"Fatimah, I think the testing is okey like that. You've been testing Yusuf for long now, yet he kept passing..." Qudrah said.

Indeed she was right, I had been testing Yusuf ever since I let him into my life. I just wanted to know who he really was. Yes, to know his exact colour and tone!

"Qudrah, I know you don't like what I am doing but it is the best!" I said as I zipped the coke and donut I bought Yusuf from the cafeteria. "There is no way I can know him better without pushing myself more closer to him..."

"Right?" She glared at me as we started walking gently away from the cafeteria.

"Yes, and I am likely to offer him my body and see if he will accept it. If he does, then my hunch is right!" I said.

"This is insanity, Fatimah!" She shouted.

"Na sani ai, but that's the only way to know if he's a bad guy or not!" I said.

"What if he accept the offer?" She said.

"Then I will run and he will never get my attention again, not in this world and certainly not in the hereafter!" I uttered wearing a mischievous smile.

Qudrah didn't say anything anymore, she only shook her head and warned me to be very careful. Well, I told her not to worry at all and that I could take good care of myself. The offering of my body would be the last test for Yusuf — if he failed, I would make sure he never get my attention again and Dr Marwan must hear about it. That is to literally tell him my hunch was right after all.

Just as we reached our department, I took a turn to the library where Yusuf was after having bade Qudrah goodbye and told her to keep a seat for me in the lecture hall. It was even almost time for the lecture but I had to see Yusuf first.

The moment I stepped into the library, I spotted him seating alone in the VIP section. He was stubborn, the section was meant for only lecturers. And how on this earth did he even managed to stay there without being forced to leave by the librarian? I thought while gently walking over to him. "Yusuf, is Adnan in school please?!" I said pretending as if that was what brought me to him. He was busy, so he didn't reply me. I had to yell at him. "Yusuf, I am asking you!"

"Oh, sorry dear" He huffed with a smile and continued. "I haven't seen him yet"

"Like seriously?" I dropped my jaw.

"Yes..." He uttered and then enquired why I was always asking about Adnan. Actually, I was using Adnan's absence as an avenue to be approaching him in the name of enquiring about Adnan.

"Yusuf, you won't understand..." I said thinking about the lie to tell. Just then, the thought of what happened on our final day at school last semester popped into my head. "I just hope it isn't about what happened last semester ending..."

"What if it is? You did the right thing, dear. Just forget about him" He said.

"Hmm, okey then" I said as I unzipped my bag and brought out what I bought for him. "Here, I bought you a donut and... a can coke along the way" I said.

"Awwn, thank you dear" He collected the donut first and then gave it a bite. "Yummy!" He said as he opened the coke and gulped it. "Wow!" He smiled.

"See how hungry you are, did you even eat before coming? Don't lie!" I uttered.

"No, I didn't" He said with his mouth full. "This donut is delicious, thanks!"

"Yeah, it is..." I feigned smiling. "Let me be going, I am having a lecture yanzu"

"Oh, okey. Thanks, Fatimah" He said.

"You are welcome, Yusuf" I uttered and then bade him goodbye before leaving.

...

When I headed to the lecture venue, I found out Dr. Rashid was already in the hall. Well, I took his permission and then entered. He was a very wonderful man and was even more gentle than Dr. Marwan. He had never send anyone out of his lecture before. If you like come 10 or 5 minutes to the end of his lecture, he would only preach to you but not send you out like other lecturers used to do.

After the lecture, Qudrah decided to stay for tutorial. I didn't know what came up to her but she really looked disturbed, perhaps something was kinda bothering her but what could that even be? I wondered as I drove back home alone with her thought allover my mind. She was my besty!

Just after praying Asr, Yusuf called and told me Adnan was sick and he would like the two of us to visit him. Well, I gave him my home address and then told him to come and get me since I didn't really know where Adnan was living. He once told me the name of the area though but not the number of the house he was living in. After the call, I took another shower and then changed into an appealing outfit before reapplying some makeup on my face. 

"I am by the gate" Came Yusuf's text.

And as satisfied as I was with how hot I was looking right now, I winked at my reflection on the mirror and took my phone from the table before heading out of the room. "Where are you going to?" My mother asked as soon as I walked downstairs, she was watching in the sitting room with my father. 

"Mum, Qudrah's house za ni" I lied.

"Okey, but... where is your car key?" She asked. And that reminded me that I was only carrying my phone. "Fatimah, I am asking you... or are you trekking there?"

I was very speechless, what should I tell her? That a friend was already outside waiting for me? I heaved a sigh, and just then something came into my mind. "Mum, my car is somehow faulty" I lied.

"Okey, bari Munir ya kai ki then..." She said and before I could tell her I would prefer taxi she summoned Munir and told him to take me to my destination.

"Toh, Anty Raliya" He said smiling. He was very happy, his emotion said it all.

In anger, I rolled my eyes at him and headed out of the mansion with him trailing me. "Don't even waste your time, a car is already waiting for me outside!" I said heading to the gate.

"Whose car?" I heard him smirked.

"Come and see" I muttered.

"Okey then" He said.

Thus, he followed me out of the gate and as soon as he saw Yusuf he went back inside to probably report me to my parents. Well, I would tell them it was Qudrah's cousin brother... LOL!

"Good evening" I greeted Yusuf.

"Evening!" He said and stormed into his car without even dropping a comment about my new makeup and outfit. WTF!

I hopped into the car as well, and while we were on our way to Adnan's house he cleared his throat and said he never knew I was Alhaji Bulama's daughter.

"You know my father?" I asked.

"Yes!" He said and never utter a word again until we reached our destination. "I also know Munir too, is he not your cousin?" He asked turning the car off.

"Yes, cousin! But how did you know them?" I asked as anxious as I was.

"If you go home, ask Munir" He uttered and then gently stormed out of the car.

"Why not tell me?" I asked as I stormed out of the car as well. "Tell me, please!"

"Okey then" He heaved a sigh.

"Good" I gulped.

"Munir was my sister's ex, and I don't know if you've ever heard about DAF Limited. That's our company" He said.

At first I didn't really believe him at all, but then he gave me reasons to believe him. That was our worst day ever! I took a cab and went back home after realising the mess I got myself into. Yes, big mess! My father would think I was dating his rival's son and that might end my dream of running his Cooperation.

When I reached home, I met what I was expecting. Insults, tantrums... that made me to shed the tears I had never thought of shedding. No matter how I tried to explain things to them, none of them cared to listen... Not even my beloved mother, she was very angry!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

AsSalama Alaykum, everyone!

Sorry for the late update, it was never my intention to keep you all waiting...

Love you all💖