The one
# CHAPTER THREE
### The One Who Was Waiting
By the third day, I had learned something about examination periods.
They made every day feel exactly the same.
Wake up.Pray.Eat.Study.Go to school.
Write the exam.Come home.
just a repeated routine
Except there was one part of my routine I had started looking forward to.
The drive home.
I didn't admit that to myself then,of course
There was nothing to look forward to.It was simply convenient.
That was all.
Ya Ridhwan happened to be the one taking me to and from school. Nothing more.
At least, that was what I told myself.
That morning, I stood in front of the mirror adjusting my hijab for the third time.
The realization hit me,Why was I taking so long?
It was just an exam.
I picked up my bag. Then put it down again, checked my phone. No messages.
Why would he message me?
I immediately shook my head.
Se’ad, what is wrong with you?
I grabbed my bag and left the room.
Downstairs, Mummy was already in the kitchen.
“she asked”
“Eh”
“Good.”
She looked at me carefully.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m just happy.”
“Because?”
“Because I finished studying.”
Mummy smiled.
“Allah ya taimaka.”
“Amin.”
I sat down to eat.
Amrah walked in a few minutes later.
She looked at me.
Then at the clock.
Then back at me.
“Why are you ready this early?”
“I have an exam.”
“So?”
“So I need to leave.”
She nodded slowly.
“Hmm.”
I ignored her.
She sat beside me.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
nearly choked on my tea.
“No!”
She burst out laughing.
“I didn't even say a name!”
“Amrah.”
“What?”
“You're annoying.”
She grinned.
“I know.”
Before I could answer, the sound of a car horn came from outside.
My head turned toward the window before I could stop myself.
Amrah saw it.
Her smile became wicked.
“Oh.”she said with a mischievous smile
“Don't.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were going to.”
She laughed.
I stood up and picked up my bag.
“I'm leaving.”
“Have fun.”
“It's an exam.”
“Exactly.”
I ignored her and walked out.
The morning air was already warm.
The Turaki compound looked beautiful under the soft sunlight, the flowers along the driveway still carrying tiny drops of water from the gardener's morning routine.
The black Mercedes was parked near the gate.
Ya Ridhwan was inside. My hands reached for the door and swung it open
“Assalamu alaikum.”
“Wa alaikumussalam.”
He looked at me.
“You're early.” my shoulders raised giving a shrug
“So are you.”
“I've been waiting.” he said that with a calm face
My heart gave an unnecessary little jump.
“Let's go.”I managed to say trying to aboud the awkwardness
He smiled.
“Yes, ma'am.”
I laughed.
The car pulled away.
For a while, we spoke about nothing.He finally broke the silence “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
“Study?”
“Yes.”
“Eat?”
I looked at him.
“Ya Ridhwan…”
He laughed.
“I'm asking.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Something about the conversation felt strangely familiar.
Like we had been doing it for months instead of days.
---
The exam went well.At least, I thought it did.
When I walked out of the hall, my mind felt lighter than it had all week.
I walked toward the gate.
My eyes searched the parking area.
There were dozens of cars, Black, White,Silver, SUVs, Sedans.
I didn't know what I was looking for.Then I saw it.
The black Mercedes. A smile stated creeking on my face then I stopped
Why are you smiling?
Ya Ridhwan was standing beside the car, his phone in his hand.He looked up.
The moment he saw me, he smiled.“How was it?”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Yes.”
“You're sure?”
“Very.”
He opened the door and i went in
“Alhamdulillah.”
I got inside.
He walked around to his side.
As soon as he started driving, I noticed a small paper bag on the centre console.
I looked at it.
“What is that?”
He glanced at it.
“Food.”
“For who?”
“You.”
A surprise look was all over my face
“For me?”
“You said you were hungry yesterday.”
“You remembered?”
He shrugged.“I remember things.”
my hands slowly reached for the bag. Inside was a chicken sandwich and a cold can of grape jice.
I stared at it for a moment.
“Thank you.”
“Babu komai.”
“You didn't have to.”
“I know.”
I looked at him.
“Then why did you?”
He smiled faintly.
“Because I wanted to.”
I didn't know what to say to that.
So I ate.
---
On the way home, we stopped at a traffic light.
I was looking through the window when I noticed a group of students crossing the road.
One of them waved at the car.I waved back automatically.
Ya Ridhwan looked at me. “Do you know her?”
“No.”
“You waved.”
“She waved first.”
He smiled.
“You wave at strangers?”
“Sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because it's rude not to wave back.”
He laughed.
“You're strange.”
“You've said that before.”
“Because it's true.”
The traffic light turned green.
We continued driving.
After a few minutes, he spoke again.
“Do you want to study in Gombe?”
I looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it's home.”
He nodded.
“Gombe is different from Lagos.”
“Are you sure you'll like it?”
“I think so.”
“You'll have to get used to everything.”
“I'll manage.”
He smiled.
“I think you will.”
I looked at him.
There was something reassuring about the way he said it.Like he already believed I could.
I didn't know then that, a year later, Gombe would become the place where everything began.The place where I would meet people who would become my closest friends.
The place where I would start university, where my life would slowly become something I never imagined.
---
When we reached the house, Amrah was sitting on the veranda.
The moment my small body stepped out of the car, she looked at me.
Then she looked at the paper bag in my hand.
Then at Ya Ridhwan. like she was trying to process the story behind it
Her eyebrows rose.I immediately knew what was coming.
“Don't.”
She smiled.
“I haven't said anything.”
“You're thinking it.”
“Maybe.”
“Amrah.”
She laughed.
“Okay, okay.”
I walked past her.
Then she called after me.
“Se’ad!”
Mu bidy stood still and slowly turned to face her
She pointed at the bag. “Did Ya Ridhwan buy that for you?”
I looked at her.“Yes.”
Her mouth fell open dramatically.
“Ohooo.”
“It's food.”
“I know.”
“So?”
“Nothing.”
She grinned.
“Absolutely nothing.”
I rolled my eyes and walked inside.Behind me, I heard Ya Ridhwan laugh.
And for some reason…I smiled too.