Chapter 15

                                    

                                          
*
Khalifa was parked outside the hotel when Adnan stepped out, wearing grey joggers and a black hooded sweatshirt. His hair looked disheveled, huge eyeballs circled his eyes and he was dragging his feet towards the car. 
                          
He looked like a fashionable homeless man. 
                          
"You look awful," he said the moment Adnan hopped into the car. 
                          
"Good morning to you too," he muttered as he put on his seatbelt, throwing the backpack he had been carrying to the backseat. 
                          
"Did you just throw on a shirt the moment you woke up?" Khalifa asked as he started the car. 
                          
"Maybe," Adnan shrugged. "Can you just drive?"
                          
"Okay," he sighed, peeling out onto the road. The two remained in silence until they reached Ahmadu Bello Way. 
                          
"I went for dinner with Sa'ada last night," Adnan said.
                          
"Ah, so that's why you look like a homeless man," Khalifa nodded thoughtfully. Adnan did not have the mental energy to reply him. 
                          
"Was it a good meeting or not?" he continued. 
                          
"Do I look like it was a good meeting?" he asked with a grimace. 
                          
"Forget I asked," Khalifa sighed. "How many times do you have to hear that she is not good for you?" 
                          
"Don't even start, Khalifa," he raised his hand. "I know you never liked her, but..." 
                          
"I still don't like her," he scowled. "And I honestly don't know when it's going to sink into your head that she isn't meant for you. Both of you should know that by now. Haven't you noticed how nothing seems to go right when you're together? You're like Ice and Fire; totally incompatible." 
                          
"You just don't understand," Adnan sighed. "I need her." 
                          
"No, you don't," he shook his head. "You want her, Adnan. Those are two different situations entirely. She has you in the palm of her hands, and she always uses that to her advantage."
                          
"You're only saying that because you don't know what it's like to love someone without needing anything in return," Adnan said, his temper flaring. "I don't want anything from her, and I don't mind giving her anything in return. Just the fact that she is always 'there' makes me happy. And now, she's going to end up with some... some..."
                          
"She told you about the wedding?" Khalifa sighed. 
                          
"Yes, she did... How did you know about it?" Adnan turned to glare at him. 
                          
"News travels fast," he said. "I found out several weeks ago, but I didn't want to tell you because I know how you would react." 
                          
"You're an idiot, Usman," he spat. 
                          
"I know," he shrugged. "But that still doesn't change the fact that I am right. Honestly, I think it's for the best. You will finally learn to live without her. Haven't you ever heard of a co-dependent relationship? That's what's happening between you two. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if she calls off the wedding at the last minute to run back into your arms."
                          
Adnan didn't argue again. Not because he had forgiven his best friend, but because his statement had given him an inkling of hope. He was right after all. Sa'ada loved him too much to be with another man. Surely she would come back to him. 
                          
She had to. 
                          
* 
                          
"Are you going to invite me to sit down?" Nafisa asked. 
                          
Afrah simply stared at her, not listening to a word she said. It was as though she had gone back in time to that day when it happened. Worse still, she saw just a trace of the devil in her otherwise beautiful cousin's face.