58: Another Woman

She parked the car in front of the building and smiled while she looked up. This wasn’t the first time she was here, but every day felt as if it was. She smiled whenever she came to the company because this is where all began, where everything had happened, and she couldn’t thank this building enough. Well, maybe she had to thank herself that she kept pushing because if not because she was so persisting, if she had given up after a while, they wouldn’t have been here today. Funny how just last week she met Jibril, she had even forgotten that she had blocked his number since she got married to Yazeed and didn't know the right way to explain things to him. When she saw him last week at the company, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

At first, he acted like he didn’t notice the protruding stomach on her midriff but later on after they had exchanged a few pleasantries, he had to ask. And she apologized, what she had always been dreading because she didn't know what to say to him. But then even though he acted hurt, he congratulated her, and they parted ways. She prayed she wouldn’t have to see him today, because it would be so awkward if she did. She was about to get out of the car when her phone rang, and she smiled before she picked it up. It was Farha.

“Godmother.” She joked this was how Farha bullied her to be calling her since when she knew she was pregnant. She told her that there was no way she could be degrading her status when she was now a godmother.

“I love you, Babe. It always feels great whenever you call me that. How have you been? And how’s my angel doing?” She giggled; it didn’t get old whenever Jalilah called her that. She felt this superior feeling that she couldn’t begin to explain to anyone, it always felt great.

Jalilah took the food basket in her hand and got out of the car before she smiled, “Your angel is doing fine, it has been moving since I woke up today. How’s work? And...” She let her words trailed off, she didn’t want to make any wrong move that will transform Farha now from being a lovey-dovey to insulting the living daylights out of her.

“We had a meeting just now, and it’s not what you’re thinking, Jalilah. It’s just working.” She couldn’t help but smile. Last month, Sulaiman was sent to Lagos from their company and they wanted a partnership with Farha’s father’s company. They met, and if Jalilah said she was excited, it would just be an understatement. She was so happy that she felt as if they should go to Lagos and see for themselves.

She moved toward the stairs, there were times that if she came to the company, she would have to call him or Wafiyya to ride the elevator with her like the old times, which always gave her a feeling of deja vu. But since she got into her eighth month of pregnancy, she preferred to take the stairs, it was good for her and today specifically, she wanted to take the stairs so she could have some more time to spend with Farha over the phone.

“What did I say? Nothing. It’s just working, we all know, baby girl.” She smiled and began taking the flights, careful, one at a time. She knew Yazeed would have to scold her for taking the stairs, that she would just exhaust herself and his baby, but she had to do this.

Farha smiled but she groaned at Jalilah, “I don’t know the kind of crazy ideas that roam through your head, Yazeed too. You’ve infected him with a dose of your craziness, which is bad if you ask me.”

Jalilah laughed, “That’s what makes us a couple. But sincere speaking, Farha, if Sulaiman told you he loves you, will you accept?” She asked she had always wanted to know. And even when they cornered with Yazeed and Wafiyya to tell them whether he loved her or not, he said no. They knew he loved his wife, he respected her but with each passing day, he was becoming sad, something was weighing him down that he didn’t want to admit to any of them.

Farha was silent for a while, and then she brought up her shield, the one she always brought up. “He’s married, Jalilah. He has a son, even showed me his pictures, maybe he forgot that you post that boy’s pic all over the media as though he was yours. He has a beautiful home, it doesn’t matter whether he loves me or not, he should take care of his family and live happily with them.”

Jalilah shook her head and softly smiled, “That’s not what I mean, Farha. Okay, let’s make it this way, what about you? Do you love him? Not necessarily love him, but do you like him in that way?”

Farha was silent for a while before she shook her head as though Jalilah could see her. “It doesn’t matter whether I do that or not, Jalilah. What’s more important here is, we can’t break someone’s home, someone’s happiness for our selfish interests, can we?” If Jalilah wasn’t mistaken, she was sure she heard her voice broke at the end of her sentence and it didn’t feel good.

She sighed and stayed for a few seconds to take in her breath, “We aren't breaking her home. I know, Ilham is a good woman, and wallah I love her. But I'm sorry if I sound selfish here, your happiness matters more to me. I love you more than her, Farha. Will you please answer this? And don’t hide anything for me, you can’t hide something from me, you know? Do you love him? I'm not saying we have to squeeze you into his heart, we’ve learnt from my mistake, didn’t we? I just want to know so you’ll take it off your chest.”

Farha sighed and looked around, no one was around, she could let her tears out. “Yes, I do. But...” She started but Jalilah cut her off. There was no but in love. If you love someone, there’s nothing else you could do about it.

“There’s nothing like ‘I love you but’ in this life, Farha, you know better than anyone. I'm not sure of his feelings yet, but I think he loves you too. But you’re at work now, I’m here to visit Yazeed too, I don’t want you to make a mess of your cheeks while someone can walk in right now...”

She heard shuffles from Farha’s side before she whispered, “He’s in my office, I'll call you later.”

Jalilah chuckled, “Make sure you make him fall in love with you, girl! The Farha spirit still lives.”

She ended the call and smiled seeing that she was already at his office. She knocked softly and waited until he asked the intruder to come in, a mischievous smile on her lips. He didn’t know she was coming, hell, he stopped her from driving. He asked her to call him whenever she wanted to go out, and it didn’t matter whether he was hell-bent in work, he would always come back for her. She entered the office and placed the basket on the center table and slumped on one of the sofas. He still didn’t look up because he thought it was one of those workers that came to ask or submit something.

“How may I help you?” He asked, still not looking up to know who it was.

She read the banner on his table, “CEO Yazeed Adam Bunza, won’t you at least smile at me?” The way he abruptly looked up at her, she was even afraid if he didn’t harm his neck. He stared at her with a surprised expression and in a swift, he was standing in front of her and he took her into a lazy hug.

“I was just thinking of how to get my head out of this office, just to hug you and come back to work. Thank you for coming, Ballerina.” He kissed her neck before he broke their hug and he seemed lively all over again. Not like the tired of if she could add, bored Yazeed she had met the moment she walked in. He placed his hands on her shoulders and stared straight into her eyes, “I asked you not to be driving around, Ballerina.”

She pouted her lips, “I’ve missed you, and I know you won't stop working just to eat lunch, so I brought it for you.” She whined and hugged him. They stayed there for a while he rested his head on her, smiling and feeling the way happiness and peace were filling his heart.

He instantly broke their hug and knelt beside her stomach, he placed his ears on her stomach and later looked up at her with a wide grin, “Did she moved today?” She swatted his ear away from her stomach and laughed.

“I told you, Yazeed, you can’t gender it yet. You have to refer to it as ‘it’ it’s not born yet. And yes, it has been moving since I woke up today.” He helped her sat back on the sofa before he placed his hands and stayed still, and when it moved, he squealed like a girl teenager drunk in love. He giggled and she laughed, this had always been his expression whenever he felt the movement of their child. She didn’t know how much he loved the baby, but it was all prominent on his face.

“She moved, Jalilah. Missing Abbi, baby girl?” He spoke to the stomach and Jalilah couldn't help but laugh. She still couldn't get over the fact that Yazeed would never take her correction about the baby. He always preferred to refer to it as she. And what amused her more was that he always acted childish whenever he was speaking to the baby, it always felt good to see it.

He looked back at her, “Did she answer?” He asked, and Jalilah suppressed her laughter because she knew he wasn't joking. Whenever it came to the baby, he was damn serious.

She giggled and nodded her head, “Yes, but she said she will move again after you take your lunch.”

His eyes wandered at the basket and he stood up, “May Allah bless you, Jalilah. Thank you.” He kissed her forehead and served himself. They ate the food together while he fed them both, and whenever she asked him to eat more, he would shake his head and say that he wanted his baby to come out healthy and so beautiful like her angelic mom.

He was done when she looked at him and smiled, “How’s Sulaiman?” She wasn’t going to tell him about their conversation with Farha, but she can as well know what Sulaiman thought of her best friend so she could advise her the best way she could.

He laughed and gulped down the rest of his drink, “He’s loving it there, I can assure you. Wafiyya was sent on a project there but he told her that he will do it for her, she didn’t have to come over. I'm sure it’s because of Farha, even though he isn’t going to admit it yet.”

She sighed but the smile still lingered on her face, “I don’t know why they’re acting tough on themselves after all none of them is Yazeed Adam Bunza to be chanting I can’t love-” he sealed up their lips and after they broke apart from the kiss, Jalilah was laughing so hard. She didn't know why Yazeed had never let her speak whenever she wanted to about their past. “Yazeed! I was just telling the truth.”

He stood up and helped her up too, “You have to go home now, I'll come back in an hour or two. Ballerina, you have to promise me though.”

She cupped his face into her hands and smiled, “What is it? Consider it done, Yazeedu.”

“What's with the Yazeedu again? Jalilah, unless you want me to follow you back home and punish you in the best way I could know so well I'll be neck-deep in work by tomorrow.” He pinched her cheeks and she giggled like a little girl.

“I was just joking. But what’s the promise I have to do first before I leave?” She asked again.

“You won’t work again, please you don’t have to be stressing yourself, Ballerina. Please?” He hated it whenever he found her working, that’s why he made sure he worked for her before he came to work, but Jalilah being Jalilah would always work, she had also refused to have a maid. Saying that she didn’t want someone to be seeing her ‘Beautiful Husband’ every day.

“I want to clean your room, but I think I'll have to wait until you’re back. We have to create a space for the baby’s crib, or should I take it to my room? And you know a mother is always where her child is.” She giggled when he grunted at the thought.

“Wait for me, I'll be fast and make sure I come back in an hour, deal?” He asked, and she nodded her head. They rode the elevator because he refused to let her take the stairs again. He made sure she drove out of the company while warning her to drive carefully. She drove home while smiling widely as though Yazeed was in the car with her, she loved this man. Her hand softly fondled her stomach, and she wondered, how could you love someone that’s not there yet? She loved her baby so much without even knowing whether it was a boy or a girl.

She greeted the gateman when she got home and parked the car. She wished it was raining, she would have played in the rain even though she was sure Yazeed would scold her if she played in the water, she would have loved to do that. She smiled, remembering the day they played in the water together and walked into the house. At first, she watched a movie, she thought she could be able to wait until he came back so they could clear his room together. But with each passing minute, she was getting as bored as she could ever be. She didn't want to call Farha she was at work and the kind of conversation they should have needed her attention and time. Mama and the twins had left for meccah, she was taking them to school from there. Everybody she had was at work, it was in times like this that she wished she had more friends.

She later realized that she couldn’t be staying there while thinking her head out, she took the stairs and walked up to his room. She was lazy but then this was the only way she could take her mind off things and have something to do before he came back. Maybe she would be one before he came back. She moved to his old box, the one he told her had his old stuff and sometimes showed her pictures or ornaments whenever he was telling her a story. She picked the box and began to see through his old photographs, and she laughed so hard at some, couldn’t believe he was like that before. Even though he looked young and lonely, he was still handsome. He had gotten more of his childhood pictures when they went to Kebbi last month, and she didn’t see any of them.

She was going through the pictures when one caught her eyes. At first, she was going to push past it, but something gripped her heart. It was a picture of him, and not too long ago. He looked in his early or mid-twenties, he looked happy, he was smiling at the camera. And beside him, was a woman, the first thing Jalilah noticed about her was her beauty, and she looked calm in the picture. No! She didn't see that right. The woman was heavily pregnant, and she was leaning onto Yazeed while he held her shoulders firmly. With the same firmness, he had always held her. She didn’t know what she was thinking, but this picture didn't like they were related in some way.

This looked like they were, happy...and in love. As much as she didn’t want to think about it, she knew she had. The look on Yazeed’s face was enough to tell her that he was in love. He loved this woman, at least she knew how he looked like when he was in love. She didn’t know how long she had stayed there, just staring at the picture and her tears making a downpour on her cheeks. She couldn’t remember the last time she cried, which weren't tears of joy. She wanted to find a clue in the picture that will tell her that what she was thinking wasn’t true. She was mistaken. Maybe she was his cousin like Wafiyya was, maybe a relative they were close and after they snapped this picture together.

But the more she stared at the picture the more she saw their love. The more it got cleared to her and forced her to believe the reality, Yazeed had a wife and probably a child now, because this picture was taken years back. Maybe the child would be five or four years now, she wasn’t sure. What the hell was this? Why did she check the pictures in the box? She was crying when she heard the door being turned and he walked into the room, but she couldn’t fake it. At first, she thought that she could act as nothing had happened, but she later realized she wasn't that strong.

“I told you not to start working without...” His words became guttural when he saw the tears dripping down her cheeks and he rushed to where she was. He didn’t notice the picture that was in her hand and he knelt beside her, “Jalilah? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

She thrust the picture at him, her voice got choked up in her throat, “You had a family? Apart from us?” She croaked and placed her hand on her stomach protectively, she was crying even more painfully now, after seeing him, hearing his voice.

He stared at the picture for more than a minute but couldn’t voice a word, it felt as if his heart had stopped moving and even though he didn’t answer her, that was enough answer for her. She didn’t need anything more. She placed the picture on the bed and stood up. “You don’t have to answer it, Yazeed. Your silence is enough to answer, thank you.” And she walked out of the room, she didn’t know why she was feeling dizzy and her tears were clouding her view. It was so painful that she doubts if she could breathe normally. Why? Why would Yazeed do this to her?!