The Untainted
Chapter 102: When Love Becomes a Storm
The moment Sulaimon got to his car, he started the engine and drove out of the compound.
The enthusiasm he had shown when he arrived was completely gone, replaced by anger, sadness, and pain.
His family looked like one harmonious family from the outside, but at home, they were almost like strangers to one another.
He had seen how the two people who gave birth to him treated each other. It had left a scar deep inside him.
He wasn't like children who grew up surrounded by two loving parents. His parents had always seemed like strangers to each other. Even when they tried to hide it from him, he saw it. He knew.
That was the major reason he never dated.
It was the reason he never allowed himself to have one woman in his life. Instead, he had one-night stands. Both parties took what they wanted and went their separate ways.
No attachment.
No expectations.
No heartbreak.
Until he set his eyes on Balkis that fateful day.
And since then, his once-calm heart had known nothing but restlessness.
She had overtaken his thoughts without asking for permission. She had taken a room in his heart and mind without knocking.
And now he was addicted to the thought of her.
He couldn't let go anymore.
He had been afraid of believing in love. Afraid of committing himself to the kind of marriage he had watched his parents endure.
A marriage without love.
A marriage built on arrangements and obligations.
But then he met Balkis.
And he tasted love.
He savored its sweetness.
He found peace and happiness simply by thinking about the girl.
How could he let her go after praying to Allah to deepen her love for him and his for her if she truly belonged to him?
Every day, even the air he breathed seemed to carry her name.
So why would his mother even suggest that he marry someone chosen for him?
Why would she want him to experience the very kind of marriage she was suffering in?
Just why?
His drive toward his apartment was filled with unanswered questions, anger, and pain.
So much pain.
On Campus
Life resumed as usual for the girls.
The guys, however, were more excited and energetic than ever, especially with their upcoming examinations gradually moving closer, just a week to go and their wedding preparations underway.
The men seemed more alive these days.
It had been decided that both weddings would take place together since none of them could wait any longer.
After all, wasn't it better for the two sworn brothers to get married on the same day?
Seifullah was the most hardworking of them all.
He was doing everything possible to win Rayyan over.
He was persistent but never forceful.
He never pressured her or pushed her into accepting him.
Instead, he showed her his sincerity through his daily actions.
He wanted her to see that he wasn't a scumbag.
He wanted her to know that he was a man worthy enough for her to bet her future on.
Finally, their final exams arrived.
It was the most arduous and serious period of their lives.
They gave it everything they had and left the rest to Allah.
Then, the last day of the examination finally came.
It felt like a dream.
It seemed like only yesterday they had resumed as freshmen, nervous and excited about starting university.
And now they were sitting for their final paper.
Allahu Akbar.
Time truly waited for no one.
And hard work definitely paid off.
They all packed their belongings and returned home within the same week they finished their examinations.
Home sweet home.
The smell of home was completely different from the smell of school—the papers, shouts, dust, and endless academic stress.
The first week was practically a sleeping marathon.
They slept.
And slept.
And slept some more.
The second week, however, became hangout week.
They would call one another and go out together.
All of them.
Even the Moustapha brothers were invited to join them.
It had been baffling why they had suddenly stopped coming around or meeting with them like they used to.
They still called Rihannat occasionally to say hello as her godbrothers, but the closeness they once shared was no longer there.
Rihannat couldn't understand what had happened.
So, during the second week after their examinations, she made sure to call them herself and invite them to join their outing.
They couldn't refuse her.
So they came.
And from that day onward, they started hanging out together again.
Every weekend, they would meet, play, laugh, and chat like old times.
During one of their outings, Qazeem suddenly dropped some news.
"I'll be having my wedding soon."
The entire group turned toward him in surprise.
"Wow! So you're also leaving the bachelor's club now?" Seifullah teased.
"When is it?" he asked.
"It hasn't been decided yet. I'll send the invitation once I've picked a date," Qazeem answered.
The two Mustopha brothers had finally let go of the feelings they once had for Rihannat.
They still love her.
But it would remain a thing of the past now.
Something hidden deep within their hearts.
Something to treasure quietly while wishing her well in every aspect of her life.
Rihannat would become a story to them—a beautiful story that had been left unfinished before they finally closed the chapter.
Months had passed since they graduated, but the friends, who had become more like blood brothers and sisters, still behaved like schoolchildren whenever they were together.
They joked.
They played.
They teased one another.
And eventually, they dispersed, each returning home.
In a month's time, Basit and Ridwan would be getting married to their beloveds.
Preparation was in order. More shopping than ever for the friends.
**Segun's Penthouse
Far away in Segun's penthouse, he was sitting with Bayo.
Several documents were scattered across the table in front of them.
Yet Segun's eyes were fixed somewhere outside the window.
His mind was nowhere near the documents.
Everything Bayo was saying seemed to enter one ear and disappear through the other.
Segun had spaced out again.
They had all graduated.
It had been four months since graduation, and yet Segun still found himself spacing out and daydreaming.
Bayo sighed.
When would his friend finally realize that he was already drowning in love?
He couldn't keep it to himself anymore.
"Rihannat is getting married next month, Segun."
Segun, whose attention had been elsewhere while Bayo had been reporting the data and explaining how he had managed the company in his absence, suddenly snapped his attention toward him.
"What did you say?"
He had only heard one word.
Rihannat.
And judging by his expression, Bayo knew he hadn't heard anything else.
It was definitely Rihannat's name that had pulled him out of his thoughts.
And if Bayo told him that, Segun would definitely deny it.
"I said Rihannat is getting married next month."
Segun stared at him.
"You traveled out for four months, so you missed the news. They didn't release the news until after you had already left the country. Everyone was surprised, they wanted lowkey I thought...."
"What?"
Segun's expression changed.
"To whom? And you're just telling me now?"
"You were in Spain for a month, then England, and so on. You were traveling from one country to another for business. Isn't that tiring?"
Bayo shook his head.
"I was worried about your mental and physical health, buddy."
"Bayo, I'm fine." his eyes had changed.
"Perfectly fine,"
Segun ignored him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He suddenly stood.
"How can she get married?"
His jaw tightened.
"To that same Basit?"
A dark chuckle escaped him.
Bayo watched him carefully.
There was something dangerous in Segun's expression now.
"Bayo."
"Yes?"
"Pack your things and go to China."
Bayo blinked.
"For the project we have there. Go and handle it."
"Segun, someone is already there doing it well. I don't want to go. The food there is—"
The glare Segun sent him immediately shut him up.
Bayo quickly stood.
"Okay, okay. I'll leave now."
He hurried toward the door, suddenly afraid that Segun might use him as a punching bag.
At the door, he stopped and looked back.
"But please, don't be impulsive. Think carefully about whatever you want to do."
Well.. All his words fell on deaf ears.
Segun wasn't listening anymore.
His entire body was reacting to something even he didn't understand.
He felt anger coursing through his veins.
His fists tightened.
His breathing became heavier.
He had spent four months traveling from country to country, burying himself in work and convincing himself that distance would make the strange feelings inside him disappear.
Yet one sentence had been enough to bring everything rushing back.
Rihannat was getting married.
And she was getting married to another man.
Segun slowly sat back down.
His eyes darkened.
"Fine, Rihannat."
A bitter smile touched his lips.
"Fine."
He leaned back, staring into the distance.
"This is really great."
His voice was dangerously calm.
"Let's see how you'll do it on that day."