Abubakar

I WAS LAYING on the bed chatting on my phone and always glancing at the time to get ready for my date

After pressuring Aishah she finally agreed to go out on a date with me and I am planning on asking her out because I truly love her

I checked the time again and it was time for me to get ready,I switched off my data connection and went to the bathroom to have a quick shower,I came back to my room wearing a dark red chinos trouser and a designer t-shirt I spray my favorite perfume wearing my sneakers when my phone started ringing

I took the phone from the bed and it was Ibrahim I answered the call

"What's up?"I said as soon as I answered the call

"My dad asked me to go out on a date with her"he said irritatedly,Ibrahim haven't accepted his fate he grew bitter by the day

"Who?"I asked trying to tease him because I know how he hates talking about his future wife which we don't even know her name

"Who else but the devil that my parents have decided to send into my life"he said and I shake my head slightly

"Stop calling the innocent girl devil,who knows she might be feeling thesame way you feel"

"I don't care and I didn't call you to come and start lecturing me about what's good or not,I need you to be there for me"he said and I got confused

"I don't understand"

"I need you to be at the date with me I don't want to go there alone"he said and I rubbed my temple gently

"I have a date too Aba,I was getting ready for the date before your call came"I replied

"Can't you do this for me?"he whined

"I'm going on a date with Aishah and you know what she means to me,this is my opportunity to ask her out"I said frustratedly

"Please Abu just do this for me,you can postpone the date please help me out"he pleaded

"I hate you"I replied

"Thank you so much I will send you the location"he said and hang up the phone

I felt like throwing the phone away but I remembered how costly the phone is and I just slumped on the bed

I lay down contemplating on how I'm going to tell Aishah the date have been cancelled,I lay on the bed for thirty minutes thinking about different lies I could come up with and tell her but none seems to make sense

I sigh sitting down on the bed again,I took my phone and dialled her number

"Salam Aleikum"I greeted when she picks up the call

"Waleikum Salam"she replied with that her beautiful voice

"I'm so sorry Aishah I got somewhere important to be at I don't think the date can hold today"I said expecting her to say something annoying but she was calm as usual

How can I ever stop loving this girl

"Ok we will go on another day"she replied and I was glad she wasn't upset

"Sure"I replied and ended the call

I was actually looking forward to the date but it seems I have to wait till another day I have to sacrifice today for my best friend

Aba sent me the location of his date and I set out of the house after making sure I switched off my electric appliances and locking the door,I am also eager to see who Aba will be getting married to

I entered my car leaving the compound,I came down from the car and locked my gate before setting out on the busy road of Zaria few minutes into the ride I mistakenly brush an old woman with my car I stopped the car immediately

I was scared I hope nothing happened to her,I stepped down from the car and saw her trying to stand up from the ground,I helped her up and she brush away the dirt in her dress

"I'm so sorry I didn't see you coming"I pleaded

"It's fine,don't worry I'm fine"she replied with a smile

"No it's not,where are you heading to let me drop you off"I asked her

"Don't bother son I will enter tricycle"she says

"No I'm not buying that let me drop you off"I insisted and she smiled one more time,she seems to be a kind lady

"But where I am heading to is far"she replied

"I don't mind"I said opening the door of the front seat of the car for her she muttered her thanks and climbed,I close the door and went to sit on the driver seat driving off after giving me the location of where she is heading to

**********************

The old lady didn't lie when she said she was going to somewhere far but I didn't regret dropping her off, that's the least I could do after making her fall

I parked my car at the restaurant garage dropping down from my car when my phone started ringing and it was Aba

"Hello" I said after picking up the call

"Where are you now?"he whined ignoring my greeting and I just rolled my eyes

"I'm already here you will see me soon"I replied locking my car

"Ok"he replied and the call came to an end

I went inside the restaurant and my eyes immediately landed on Aba's tall figure,you can easily locate him wherever he is because of his height

I walk towards them and saw a nervous lady playing with her hand but I ignored her at first giving my friend my full attention

"You should have sleep at home"Aba said irritatedly as his eyes landed on me I felt like chuckling or teasing him but I just replied

"Instead of you to be thankful I cancelled my date for yours"I said cockily I couldn't help it,my gaze adjusted and my eyes landed on a familiar face

"Abubakar!"she called surprised,been shocked was an understatement I can't place a name on how I feel

"Aishah!"I called back

What's she doing here,we should be on a date but it didn't happen so what is she doing with Aba

I stared at Aba and back at her,she seems speechless or too shock to talk while Aba just furrow his brows confused about what's going on

"You know her?"Aba was the first to break the thick silence

"She's thesame lady I have been talking about the Aishah I met at ABU Zaria"I replied but Aishah was quiet she wasn't talking

"She's thesame lady my parent are forcing me to get married to"Aba spatted and my eyes landed on Aishah one more time

Her cheeks were soaked with tears,she had been crying silently she stood up took her bag and started walking out of the restaurant,i hesitated first before following her

I fasten my steps and hold her hand stopping her from walking further

"Let's go to my car,you wouldn't like to cause a scene in the street"I told her and she nodded slyly still crying silently though she followed me to my car

I opened the back door and we both entered I close the door and waited for her to calm down a little before talking

"What's happening?"I asked quietly and calm

"I just went home one day and my dad told me about his childhood friend who he wants to have a reunion with by marry me off to his son"she said after drying her eyes,thank God she wasn't wearing make up if not her face would have look like something else

"Why didn't you tell me?"I asked

"I don't have the guts to tell you seriously I was looking forward to our friendship before this happened destroying all the plans I had"she said wiping her nose in an unladylike manner but I don't care she still look beautiful like that

"It's fine, everything will definitely be fine"I said trying to assure her even though it hurts more than I can ever imagine

"It can never be fine when I'm getting married to a stranger, someone I don't know or have feelings for it will never be fine"she said shaking her head frankly like it can take away all the pains

"I'm always here for you if you need someone to talk to or lean on,Aba is not a bad person"I said

"Aba?"she asked confused

"Ibrahim"I chuckled painfully"we his friends call him Aba"I said and she nodded

"Wipe your tears away and let's go back inside and have the date"she shaked her head in disapproval"consider it a double date like you are on a date with me and Aba"I tried to pressure her

She nodded her head and we stepped out of the car and went back to the restaurant,we met Aba sitting down majestically sipping a drink and I felt like smacking him

We sat down on the chairs while Aishah's eyes were on her laps she looks uncomfortable,she look at me and I gave her an assuring smile but she smiled back weakly

"You are back"that's all Aba said and I was starting to get angry but I kept it in control,I wasn't going to let hell loose in the presence of Aishah

We ordered for something simple and eat quietly,I continue glancing at Aishah from time to time and it seems like she is playing with the food or not comfortable sitting here

After thirty minutes of sitting in the silent table I decided to make Aishah go because it seems she is getting impatient by the minutes that pass by

"We should go back home"I said and the both of them look at me,I ignored Aba looking at Aishah"do you want to go home"

"Yes"she replied with a broken and hoarse voice

"So we should start going,Aba what do you think?"I asked him

"Ok"he said standing up and we did thesame

He paid for our meals and we went outside to the garage

"I will drop her off"Aba said and I nodded

"Stop by at my place we need to talk"I said and he only nodded walking away while Aishah tagged along

I went back to my car and drove off,I arrived at my house twenty minutes later and went to change my dress to a black jogger and an handless jersey top

I came back to the sitting room and turned on my television when Aba knocked on the door,I stood up and opened the door for him

"So what's up?"he asked after settling down

"I never knew it was thesame Aishah we met in ABU the other day you are getting married to"I said"how come you didn't remember her face?"

"How can I,you are the one head over heels for her not me"he replied shrugging taking the decoder controller from me

"Please treat her well"I pleaded even though it's so painful seeing someone I'm deeply in love with with another person but it's not just another person but my best friend I have to let go

"I can't promise that"he said and my face changed immediately

"Why?"I asked frowning

"Why will I when she's only a pain in the neck,why can't she stop the useless stupid and worthless marriage,I wanted to live my life to the fullest but see she came into my life to destroy all my plans"he yelled standing up and I did thesame

"Oh come on Aba getting married to you is not her fault too because it's clear she doesn't want it either,you don't know how grateful you are to have her when me in the other hand have to love her from afar and I can't ever have her you should be grateful"

"Grateful my foot,I don't want her now and I will never will"he spatted

"If only I can take her away from you"I said turning around to control my anger

"Oh I don't care,you can have her she's all yours even when we get married I don't care about what you guys do it will be much easier in order to get a divorce"he said and I turned to face him

"Stop tempting me Ibrahim"I said strongly and harshly

"Go ahead with whatever you want"