I too Dey spoil Una too much😭 I need to stop.

      SA'ADATU'S POV.

KANO, NIGERIA.

I found myself digging my thumbnail into my index finger as I stared out the window, watching the trees as we drove down the busy roads of Kano, the streets bustling with life despite it being night time. I did not turn around, I dare not.

If I am being honest, my head hurts from staring out the window for that long, for I have been that way since the minute I settled down in the car and he revved it to life. The familiar feel of the plush seats of the BMW, and that scent peculiar to him brought back memories, reminding me of the last before when he took me back home.

It feels like déjà vu if I am being honest, only the circumstances this time around is much different from before, and I found myself for an entirely different reason. But, with Adnan Bayero in the picture, I always find myself making a fool of myself in front of him so I resorted to the only solution I could think of.

Ignoring him, till we reach my house and I can leave with little interaction.

I should have known it is all wishful thoughts really because soon enough, we found ourselves in traffic, and we were forced to sit in silence, not moving forward. I found myself suspiring, turning my head slightly as the neck cramp was beginning to become a bit much.

The soft hum of the rain outside became the sole sound around us, that coupled along with the slight, ever so discrete, sound of the car humming. At least, it was so, until his voice suddenly came.

"I have tried to contact you a couple of times over the past year," His voice was low, but loud enough in the silence of the car.

"Huh?" I turned around to look at him with questioning eyes.

He turned around as well, one hand on the steering wheel, tapping it with his fingers when he nodded, his expression serious. "I tried calling you," He explained, "You did not pick up."

My brows drew as I tried to make sense of his words. He tried to contact me? "I did not know." I stated, earnestly. "I do not have your number as well..." Sure enough, I had gotten missed calls from so many unsaved numbers, but most times I intentionally ignored it. It was all part of the phase I am trying to escape now—the phase where I had detached myself from the entire world.

"It's okay," He waved it off, and there is this sudden intensity that took over his features which made my toes curl. When he parted his lips to speak again, for some reason, I did not expect his next words. "I just wanted to extend my condolence," He stated, and I felt the breath knocked right out my lungs. "Ya haquri?"

It has been a while since I have gotten any condolence from anyone, and to be honest, I preferred it as such. I do not wish to be reminded of the past, not in any way. Yet for some reason, I did not hate it when the words escaped his lips. It felt comforting even, if that makes sense.

I swallowed down a lump, then breathed out. "Haquri alhamdullilah."

"Allah ya jiqan shi, Allah ya saya huta."

"Ameen," I whispered, the soft drizzle from the rain carrying my words. "Thank you."

"It is nothing," He shook his head, "It is long overdue really."

Staring back him felt intense. His eyes, they somehow feel as though they could see past my carefully laid, and crafted walls around myself. And I do not like that, so I found myself looking away, blinking a couple of times as I released calming breaths.

The air felt too serious, and it is not a feeling I wish to have at the moment.

A couple of seconds of silence passed with no words exchanged between us, but unlike earlier, I did not quite like this silence. But, I did not like when he broke it as well.

"I have a question," He suddenly raised, a certain hint in his tone raising suspicions in me.

I found myself narrowing my eyes at him slightly, "Don't ask," I shook my head, "Every time you ask something, it does not end in my favor."

He chuckled, a deep sound that made my heart rate spike slightly. "You don't even know what I am going to ask."

"I need not know," I stated simply, my expression speaking of my unvoiced suspicion. "With you, it never ends in my favor, and that is a fact."

"I am still going to ask, you know."

"Oh God," I breathed out, rolling my eyes as I looked away.

He took that as his cue to go ahead, "Were you planning on leaving with that friend of yours?"

"Which friend?" I knew who is talking about, but just for the fun of it, I feigned ignorance.

His pointed gaze showed he could see behind my façade, "You know who I am talking about. That boy, whatever his name is." The dislike in his tone was evident.

"Zaheer?" I arched a brow, and he nodded. I found myself chuckling this time around as I leaned back against the plush seats, greedily inhaling that peculiar scent. There is truly something calming about it. "He is such a likable person, you are the first person that has something against him," I stated as a matter of fact, then added upon remembering someone. "You, and Faiza of course."

For some reason the two Bayero siblings dislike Zaheer, which is a first. I have never met anyone that dislikes him. He knows his way around people—even adults love him regardless of his reckless personality. He is a sweetheart, but of course someone like Adnan Bayero won't understand.

"There is nothing likable about him," He grumbled. "He is way too hyper and outgoing."

"Malam Adnanu, I suggest you tone it down. Not everyone is as cold as you are," My lips slanted into an amused smile, and I found myself turning my head around to look at him completely. He arched a brow at the name, and quite possibly the statement about his personality. Holding a smile back, I found myself adding, "If you keep this up, someone might think you are jealous." I teased.

His gaze never left mine, and he did not hesitate even for a split second when he responded. "I am jealous as a matter of fact."

My toes curled, and my words remained stuck midway. I could not look away, even when his words and the intensity behind his gaze screamed at me to do so for the sake of my mental health. I could feel my heart racing due to his words, and it took every will power to hold myself back from shying away as always.

I vowed I would not allow this man to keep getting the best of him, and I intend to stick to it.

So, I swallowed down a lump, and kept my expression indifferent though I was all jittery inside.

"You sound worried as well," Surprisingly, my voice sounded calm despite the circus inside me.

His response came immediately, "I am not worried."

"Really now?"

He nodded, and the cars suddenly started moving. So, he shifted his attention to the road, and drove forward. "I am jealous that you are that close, yes. But, there is no need to be worried over someone like him. Not of a kid."

I could not help but scoff in disbelief at his words. The way he said it so casually, one would think Zaheer is nothing but an eighteen-year-old or even less. Shaking my head, I leaned back on the chair, then settled my gaze on the street ahead. "Well, I am sorry but not everyone is as old as you are, Malam."

"Where did this 'Malam' come from?" He inquired, sounding genuinely curious. "And for your information, thirty-two is not old."

I hummed, not believing him in the slightest. "Are you not a lecturer? That is what we call our lecturers. 'Malam'. In your case, Malam Adnanu, has a nice ring to it really."

"I did not study to become a Professor just to end up being called 'Malam'," I enjoyed how the name seemed to annoy him, it gave me the feeling of satisfaction.

Once again, I simply hummed, then nodded. "Alright, Malam Adnanu. Roger that."

"Sa'adah," He warned, and those damn butterflies appeared, but I ignored them. At least, I thought so until he turned around and threw me a quick glance, then looked ahead, a smile dancing on his lips. "The abaya looks good on you by the way. I am glad you like it."

"Like it?" My brows drew in, the wheels in my heads turning at the way he said it. It sounded almost as if...wait, he bought it?! No, Faiza would not try that nonsense with me. Would she? If she did, then I swear I am definitely killing her. My apologies to her family in advance. I whipped my head around so fats I could have gotten a whiplash, my eyes dilated and lips parted slightly in disbelief. "You did not buy it...did you?" My voice dropped, and it was way too obvious what I wanted the answer to be.

A solid no. No, he did not—he could not have. Right?

I knew I was damned the moment the corner of his lips curled slightly, "It is a gift," He said simply. "Faiza picked it up, you're twining. I only did the easy part."

"Which is?"

He turned around, our gazes meeting then he responded casually. "Paying."

Excuse me, one moment. Paying is the easy part? God abeg I need to be rich in my life. But, his casualty towards that aside. He paid...he truly bought it.

Rest in pieces, Faiza Bayero. I will take care of Amani after she dies.

Slumping back in my seat, I was already thinking of 1001 ways I would kill Faiza. Blood rushed to my cheeks, as I thought of how I must have looked in his eyes. Then again, why should I even care what he thinks of me? I should not, he does not matter.

Deep down I know I am deceiving myself, but if that is what it takes for me to not wish I could disappear, then so be it. Gaslighting myself it is.

"I...uhm..." I cleared my throat, my cheeks burning. Still, I tried to tamp down the embarrassment, then feigned a serious expression before I spoke. "...I did not know, but thank you." I refuse to add the 'I appreciate it', part. That will be a lie.

I did when I thought it came from Faiza, but now knowing it came from him, I am no longer appreciating it. Not in the slightest.

"Don't mention it," He dismissed, turning the steering wheel as we picked up the lane that would soon reach my house, and I could not help but pray we reach there soon so I could escape the embarrassment of being in the same space as him. "It is merely the first of many to come." He added, then continued, his tone serious. "Speaking of which, when do you think is the best time to meet your father?"

The response escaped my lips almost immediately, astonishment lacing it. "Me zaka mishi?"

Once again, he turned around to hold my gaze, and they never wavered when he responded. "To send my elders of course,"

"Yawon sallah zasu zo?" I asked seriously, holding back the urge to scream because what did he just say?

He gave me a pointed look, shifting his attention back to the road so we would not crash. But crashing truly does not sound like a bad idea if it means I get to escape this situation. I am certain there is something wrong with Adnan Bayero, there has to be. Speaking of which, he has been an entirely different man since he returned, anya this is the same Adnan I knew?

It is like since he became a Professor, he had become an entire different person. Where is the old Adnan please? I think I prefer him—at least he does not give me a heart attack on a daily like this.

I thought he would focus on his driving, and I will be home in a minute or two so this conversation would not have to drag, but boy am I wrong. The man suddenly swiveled to the side, and before I know it, he had parked the car by the side.

"What...what are you doing?" I blinked, shifting my gaze from the road ahead to the man beside me. Am I safe?

Now without the worries of potentially crashing, he turned around to face me, his expression ever so serious. "I am serious, Sa'adah."

"So am I." I bite back, keeping my expression serious as I held his gaze. "Sallah is in a couple of days." Nasani ko yawon sallah zasu zo because there cannot be another reason, there must not be. Impossible.

When his gaze began to feel a bit too intense and serious, I looked away, unable to hold his gaze because it made the joke I am trying to establish melt away, and that is not something I can afford.

His voice came again, holding every ounce of seriousness. "Look at me,"

"No," I mumbled, fiddling with my fingers as I eyed the door handle. Would it be a bad idea to open the door and step out? It would take me at least five minutes to reach home on feet, but it is not a bad idea—I will just consider it strolling.

He must have noticed where my sight is on, because the soft flick of the doors came, and I found myself turning around to give him a look.

"What do you think you are doing?" I asked, slight annoyance masking my tone because he has now rendered my escape plan useless.

He sighed heavily, "I am sorry for doing that but I need you to listen, I am being serious right now."

I cannot remember a single time in the past where he held my gaze this long, it never lasted a couple of seconds, his usual dismissive attitude setting in. This time around though, he did not look away and I wish he did, not because it felt uncomfortable but because the intensity and seriousness behind it scared me.

I have never been a fan of serious situations before, I hated it and avoided it as much as I can. This situation feels very much serious, and I hated it.

"Please don't," I found myself whispering, earnestly. Shaking my head slightly, I continued, "I don't know what has gotten into you, or why you kept acting like that earlier but I do not want a part of it, honestly."

"Too bad you are already a big part of it," He breathed out. "And I was not clear enough yesterday, and earlier, then allow me to be frank now. We've wasted enough years, there is no point beating around the bush now. My intentions towards you are sincere, I meant every word I said earlier--"

"Don't," I shook my head, my expression and mood dampened. A familiar ache from all those months ago resurfaced, and my former resolve made an appearance. "I have no intentions of dating, or being with anyone, not now, not in the future."

"I never said a thing about dating you," He said calmly, the intensity behind his gaze difficult to stand. It feels as though he could see the deepest, and darkest depths of my being with such a glance, and I did not like it. But, his gaze aside, his next words knocked the breath right out my lungs. "I want to marry you. Become a part of my family. Be my wife, Sa'adah."

****

Wait wait wait!! Hold up!!!!

Kai Adnan Bayero haka ake? Sharp sharp?!! Yaushe ka dawo you're already talking marriage? Wetin your elders come do? Yawon sallah zasu zo ne?😂😂😂 Kai amma Saadatu na daughter of air 😂😂😂😂😂

Wonders shall never end 😭🤣

This two Dey give me mini joy like this🥲

It's like we will have a wedding soon but I just know my girl won't agree that easily at all, I just know it. But we'll see.

I started writing this chapter yesterday and I had to complete it to update today. Now I'll defs need a few days to recuperate because Omo, I don write these characters tire🥲

People my comments!!! Ina comments Ina abeg🥹 Yawwa keep em coming, Ina Godiya🥹

Malam Adnanu Mun Baka suna take am and say thank you kaji 😂 ka durqusa 🙂

But something tells me this guy won't give up easily o, if ever. Wallahi kar ka yarda marry her kaji Ehen!! Hearts go break but we'll risk it.

Ya haqurin labarin aminu saira? Am I the only one starting to be fed up with this Maryam drama ongoing on socials, the thing no annoy me at first na now it's annoying me. Sha Wahala no finish for him aminu saira seff. Why is he dragggibg the series!?!?!

Kayan haushi ma.

Anyways wenchahu huacun kopinashushu. Na Chinese statement to show Una I've become Chinese now 🙂🥲 na Chinese books I go soon start Ehen.

Take care my fellow singles. We will love o!

Love, Jannah Mia❤️