Four

Abbu entered the room with a salam, his heart almost skipped a beat when he saw Ihsan crying hysterically. Worriedly, he pranced to the bed and held her hands in his "what's wrong, Ihsan? Are you sick again?" He asked worriedly, he so much despised her tears, she was like a girl, whom he gave birth to.

She looked up with pouted lips, her eyes were all red because of the tears "It was Sadeeq, Abbu. He called me an amoebic shaped, a soon to die lady, fleshless bone, and gorilla faced. I'm I that bad? Abbu?" She asked and broke into tears, her heart was hurt by his words.

Abbu almost chucked outwardly, but he swiftly suppressed it "Oh my dear, how would he call such a very beautiful lady amoebic shaped and gorilla faced? You're an epitome of beauty, Ihsan, no one could be compared to you, for you're unique in your ways. He's just jealous that he couldn't have a beautiful lady like you as a wife," came Abbu's words, trying to placate her. He knew how their fights are, she can cry for Africa because of Sadeeq's insults.

"Woah! Abbu you're simply the best. Now he should apologize," she demanded with pouted lips and thrust Abbu Manal's phone.

Without hesitation, Abbu took the phone and skype called Sadeeq, it rang twice before he picked the call. "What is it again? You ugly girl," Came Sadeeq's voice, before he took a glimpse of Abbu's face, and his eyes grew like saucers.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Abbu. How's Ummu and Manal? I also heard Ihsan was sick, my regards please," he feigned innocence, fleetingly smiling at Abbu. He got the hint that Abbu was in Manal's room, and that stupid girl would probably be there, crying.

"Sadeeq, would you stop acting up? Where are your senses? How many times would I tell you to stop saying those words to her? Is it a crime because she is sick? Do mind your language. Oya! Apologize!" Abbu dictated, as he passed the phone to a smirking Ihsan, whose eyes were bruised with tears. 

"Abbu, I haven't said a word to her, in fact; I couldn't remember the last time we talk, trust me, Abbu. She's just lying," Sadeeq lied, glaring at Ihsan through his MacBook.

"Abbu! He called me a liar, in your presence!" She exclaimed and broke into crocodile tears, as she stuck out her tongue at him, in an enraging way.

"Sadeeq, why do you always want to see this girl crying? Isn't she fragile enough to gain your pity? This is so bad of you. I said you should apologize," Abbu clamoured, as he answered an incoming call in his phone, and sauntered out of the room.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, but loud enough for Ihsan to hear. He heard her chortle and looked at her. 

"He's out, Mumu. Such a young boy you are, you've just got intimidated, a man is known to be adamant!" She taunted, a triumphant expression plastered on her lips.

"Wallahi, Ihsan, mind your tongue. Don't let me come back to Nigeria this instant. Don't piss me off, you so well know my retaliation isn't good," Sadeeq threatened through gritted teeth. Abbu had now caused this on him, he knew this girl would talk about this till forever.

"Whatever, Young boy. Abbu said you're just jealous because you couldn't find a beautiful girl like me as your wife. God! I so much pity the girl that will marry you, she'll just be your nanny," she laughed hysterically, trying all her might to retaliate, she couldn't just be knocked down onto and go scot-free.

He kept staring at her, as she laughed. Fortuitously, the gestures she made became beautiful to his eyes, he just loved how her white dentition sparkled, how her eyes squinted, as she moved her head backwards. Isn't she beautiful? He asked, but quickly snubbed the question and retaliated.

"Huh! Why is Abbu so passionate like this? It has even come to where he could placate you with words? Ihsan? Do believe him then. What will I do with a wife that looks like you? Didn't you say You hate me? I hate you more. And you know it," he tattled, rolling his eyes at her, he knew she hated that thing about him, how he rolled his eyes always annoyed her.

"Sadeeq! You look like a donkey when you do that. Huh! I know those Arab girls are afraid of your ugly face. And I hate you more, Mumu," she sneered and rolled her eyes at him for a second, which got him into a hiatus, they rolled with so much passion and perfection. How the iris disappeared beneath the eyelid and left only the cornea was an exquisite sight to behold.

He almost forgot what she said, he swiftly recalled and stood upright, he was enjoying the conversation. "I don't have your time, your eyes are just the ugliest part of your body, urgh. And for Qatar Ladies, you need to see how they're crushing on me, ya Rabb. And I hate you moreeeeessssttt," he drawled the last word with a jesting tone laced on his voice.

"I love that country. And for now, I hate you×1million. I hate you, dummy," she yelled, practically smacking the phone's screen.

"Okay then, I love you, since that's what you want to hear. I can see you're so desperate. Ihsan!" He panted exaggeratingly. His heart did double flips when his tongue slipped those words, he just felt them real, they softened his heart and made a smile plastered on his lips.

She sighed, for the words had hit her heart, she chose to play along, as he did. "Since your dumb brain thinks that we should enshroud the 'I hate you', to be 'I love you', in that case, I love you to the square of infinity. My new enemy."

They both felt the words. The words felt surreal, they uttered the words in a joking way, but why would they feel their heart responding to an equivocal feeling? This wasn't their usual.

"Good girl. Bye, Enemy, I need to read and rest a bit," he needed to refresh his mind, the words seemed big for his head.

"Bye, Enemy. I'll go see my Daada too, it's been hours I last saw him," she said with an affectionate smile on her face, her love for Daada couldn't be suppressed in her every mood.

"Okay, bye Daada's girl."

"Bye lazy boy," she quickly hanged up before he could utter another word.

With the smile on her face, Manal entered the room and gave her a puzzled look "See how you're smiling like a barmy if I can guess; you called someone, but not Yaya, for you guys never get along," Manal spoke, as she loosened her pony-tailed hair, letting it fell on her back.

"Yeah, I called Daada, I'll go see him now," Ihsan lied as she perambulated downstairs. She met Ummu, bid her adieu and left, saying she should tell Abbu, not after Ummu assured her she should just hold onto her words, and everything will be alright.

Sadeeq was stuck in sentiments, he couldn't fathom what he was feeling, how could that girl? It isn't loving or something, just a pity towards the sick girl. He believed what Ummu had always said "Try overlooking her pompous behaviours, Ihsan has some uniqueness of swiftly entering one's heart, be careful, Sodikeke. You might one day fall in her trap," Ummu had always warned.

He had never believed it but today, it was just for some minutes. But what happened, she had embedded her thoughts in his mind, that laugher, the eye roll, how her lips curved when she uttered those words. Ya Rabb! What was he thinking!?

***

Ihsan met Daada and Maama at the dining table, having their lunch, she briskly greeted them and sprinted to her room, Daada called her "Ihsan! Be careful, come back and have your lunch, do you want to starve yourself? And when will you stop that your running spree?" He warned, she halted and turned, looking at him with her mirth and undeniable orbs.

"I need to scribble something, Daada, but I'll be back in no time. Hope you've changed your mind? Should I even call Reena now?" She jabbered and glued her eyes on Daada, hoping he would say yes.

He slowly shook his head as a No. "I thought you gave up, as to how I see you smiling," said Daada, looking at her affectionately.

She sighed in defeat and spoke in an adamant tone "I didn't, and would never let my words slip away, Daada. Let's talk about this when I'm down. Have something to do now," came her voice, as she sauntered to her room.

She scavenged for her diary in her mirror's drawer and took it out. It was red with stripes of white hard covered Diary, it was a gift from her Daada when she turned 15, it had her utmost wishes and secrets in it.

She made herself comfortable in her studying chair, placed the Diary on the table and began scribbling the words that erupted directly from her heart.

He's my Enemy, and I love him.

Hey Diary, I know you might be confused at the title, well, don't be please, I'll explain everything for you.

As usual, I woke up with an attack today, went to the hospital for hours, and refused to come back home, but to Abbu's. Being to Abbu's house meant hearing and uttering hurtful words, albeit he isn't around.

To cut the story short, he first made me cry as usual, and Abbu made him apologized

Then the humbugging conversation starts, it starts with the hurtful words, but we ended up saying 'I love yous'. I know we didn't mean any of those words, but why am I feeling something beneath this fragile heart? It was like a new feeling to me.

I saw his face, he looked handsome and sensational, but I had to lie and call him ugly. Urgh! You aren't the only one that is confused, Diary, I also am.

Tired of writing as usual, but the names have been changed to 'Enemy' and the 'I hate yous' to be 'I love you'. I think we should get used to it huh? *pouts lips*.

Bye, Diary. My forever best friend.

Bye, Enemy. You'll forever be that young boy to my eyes *tongue out*.