~May Allah heal every heart going through any pain~♡
---
Abuja, Nigeria.
Jalal stepped out of the house with his usual calm demeanor, though his heart was far from calm. Rage simmered within him. Why was his grandmother so intent on complicating his life? First, the matter of marrying that kid, and now this.
"Ya Allah!" he muttered under his breath, his thoughts interrupted by a knock on the car window. It was Jalilah.
"Get in," he instructed. She nodded and climbed into the front seat.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the school. Just as she was about to get out, he stopped her.
"Your skirt is too short. Get a new uniform," he said, briefly glancing at the school skirt that barely reached her knees, revealing her fair, slender legs.
"That's how the school uniform is, Ya Jalal. Everyone's skirt is like mine, and Daddy just got this for me last week. You didn't complain about it before."
Jalal took another look at the girl who was now his future wife, and with a slight nod, he let her go.
"You can go."
"Thank you, Ya Jalal. Take care. Bye!" She smiled brightly before heading off, and Jalal drove away to work.
---
"Hello, girls!" Jalilah squealed, entering her classroom and meeting her two friends, Kausar and Manal.
"Hey, Jalilah! How are you? You're late today. And why did you and Baninah come separately?" Kausar asked.
"Ya Jalal brought me to school today," Jalilah replied, dropping her pink school bag on her desk.
"Oh my God! Really?! Ya Jalal, my crush!" Kausar squealed dreamily, closing her eyes.
"Not yours only! Mine too! Oh my gosh!" Manal chimed in.
Jalilah laughed, shaking her head. "Just a heads-up, ladies—Ya Jalal isn't interested in anyone, so you both better back off."
Throughout the lesson, Jalilah found herself distracted, lost in thoughts about why Hajiya had suddenly decided that Jalal should take her to school. Her boyfriend, Aslam, noticed her distraction and asked her during break.
"What's wrong, Cupcake?"
"I'm fine, Cake. There's nothing to worry about," she replied with a small smile.
"Alright, I won't push. Just know you can tell me anytime," he reassured her with a smile, and she smiled back.
"Shall we go to the cafeteria? I'm starving!" he exclaimed, rubbing his stomach in an exaggerated way that made her laugh.
"Sure, my love. After you." They walked to the cafeteria side by side.
After their break, Jalilah went over to where Baninah sat with her three friends, Iman, Rauda, and Hannan. Jalilah had never been fond of them, particularly because Iman was Aslam's sister.
The three girls glared at her as she approached, and she returned the glare.
"Baninah, I want to talk to you," Jalilah said, reaching out to hold Baninah's hand.
"Hey! Excuse me! You can't just walk in and take our friend like that!" Iman, the boldest among them, objected.
"And why not? Baninah is my sister and best friend, so I have every right to talk to her whenever I please," Jalilah retorted.
"Yen yen! Just because Baninah is your sister doesn't mean you have more right to her than us!" Rauda added.
"Stupid girl," Hannan muttered.
"Don't you ever call me that, or I won't hesitate to teach you a lesson!" Jalilah gritted out.
"Can you all stop acting so childish, please?" Baninah interjected for the first time.
"Tell that to your foolish sister, not us!" Iman said, glaring at Jalilah.
"Don't ever call me that again!" Jalilah snapped.
"And what will you do about it, huh?" Iman taunted, and they all laughed at her—except for Baninah.
The next sound was Jalilah's palm striking Iman's cheek.
"Don't ever try that with me again, okay?" she warned, then turned to Baninah. "Come with me. I need to talk to you."
Baninah yanked her hand away and instead rushed to her crying friend, ignoring Jalilah.
"Jalilah! How could you do that?! How dare you slap Iman like that!" Baninah yelled.
"But Baninah, didn't you—"
"Just leave, Jalilah! I don't want to talk to you!" Baninah interrupted angrily.
"This isn't the first time you've yelled at me because of those girls, Baninah. It's clear that you value them more than me. I always put you first in everything, but you don't. It's okay. Thank you for showing me my place in your heart. Goodbye." Jalilah sniffed, wiping a lone tear before hurrying away.
"Jalilah, please wait!" Baninah called, feeling regret for what she'd done. But Jalilah didn't stop and returned to her class.
"Oh no, I'm sorry, Jalilah," Baninah murmured with a pout, realizing her mistake and promising herself she'd make it up to her sister.
---
At closing time, Jalal came to pick Jalilah up, and Kausar and Manal, who had been crushing on him since their first visit to her house, tagged along to greet him.
"Good afternoon, Ya Jalal," they said in unison, giggling.
"Afternoon," he replied curtly, not looking up from his phone. Jalilah gave them a small, apologetic smile before getting into the car, and they drove off.
"He didn't even look at us," Kausar complained with a pout.
On the way home, Jalal received an urgent call that required him back at the office, so he took a detour.
"Get down," he told Jalilah when they arrived. She nodded and got out of the car, following him into the office with greetings directed at Jalal from the staff.
Upon reaching his office, his personal assistant greeted him. Jalal nodded and picked up some folders before glancing at Jalilah.
"Wait here. I have a meeting to attend, and I'll take you home afterward. Don't try anything stupid."
"Yes, Ya Jalal," she replied with a nod.
A few minutes later, Maya, a secretary, entered to collect some files.
"What's your name?" Jalilah asked her.
"I'm Maya. And you, cutie?"
"I'm Jalilah," she replied with a smile.
"Lovely name, Jalilah! Which class are you in?"
"SS3."
"MashaaAllah! Wishing you success."
"Thank you!"
Jalilah suddenly sat in her brother's executive chair with a mischievous grin.
"So, this is what Ya Jalal always makes you do, right?"
Maya looked confused. "What?"
Jalilah frowned, crossing her legs and mimicked Jalal's strict demeanor. "Bring that file to me and make me a cup of coffee, now!"
Maya laughed at the spot-on imitation of her boss.
Just then, they heard a stern voice from the doorway, freezing them both.
---
Written on 11.11.20
Edited on 2.7.22 🖤
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