"I'm already so tired" Layla groaned.

"You didn't do anything today and besides you just woke up" Khadijah pointed out.

"But I'm still tired" she made show of falling backwards.

The two arrived in Abuja hours before and decided to rest before the wedding hassle started. Since the other Aliero's weren't coming until Friday when the fatiha would take place, they had the whole house to themselves.

Unlike the three buildings of the Aliero house in Kaduna, the one in Abuja was a single three storey which was very much bigger and more beautiful than the other.

The last floor was for Tafida Aliero and his wives, the others were for the children and the men in their quarters, he wasn't keen on having grown men and younger women in the same place.

For the Aliero men, the moment they turned thirteen they moved to the quarters, he said they needed privacy to do guy stuff and the girls needed theirs too. Layla's room was on the second floor much to her dismay, she felt it was too far from the kitchen even though there were smaller kitchens on each floor, knowing her well, her father made sure to have a kitchenette in her side of the house but according to her, the main kitchen hit differently.

She hated exercise and to her climbing the stairs was. The elevator was built to go directly to the last floor, since when Jameela, her half sister who was claustrophobic got stuck when they were playing hide and seek, they were in their early teens and had gone there for school break, she'd thought the elevator would be a good hiding spot because no one would think of it, unfortunately for her they had a black out and she got stuck, they found her unconscious hours later, they disabled the elevator and changed the settings from then on.

"How about we go out for the night?" Layla asked with enthusiasm.

"Weren't you just complaining about being tired?"

"I'm fine now and I need fresh air, please" she made puppy dog eyes, Khadijah rolled her eyes, she knew she wouldn't give up until she succumbed.

She gave it a thought, she could say yes and they would leave or to waste time and Layla would pester her until she agreed, she sighed in defeat, there went Her plan of resting with a good book.

"Yes, I'll call the driver" she was already out of the room before Khadijah could talk or change her mind, she had wanted to order an uber but Khadijah was unpredictable, a slight delay would make her change her mind.

"I don't know why you had to make us leave the house" Khadijah complained for the hundredth time most probably.

"Because it's fun" Layla jumped in her seat, she was giddy.

"Where are we going?" it was five in the evening.

"To my uncle's place, maybe we can get something to chow down on our way back" she nodded at her own suggestion.

"Why do I have to come along?" Khadijah asked after a minute of silence.

"Why won't you come along?" she knew it was Layla's way of avoiding any more questions she didn't want to answer so she remained quiet for the rest of the ride.

The drive from the Aliero house in maitama to her uncle's in asokoro was short, with the meander traffic it took less than fifteen minutes.

Khadijah gaped at the building in front of her when they parked the car, it could easily pass as a castle and she wasn't exaggerating, it didn't look like a normal mansion or a castle but it sure looked like a place where royalty lived.

"Your uncle is a king?" Layla let out a hearty laugh, her friend was funny.

"What! No he's not, this family has a thing for houses, with architects everywhere and all" she was right, Tafida Aliero was a known architect and his first son followed in his footsteps.

"Your uncle is also an architect?"

"No but his son is, one of his sons" she added as an afterthought "Let's go in" she opened the door and took Khadijah's hand down the gravel pathway.

They both said the taslim after a maid that was already waiting opened the door for them, since the security had already informed the occupants of their arrival, they met with the spacious living room, no one was there.

Khadijah fought the urge to ask if Layla was sure Her uncle wasn't a king and it wasn't because of the royal chairs, everything screamed royalty.

Layla was unfazed, she'd been there multiple times, with an architect son and a wife who loved interior design, she expected the best of the very best.

One thing was strange though, her cousin's would've ran to welcome her but she was met with silence, the maid that let them in stood there like a statue, she hadn't said a word after welcoming them, Layla opened her mouth to talk but a voice beat her to it, she mentally asked for help from above when she recognised the voice of the man she'd been avoiding for almost a year, it had been easy because they lived in different states but she knew he only let her have space, how far was it from Kaduna to Abuja anyway? He could visit whenever he wanted, it would take at most fifteen minutes to visit if he wanted, bedsides he had a helicopter with his name on it, he literally had his name written on a helicopter.

"No wonder they said it might snow in Nigeria, hello angel" Jawad said in his deep but soothing voice, she gave up and turned to him with the biggest smile she could muster

"JD" she acknowledged eyeing Fahad who had a sweet smile on his face, he was holding a bowl of chips.

"How are you?" he had an accent that Khadijah couldn't quite place, most of the Aliero's had it too, she'd thought it was a Fulani accent.

"You all can continue your awkward pleasantries seated, please, I'm the host" Fahad interrupted and walked further into the room, he plastered his best smile then turned to Khadijah, Layla was too engrossed in trying to keep her calm to even reprimand him.

"Have a seat please" Khadijah quietly sat when Layla pulled her hand, they sat on the two sitter.

"Where's ammie? I came to greet her" Layla said hoping she could get it over and done with so she would leave, Jawad there was making her anxious, but she'd always felt that in his presence.

"Somewhere with some people, and the girls are out too, Jay is sleeping so it's just us...and well you two" he knew she would ask, and like he always did when Khadijah was near, he turned to her so he was giving her all his attention "We've not been properly introduced, Fahad Abubakar Barkindo" he smiled.

"Khadijah" she says flatly making his smile drop, Layla laughed in her mind the little exchange making her feel more at ease.

"Dee, Jawad, Jawad, Dee" Layla pointed introducing the two, Khadijah only smiled.

"JD, that's what everyone calls me" he smiled in return, Fahad felt rejected when she had smiled at his best friend.

"Tell ammie I dropped by, we have to go" they were already standing ready to leave.

"I'll drop you off, you're going back home right?" Jawad quickly interjected already on his feet.

"We don't want to intrude"

"It's no problem, besides I'm going to wuse2" Layla knew he wouldn't drop it so she nodded, she'd told the driver to go back thinking they would stay long.

"Okay" he smiled like he'd won the lottery.

"Wait, it's not like I'm sending you all away, ammie will be back any moment just stay" Fahad said almost pleading.

When they still insisted on leaving he said fine and told security to lock the house.

"This could be accounted for kidnapping" Layla let out a small chuckle, her cousin was just immature.

"You brought yourselves here, not very kidnappish" he smirked.

They sat back dejectedly, Khadijah was quiet, she just wanted to rest, the stress from the journey was getting to her, it was only her and Layla in the car with the driver, she didn't even know why she was tired because the drive was smooth.

The atmosphere was thick with awkward tension, no one knew what to say.

Khadijah was sure something had happened to Layla because she was never quiet. Jawad being there must've gotten to her, she thought.

It wasn't up to five minutes, she didn't know who started the conversation but the awkwardness was out of the window. It had been long since Khadijah felt that loose, and more in the presence of men, she'd laughed at Layla and Fahad's silly fights, she finally learned his name.

They didn't leave until six thirty, nobody was back so they promised to visit again before leaving.

"Tomorrow is going to be a long day" Layla groaned laying face down on the bed, they had just returned, she had dragged her feet up the stairs and was then complaining.

"Yeah, get some rest"

"What! No let's do a movie marathon" she said up abruptly, Khadijah eyed her before leaving to go and change into her night wear.

"It's just to seven what are you doing?" Layla looked at the clothes in her hand.

"I'm tired of this" she pointed to the clothes she had on, a Maxi skirt and her usual long sleeves.

"Oh alright, I'll go see what's for dinner"

After they've prayed, they sat to talk for a bit. It had been long since they sat and talked about themselves, it was in one of those conversations Khadijah told her about Suleiman. She would tell her bit by bit about everything that happened when she was gone, but that night she didn't feel like talking so she let Layla take the reign for the conversation.

"Okay so let me get this straight, after you moved immediately after waec, that was the first time you met Jawad or you've known him for longer than that?" she asked when Layla brought him up.

"No, since when we were kids, he was hamma Fahad and hamma Shaheed's best friend" Khadijah nodded in understanding.

Layla went on and on about her days in Australia, she was born there but they moved back to Nigeria when she was ten, and then moved back again, that was when she was done with secondary school.

They didn't call it a night until twelve, though Layla had said to stay a little longer, she hated sleeping early.

"Rise and shine princess" Khadijah tapped Layla who was still sleeping, after they woke up for subh prayer Layla insisted on taking Khadijah on a tour of the house before going back to bed, it was already eleven and she was still knocked out.

"Waleedah Wallahi I'll break you in half of you don't leave me alone" Khadijah wondered how she got all those words out still half asleep but couldn't realise it wasn't her sister.

"Wake up jor" she tapped her harder that time making her stand quickly in an attempt to break the sister in half.

"Oh it's you" she yawned when realisation dawned on her.

Breakfast was simple for the duo, Khadijah's usual plain coffee and Layla with her espresso, they were both coffee people. Layla had omelettes, mini sesame zucchini loaves and Sweet Potato and Kale Frittata made for them, she knew Khadijah would like something light.

They planned what to wear for the Bachelorette party that night, the only specification the bride gave was lilac and blush.

Layla settled for a mint puffed sleeves off the shoulder A-line gown, it had little details with blush, she paired it with Yves Saint Laurent flats, being tall had it's benefits, and for someone who hated heels, she was grateful for her height.

Khadijah chose a halterneck long sleeved flared out gown, she'd gone with mint too and paired it with a blush colored veil and shoes, she had zero make up on because she knew they weren't staying long, she couldn't stay for the whole process just to come back an hour later to clean it up.

She'd been reminding herself that it was just females there but it wasn't any better. She decided that she was over with Suleiman and he wouldn't run Her life, that gave her peace of mind and will to move ahead.

Layla tried her very best to get Khadijah to have even a minimal make up done but she blatantly refused, after trying for the fifth time did she give up, she knew she wouldn't budge.

Fully dressed, Layla wore Diamond studs and a silver bracelet, a ring Khadijah had seen multiple times sat on her right index finger, it had A in italics engraved in it, for Aliero. She'd seen the Aliero's with similar rings on multiple occasions, the men had a broach with the same engraving, it was something you'd see on them in formal or social events.

"Let's go" Layla picked her purse that it may be only her bracelet that might fit, she walked to the car with Khadijah in tow, one other thing they had in common was their absolute hate for driving, they always jumped at the opportunity to be in the passenger seat.

The party wasn't as bad as Layla thought it would be, Nasmir was a nice person and she welcomed them warmly, most of her other friends were either down to earth or down right rude, but being Layla Aliero had it's perks, they knew where they stood.

Khadijah sat and observed the different behaviors of the ladies present, there was fifteen of them including the bride in total, the decorations had a warm feel to it, she gave it to the event planner, they did a remarkable job.

She had a few of the snacks served only when Layla shot her a look asking if she was fine, knowing her friend's social anxiety she was a bit worried.

"Thank you so much for coming, it means a lot" Nasmir chirped hugging the two ladies, she was already glowing, Khadijah couldn't point at the exact reason, may be the successfulness of her Bachelorette party or the joy of marrying the love of her life, either way she looked good with the huge smile she had on.

"And Dee, I can't thank you enough for making my wedding extra special, hubby already loves the dresses, you'll be sure to be seeing more of me" she smiled and said her goodbyes while they made for the exit, Khadijah smiled at the lady already referring to hubby and thought if only marriage was that simple, you just love each other and everything was sorted, too bad it wasn't and she hoped Nasmir wouldn't have to find out like she did.

All her life she'd thought that if the man loved you more, it would be bearable and easier, oh how wrong she was. She'd seen the repercussion of that and realised that it didn't matter who loved whom more, men will forever be men and do what pleases them, even if it meant destroying the other party.

Hey hey hey, happy Saturday but our days are always Saturday's Now. How are you peoples, great I hope.

This is long enough right, whelps hope you like it.

I might not update soon because my week will be busy, that I know, do hold on to this please and tell your friends to check it out too.

Please vote and comment, what you think means a lot to me and I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Who is your favourite character yet or is it too early?

And JD? Do you think he and Layla would make a nice couple??

Please vote, comment and share.

If you enjoy the story, tell your friends about it, sharing is caring.

Okay I've been here long enough

Have a blast this weekend

Amyrah