The Price Of Revenge

Six

Rumy sank deeper into the couch, trying to focus on the television, though her mind occasionally drifted back to Fuad. Lately, they had been running into each other far too often. At first, she had allowed him to believe it was all coincidence. To him, perhaps it was. To her, most of it had been carefully planned.

She was in the living room with Sarah, Maryam and Jabir. They had been watching television and chatting quietly, with no particular plans for the evening. Baba was coming to Kaduna again tomorrow, and Rumy's thoughts kept moving between his arrival and whatever came next with Fuad.

"Let's watch Frankenstein," Sarah suggested brightly.

"First of all, we've already watched it. Secondly, Jabir only watches action movies," Rumy replied, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, but all we've been doing is watching episode after episode of The Blacklist. Not to mention he's already rewatched the entire series three times. I'm tired."

Jabir, who had barely looked up from his phone, replied coldly, "Then watch it on your laptop. Or go to one of the five other living rooms in this house, or any of the twelve bedrooms. They all have TVs and decoders."

Rumy stood, looking at him in disbelief. "Why do you always have to treat her like that?"

"She's annoying, very spoilt and dumb," he replied, still typing.

"How are you two even friends?" she asked incredulously.

Sarah immediately answered for herself. "Because I'm also spoilt and dumb."

Jabir finally looked up, his expression briefly stunned.

"I didn't mean it that way. You're different," he said quickly.

"We're best friends," Sarah said, turning toward him. "So that definitely means we're the same. Don't you agree?"

"Don't misinterpret my words, alright?"

"Then don't insult her," Rumy said, turning back toward the television.

"But you two aren't the same. She's intolerable," Jabir muttered.

Rumy glanced at him. "If you remember clearly, intolerance is what got me into this situation."

Jabir paused.

"But I'm not him."

"But you shouldn't be him for her either," Rumy countered with a smirk.

Jabir stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.

"So... what's your next move?"

"You'll see soon enough."

She smiled at the brief uncertainty that crossed his face.

"Well... can I change the channel?" Maryam finally asked.

Both Rumy and Jabir turned toward her.

They had completely forgotten she was there, quietly observing their argument.

"Go ahead," Jabir said, moving aside.

Rumy settled back onto the couch with a small, satisfied smile.

•

Fuad was becoming increasingly impatient with himself. He could barely sit still without thinking about Rumaisa.

He had told himself that once Rumaisa forgave him, he would be able to move on with Hadiza and finally put the past behind him.

But she had forgiven him, and somehow that had not changed anything.