Beyond The Scars

Chapter Seven

Farah's POV

I was lying on my bed after spending the rest of the day talking with Zinat.

First, I thought about Mama.

Then my mind went straight to Zafeer.

I had told him yesterday that I was going back to school, but I didn't see him that morning because he had already left for school.

I felt bad, so I called Mama so I could speak with him.

We talked for quite a while. He told me about a girl in his school.

I couldn't help but scold him, but at the same time, I was happy he told me because he normally bottled things up.

After scolding him, I even gave him some tips on how to get the girl's attention.

Was I a bad sister?

Maybe.

But I was only helping my brother impress a girl at ten years old.

We talked for a long time before Mama said it was late, so Zafeer had to sleep.

I spoke to Mama too, then we hung up.

I was finally feeling sleepy.

I quickly said my dua.

But sleep didn't come immediately.

Instead, my mind went somewhere I didn't expect.

Abdulrahim.

What the hell?

Why was I thinking about him?

I didn't know when I gave in and started thinking about our fight and the time we met at Zara's place.

Was I too harsh?

Did I overreact?

Was that the only reason I was angry with him?

Why didn't I forgive him?

These were the questions running through my mind.

I knew Allah says we should forgive, but I had let my ego get the best of me.

Then I remembered one incident.

I was in class when a girl named Zainab, the one who was always around Abdulrahim and claimed they were dating, came to sit beside me.

I was surprised to see her because the last time I noticed her, the way she looked at me was far from friendly.

Now she sat beside me with a wide smile.

She answered the question in my mind when she started telling me how Abdulrahim had confessed that he didn't like me and that I should stay away from him.

I was confused.

Did I ever say I liked Abdulrahim?

Why was everyone always assuming things?

Then she went further and said he told her he had no feelings for me, that he only saw me as a mere friend and a sister, and that he was even forced to become friends with me because our parents were close.

How did she know all this?

I think she saw the question on my face because she quickly said Abdulrahim told her everything himself.

The thought had never really left me.

Why would Abdulrahim say he became friends with me only because our parents were close?

Did he forget how we met?

I never brought the topic up with him in school because by then, we were already drifting apart.

We barely spoke like before.

Just “hi” or “hello.”

I was still angry at him, but why?

Because deep down, I knew I believed him when he said he tried to stop his friend.

So why was I still angry?

I brushed everything aside and tried to force myself to sleep.

When I still couldn't, I called Ya Nadia, and to my surprise, she answered.

We talked for a while, then hung up.

I was finally feeling sleepy.

I quickly said my dua.

This time, I didn't even realize when I fell asleep.

---

Classes were finally over for the day, so I called Zinat and Rodeeyah, our friend. Rodeeyah studied the same course as Zinat, so the two of them were almost always together, even though she lived off campus.

Zinat picked up after two rings.

"Hey, what's up? I'm done for today. Are you guys still in class?"

"No, we finished a while ago. We've just been waiting for you," Zinat said. "Come meet us in front of the Faculty of Education."

"Okay, no problem. See you in a bit."

---

"Rodeeyah! Assalamualaikum. Long time no see," I said, pulling her into a hug.

"Wa'alaikum salam. How have you been?" she asked.

"Alhamdulillah, great."

"Okay, okay, enough of that. So neither of you noticed I'm standing right here? You'd think you two hadn't seen each other in years," Zinat cut in, and we all burst out laughing.

"Can we go now? I parked not too far from here," she added.

"No problem," I said.

As we walked toward Zinat's car, Rodeeyah went on about some guy in Business Administration — how good-looking he was, how savage, how he didn't date girls, only played them.

I was only half listening when I bumped into someone.

Again.

Why did I keep bumping into people lately?

First Abdulrahim. Now this.

I was already halfway through an apology when I looked up and realized— it was Abdulrahim, standing there with three other guys.

Wait. What was he doing here? I thought he was in Abuja.

"Subhanallah, why are you following me around? First Zara's house, now my school. Are you obsessed with me or something?" I snapped.

"I told you before, I'll say it again, I'm not stalking you. You're in *my* school, and you expect us not to bump into each other? If anything, I should be calling you the stalker," he shot back.

Wait. He goes here? How had we never crossed paths before this, and now twice in a matter of weeks?

Urrgh.

"Well, I go here too, so excuse me. I have better things to do than argue with you," I said, moving to step past him.

"Farah, do you even know who you're talking to? Let's just go, don't cause a scene," Rodeeyah muttered, tugging at my sleeve.

I rounded on her. "Wait, what? Instead of taking my side, you're defending this annoying fool ?"

"Who are you calling an annoying fool?" Abdulrahim cut in, his voice sharpening. "I've put up with your attitude long enough, but not today. I don't know why you think so highly of yourself. We're not in secondary school anymore, where I'll just tolerate whatever you throw at me. I'm letting this go only because your friend is here."

He reached out and grabbed my arm.

"How dare you touch me like that."

My hand moved before I could think it through. The slap landed clean across his face.

Allah knows I'd wanted to do that for years.

"Farah, let's go. I'm so sorry, please, forgive her," Zinat said quickly, already pulling me away by the wrist. She didn't stop until we reached the car.

"What was *that*?" Rodeeyah asked once we were inside. "What did you think you were doing?"

"Putting him in his place," I said, sliding into the back seat. "You two wouldn't understand."

"Farah, what—"

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, resting my head back and shutting my eyes.

---

Abdulrahim's POV

Back at my apartment, Yusuf, Samad, and Junaid wouldn't let it go.

"Bro, what was that about? Why did she slap you?" Yusuf asked.

"Just let it slide," I said.

"No way. How could she be that rude to you?" Junaid said.

"I'll handle it myself," I said, dropping onto the couch.

"Wait, who even is she?" Yusuf asked.

I sighed. "I've told this story a million times."

So I told it again. Everything, from the hotel corridor when we were kids, to Khalid, to the dare, to the fight that never really ended.

"So she's still holding onto something from SS2? Wow," Junaid said.

"Honestly, I think Abdulrahim's in the wrong here," Samad said. "She thought you were her best friend, and that happened to her. I'd be furious too."

"Oh, so now you're defending her?" I said.

"I'm not defending anyone. Just stating an opinion," Samad said, raising his hands.

"Well, I'm done talking about it. Can we change the subject?" I said.

We ended up talking about PS5 for the rest of the night. I didn't mention that some part of me had felt the slap long after my cheek stopped stinging.

---

A few days later, Samad, Yusuf, and I were killing time in a campus restaurant, waiting for Junaid to finish his lecture so we could all head out for the weekend.

Then Farah walked in with one of her friends.

Of course.

Our eyes met for half a second before she looked away and went to place her order. They took a table across the room while they waited.

"Isn't that the girl from the other day?" Yusuf asked, eyeing me.

"Yes. So?" I said.

"Nothing. Just curious," he said, smirking into his drink.

Farah and her friend got their food and left not long after. A minute later, Samad announced he'd forgotten something and hurried out, which was strange, because I'd noticed him watching Farah the entire time she was leaving.

"You know he was staring at her, right?" Yusuf said the second Samad was out of earshot.

"Yeah. I noticed," I said slowly. "What's he up to?"

"Remember the day of the argument? He defended her. And now this. I think we should go check," Yusuf said.

We stepped outside just in time to see Samad talking to Farah. After a moment, he handed her his phone, probably so she could save her number.

"So *this* is what he's been up to," Yusuf said.

"Unbelievable," I muttered.

We slipped back inside before either of them noticed and said nothing when Samad returned, claiming he'd forgotten his handout.

Junaid called to say his lecture had ended, so we all met up, grabbed a few things, and headed back to my apartment to play games. Samad included, none the wiser that we knew.

---

I had just finished praying Isha when Mami called. We hadn't spoken in a while, so I picked up right away.

"Assalamualaikum, Mami. How've you been?"

"So if I don't call you, you forget you even have a mother?" she said.

I laughed. "No, Mami. I've just been busy, exams are coming and I have to make you proud."

"You'll always make me proud, my dear. When do they start?"

"Next week. They end the week after."

"Alright. This is your final exam for 300 level, so focus, and do what you said, make me proud." A pause. "I almost forgot the real reason I called. You didn't come to Abuja last holiday, so I want you here this time. Farah's sister, Nadia, is getting married."

I sat up straighter. "Mami, do I have to come? You and Baba will be there, what difference does it make if I'm not? I already have plans with my friends here."

"No, Abdulrahim. It *will* make a difference. We haven't seen them in years, and you're making excuses instead of celebrating with them."

"Fine. I've heard you," I said, giving in.

"Thank you, dear. Oh — I almost forgot. Rukayah told me Farah's at BUK too. Can you imagine, you're both at the same school and never even ran into each other?"

"Really? I didn't know that," I lied.

"You should call her, see each other," Mami suggested.

"Mami, there's no need. I'm really tired, I should sleep. Goodnight, love you," I said quickly, before she could say anything else about Farah.

"Goodnight. May Allah spare our lives till tomorrow."

"Ameen."

I hung up and stared at the ceiling.

Why was everyone suddenly so interested in Farah?

Urrgh.

I was sick of hearing that girl's name.

I picked up my controller, played until my eyes gave out, and finally went to bed.