More To It

Chapter 2- Feelings Spilled

Aaleyah

"Aaleyah",Fawaz calls.

"Aaleyah. Come to bed. You've been praying for hours now",he groans lowly.

"Babe".

"Aaleyah",he takes the rosary beads out of my hand and sighs.

"Fawaz. Let me pray. Let me pray. It's not for me, I don't want anything to happen to you or my kids. Let me pray",I beg him and try to take the rosary beads out of his hand but he places it on the shelf then picks me up from the prayer mat, folds it and places me on our bed.

"You need some sleep. Nothing will happen to us by Grace and Mercy of Allah. You need to calm down".

"How can I calm down? Your business is decreasing in its sales, our marriage has been rocky for a while now. All because of HER curses. I have to pray to avert it from us" I tell him.

"What you need to do is talk to her. She's a mother. She hasn't seen her son before he was taken from her. You need to speak to her as her best friend. Talk to her, from a mothers point of view if you have to. She's a mother that's hurt. No matter what you do here, her curse won't be averted from us if she's still in pain",he explains to me.

"I don't know what to do. I tried",I whisper then just burst into tears.

"Talk to her again. As an understanding friend",he hugs me and kisses my forehead.

"Am sorry",I tell him.

"For?".

"How I've been acting. Am just angry. Life is so unfair. 5 hears Fawaz. 5 years. The person who made daddy this way was never found. Justice WS never served. And no matter what surgery he went through. None of it worked. He's still there. It just hurts so much because I know how broken he must feel. But despite how I was feeling. I shouldn't have converted the anger to you. Am sorry for disrespecting you. Please, if you can, forgive me",I beg him.

He smiles then tightens his hold on me.

"We just need to pray. Nothing is impossible for Allah (SWT). Nothing at all. We just need to keep on praying".

"Maybe you can tell the elders to arrange to talk to Zaynab? So I can come over and talk to her? She won't come if she knows am the one that called for her",I tell him.

"Sure. I'll tell mom",he smiles.

"Thank you".

"Now let's go to bed". I smile and nod. I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes slowly.

***

"Zaynab is in the living room with the rest. You can go in now",Basha tells me.

"Does she look angry? Or?"

"I don't know. She's just emotionless",she shrugs.

Sighing, I make my way out of the kitchen and into the living room.

All the elders, my parents, her parents, Fawaz and the twins parents are all seated on separate couches while Zaynab is seated on the large couch along with Khalid, Aamanee, Fawaz and Aayan.

Zaynab looks up and her eyes land on mine then she stands up with anger instantly replacing her initial emotionless one.

"What is she doing here?",she asks.

"Zaynab. I just want to talk",I tell her.

"Talk? Talk about what? Unless you've found my son, I don't know what you want to talk to me about".

"PLEASE. Just listen!",I raise my voice out of impatience but it looked like it just angered her even more.

"Am sorry. Just, just listen. Please",I rephrase.

She shrugs and looks away from me then sits back down inbetween Khalid and Aayan.

"Am sorry. I know you think I gave your son to some random nurse on purpose. But I swear to you on everything I love. I really didn't. It didn't hit me about whether or not we were in a dangerous environment. I really thought she was a nurse. I swear. But not just that. I know I've been a bit....not myself when you escaped from Abiodun. I literally threw our friendship away, I acted like I didn't care. Like what you went through wasn't real or something to be upset or depressed about. I don't know. I guess it wasn't you. It was more me.

Despite everything that happened to you, from you nearly dying at birth, your mother leaving you in that house, to you ending up with an abusive husband to you nearly dying again and escaping it. Even after going through all that you've been through. You always just come off as if nothing happened. As if life was perfect, like it was all fun and games.

I don't know why. I was angry. I hated how the world was. What it did. It just made ME angry. And because I was fueled with anger for something that happened to dad and not even to me. While you had to go through all that alone. I don't know or what sense it made to me then, but I was mad at you then. That you always acted as if life didn't suck. How you just took everything like everything is all jokes. It just angered me. I really don't know why it did.

I know am wrong and what I did is stupid. But am sorry. I can't change it. I can only apologize. An sorry for not being the friend you wanted, the friend you would've been to me if I was in your position, the friend to sympathize with you during everything that happened. Am really sorry".

When I finally finished, everyone was just staring shockingly at me.

"Life isn't all fun and games. Life isn't a joke. I just choose to not think of all the things that happened to me as something bad. If it happened, it was meant to be. It was a step to my journey. A test. That's why I always just out on a brave face each time. What happened to me wasn't fun. It wasn't a game. It was real. I could've died in that fire if mommy Adelola didn't save me from it while my own mother ran away to prevent herself from getting hurt. She wouldn't risk her own life to save mine, her own daughter while someone that didn't even know me didn't think once about her own life.

I wouldn't be here if not for her",Zaynab stops then looks at aunty Adelola who smiles a little.

"What happened with Abiodun was my fault. I saw him, I liked him, thought he was good. But am not a psychic. He was good at what he did. I believed him and so did Abeke and Zara. But you know what. I just never choose to take it as a bad thing. Because if I didn't meet him then I wouldn't have met Abeke and Abisola. Even though they didn't live long, Abeke lived the little time she had of freedom from him. And so did Abisola. They loved it and that was enough. I could help them while also helping myself.

I just tried to not let all my bad experiences take over the good ones. Am blessed with so much more. A good family, friends, am not sick, I have a home, something to eat and drink everyday, shelter. And am alive. I was content with everything.

But. Losing my son was the last strike. I really- at first I didn't want him because he would remind me of every day spent with his dad but I quickly got over it. I didn't want him to be like him. And I was going to make sure of it. But my chance was stolen from me. He's spent 2 years with Abiodun. Am not scared that he'd hurt him. I know he won't hurt his son. He's always wanted one. He'd have a to be a freaking psychotic i***t to hurt something he's always wanted. Am just afraid that he'd corrupt his mind. I don't want him turning anything like him. Nothing like him. But now I can't even be so sure of that if he's spent all his time with him. I didn't even get to hold him either. It hurt. It hurt a lot",she sniffs then she covers her face.

Wallahi, by now, most of us had tears in our eyes as she finished speaking.

"Am sorry",I whisper then walk to her. Khalid stands up for me so I sit beside her and hug her.

"Am so sorry",I repeat over and over again. After a while, she returns the hug and cries harder.

"Am sorry. I shouldn't have been praying for your downfall. I was just so angry".

"Hey. Its fine. I understand, you're in pain. I get it",I hold her cheek in my hand and wipe her tears with my thumb. She sniffs then hugs me.

"Its okay. We'll find your son. We'll find him. Whatever it takes. He's not going to turn out anything like that bastard".

"I don't know. Am scared to even face Abiodun. He has to be angry after what I did",she sniffs.

"But you shouldn't care. Do you want your son with him or with you? As a mother you have to be ready to fight for your kids at any time. This is YOUR time. I know it's a hard moment for you, but it's the price that comes with being a parent",mommy tells Zaynab who looks at her while wiping her tears.

"And plus, we're right behind you. He wouldn't try what he did to you again. When he's not mad. You got two ugly niggas and one fine boy here to fight with you",Fawaz tells her.

"Man shut up",Aayan pushes him away but it made Zaynab laugh.

"Who's the fine boy? Khalid abi?",she wiggles her eyebrows at Fawaz who gasps loudly.

"Aww. Husband tingsss. I see you",both Aayan and Fawaz yell at her. Khalid chuckles as Zaynab smiles widely showing her pearly whites.

"So we good?"I ask her.

"Like the other side of the pillowww",she smiles.

I chuckle then we both hug each other while smiling.

"Okay, go wash up. You look a mess with all that crying. You're burning my eyes like",Aayan tells her.

"nigga if you don't". She kicks him and stands up then walks down the hall towards the bathroom while the boys laugh.

Fawaz looks at me and smiles.

"Am proud of you",he tells me then he hugs me close to his chest. I smile as he kisses my forehead.

I open my eyes to find our parents smiling. I look at daddy who smiles a little.

"You don't have tk be angry at the world for me",he tells me.

"It's not fair. The i***t who hit you didn't even stop. We don't know who it was and now you have to live with this. All the operations are just down to drain too. I know you're hurt. And it just hurts me. I don't like when you're upset",I tell him with more tears threatening to fall.

He smiles and holds his hand out. I move away from Fawaz and sit on sit beside mom. I hold his hand and sigh.

"Zaynab said it best. Life is a test. Am not angry. Am not upset with what happened to me. Am upset that because of what happened to me, I wasn't able to complete my duty to you, your brother and your mother. That's what saddens me",he whispers.

"But dad. You didn't have to be able to walk to be a great dad. Even in the wheelchair, you were still the best dad to us",Aremu tells him.

I smile and look at Aremu who hugs dad who has tears in his eyes.

"Money isn't everything. You made us happy with and without it",he adds.

"And you were the best husband",mommy kisses his forehead.

He smiles then looks down at his lap.

"Don't cry, uncle, dad",Fawaz, Aayan, Khalid and Aremu say at once.

"Am not. It's happy tears",he chuckles and wipes his tears.

"Plus. I loves taking over. You and mommy sacrificed a lot for me and Aremu. What I've done for you isn't even up to all that you've done for us. Am happy taking care of you both",I tell him.

Him and mommy smile then they look at each other and sigh.

"That means a lot",he whispers.

"That's so sweet",Zaynab says from the entrance of be living room with tears in her eyes.

"Uncleeeee",she pushes me off the chair and hugs him.

"How could you ever think you weren't doing enough. You're like the best uncle everrr. No offense Yaqub and Aman. Love y'all too",she yells.

Everyone just laughs at her usual idiotic self. I gotta say...I missed this old her.

"Where do we start?",she asks.

"With what?",Khalid asks her.

"With searching for HIM".

"Oh. Well Fawaz is still in contact with Mark. I have a friend who's an FBI agent and also, Malik is a cop so I think we can involve him"Khalid tells her.

"No don't involve Malik. Abiodun is dangerous. He could get hurt",she whispers.

"He's a cop. That's his job. But anyways, you can't change his name. He's already in on the case",Fawaz says.

"You told him already?".

"Yeah. He's already on the case. He's pissed off at Abiodun. We know when Malik is angry, he gets work done much faster. Sooooo I think this is good",Aayan nods.

"I guess".

"Aamanee are you okay? You seem off",Khalid asks her.

I look over at her as she was just staring at the floor.

She looks up and shakes her head.

"Am fine"she mumbles.

"What did you do to her Aayan",Zaynab whispers.

"I didn't do anything. Or did I?",he looks at Aamanee.

"No. Am fine".

"You don't look fine",Zaynab says.

"Well I wouldn't be when you keep insulting me like am some rag doll every time"Aamanee says.

"What?".

"I get that I haven't known y'all for long. Y'all have known each other for years now and am basically the newbie. But that does t mean you treat me like I have no feelings or like some i***t who should just be quiet while everyone goes crazy over the rest of y'all being even the slightest bit upset".

"That's not it",Fawaz and the boys tell her.

"Nah she right. Its my bad. Am sorry"Zaynab tells her.

"You're also still dealing with Ayoub's death. Y'all were close and now its like the rest of us are ganging up on you and you feel alone in any argument we have?".

"N- n- yea- yes. That's exactly it",Aamanee nods.

"Am sorry",She hugs Aamanee.

"Now shut up and deal with it. That's how the squad is. We're assholes like that",she tells Aamanee who gasps loudly.

"Am messing",Zaynab chuckles which made the rest of us laugh. Aamanee shakes her head but also let's out a chuckle.

"Can I ask a question? If its not offending anyone",Aamanee asks.

"About my mom?",Zaynab raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Am confused. Because I thought aunt was your mom. But all of a sudden am hearing fire, then her saving you. Am just confused",Aamanee says.

"Yeah. We don't really talk about her that's why",Eniola shakes her head.

"Her name is Jumoke",she starts.

"I don't really know anything about her. Eniola spent more time with her. I was only about 2 months old when she left",Zaynab tells Aamanee.

"Oh?".

"Yeah. We weren't financially stable then. And mom always wanted the wealthy and rich life. But things weren't on our side then. She got angry at dad and us most of the time. One day, she forgot she was cooking something while she was talking to mommy Adelola. They were friends with complications. Not really friends but talk because they don't like anyone else. So anyways. I was out playing with a few of the kids on the estate when all of a sudden, neighbors started surrounding our burning house. We were in Nigeria then. Zaynab was in the house alone. Mommy left here there to go talk. When we all got there. They wouldn't let her get past. At first she wanted todo in then something must've set her off because she started running back saying that she still has her life to live and she can't risk her own life for even her child. Those were her exact words. She ran away then, not even looking back. Mommy Adelola who tried stopping her gave up when mommy was nowhere to be seen anymore. She then ran into the burning house. Minutes later she came out with an unconscious. She would've died if she had stayed there any longer. The doctors words. So mommy Adelola saved her life. A year later, things start going well for daddy, he got a job, paid off his college debts, got us a place here. Finished his doctorate degree and was instantly appointed to the hospital in London. That's when we met the rest",Eniola explains.

"Is that where you burnt your hand?",Aamanee looks at aunty Adelola's left burnt hand.

She smiles and nods.

"Wow. That's heartless. Am sorry to say. But it is. Have y'all seen her after that?".

"No. I don't want to either",Zaynab mumbles.

"Plus she always insulted daddy like he was God and he was controlling everything. If she really wanted to be rich. Let her go be the prostiture she probably turned out to be"she rolls her eyes.

"Zaynab. She's still your mother. Don't say that",uncle tells her.

"Mother? She doesn't deserve the title. Imagine, I could've died. If mommy wasn't there. I would've died. All for what? So she can be rich? I wonder how that's going on for her",Zaynab scoffs.

"Is that how aunty and uncle got married then?",Aamanee asks.

"Yeah. She stayed to help out with Zaynab. She had severe asthma as a kid. I was either studying or at work. So she was there to take care of her. At this point, Zaynab already started calling her her mother and Eniola was fond of her. It only made sense then",uncle nods.

"Aw that's actually sweet and kinda romantic",Aamanee whispers which made the elders laugh.

"That. He is",aunt smiles at unxle .

"Awwws",Zaynab and Aayan yell.

"Uncle. I see you",Fawaz winks at him

"Boy if you don't".

"Wait but it doesn't make sense. I thought y'all parents met each other at the same college?",Aamanee asks.

"Yeah. Dad was doing a doctorate degree. Mom already lived in UK but she came to visit. So she already knew the twins parent and Aaleyah and Fawaz parents. They were friends. But when dad joined the doctorate degree, they increases the friendship. I guess. So in a way. Dad was the newbie",Zaynab says.

"True true",uncle nods.

"Ah okay okay. Makes sense".

"So were y'all married to each other then? Cuz Zaynab and the twins are just 1 year apart",Aamanee asks.

"The twins were about 3 and she was 2 when they came. We were all married. That's the only way the ladies and I became friends. Our husbands knew each other",mom says.

"An okay okay. Makes sense",Aamanee whispers.

"Wow. Its like a planned friendship which resulted in your kids becoming friends. That's amazing",Aamanee smiles.

"Yeah",we all smile.

"And our kids will be friends too. So its like family repeating itself",Fawaz chuckles.

"I know right",Aayan and I chuckle.

"At first I was shocked when I saw the friendship. It's not everyday that you find parents being as close as your parents are with different ethnic backgrounds. Its usually Pakistanis with Pakistanis, Indians with Indians, Africans with Africans,, Arabs with Arabs..you know",Aamanee nods.

"Yeah I getchu. But that's what beautiful about our family. We don't care. Friends are chosen by how you behave with each other. We all care about each other, help each other out and enjoy each others company. That's what's important in choosing your friends",uncle Aman says.

"Yeah. Plus I love jollof rice too much to be buying it. I have Adelola, Rukayat and Fatima for that",aunt Ameerah comments.

"Haha",we all laugh at her comment.

"Hey guys",Khalid calls.

"Yeah?"

He holds out his phone and scrolls down through it.

"Malik says there's someone that can help us. She's apparently the best in the field. She can track anybody down in less than a week. He can get us her contact number if we want?",he asks.

"YES",Zaynab yells.

"Ight cool".

"So we really are going to find him"She smiles.

"Seems so".