LAYLA

Chapter Seven

When I woke up for Fajr, I felt totally fine, I slept in yesterday's cloths and my b*a and it felt very uncomfortable. I undressed and went into the bathroom n***d. When you attend a boarding school, you pick up bad habits like that. After my first year in El-Amin my parents started complaining about the way I dress at home, i didn't see anything wrong then because the only males at home were mahram but I stopped it, i still wear whatever I see fit when I'm in my room though.

After my morning routine I went to Zayyad's room to say hi. The door opened after few seconds so I guess he woke up to pray too.

He was wearing sweatpants but he was shirtless. I couldn't help but stare, his body is divine.

"My eyes are up here"he had this annoying smirk on his face "like what you see? "

"Pfft, please I've seen better"I shoot right back with feigned sass.

"Ohh have you now? "He asked challengingly, his right brow drawn up and that annoying smirk still evident on his gorgeous face.

How can he look this good in the morning? I'm sure he has had bath, that should be it.

"of course"I said, feigning confidence. I haven't seen a guy like this, apart from pictures and movies and Of course Abba.

"Really where?"he sounded like he knew I was just making it up. But I'm not going to give him the satisfaction.

"Darling, i don't kiss and tell"I said turning away from him. I could feel his stare on my retreating form. "I'm going to prepare breakfast, you can come and help"I said before disappearing down the stairs not waiting for a response.

He came like after ten minutes, I thought he was going to come down immediately but it's all ok.

"So what are we making"he said behind me, i was setting down the ingredients needed for breakfast.

"What would you like, i was thinking Kosai(akara or beanscake) and kunun gyeda but if you want something else that could work too. I said turning to face him, he was wearing a shirt now, thank Goodness!

"No that's great, where can I help"

"I'll take care of the Kosai, just help me fry and grind the groundnut, don't let it get burnt, it will kill the taste"

"Alright I think I can do that". So we got to work, an hour and some minutes later we were done with breakfast.

"Arrggh, that was so good, you are going to make me fat with all the food you cook"Zayyad said.

We were seated on the couch in the living room beside each other, my stomach was at bursting level and I'm pretty sure he felt the same the same way Cuz we ate too much.

"Food is life, i dunno where I'll be without that s**t"

"Girl how do you eat so much and still maintain that figure"

"What figure? And are you saying I eat too much"I narrowed my eyes slightly feigning annoyance.

"Of course not, how can I say such nonsense, I meant uhmm--"

I laughed at how uncomfortable he looked.

"Chill, I'm just messing with you, i know I eat too much, and I never get fat, when I was younger I was disturbed by that fact, but I soon learned to live with it, i mean most girls dream to be like me"

"Yeah, that's right"

"So what are we doing today, I'm tired of watching YouTube videos and reading books, it's getting old"I whined,

"Let's go out or just watch a movie, we could spice it up by eating junk and cuddling"he said,

Is Zayyad Garba flirting with me?!! Ha, I'm imagining things.

I gave him a weird look"no way, I'm not going to spend my whole day cuddling and watching a movie." Heaven knows I'm nervous as hell.

Okay that came out wrong.

"Oh common, you are no fun"

"Whatever, let's go sight seeing, i will come with my camera, we can take pictures too, that will be fun"

"You have a camera?"he asked, looking surprised,

"Yeah, after secondary school, while I was waiting for admission I took photography classes after makeup classes, i don't like been bored"

And I was serious. I hate being bored and not have anything to do, an ideal mind is the devil's workshop, and I sure as hell don't want devils in mind.

"That's by the way, let's go to to hospital and get you checked"

I gave him that you've got to be kidding me face

"Ok, no, I'm not going to any hospital, I'm fine, i just needed to avoid smoke and dust and keep myself warm"I said pouting,

He still looked unconvinced. So I batted my not so long lashes at him, i might look ridiculous but I'll try anything. I hate hospitals.

He sighed softly "OK then, get ready, i can't think of anywhere though, the millennium park should do or we could just go to the estates's garden" Zayyad said,

"The estate has a garden? And I'm just finding out now?"I said, hands on hips

"I didn't know you that didn't know"raising his hand in a surrender motion,

"Alright, the garden it is"

The garden was breathtakingly beautiful. Like damn, the guys that put this together and maintain it really works hard.

We were walking side by side, he was wearing his sweatpants from earlier, some ladies were ogling him on our way here, but, whatever, it's not like I care right. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

The garden was almost empty, the sun rose not too long ago and most families will still be asleep, even though I suspect that people will love the atmosphere here in the evening.

Then I saw her.

She was beautiful, she is beautiful, her little feet carrying her around the garden, she was in between flowers, a wide grin plastered on her face.

I took my camera and started taking pictures, she was truly the most beautiful child I've ever seen, Zayyad mumbled something about taking a call, but I wasn't paying attention. I walked up to her, she noticed I was walking towards her.

"Hey there, how are you"I said squatting down.

She was looking at me strangely, I know what she's thinking, she doesn't know me.

"Do you live here, In this estate?"

She still wasn't responding.

"Hey common, talk to me, what's your name"I continued,

"I'm sorry ma, are you my daddy's friend",

Her voice was so small and sweet, i know I'm tripping hard but I have a soft spot for beautiful creatures.

"No but I'm your friend, my name is Layla, common say it L-a-y-la"I said slowly,

"Layla"she muttered,

"And you are?"hoping she will give in,

"Rayyan"she finally said,

"Rayyan"I tasted, she's the first Rayyan I know,

"Darling you have a beautiful name, but you are even more beautiful, has anyone ever told you that",

A smile was appearing on my little face now,"my boyfriend always tells me that",

Cute girl says what!!!

She shouldn't be older than five, or did I hear wrongly, she said boyfriend right, or is my mind acting up.

"Darling did you just say boyfriend"

"Yes, he should be somewhere around here, he brought me here"she replied,

Damn,this girl is serious, where are her parents for crying out loud. We were sitting on the grass now, talking about her. She really is just 5 years old.

"Darling who are you talking to, i told you not to talk to people you don't know"a voice say from behind us, but it wasn't Zayyad's.

I turned back to see a guy glaring at me. Strange. Rayyan stood up from where she was seated and ran up to him, he picked her up easily, smiling which contrasted with the look he was giving me earlier.

"I'm sorry, i actually talked to her, she didn't want to be rude that's why she replied"he didn't answer me, he was busying whispering into Rayyan's ear making her giggle in the process, i didn't mind at all Cuz I found it absolutely cute, i have a soft spot for children.

"Layla, this is my boyfriend, Abba, the one that brought me here"Rayyan said,

"Darling, i thought I told you it's a secret and you can only tell your dad to annoy him"the guy scolded but he didn't looked pissed at all.

"You can call me Rahim"the guy finally acknowledged my presence,

I nodded,"She's absolutely beautiful"I said smiling,

He just nodded before I felt a hand around my waist. It was Zayyad, what's with the PDA today.

I gave him a suspicious look, "where were you mister"

"Sorry love, the call took longer than I expected"he said, placing a kiss on my forehead.

Ha, he's crazy!!!

I mumbled an okay, "this is my husband, Zayyad"I said gesturing to him

"And this is Rayyan and Rahim"I said gesturing towards the pair,

The hand one my waist tightened, drawing me closer to him. What's up with him. I placed a hand on his hand reassuringly, and i felt the muscled on his arm relax.

"You are married"that was Rayyan,

"But you don't look married, married women are... "She didn't complete her sentence but with the way she scrunched up her nose, i knew what she wanted to say wasn't nice,

"Rayyan be nice"Rahim scolded the little girl,

I laughed"I am newly wedded though"

"That's why you aren't like them, don't be like them, okay?"

Maybe she thought married women were boring and bossy.

"of course darling, i can never be like them"

She smiled showing her missing front tooth. Zayyad silently watched the exchange.

"Layla, we should get going"he spoke up, we just got here, what is he talking about,

"You need to be warm, and the air is getting chilly. "

I nodded and said bye to Rayyan before walking away with him, he held me close on our way home, not letting go.

By the time we got home I was sure something is wrong.

i placed both hands on his arm, loving the warmth that radiated from him, "Zayyad are you okay? What was that phone call about"

He just stared at me, accessing my face like he was searching my face, taking in my features.

"Just don't ever leave me too"he hugged me tightly. "I won't"I murmured into his neck, i might have just said it to make him feel better but I think if I try, I'll keep my word.

He pulled back and didn't come back downstairs again, even when I called him to eat.

I went to bed without hearing from him but while I was sleeping at night, i felt the space beside me on my bed dip low, a body slipped in beside me, he pulled my back against him and wrapped his hand around me, i knew it was Zayyad, but i was too sleepy to talk so I let myself go back to sleep.