More To It

Chapter 12- Hopeful

Zaynab

“So you’re not telling him?“,Abiodun asks me.

“Not yet, am testing it first. To see, that’s why you’re doing this”.

I hold a plastic bag towards him, he drops the cotton stick with his cheek swab into the bag so I seal it then throw it into my bag.

“So....”

“What?“I ask him.

“You didn’t bring Yousif? You just came for that?“,he asks.

“Yeah. Why else would I come? Plus Yousif is with Khalid”,I shrug.

“What?“,he raises an eyebrow and turns towards me.

“Relax, Khalid has been teaching him how to read the Qur’an and teaching him how to pray, all that”.

“Oh”,he mumbles.

“Yeah, so bye”. I turn around to walk out when he holds my arm stopping me.

“Don’t”,I jump back and rub my arm.

“Am sorry”,he whispers, a look of guilt and shock flashes past his face which made me instantly regret my reaction.

“Sorry, um, what is it?“,I ask him.

“Will you, uh, can y-“.

“Abiodun. Hurry up, I have to get him. Its getting dark”.

“Can you teach me how to pray?“,he whispers.

“What?“.

“I don’t know how to pray”,he whispers and rubs the back of his head with a look of embarrassment.

“Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah sure”,I nod.

“I’ll come by tomorrow with Yousif. I can get you some Islamic books too if you’d like?“.

“just get me the Qur’an. I can read”.

“You can? But you can’t pray? That’s some weird s**t”.

He let’s out a chuckle then shakes his head.

“I only learned to read because of some bastard who was acting like he was all that. Good thing am a fast learner showed the nigga up”,he mumbles to himself then looks into space as if reminiscing on the scene.

“So for the wrong reasons. Okay. Well at least you can ready. I’ll get you a Qur’an and some books. But now I have to go”,I tell him.

“Okay”.

“Hey”,he calls as I open the door to walk out. I turn around and he breaths out.

“Thanks...for everything you’re doing”.

I smile a little and nod.

“No biggie”.

I walk out and close the door behind me.

***

“You visited Abiodun yesterday? Without Yousif?“,Ibrahim raises an eyebrow at me.

“Yeah...he wanted to learn how to pray”,I shrug.

“Isn’t that what you went for today?“,Khalid asks me.

“Uh..... Yeah? Yesterday too”.

He furrows his eyebrows then leans back into the couch.

“Why did you go yesterday? WITHOUT YOUSIF? That s**t don’t make sense. Since when did you two start getting along?“,he asks me.

“Well we have to. He’s still Yousif’s dad, it’ll be easier to parent him if I get along with his dad. Sooooo yeah”,I shrug.

“Oh...okay”.

“Mommy”,Yousif walks down the stairs while rubbing his eyes tiredly.

“Yeah?“.

He walks over to me and sits on my lap then places his head on my chest.

“Tired?“.

He yawns then nods before hugging me tightly with his eyes closed.

“Wake up”,Azeez jumps in front of us ausinf Yousif to open his eyes.

“What?“.

“Let’s play”.

“No. I only play alone”,Yousif shakes his head.

“Alone?“,Azeez makes a weird face at Yousif who nods.

“Yeah, I play alone or with daddy and you’re not daddy sooooo no thank you”,he replies.

“Yousif you have to learn to at with others. Go play, you can traxh him how to play that car game on the ps4”,I tell him.

“Or you can at just dance”.

“Just Dance. Me and daddy are better at it”,he frowns.

“You played with your dad?“,Aayan asks him.

“Yeah. Daddy is so good. But he always let’s me win. When we play with his friends, he always wins”,Yousif smiles proudly.

“He said that you won before”,he looks up at me.

“Ah, you can’t beat all my skills”,I smile.

“Yeah sure”,Aayan snickers which made everyone else laugh. Asshole.

“Nigga, I’ve always won. Ain’t nun of y’all niggas have ever beaten me. Not even Fawaz. So watchu saying?“.

“I always let you win” Fawaz exclaims.

“B”,I yell.

“Dance off”,Yousuf screams.

“Mommy against uncle”,he yells.

“Come on, nah nah, I can’t be making her cry in front of her own son like”,Fawaz says backing out.

“Oh mama. He scared”,Yousif yells.

I chuckle and ruffle his hair.

“You can’t face this”,I tell Fawaz who rolls his eyes.

“Daddy’s a wimp”,Azeez groans.

Fawaz’s eyes widens while the rest of us fill the entire room with laughter.

“Where you learn that from? And am not a wimp. Am just protecting your aunts feelings. Ya’know. Am too fresh and cool to be making her cry like”.

“Sureee”,Aaleyah whispers.

I let out a snicker with the look he gave her. She smiles innocently but he just rolls his eyes.

“Fine then. Y’all wanna see me beat her ass? Come on then”.

“Go mommy”,Yousif starts cheering.

“I don’t think that’s advisable”,Kind says.

“Ugh Khalid. Shut up nigga. She be ight. What is she gonna do? Have your baby pop out of her while dancing?“,Fawaz rolls his eyes.

“You crazy”,we all burst out laughing.

“That happens”.

“NIGGA SHUT UP”,both Fawaz and Malik yell.

“Damn. Okay”,Khalid rolls his eyes. Malik starts setting up the Just Dance on the Wii. Once done, he moves away and hands Fawaz and I the controller.

“PUMP IT”,Fawaz says.

I shrug as he selects it. As I stand up, my phone rings and a private number flashes on it.

“Here wait a sec”,I pick up my phone then walk out into the garden.

Phone Conversation

Me: Hello?

??- Is this Mrs Ali speaking?

Me: Yeah

??- Hi Mrs Ali, this is Doctor Grace speaking, this is in regards to the prenatal test you requested for yesterday?

Me: Oh yeah, yeah, can you tell me the results over the phone?

Dr: Yeah, if you’d like, and if you’d like, you can ckem collect a copy of it whenever you’re ready or I can post it out?

Me: NO ,NO. Don’t post it. Just tell me over the phone. If I need copy, I’ll call

Dr: okay, no problem. Anyways so based on the test done, the result is positive. The male swab cheek given proves that he IS the father

Me: *speechless*

Dr: Hello?

I hang up and slide down the wall and onto the floor with my head in my hands.

“Why Allah? Just why does my life have to be this freaking complicated? What did I ever do to deserve this? I know am difficult and an asshole at times but what did I do to deserve this much difficulty in life”,I whisper as tears slide down my cheeks.

“What will I tell Khalid? What do I tell him?“.

“ZAYNAB, HURRY LIKE”,Fawaz screams.

“What’s she doing anyways?“.

I stand up and quickly wipe my tears when I hear footsteps coning this way. I open the door just as Khalid shows up.

“You okay?“.

“Yeah, I just felt a little sick”.

“Then you can’t dance. You need some rest”,he helps me in then closes the door.

“Fawaz find another rival, she feels sick”,Khalid tells Fawaz who let’s out a groan.

“So in that case I win by default”.

“Are you okay? Is it that bad? You look like you were just crying”,Malik says.

“Yeah, I um, I just felt pain, that’s why”.

“Oh, you should take some rest then”,Fawaz adds.

“Yeah”.

I make my way up the stairs and straight into my room. I close the door shut then get in bed. I’ll get another test done. There’s a mistake. There’s just has to be.

***

“So what did the test say?“,Abiodun asks as I hand him some more books while Yousif focuses on his drawing.

I don’t reply to his enquiry but am sure he already knows the answer from my silence.

“If it makes you feel better, you can let him think it’s his. I won’t say anything”,he whispers.

I still don’t reply him. I just stare at the wall, waiting patiently for the one hour to be over so we can go.

“When will you know the gender?“.

I still don’t reply so he gives up. He turns away from me and starts flipping through the books I had given him.

“Daddy, my birthday is tomorrow, don’t forget”,Yousif tells him.

“How could I? You growing up on a nigga”,Abiodun comments which made Yousif laugh.

“Look. They got bigger”,he starts flexing his non existent muscle which made Abiodun laugh.

“My son”,he ruffles Yousif’s hair with a smile.

Yousif continues his drawing of Abiodun’s room. Abiodun turns back to me and raises an eyebrow.

“look you got two options here. Stop feeling pathetic and looking all sad and s**t and just let him continue think that it’s his kids. OR you can tell him and let him get angry for like a while. Am the one that forced myself on you, not the other way around and with the recording I sent them, they all knew what happened. So if you think about it, it’s his fault for not thinking about that part. You can’t be up here feeling all sad and shut for something that wasn’t even your fault like”.

“He could divorce me”,I whisper.

“And if he does then he a f**k nigga. It isn’t your fault. I understand if it was your fault and he divorced you. But you’re not at fault here so he doesn’t have the right to divorce you over something you can’t control like. I know I caused this but come on, am sure even you know what am saying is right. Just stop worrying so much, you’re going to end up hurting the baby”,he says.

“Abiodun look I get it but I can’t. He’s been so patient with me. You don’t understand the level of patience this man has for all my bullshit. You should’ve seen him when he found out I was pregnant, he even cried. How can I then tell him that he’s not the father of a baby that he’s been taking care of. How do I even start?“.

Abiodun signs and ruffles his hair.

“Let’s be honest. Am not a big fan of letting another Nigga think he the father of my kid either. But like I said, you have two choices. Either way he’ll he angry with you. But which one would hurt less? If you ask me, I say tell him. It’ll hurt less than letting him think he’s the father then he finds out randomly that he’s not? He’s going to hate you for life. There’s no going back from that. But if you want temporary happiness then don’t tell him. Let him keep thinking he’s the father. But it’ll soon backfire. Trust me. We always find out”.

“Times up”,Val walks in with Abiodun’s medicine so Yousif and I stand up to leave.

“Bye daddy”,Yousif hugs and kisses him.

“See you soon”,Abiodun smiles.

***

“Ibrahim, quick question, when are you going to get married? I swear you may look young but you getting older”,Eniola asks Ibrahim who chuckles.

“Haven’t found the right one yet”,he shrugs.

“Wait are you choosing or is mommy choosing for you?“,she asks him.

He looks at mommy who’s busy flipping through her notes for some other case. I swear she’s so busy. Can she like rest?

“Mommy, are you and daddy choosing a wife for Ibrahim?“,She asks.

Mommy looks up from her notes and glances at Ibrahim.

“Do you want us to?“.

“I don’t mind”,he shrugs.

“Well are you ready to settle down?“.

“Mmm, I guess. Yeah”,he whispers.

“Then we can start looking”,she smiles a little then glances at daddy who hums.

“She betta be able to cook though. I don’t want another Bola”,he tells her which made her let out a chuckle.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you a good wife”,she tells him.

“Can’t you cook too?“,I tell him.

“Me? Cook? I can’t cook to save my life”.

“See, me neither” Fawaz yells then h and Ibrahim do some weird handshake.

“How are you two doing an handshake for something so embarrassing”,Aaleyah shakes her head.

“Hey. You love cooking for me, don’t even front like”,Fawaz winks at Aaleyah who rolls her eyes.

“Girrrllll”,I gasp loudly but she just pushes me away.

“Look at her blushing”,Aamanee whispers.

“Oh my God stop”.

“Love is in the air”,both Aayan and I start singing. Fawaz snickers then wraps his arms around Aaleyah from behind.

“You damn right”,he says.

“Oooo”.

“Okay that’s disgusting please stop”,Aremu mumbles.

“Ah, bro bro tings”, everyone laughs at the disgusted face he made. He looked like he’d start vomiting at any second.

“Oh hush”,Aaleyah smacks his head lightly.

“Daddy”,Azeez runs out of the playroom with Yousif behind him.

“Yeah?“.

“Yousif hit me”,he pouts and hugs Fawaz.

“Well hit him back”,Fawaz says.

“Nigga”,everyone yells.

“What?“.

“Okay, Yousif, why’d you hit him?“,he asks.

“He pushed my blocks away so I pushed his then he kicked my PlayStation controller so I pushed him”,Yousif explains.

“Azeez, why didn’t you say what you did? You only told us what he did”,Aaleyah chuckles.

“He’s mean. I don’t like him”,Azeez frowns and folds his arms.

“I don’t like you either. Am only playing with you because mommy said so”,Yousif tells him.

“Then go away”,Azeez yells.

“Azeez don’t say that”,Aaleyah warns him.

“I want to play on the PS too”,Azeez frowns.

“You don’t know how to play”,Yousif folds his arms.

“Will you show me?“,Azeez asks him.

“Okay”,Yousif nods then the two giggle and run after each other back into the room.

“Kids”,Aunt Rukayat and mommy Adelola chuckle.

The door opens and Khalid walks in typing on his phone

“Sup nigga”,Fawaz nods.

“Mm”,Khalid hums then he greets the elders.

“How was work?“,his mom asks him.

“Tiring. Am so tired”,he replies then he sits down on the couch and rests his head on the couch.

“Are you hungry? There’s some rice leftover”,Aaleyah tells him.

“Nah, am good”.

“Guess who I saw today”,Fawaz pats Khalid’s shoulder.

“Who?“.

“Remember that one chick you used to fu-“.

Khalid drags Fawaz into the couch instantly shutting him up.

“Why you so loud Nigga”,Malik chuckles at Fawaz who gasps.

“What about it?“,Khalid asks him.

“Oh, she’s married with 5 kids now. 4 Boyd and a little girl”.

“Ah, nize one”,Khalid humsm

“She asked about you”.

“Yeah?“.

“Yeah, told.her you was married and expecting a child. She was happy, said to tell you congrats”

“Nice of her considering she was such a pain”,Khalid mumbles

“Nah dude. She was good, you just always had high expectations for everything”

“I don’t”,Khalid shakes his head.

“Yes you do Khalid. For every girl you been with”,Both Aayan and I nod.

“Am concerned Khalid. How many haram activities have you been involved in?“,uncle Aman asks his son who gulps and scratches the back of his head.

“I changed. It was just teenage awful decisions. I changed”, Khalid says.

“If you aren’t already married. I would’ve best you senseless. Imagine. Did we send you to school for this rubbish?“,aunty smacks his head.

“I know. Mama. Am ashamed of myself too”,Khalid whispers then he glares st Fawaz who quickly walks.away from him.

Fawaz is such an asshole. He mentioned it in front of the parents on purpose.

“I hope you won’t be like that with your own kids” aunty says.

“Ahx,Khalid chuckles.

“You don’t have to worry about that. They’ll be tight from day one. Ya’kmow, its easier that way”.

“I can tell that you’re excited for the arrival of your baby”,aunt chcuklss and ruffles his hair.

“So excited. I already know what to name him or her. I even got some clothes. Ya’know, just in case”.

’IN CASE OF WHAT?“,everyone yells.

“She’s not even 20 weeks yet. Oh baby”,aunt laughs and gives her son a kiss.

He chuckles himself and rubs his head.

“I know. I can’t wait”.

“I can imagine you just spoiling your child”,Fawaz says.

“Obviously”.

“See. It’s not a bad thing is it? Aaleyah is always on my neck for giving Azeez whatever he wants. He’s 4, he’s allowed all this”,Fawaz exclaims passionately. The nigga looks so serious as if he’s giving a proper presentation.

“I didn’t say its not good but you can’t give him EVERYTHING he wants. You’re spoiling them. Look at what you did to Aremu. This one gives Aremu EVERYTHING he asks for. Did you not see the party he threw him last year? Come on. The boy is 14, he doesn’t need all that”,Aaleyah says.

“Uh. Speak for yourself Aaleyah”,Aremu cuts in.

“My guys,Fawaz and the rest of us laugh.

“I don’t mind being spoiled. Please”.

“See what I mean”,Aaleyah smacks his head lightly.

“He’s 14. That’s exactly why he should be spoiled. I got everything I wanted when I was 14. And I turned out great”,Fawaz says.

“Great?” I let out a gasp then cover my mouth and look down before he can say anything. Everyone was just laughing and I swear I could feel his stare burning through my skin.

“Really Zaynab? Really? You just gon do a nigga like that? That’s what we doing now?“.

“I love you?’,I smile innocently.

He licks his lips then rolls his eyes.

“Its not my fault you out here lying anyways. It’s not good to lie”,I tell him.

“You’re actually an ass like”,he chuckles as everyone else fills the room with laughter.

“Like you tell the truth?“.

“Can any of y’all niggas sit here and tell me that Zaynab ain’t lit?“,I ask them.

“Zaynab ain’t lit”,Fawaz says.

“She is kinda lit man”,Malik nods.

“See, my guy”,I smile and perform our handshake then fist bump Aayan and Khalid.

“I don’t think you lit”,Fawaz shakes his head.

“That’s cuz she beats you in basketball most of the time”,Aayan snickers.

“Hey. I let her win”,Fawaz yells.

“Sureeeee”,Khalid, Aayan, Malik and I hum loudly.

“I do let her win. If you wasn’t pregnant, I’d be scoring past yo ass now”.

“Sureeeeee. Fawaz abeg sit yo sore loser ass. I feel sorry for Aaleyah sef”.

Aaleyah snickers and covers her face then hides her face in the wall whole trying to hide her laughter.

“Who you tryna play? You ain’t slick”,Fawaz yells.

“Am.sorry, its just funny”,Aaleyah laughs.

“You’re actually an ass like. Ain’t you supposed to be on my side”,he hisses.

She holds her laughter but then let’s it out and laughs harder which just made the rest of laugh.

“Aww, Aaleyah, you made Fawaz upset”,I tell her.

She bends over and laughs harder.

“It’s just so funny. I remember that time. He fell on his face just trying to get the ball from Zaynab. And and-“,she covers her mouth and laughs harder.

“I hate y’all”,Fawaz scoffs.

“Okay, am done”,Aaleyah stands up abruptly. A smile forms on her face them she shuts her eyes tightly

“Girl”,Malik and I yell them we all just explode in laughter.

I look at mom who’s packing her bag.

’Oh sorry, are we being too loud?“,Aaleyah tries to stop laughing but ends up in chuckles.

“Nah”.

“Where you going then?“.

“Am going to visit Abiodun”.

“Oh”I mumble.

“Why are you being so nice to him anyways?“,Khalid asks her.

“He’s alone in the world. He has no one. He never had. He’s been through hell and back, what he was wasn’t his fault. And for him to try to change for his son is amazing. He needs support...love and someone who won’t see him as the person he used to be. Plus, he’s alone in that room .he needs company from time to time”,she explains.

“Yeah, but, that’ll be hard” Aaleyah mumbles.

Mom looks at her but doesn’t say anything. She gpsnces at her father then back at Aaleyah.

“What?“,aunt Fatima asks her.

“Nothing. Just resemblance”,mom whispers

Aaleyah looks at her dad and smiles

“Plus, Abiodun can help with what’s happening here”, she nods towards the wheelchair.

“He caused this. What can he do?′ Aaleyah hisses.

“Just pray he gets better soon. Then you’ll be surprised what he can do to fix your worries. He’s a good person...you just have to try to give him time”,she sighs.

“You just met the guy. Why are you fond of him?“,Fawaz asks her.

“Just met the guy? I’ve known him since he was 13 years old”,she scoffs.

“What?“.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on his father. I met him through that”,she shrugs then she walks towards the door.

“Ibrahim, try to drop by to see him. Spend time with him. Okay?“.

“Okay”,Ibrahim replies obediently. Just as she walked out, Idris walks in with his headphones in blasting music while swinging his sports bag back and forth as he walked.

He takes off his headphones and greets the elders them turns to Aremu.

“How was practice?“,mommy Adelola asks him

“Eh. Same old”he shrugs.

“Hey dad. I need new boots”,he yells from the kitchen.

“Ain’t he just get you new ones LAST MONTH?“,both Eniola and I yell.

“Can you even hear yourselves? LAST MONTH? What I look like wearing past month shoes? I need new ones. Dad. I want to play the match we have on Friday with new boots. So will you get em?“,he asks dad.

Daddy just hums.

“Daddy”,I gasp loudly.

“Just let him” daddy sighs.

“What’s your own. Who ask you sef?“,Idris tells me so I throw the cushion on my lap at him.

He smirks then walks over to Aremu and whispers to him. Aremu chuckles and shakes his head.

Idris smiles and nods then shows him his phone.

“Did not”,Aremu gasps and takes the phone off Idris.

“Yeah I know. Hey dad, there’s this party on tomorrow. Can I go?“,Idris asks dad.

“No”mommy Adelola says.

“Moooooom. I asked dad”.

Mommy looks at daddy then back at Idris.

“He said no”.

Idris mumbles.to.himself then sits down beside Aremu.

“Did you ask?“.

“Are you dumb like? I don’t waste my mouth to ask for things that I know will be a no”,Aremu tells Idris who.rolls his eyes.

“See. This one is smart. I love this boy”,mommy says.

“Oh my Gooood”,Idris groans and throws his head back.

“Wanna play on the PS?“,he looks at Aremu.

“Yousif and Azeez are playing on it”.

“Well they’re 4. It’s called being older”,Idris stands up.

“Boy leave them alone”,I tell him

“You did that to me. Watchu mean. It’s our turn. So mind your own business like”.

“Okay them. Have fun”,I shrug.

Idris looks at Aremu who groans lowly but stands up then the two make their way into the play room.

“What are you doing for Yousif’s birthday tomorrow?“,Fawaz looks at me.

“Don’t know. He just wants to see his dad so maybe just stay in, get Abiodun here for the day?“.

“I guess”,he mumbles.