the car and we drove off.
****
"I guess I'll see you later" I said as I stepped out of the car. I was home and it was currently a few minutes after six pm. He stepped out also. I stared at him with one raised eyebrow questioningly
"Let me walk you" I was going to protest but i just nodded and we walked. Once we got to the gate, I turned to face him and he took my hand, lightly kissing the top.
"You're beautiful" he whispered. If I could turn red, I'd put a tomato to shame. So you really do freeze huh? I always thought girls were lying when they bring up that "I froze" shit. Look at me now. Really frozen. His phone began to ring and I blinked. Once, twice, multiple times. My heart was going like a humming bird. Hammad just..
He really... Oh God.
"See you tomorrow babe" he said and turned around picking the call. I watched his back with as he walked away. Then I knew, I was screwed. Because what is this feeling in my chest?
****
"You've realized Hammad is all you've talked about this term abi?" Noor said exaggerating as usual. I get why we were friends. We like drama die. I rolled my eyes at her.
"My sis is in love yoo" she said, wiping imaginary tears from her eyes.
"Ewwww" I said back and she smacked me hard. You can say she loves love and I hate its concept. Opposites attract right? Rasmah laughed at our shenanigans. We were always at it.
She is actually more excited than I am about the whole Hammad thing. You'd think I was getting married. A vision of Noor at my wedding came to my mind. She'll slay more than I will even though its my wedding. She's evil like that. She'd dance like her life depends on it. Now Im really look forward to that.
I told my mum. About Hammad. Not everything but most of it. You see my mum is not the type that trips when you're with guys. She believes that she has trained you well and she should trust you to behave yourself. Besides, this is the first time I'm actually having a male friend. I was always indoors, away from crowd and people. Both she and I never thought I'd actually get a male friend because I am an introvert with complications.
Hammad lived fifteen minutes away from me so he was here again. He was mostly here when he has nothing doing. I was leading him to my house. My mum wanted to meet him! We were both nervous. Him more than me.
He was wearing a white kaftan and a black tangaran (a type of cap housa people wear with kaftan) today. The colours complemented his caramel skin really well.
He actually asked me what he'd wear when I told him my mum wanted to meet him. He looked really good. Kaftan is a blessing i swear. I was wearing ankara. Skirt, bouse and a distorted head tie since it is a Friday.
"We look like newly weds today" Hammad commented.
"Ewww" I laughed.
"you look very beautiful amarya (bride)" I smiled.
"You don't look so bad yourself" I said and his smile faltered. He frowned
"You want me to change?" he asked turning around. What? Is he crazy?
"No no no. You look fine. Maybe handsome" I said quietly.
"I knew that. Just wanted you to say it" he said and smirked. I rolled my eyes at him and proceeded through the gate, him behind me.
"Sameerah wait. I'm going to mess up" Hammad said rubbing his face with his palms when we got to the front door.
"Mess up how? Its not a marriage proposal Hammad" I laughed at him.
"Don't laugh. This is serious what if she doesn't like me and she stops you from hanging out with me?" He said panicking.
"Hey, breathe. Its not a big deal really or I can tell her you chickened out" I said and he scowled at me, not happy that I was joking about this. My mum is really cool just don't cross her. I'm serious, don't.
"Let's go"
"Assalamualaikum" we chorused and my mum answered. We entered. I could see that Hammad was freaking out big time. He greeted my mum. Squatted to the ground greeting oo. Home training game 9/10. I wanted to laugh at him. She greeted back. So what do I do now? Do I go in and leave them or... Hammad will probably cry if I leave him alone so I sat next to my mum while he sat on the sofa to her right.
My mum blasted him with questions. She smiled my way when he told her his course of study was aviation. It has always been my dream to marry a uniformed man. I'm never going to hear the end of this. She'll probably going on and on about marriage. I'm only seventeen! Like my whole life was ahead of me.
"She always zones out like that" I hear Hammad at the background. He's gossiping about me and I'm right here can you imagine? I scowled at him and my mum laughed. Abbah came out and greeted Hammad. He looked at me.
"This is Abbah" he made an 'oh' face. I've told him a lot about my siblings, he also told me about his but this is the first time he's meeting them and its been a month!
Abbah liked him instantly because he had games on his phone. Typical. Raja came out once and Hammad told me she was prettier than I was. I get that a lot so I rolled my eyes and laughed. He had an errand to run for his mum so he was leaving. He gave Abbah a five hundred naira note. Why is he acting like we are getting married and he has to be on good terms with my family? I laughed and saw him to the gate.
"Stay beautiful" he told me before driving off. I was smiling like a fool. What is happening to me?...
