Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Amina

Throughout the day, my mind had been preoccupied with Sadiq or should I say Nabil's words. I don't even know what to think. Some part of me is telling me to believe him and some part is telling me not to. I'm heck confused. What is his reason behind all that? Is there some connection between him and the family? The sudden bolt from the door interrupted my thoughts. Stood Abida with a weary smile on her face. Could it be all the smiles are for show?

"Dinner is ready," she said and with that, she left. Placing the Azkar I was reading on the bedside table, I also descend down but the event I saw before me, stopped me mid-track. The family laughing to God knows what. For an unknown reason, my mind tells me there must be something occurring within the family. I didn't miss the look Ahmad shared with his father a serious one. Before I could take another step, their father rose from his seat while Ahmad tailed behind him towards a door which I mostly see Alhaji enters through. It must be his home office. Composing myself, I made myself towards them.

"Good day Hajiya" I greeted the woman whose face was held in all seriousness as if she's not the one who was all smiling a few minutes ago.

"How are you doing? I didn't see you throughout today. Hope everything is fine?" After Nabil dropped me, I went straight to the room. Besides, the events didn't allow me to get out of the room.

"Yes Hajiya, everything is fine," I think that will be enough answer to her question. I didn't waste any more time and started digging in me food due to hunger. Since I didn't eat lunch, too lazy to get out of the room. Hajiya already left before I finished eating. Only Abida and me. The short silence that prevailed was occupied by her sudden words.

"Ehem.... aren't you taking Sadiq's food today?" I didn't resist rolling my eyes at her. The girl doesn't forget things easily.

"And why would I?"

"Well, considering how close you two were these past two days. And I thought you put it upon yourself to be taking his food to him"

She said we were closed? Does that mean she had been keeping an eye on us, all this while? Packing my used plate, I started making my way to the kitchen, ignoring Abida's words when Mairo beat me to it and grabbed it from my hands.

"Thank you," I said, turning to Abida, who was tailing behind me. "Why are you following me?" I asked getting irritated all of a sudden. At times I hate her nagging.

Her lips curved up into a smile. "Well, his food is still in the kitchen. I was wondering if you're going to take it to him today" my opened mouth widened again. What the hell is wrong with this girl.

"I told you..." I started but stopped when an idea popped up in my head. Since she thinks we are close then I will use the opportunity to ask him a few things or maybe get some clue about what he's up to. "Sure, I will take his food to him." For a split second, I saw her widened eyes. Maybe not expecting the words out of my mouth. I'm also not expecting my mouth to blurt it out but since he won't tell me then I have no choice that to find out myself. Ignoring her statue-like form, I went straight to the kitchen, took his food, and sauntered out.

I stood in front of his room contemplating what to do. My head is telling me to ignore and not get involved in other people's matters. I'm not the type that pokes my nose in matters that doesn't concern me and my heart is telling me to go on maybe there's indeed more to me being here like he said. A sudden calmness penetrates through my body and I found myself knocking on his door, waiting for him to unlock it.

Some unusual noise sounded from the door before it was pushed upon. "Hi" was the word my head could think of to utter. At first, his brows were knitted together but later on, a smile broke at his lips.

"Hi" he answered back grabbing the food flask from my outstretched hands. "Thank you. These two days you're the one bringing my food when Mairo is the one who normally brings it. I hope everything is okay?"

"Yeah, it is. I just feel like it" his door was still half-closed, I peeped my eyes through the small gap. "Do you need anything?" he asked sensing my interrogation.

"Would it be weird if I tell you that I couldn't forget what you told me earlier. I'm curious"

His lips broke into a chuckle. Setting the flask in the room, he shut the door, interrupting my eyes from inspecting his room once again. "Then keep your curiosity to yourself and I told you before, this should be between me and you. I don't want to regret telling you a my secret . So I hope you will keep the promise" That's it, he now changes the topic. I wanted to let it go but my stubborn brain won't let me.

"What about what you said? That my stay here might not be what I think. I would like you to explain to me why? If I'm to believe you then I need to know why."

He withdrew his hands that were stuffed inside his pocket and crossed then across his chest. "That is not something you should bother yourself about. As far as you'll be careful like I said then you don't have any problem" To say I was pissed by his words will be an understatement. How can someone tell you to be careful of another person and he won't tell you the reason. If he wasn't going to tell me his reasons then why tell me about his secret in the first place.