Chapter 8
901 Words
Soft Lies
The street felt different that day.
Quieter.
Like it was waiting.
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Nii stood at the usual spot.
Still. Silent.
Watching.
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Abu leaned against the wall, arms folded.
“You came early.”
No response.
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Abu smirked slightly. “You never dey wait for anybody before.”
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Nii ignored him.
But his eyes stayed on the road.
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Minutes passed.
Then—
She appeared.
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Sakina.
Walking carefully, like she was learning the world one step at a time.
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Abu let out a low whistle. “She really came.”
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Nii didn’t move.
But his gaze followed her.
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Sakina spotted him.
And for the first time—
She smiled.
Genuine.
Soft.
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Her steps quickened.
“You’re here.”
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Nii nodded once.
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She stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath.
“I wasn’t sure I’d find you.”
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“…you did.”
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Her smile widened just a little.
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Abu watched them, then quietly stepped away again.
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Sakina looked around briefly, then back at Nii.
“I’ve never been here before… not like this.”
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“I know.”
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She tilted her head. “How?”
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Nii’s voice was calm.
“You don’t belong here.”
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She frowned slightly.
“You keep saying that.”
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Silence.
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Then she laughed softly.
“Maybe I just wanted to come.”
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Nii looked at her.
Longer this time.
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“…why?”
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Sakina hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her small bag.
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“I don’t know,” she admitted quietly.
“I just…”
She looked down.
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“I don’t have anyone to talk to.”
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That was honest.
Too honest.
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Nii’s expression didn’t change.
But something in his eyes shifted.
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“…you have friends,” he said.
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She shook her head immediately.
“No.”
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A small laugh escaped her—but it wasn’t happy.
“People talk to me… but they don’t know me.”
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Silence.
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“My dad is always busy,” she continued softly.
“And my mom…”
She stopped.
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Nii didn’t ask.
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“She left,” Sakina finished.
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A quiet moment passed between them.
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Then—
Nii spoke.
“Sit.”
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She blinked.
Then slowly sat beside him on the low concrete.
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For a second—
They said nothing.
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Then Sakina smiled again, shy this time.
“You don’t talk much.”
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“…I listen.”
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That surprised her.
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“To what?” she asked.
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Nii glanced at her briefly.
“People.”
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She smiled faintly.
“Then what do you hear when I talk?”
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A pause.
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Nii’s voice dropped slightly.
“…you’re lonely.”
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Sakina froze.
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That hit too close.
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“…am I that obvious?” she asked quietly.
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Nii didn’t answer.
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But he didn’t deny it either.
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Silence settled again—
But it felt different now.
Closer.
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Sakina played with her fingers.
“I like talking to you.”
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Nii didn’t respond immediately.
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Then—
“You don’t know me.”
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She looked at him.
“I don’t need to know everything.”
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A beat.
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“I just feel… safe.”
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That word.
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Safe.
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It lingered in the air.
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Nii looked away.
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Because that wasn’t part of the plan.
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Sakina reached into her bag.
“I brought you something.”
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Nii’s eyes flickered briefly.
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She pulled out a small box.
Neat. Expensive.
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“It’s nothing big,” she said quickly.
“I just thought—”
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Nii took it from her.
Opened it.
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A watch.
Clean. Simple. Definitely not cheap.
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Abu, watching from a distance, shook his head slowly.
“Ei…”
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Nii closed the box.
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“You didn’t have to.”
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Sakina smiled softly.
“I wanted to.”
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A pause.
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Then she added, almost shy—
“Friends give each other things, right?”
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Nii looked at her.
Long.
Quiet.
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Then—
“…yeah.”
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The lie came easily.
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Sakina’s face lit up slightly.
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“I don’t have many friends,” she admitted.
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Nii nodded slowly.
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“I know.”
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But inside—
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His thoughts were different.
Cold.
Careful.
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She’s giving already.
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Too easy.
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Too trusting.
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Yet—
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When he looked at her again…
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Something didn’t sit right.
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Because her smile—
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It wasn’t fake.
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“Will you be here tomorrow?” she asked.
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Nii hesitated.
Just for a second.
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Then—
“Yes.”
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Across the street—
Abu sighed under his breath.
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“This one…” he muttered,
“it won’t end simple.”
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Sakina stood up slowly.
“I should go.”
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Nii nodded.
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She hesitated.
Then smiled again.
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“Bye… Nii.”
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“…bye.”
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She walked away.
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And just like before—
Nii watched her leave.
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But this time…
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He didn’t feel nothing.
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And that—
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Was the problem.
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🔥 End
- Writer
