"Are you done? Juwairiyya asked with a half smile eyeing my fries

"I wonder how you keep your shape. You eat far too much for a normal person" I said rolling my eyes

"Whatever" She said sticking her tongue out

"Soo Maimai" Intisaar said giving me a creepy smile

"What? That look is creepy" I exclaimed sending her a glare

"Sorry" She laughed. "I was just asking if Hafeez will be the one to pick you up"

"Yes he is" I said narrowing my gaze

"Told yah" She said turning to Yusrah sticking her tongue out

"You guys bet over this? I asked looking at them

"Yes. And I won, so I get an ice cream cone. Hah! Intisaar exclaimed grinning

"In my defence, she forced me into it" Yusrah said smiling sheepishly

"Ughhh! You guys are so-

I was cut off with a notification. I glanced down and saw Hafeez' text that reads " Aira, I'm here. Let's go make those money"

I laughed shaking my head. How is giving Khadeejah the recipe making money? I asked in my head as I stoodd up

"I won again! Double ice cream cone" Intisaar shouted as I looked at her

"Wait what? Yusrah questioned confused

"I told you it was Hafeez that texted and you said no. So now you owe me two ice cream cone"

"What? When did that happen? Yusrah said glaring at her

"In my head" Intisaar answered nonchalantly with a shrug

"I want one too" Juwairiyya chirped in when she was done stuffing her face with fries

"Goodbye guys. I'll see you later" I said grabbing my bag

"Goodbye babe. A full gist later on video call"

"Yessssss"

"And bring along snacks tomorrow"

I shook my head as I walked out and headed to the parking lot easily spotting his car.

"Assalamualaikum" I said getting into the car

"Wa'alaikis Salam" He replied smiling

"How are you sir?

"I'm good ma'am. How are you?

"I'm good"

"Have you talked with Maami?

"Yes, I did yesterday. I told her we are returning the recipe and she was so happy. She also send her regards"

"My regards too" He said increasing the music volume as Waste your time by Conor Maynard blasted in

"They wanna hit the club

But you wanna fall in love

With somebody you can trust

Cause there's been too many times

That your heart has being let down

And you're picking up pieces from the ground

And you feel like screaming out

But there's no one to help you

And too many times you've been told that they can change

But they don't, yes they always stay the same

And leave you in the pouring rain

I'm right here to tell you I won't

I'll love you in all of the ways that they don't

And help you pick up all the pieces they broke

I promise I'll always be with you

Cause you don't wanna waste your time

I swear you will never waste your time with me"

We sang together letting our voice and emotions move together with the music tone as we drove in the street of Abuja.

Well technically, he did.

_______________________________________

"Hey, Khadeejah" I greeted sitting next to her

We arrived minutes back and I called to let her know I'm here, she told me she's inside so Hafeez and I went in together and immediately spotted her. Hafeez refused to let me go in alone, saying it might not be safe.

"Hey Humaira and a handsome guy I don't know, you are welcome" She said looking at us

"Hafeez" Hafeez grumbled looking at her with a narrowed gaze

"Well calm down tiger. I'm not eating up your girlfriend" She said laughing

"Wait what. He's no--

I was cut of by hafeez's sarcastic "Hahaha, very funny"

"Anyways Humaira. How are you? She asked turning to look at me

"I'm good. You"

"Alhamdulillah"

"How's everything with Baba?

"I don't know. It's like he knows I'm telling you because I don't get snippets of anything these days. All I know is you're safe because I over heard that someone, possible Alhaji Salisu's son got the ones who attacked you apprehended. Him and his father never get along anyways " She said in a whisper then sipped her juice

"I can hear that. And how can we get along when all he thinks about is himself" Hafeez calmly said crossing his hands and leaning in his chair

"Excuse me? Khadeejah asked confused

"I'm sorry for not introducing you. Hafeez, this is Khadeejah Alhaji Sani's daughter. Khadeejah, this is Hafeez, Alhaji Salisu's Son" I said with a smile then realised how I sound. I did not just get the children of the two people who are after me on my side did I?

"Wait" Khadeejah held up her hands "You befriend and date your enemies children? "You go girl" She shouted hitting me and laughing

"Again, he's not my---"

"With this combination, you will totally throw them off" She said cutting me off

"I was thinking. Why are you helping her? Hafeez asked with a raised brow. "For all we know, this might be one of your plans"

"Of course not. Even Humaira knows I care about her. My mother also said I shouldn't let anything happen to her. I couldn't let my father's selfish motions break them" She said looking down then added "I feel guilty"

"Hey don't be" I said reaching for her hand "I appreciate all you did and is still doing. Really"

"You're a gem Humaira" She said with a smile

"Yes we know" Hafeez replied with a straight face

"And you, Mr Man" She turned to Hafeez "Why are you helping her? For all we know, this might be one of your plans as well"

Hafeez looked at her like she just added a head

"Ohh please! I'm helping Aira because i---" He stopped mid way turning to face me "I care about her" He finished off looking back at her

"You really do don't you. I can see she even has a nickname" Khadeejah said winking at him

"Here, the recipe" I quickly said handing it over to her wanting to really leave this place

She collected it and sigh "I wish you all the best. This will be successful, I know it. And don't worry, I'll keep them off your trail. This recipe will help matters. Let's try to keep each other posted"

She leaned in to hug me and I smelt her bakhoor

"Thank you" I said softly as she released her hold

"And don't delay telling him. The guy is a Gem" She added in a whisper relaxing back into her seat and giving us a smile like she said nothing.

"Goodbye Khadeejah. It was nice meeting you" Hafeez said standing up

"Goodbye" She replied with a smile as he nodded and turned to walk away glancing back to see if I am coming

"Goodbye Khadeejah" I said grabbing my bag

"Goodbye Humaira. Hope next time I see you, you become a powerful CEO and bagged yourself a fiancé " She said motioning to Hafeez with a mischievous grin

I shook my head laughing and trailed behind Hafeez. After getting into the car, he started the ignition playing Something like this by Anthony Keyrouz

"So that is settled. Now what's next? I asked after we got on the high way.

"Telling you I booked us tickets. You are finishing exams in a few days and then we leave to Yola" He said grinning

"Wait what? Why would you do that? Maami was to book for me today"

"Please Humaira let's not argue about this. Consider it my own way of saying sorry and also to make sure we have close seats" He said laughing "For your safety" He added for emphasis and I shook my head

"After we go to Yola then? I asked looking at his side view

"I have already talked to our partners and THEY HAVE AGREED TO INVEST" He shouted happily and I almost jump in my seat

"Really? I asked smiling from ear to ear

"Really. And I have written down business strategies and printed them out. We will go through them with your family when we arrive in Yola. Then we find a farm that will be providing us with fresh fruit in Yola since you're setting it up there" He said

"Yes. There's this farm that belongs to Abba's old friend. They grow good fruits. That way, we are helping each other"

"Excellent. For now focus on finishing your exams and we start when you're done" He said sending me a wink and I nodded looking at his side view again for a little too long

"What are you thinking? He asked looking at me briefly

Oops! Caught red handed

"Nothing" I whispered smiling

I'm thinking about the thousands and thousands of poems I will write for you which still won't be enough to describe how amazing of a person you are. I want to pluck down stars and align them at your feet and make trees bow to you for making this heart love and laugh loudly.

"How about we visit the orphanage. They will be happy to see you, in fact it might be a while they will be this happy" He said and I smiled widely again

"Yes please. It's also been a while I'm this happy"

"Same Aira, Same" He replied sending me a brief look.

_______________________________________