Twisted: A Hausa Love Story.

**Afrar**

I sat down on the floor while Jafar was lying down on the couch behind me.
"You look fucked up"
"Of course. That's what forced marriage does to people, don't you agree?"

"Drama queen"
"Drama queen? Are you the one being forced? What if I end up marrying you? We'll see if I'm a Drama queen then..."

He laughs "I can just marry a second wife"
I gape.
"It's because I love you that's why I will do that" he says.
"I would rather we become a real couple than do that"

"Real couple? So you'll have sex with me?" He raises his eyebrows failing hopelessly at being seductive.
"I don't have to enjoy it, do I?"

His smile disappears "I'm sure you will. I am a hard person to resist"
"You're disgusting" I say scrunching my nose.

"So when are you going back? You left Mayriam alone at home"
"Come on. I told her to go home if she wants I want this few days I gave off to be filled with my tears and sorrow"
"And my whole bucket of ice cream"

"You still haven't stopped complaining about that?" I ask turning back to the tv.
"You finished 2 buckets in a day. I'm worried"

I smile when I come up with something.
"Stop smiling like that"
"Come with me. Appa wants me to come see him tomorrow so come with me"

"The last thing I want to do is piss off your dad but as a good friend I will go with you"
"Don't worry we will go straight to the supermarket to get more ice cream after that"

........
........

I wait patiently as Jafar gets in to collect something from a friend.

I was using my phone when someone knocks on the glass. I turn around and see Marwan standing there wearing sweats.

"Hey" I say when I wind down the glass.
"Hey. You good? Your face looks.....different"

"You mean the fact that I'm not wearing make up?" I joke.
"The first time we met you weren't wearing any make up"

"Yeah maybe it's because it has been a very busy and uneasy month"
"Well It seems to take a toll on you. Maybe you need to rest more?"

I smile "So how was your date? I hope you two had fun"
"She's not my date. I just invited her over, she's a fan"

"Really?" I asked surprised "She seemed to dislike me"
"What? Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I could tell with the way she glares at me"
He starts laughing.
The door opens and Jafar comes in.

"Oh Marwan. It's good to see you" Jafar says reaching out and shaking him through my window.
"You too".

"What are you doing here anyway?"
"I mistakenly hit my water bottle while I was weightlifting yesterday so I came to get a new one before I head to the gym"

"Oh well....Have fun" I say.
"You too" he walks away.

Jafar starts the engine and gets back on the road.
"You're already drooling because you find out he is a weightlifter"
"Don't judge me. Didn't you say you liked seeing a girl taking care of her body?"

"I learnt that after I met you" he says with a smirk.
"You really know how to disgust me"

He bursts out laughing "Because your expression is priceless every time".

.......
.......

Sometimes I wonder how I'm still friends with someone like Jafar but whenever I get depressed I realize his worth. Even though all he does is insult me, disgust me and act like a freaking pervert he is always by my side. He is always there for me when I need him. I love that pervert.

He is lying down on the floor with only his shorts, drooling on the pillow. For someone who works out twice a week only he looks a bit buff. I lied down on the couch looking at him. No one would ever see us this way and agree that we have never had sex but we don't see each other that way even though I know he's a guy and sometimes you can't control your hormones even if I'm his best friend.

My phone starts vibrating and I tip toe out so I don't wake him up.

Hello?

Hey, how are you?

I'm good. What about you?

Better obviously.

Obviously? What's that supposed to mean?

You didn't look so good today. You sure you're good?

I try to be.

You need to talk to someone.

And I'm with someone I can talk to.

That guy? You two seem very close.

Yeah. We are, we're practically siblings.

Really? That's......that's odd. Most girls have female best friends.

Not this girl. This girl isn't like other girls darling.

Really? So can I be added to that list?

There is only one name written and that name has been there for 22years can you beat that?

I'm not trying to beat it I'm trying to make you feel better.

I really need to sleep. Today has not been a good day, you should too. Call your girlfriend before you sleep, I don't want to be murdered in my sleep.
I joke.

I'll think about it.
I end the call.

.........
.........

I was meeting Appa at a restaurant and I knew I had to look good and at the same time I wanted to feel simple and comfortable so I wore the best I could find for my mood.

Appa was sitting across me glaring at Jafar who was sitting beside me. It's not like he doesn't like Jafar, he just dislikes how close we are.
"So you're here?" Appa asks with an obvious scowl on his face.
"Yes. She said she needed assistance and I decided to help her through it"

Appa looks at me but says nothing.
"Mallam Massoud" the man says walking over. I gape when I see him, that is Mayriam's father and if that's the case I have nothing to worry about.
We all stand, Jafar and I greet him before we sit back down.

"So is this a relative?" He asks looking at Jafar.
"No he's actually a friend...family even" Appa says.

"I really don't understand why we have to meet like this...it's not like we need their approval anyway" The man says looking around like he was waiting for someone.

"There He is" He says.
Seconds later I was looking at Marwan who was looking as confused as I was. What the hell is going on here?

He sits next to his dad. "Baba what is going on?"
"It's an engagement"

I turn and look at Appa, a what?
"Excuse me?" I ask starting to feel my blood boil. Jafar grabs my hand from under the table trying to calm me down.
"An engagement?" Marwan asks "With her?" He looked confused and shocked.

"Didn't you say you like her?" His father asks him.
That was when I realized everything, they roped me in.
First meeting him coincidentally when I was having and fight then the fact that Mayriam starts working for me, it was all planned from the beginning.

"So..." I start to talk but just keep my mouth shut as I felt Jafar squeeze my hand. The best way to end this dinner is by keeping quiet if not I'm afraid I won't stay this calm when I talk.

But I kept my eyes trained on Marwan. He pretended to be surprised by this sudden engagement when he planned everything from the very beginning.

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