Chapter 16 — Days Gone

"Congratulations, Umaimah!" My mum uttered with happiness written allover her face. Days had blend into years and now, I had graduated from secondary school – a dream come true!

"Thank you, mum" I said as I quickly turned to Ramadan. "Dad, why can't we wait for the rest of the events? I don't want to go home now..."

"Umaimah, we have to go home" He said.

"But why, dad?" I whined. I was so curious to know why he had to ruin my fun. I was taking pictures with my classmates... It was our last day in school and we ought to enjoy ourselves.

"It's for security reasons, Umaimah" He said.

That moment, I found myself wishing he was a normal civilian. Yes, that way we wouldn't be worried about being kidnapped or something.

"Okey, but how about Amirah and..." I was saying halfway when he cut in holding me.

"I sent for them, they would be taken home in the second car" He said as we began walking.

"Okey" I muttered.

Thus, we drove home and threw a home party. Just us and the guards. Amirah was still holding grudge against me but like I said before, she would act like everything was okey in our parents' presence... Let me tell you what happened after Ya Mahmud was reported to have impregnated a girl years back. Ramadan forced him to marry the girl as soon as she gave birth. The girl loved him but he said he didn't love. That was his punishment, to live a life he had never dreamed of — a pathetic life.

After our home party, Najib and Ameer went to their room to play video games while our parents went upstairs to their respective rooms. The guards had left too, leaving Amirah and I in the sitting room. Just as I was about saying "Hi" to her a call came into her phone. 

"Hello..." She said as soon as she picked the call. "No, I'm at home already" She apprised. "I'm sorry Bintah, I don't think I can make it to the party. Ever since bandits tried to attack our dad he has been taking our security situation way too serious..." She lamented. "Okey, bye!"

Immediately she was done with the call, she stood about going to her room when I called her name. Hence, she turned glaring at me.

"This is five years and you're still holding grudges against me?" I said staring at her.

"You say?" She scoffed at me.

"You heard me, Amirah" I said as I stood up to my feet as well. "If you die this way, God will..."

"I won't die now!" She snapped at me. "I will not die until I am fully ready to die, that's in 60 years time if you don't know. I'm not like you, my life expectancy is very high because I'm too healthy but you, your pneumonia can kill you at any fucking time. As for the grudges, If you can't take it anymore tell your mother to leave this house. And ofcourse, together with you!"

I was already used to her words so none of them touched me and I didn't have iota of hate for her. Despite all her efforts to piss me off, I still wanted reconciliation. Yes, she was right about my pneumonia – it could kill me at any time, and not only it but other sicknesses too.

"This is my father's house, Amirah" I said.

"Hhhh" She laughed. "Father indeed!"

"What is wrong with you, Amirah? We are now 18, we ought to stop acting like kids!" I uttered.

"I am not acting like a kid but maybe you are!" She squealed. "By the way, don't ever get into my way again else I'm gonna hurt you badly"

"Amirah, please..." I said halfway as she cut in.

"I am warning you, Umaimah!" She said.

"Okey" I muttered.

"Better!" She said and left.

Since then, I started minding my own business. And talking about death, how certain was she that she would live a very long life? Did she saw her future? She really was sure about it.

Well, I went to my room and did my missed fard prayers. Thus, I changed into my night gown and hopped onto the bed. I wasn't feeling sleepy so I logged into my WhatsApp account and swiped to the new group Jabir created.

Trinity College, Class Of The Year

Sally: It feels great to be a graduate!

Jabir: Of secondary school? I don't think so!

Sadiyah: J-boy have started again o, where is Maimah? Come and carry your boyfriend out of here or else I'm gonna beat him mercilessly.

Jabir: Please leave my girlfriend out of this.

Sally added Bintah Rasheed, Amirah RL, Nana Musa, Ayman Suleiman, Shamsiya Bala, A.A Farouq, Tarfa Monday, Sani Bichi, and Salman.

Jabir: OMG, who made Sally admin?

Sally: Maimah did, hours ago! Any problem?

Sadiyah: Abeg leave the boy, he's nuts. We need more people here after all, thank you!

Sally: You're welcome, dear.

Amirah RL left the group...

Ayman: Good morning everyone, please what is the essence of erecting this group? Admins!

Me: We want to keep in touch with each other.

Ayman: Umaimah, is this you?

Jabir: Yes, it's her! Can't you see the nick?

Me: Jabir please stop that!

Me: Yes, Ayman... I'm the one. How are you?

Ayman: I'm fine, friend. How about you?

Me: Fine. I heard you applied for ABU Zaria...

Ayman: Yes, how about you?

Me: IBB Lapai, but Amirah applied for ABU!

Ayman: Yes, she and Bintah.

Bintah Rasheed left the group...

Jabir: Mtsww, look at how people are leaving the group all because of your selfish noises.

Ayman: Seems like your boyfriend is jealous. Which university did he even applied for?

Me: Hmmm

Me: Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA)

Ayman: Wow, your father is a uniform man and now you want your future husband to be a uniform man too... Sounds interesting, friend!

Me: It's his choice.

Me: How is your girlfriend, Ayman?

Ayman: Bintah and I broke up. She likes men.

Me: I'm so sorry, dear. Now what?

Jabir: Babe, please let him be!

Me: Hey, why are you acting this way?

Jabir: Because I love you and I'm jealous.

Me: Don't you worry, Jabir. I'm yours.

Ayman Suleiman left the group...

Me: Did Ayman just left the group?

Jabir: Yes, and please no one should add him back abeg. His presence here is a threat to me. 

Me: Hmmm!

Jabir: Yes, my love...