Weekend came very slowly. I couldn't wait to pack my bags so I packed on Wednesday evening after I got back from work. I decided to use my Louis Vuitton bag that I haven't once used because of its value.
It had enough space to take all the cloths I needed and I had the intention of taking along with me some wears that I would leave in Jamal's house for use whenever I was there. I found it difficult to decide but later settled for two sexy bum shorts and several tops.
As I kept the bags in my wardrobe I remembered that the next weekend was Abdullateef's wedding and preparation was at its peak.
I had also written to be given one week off work to assist in the preparation. On the afternoon of Thursday I asked myself how I would walk up to Abubakar and tell him that I was going to spend the weekend at Jamaldeen's place.
I paced up and down my office practising how I would go about it, I sat up and down the black leather chair just behind my office chair but it didn't help.
I even sat on my table twice or three times causing the things on the table to shake at one point or the other. My little table calendar fell off, my map globe almost fell to the ground, I had to quickly stop and replaced it. I was still confused after almost 10 minutes of thinking about it.
I had so much respect for Abubakar so telling him such a thing when he didn't even believe that I had a boyfriend before would definitely be difficult.
"Should I just stick to the lies I used to tell him and go? That was an easier way out. God what will I do. What if he refuses to let me go? What if he gets angry that I brought up the topic? What if he feels disappointed that I am asking him for such a thing and screams at me?" I thought.
I kept on thinking about it that I didn't realise I had been in the thought for over 45 minutes. When I came out of the thought I decided I would ask him anyway. "Afterall, he will only scream and say I shouldn't go. He cannot say I should keep away from Jamaldeen," I thought again.
I decided to ask Jamaldeen, Pricillia and Tilewa what they think I should do.
I rang Tilewa first and told her the story of how Abubakar got to know about Jamaldeen and I. She didn't seem surprised but she was surprised that I wanted to take permission from Abubakar before going.
"Fauziat, if I were you I wouldn't tell him o! The man understands that you people are in a relationship, I get that but telling him that you want to go and spend the weekend at another man's house isn't the best."
"He will think you are taking him for granted and I bet you, he will not sleep all through the weekend. He will keep seeing Jamaldeen and you on bed doing things and when you come back, he will not look at you the same way he used to."
"Hmm, so what should I do Tilewa?"
"Don't tell him joor! Just tell him you are going to your parent's place or to sister's. Tell him anything, tell him what you used to tell him to see Jamaldeen before."
I said okay, hung up and dialled Deborah.
Deborah didn't support Tilewa, she said and insisted I told Abubakar where I was going to in case of any emergency.
I told her I thought lying was better but she continued to insist that I told Abubakar so I said okay again, hung up and called Jamaldeen.
His phone rang over and over again without anyone picking it, I walked up and down the office again as I held the phone to my ears dialling his number. When I realised I had dialled his number seven times unconsciously, I decided to keep the phone on my table and go out of the office to clear my head.
I walked passed the corridor that leads to other offices noticing things I had not noticed in all the time I had worked there. I noticed some and registered them in my mind while I noticed others and forgot them immediately.
I soon arrived at the reception. I looked at guests and clients as they spoke to the receptionist. She answered them with smiles and laughed out when necessary.
The reception unlike some other offices is not where you first get to when you come to the company. You will first be received at the gate by the security men in uniform, then you will be asked to wait in room where you will be checked and scanned so if you successfully pass to the reception, you will be glad at the way the receptionist will receive you.
Painted in lemon and gold, the reception is very comfortable. The decorations are captivating, explaining why our visitors and customers can't help but smile even while waiting for someone for hours.
I walked closer, said hello to the receptionist and headed back to my office. I got to the office, opened the door but closed it immediately as I felt I needed to use the toilet.
I quickly went to the toilet. At the toilet I looked at my reflection in the mirror. "Fauziat, you have to either follow Deborah or Tilewa's suggestions. It is either you tell him or not." I thought.
I entered one of the toilets, closed the door and eased myself. After cleaning up I walked to the mirror again and spoke to it, but this time aloud.
"Wait and listen to what Jamaldeen will say. He should decide not your friends." I concluded loudly.
I entered the toilet again as if I forgot something there. I breathed in and took in the saint of air freshener meant to keep the smell of the toilet nice.
I thought of so many things, I didn't realise I had stayed in the there for almost 40 minutes, when I remembered I walked out of the toilet almost immediately.
I hurriedly walked to my office hoping to call Jamaldeen as soon as I entered. As I got close I heard my phone ring. It played a song by popular American artiste 'Shaggy' which I used for only Jamaldeen's call.
I opened the door, ran to my phone and picked it, it was Jamaldeen. I pressed the receive button and said in a low tone, "hello."
"Where have you been? I have called a hundred times. I became scared when I couldn't reach you. I thought you called because of an emergency and that the monster had got you."
We both laughed. I told him I needed his opinion on something urgently and he said I should ask.
"What do you think I should do about my visit to your place this weekend?"
"I don't understand"
"I mean should I lie to Abubakar or tell him the truth." I am confused because I spoke with Tilewa and Deborah and they both said different things."
I told him what Tilewa and Deborah said. He told me to hold on, then he asked: "Sweetheart do you love me?"
"Yes, I do, with all of my heart"
"Will you do what I say?"
"Yes I will."
"Okay, tell Abubakar that we have plans to spend the weekend together. Tell him the truth. I am sure he will understand. He knows you are no longer a small girl and will allow you."
"Are you sure because Tilewa said,"
"Don't bother about what Tilewa says; just do what I told you. After all I am the one that will miss you if he refuses to allow you go, and he is your brother, you should know how to make him do what you want."
"Okay, I will tell him."
After work I drove straight to the market, bought all Abubakar's favourite and headed home to the kitchen after I had kept my bag in my room, changed to a polo and short with a slippers.
I cooked jollof spaghetti with beef and hotdog. I added a little vegetable and fish, just the way he loves it, then I went inside my room to pray that he loves the food and also that he allows me go.
Few minutes after I finished praying, Abdullateef came in with his fiancé. They both went to his room. I could hear the excitement in Sureiya's voice.
She couldn't wait to be married to him.
"I will wear the traditional attire tonight to see if it still fit on me because I don't want any disappointment on my wedding day."
"You haven't reduced or added any weight since the tailor made that dress. You can't just wait for the day to come."
As they chatted I waited patiently for Abubakar. It was just 10 minutes after I finished cooking his food but it was like an hour wait already.
My heart was pounding too, I couldn't control it. I just wanted him to come so we can discuss it.
I decided to sit in the living room and see a movie. I walked out of my room, away from Abdullateef and his fiancé's wedding talks.
As I entered the living room, it still had the aroma from my food. I knew the food would taste good but I wanted Abubakar to have the first taste of it.
The main gate to the house soon opened but I didn't think it was Abubakar, I guessed a neighbour had come in. I put on the television; a movie that I had always wanted to see to the end was showing so I sat and concentrated, taking my mind away from my wait, fear and anxiousness.
I then heard the door leading to the living room open, someone rushed in. I jumped up my seat in fear and looked back. The person had made his way to the kitchen. I followed in fear. Then I heard noises from pots, plates and spoons.
"What is the person doing? Hope he isn't trying to poison Abubakar. I got closer to the kitchen and peeped inside. It was Abubakar.
I sighed. Abubakar was helping himself to a plate of the food I just cooked.
"Fauziat, did you prepare this?"
"Yes, it is a special one for you"
"I am so hungry, I could eat a horse. I rushed in to eat"
"You scared me. I thought you were an intruder. Thank God I didn't hit you with something"
"Hahaha, this food is delicious, my favourite. I am suspecting you need a favour, what is it?"
"You just won your way into my heart and you have only five minutes to tell me what you want if not I will give it a second thought and may not grant your request."
I quickly cleared my throat and ask that we go into the living room to talk but he insisted we talked in the kitchen.
"Fauziat, you have only four minutes and some seconds left."
"Okay, ehm, bros, I want to spend the weekend at Jamaldeen's place."
"What?" He exclaimed. "You want to what?"
"Bros I am sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I meant, I, I , I meant I, I didn't mean anything. It was a mistake. I don't want to go anywhere."
"I want to stay at home with you for the weekend."
"What are you saying Fauziat. I thought I heard you say you want to go and spend the weekend at Jamaldeen's place."
"No bros, I mean yes bros. I said that but I meant something else."
"Oh, okay, because I was going to say no problem you can go since I said I will grant any request you make and because I know you are safe with the young man."
"Okay bros. Alright. Thank you."
I regretted stammering and changing my mind. I then turned my back and walked out of the kitchen cursing myself and blaming me for spoiling my chances.
As I opened the door to my room slowly but angrily, I heard Abubakar's voice call my name.
"Fauziat come here really fast." I walked back to him. He had made his way to the living room but still had a plate in his hands enjoying his food."
"What is going on in your head Fauziate? I want you to calm down, compose yourself and tell me what you want. I am giving you a second chance to make your request because I am eating a second plate of this jollof spaghetti you made."
"Are you serious? You mean I should make my request again?"
"I didn't have water in my mouth when I was talking to you. Yes, you can. Go on and ask me."
"Bros, can I please go and spend the weekend with Jamaldeen?"
"I promise I won't ..."
"Please save the details, I notice you have packed your bags since yesterday."
Gosh! I felt so ashamed. I couldn't say a word; I just excused myself and went inside my room.
Abdullateef's fiancé soon came to join me in my room. She wanted to talk about the wedding and those things we concluded I would handle but I wasn't in the mood.
"Fauziat what is the problem?"
"You are not yourself today."
"God, Sureiya, I am so ashamed."
"I feel so bad."
"What is it, tell me."
I told her what happened between Abubakar and me and how I was feeling too shamed to even go to Jamaldeen's place that weekend.
"Come on, you shouldn't be. You love him but you respect your brother too much and you made a mistake."
"It doesn't mean that you should feel too bad or feel like not going again."
"I and Abdullateef went through worst things. It was easy convincing my parents to allow me spend the weekend at his place the first time."
"The spat out fire, they cursed the man who had turned their daughter to a call girl, they grounded me and even demanded to see Abdullateef when I insisted."
"When Abdullateef went to them, they asked him questions they shouldn't ask him on a normal day just to discourage him but he remained calm. They said things that annoyed him, they almost made him wet himself but he showed them he loves me."
"Today we are getting married and we will spend the rest of our lives together."
"I know what will help you Fauziat. Call Jamaldeen and talk to him."
I said thank you, picked up my phone as she walked out of the room, then I rang Jamaldeen.
"Hello love."
"Hi dear"
"I just finished speaking with Jamaldeen."
"Okay. What did he say?"
"You are sounding too low, what is the problem? Did he say you shouldn't come to me? Did he get angry?"
"Did he shout at you?"
"Hold on, you are asking too many questions at the same time."
"Tell me what he said Fauziat, stop making me feel this way"
"If you want to know what he said you will hold on and let me speak. You will not continue speaking and asking me questions upon question."
I told him what happened and how I have been allowed to spend the weekend at his place. I didn't leave out the part where I stammered and said I wasn't going anywhere and wanted to stay at home with Abubakar.
It made me laugh as I narrated the story and Jamaldeen laughed too. I said good bye and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
In the kitchen my phone rang, it was Jamaldeen. He was calling to complain about how I spoke to him.
"You just said what you wanted to say and didn't allow me speak then you said good bye and hung up."
I apologised explaining that I was in a hurry to go and prepare dinner.
He said okay and we said our goodnights.
On Friday morning I woke up earlier than usual thinking again of how I will leave the house. I asked myself if I should just say bros, goodbye, see you on Sunday or bros goodbye I am on my way to work and don't mention anything of such to him.
"After all, if he doesn't see me he will know that I have gone for the weekend," I thought.
I couldn't go back to sleep so I began to get ready for work. I did some extra house chores and retouched some places I had cleaned earlier in the week because I felt Abdullateef and Abubakar might be too busy to do any of them.
After getting dressed, I carried my bags into the car and went into the house again.
As I opened the door I saw Abubakar.
"I thought you were leaving."
"No bros. I just went to put some things in the car."
"Okay, I was wondering why you would leave this early and without even saying good bye to me. Come in I need to have a word with you."
I followed Abubakar inside the house and he led me to his room.
"Sit down."
I sat down. A lot of things went through my mind. I couldn't wait for him to speak. I even started to think that he had changed his mind.
"Fauziat, are you going to Jamaldeen's place this morning or after work."
"After work bros"
"Okay, ehm, alright. Take care of yourself and be a good girl."
"Okay bros, but bros, is that all you wanted to say to me because you requested that I sat down. I thought you were going to say some other things."
"Well, Fauziat, I actually wanted to say many things but on a second thought I changed my mind and decided to leave you. You are now a big girl and can take care of yourself. I must accept that."
"I did a lot of thinking last night too before I slept and decided I should apologise for speaking to you like a baby."
"No bros, I understand you are trying to protect me. You are only playing the role of a big brother and I appreciate it."
By this time, it was getting to the time I leave for the office so I had to excuse myself.
"Bros, I have to leave now so I won't go late to work."
"Okay dear, have a nice weekend."
As he said have a nice weekend I looked at him, smiled and gave him a hug.
"Thank you bros; you are the best."
I stepped out of the house feeling so free and happy.
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