Chapter 60 — The Girls' Corner
By Monday morning, campus had fully returned to its usual chaos.
Students rushed across walkways with half-buttoned shirts and unfinished assignments.
Some looked exhausted already despite the week barely beginning.
Others sat beneath trees gossiping loudly as though examinations did not exist.
Inside the lecture hall, Rihannat sat quietly arranging her notes while waiting for class to begin.
For the first time in days, she actually looked relaxed.
Not completely healed.
Not fully settled.
But lighter.
Much lighter.
And perhaps it was because she finally knew one important thing—
She was loved.
Deeply.
By both families.
That realization alone gave her heart some peace.
"See her face."
Folakemi suddenly narrowed her eyes suspiciously while dropping her bag dramatically on the chair beside Rihannat.
"This girl is glowing."
Rihannat blinked innocently.
"Glowing ke?"
"Yes o."
Balkis joined immediately as she sat opposite them.
"You cried like rainfall last week and now look at you."
Rihannat laughed softly.
Before she could respond, another voice interrupted.
"Move abeg."
Rayyan entered with a tired expression before collapsing onto the seat nearby.
Folakemi's eyes widened immediately.
"Ah-ah!"
She pointed accusingly.
"You finally remembered school exists?"
The others burst into laughter instantly.
Rayyan rolled her eyes.
"I went home for just few days."
"Few days?" Folakemi repeated dramatically.
"My sister, you practically relocated."
Even Balkis joined the teasing immediately.
"She didn't want to return. Village enjoyment was too sweet."
Rayyan hissed.
Folakemi gasped theatrically.
"So you stayed behind sucking your mama's breast while we were suffering here?"
The entire group exploded into uncontrollable laughter.
Even nearby students turned briefly to look at them.
"Fola!" Rihannat nearly choked laughing.
Balkis leaned against the desk dramatically.
"Honestly, I believe it."
Rayyan pointed at them in disbelief.
"Traitors. All of you."
But the laughter only increased.
Folakemi refused to stop.
"You people don't understand oo. She probably told her mother—"
Then she mimicked dramatically,
'Mummy, one more week please.'
Rihannat laughed so hard tears gathered in her eyes.
Even Rayyan eventually broke into laughter too.
"You people are wicked."
"Very wicked," Balkis agreed proudly.
Their laughter continued until the lecturer entered the class, forcing everyone to settle down reluctantly.
But even then, the girls kept exchanging amused glances throughout the lecture.
—
Later that afternoon, the four friends gathered beneath one of the large trees near their faculty building.
Rayyan pulled Rihannat to a nearby garden, not far from the others. "I am sorry Rihannat, I know you don't mind but I'm really ashamed to call myself your friend while I'm absent during the most needed time. And never ever say 'let her be' when you need me. Allow the others to call me, I should be aware. We promise to be there for eachother, okay. This should not happen again promise me. She pleaded again.
Rihannat nodded. Happy and grateful to have found such a good and sincere Friends who cared even when they also have alot on their plate too.
Rayyan went home due to a serious issue regarding her ex husband. Bilal.
Shocked when she told them that faithful day. She said it as if talking about the food she ate yesterday.
"---I was once married. Now... a divorcee."
She narrated to them how her so called husband used to beat her alot. They got married because of promise between the older generations. It wasn't out of love, It was out of obligation.
He took her abroad after marriage since Bilal is an abroad base. He studied in America and later got employed after graduation.
To his family and everyone in Nigeria, he was the typical good guy. Religious and perfect.
But in America? He was the opposite. Total opposite.
Club? Yes.
Side chicks? Yes.
Alcohol? Yes.
He was totally different from how he portrayed himself to be in Nigeria.
He always act calm and gentle but in reality he was a beast. He never pray.
She tolerated him till he wanted her to join him in his fun.
Going to club together.
Wearing revealing clothes.
Disturbing when she wants to pray tahajjud or salatul fajri.
He will always come home late and smelling of smoke and alcohol.
Whenever she wants to pray will be his time for couples.
When she rejected his advances, he will start quoting "the prophet says never turn your husband down when he needs you. I need you now and you cant say no."
But he will never pray or follow Allahs command or the prophet words.
When she couldn't tolerate him anymore she pronounced talaq.
She will never denounce her faith for anyone. Even if it cost her - her marriage.
Bilal gladly allowed her to leave without caring and that was how she came back to Nigeria. Her parents were shocked when she told them all his deeds. Disbelief written across their faces.
They didn't believe when she told them they divorced.
They love him so much. So her father called to confirm if what she said was true, Bilal denied, told them she was lying. He washed himself clean and painted her black and red. Told them all what she never did.
Her parents tried to force her back as if she was the black sheep but she rejected. She refused and told them she will rather die than go back to him. They cut off her allowances and even in school. The reason why she is living like a nobody while she is actual from an influential family. She didn't tell anyone until that day she came back from home.
Her friend saw her moody and irritated until she disclose what was bothering her to them.
It was the first time she will open up about her past. She didn't cry, it's now a past she can't erase but can still re-write. No longer painful.
And now after three years the bastard wants her back in his life. He remembered a girl who he had humiliated by bringing his friends over to have an overnight party in her home. Well- he called it his home!. After telling him no. They partied till midnight, disturbing her night salat.
She still can't believe he would come back begging her. He really has gut to think she will follow him back. Only a fool will get back with him after all that he did to her, and she's not a fool.
She has forgiven him but not to the extent of marrying him back, not now that her Deen is deeper than before. No. Never.
What a Shameless man. He said he is regretful and her parents believed but she didn't believe one bit of his words.
Allah will provide his wife and her own husband too.
The three friends felt for her. What a complicated situation. Why can't her parents see the truth.
Though they all know such a Shameless man will not stop pestering her. Her parents too have already giving him the go ahead to pursue her. Even when she told them she doesn't love him, their first marriage was out of love and she will never have another marriage of such.
Rayyan has promise to follow Rihannat home not knowing something else await her. The beginning of a beautiful future.
------
The two walked back to meet the others.
This had quietly become their usual spot.
Rihannat sat comfortably on the low pavement while Balkis rested beside her scrolling through her phone.
Folakemi was busy eating puff-puff she claimed she bought "for everybody" despite clearly refusing to share properly.
Meanwhile Rayyan kept complaining about an assignment due the next day.
"I swear this lecturer enjoys suffering."
Folakemi nodded seriously while chewing.
"He wakes up every morning asking himself how to destroy student happiness."
Balkis laughed.
"Especially your happiness."
"Jealousy," Folakemi replied immediately.
Rihannat simply watched them quietly with a small smile on her face.
And for a brief moment…
Everything felt normal again.
No emotional confusion.
No painful discoveries.
Just her and her friends laughing over nonsense under the afternoon sun.
Rayyan suddenly paused mid-complaint before staring closely at Rihannat.
"Wait."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You've actually been smiling since morning."
Folakemi immediately gasped.
"Omo."
Balkis joined dramatically.
"Something is happening."
Rihannat frowned.
"Can all of you leave me alone?"
"No."
The three answered immediately.
Rihannat laughed helplessly.
Folakemi leaned closer mischievously.
"Is it Basit?"
The others immediately became interested.
Rihannat nearly coughed.
"What kind of question is that?"
"A very important one," Balkis answered shamelessly.
Rayyan nodded seriously.
"We need updates."
Rihannat shook her head while laughing softly.
"You people gossip too much."
"But you love us."
Folakemi grinned proudly.
Rihannat looked at the three girls surrounding her.
Loud.
Dramatic.
Annoying sometimes.
Yet always there for her.
And suddenly, her chest warmed with emotion again.
Because despite everything happening in her life recently…
Allah had still surrounded her with good people.
Family.
Friends.
Love.
Maybe life had been unfair to her once.
But perhaps…
It was finally becoming kinder now.
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@OlukoyaZainab