2~Goodbye Cal U #2
She held up the gown before looking at herself in the mirror.
"She hates me."
"And now I feel like my outfit looks terrible."
Amira walked to her.
"She doesn't hate you."
"She's just... unnecessarily rude."
She smiled reassuringly.
"And for the record..."
"You look beautiful."
Hanan sneered. "Oh, she definitely hates me."
"She's the only person on this campus who keeps calling me Hannah."
"And she does it on purpose."
She adjusted her gown.
"I'm honestly glad I won't have to see her again."
Amira laughed softly before pinching her cheek.
"Don't let her ruin your day."
"Ouch!" Hanan rubbed her cheek dramatically.
"Come on." Amira reached for the door.
"We're already running late."
Then she paused.
"Oh... Did you manage to contact Abdul?"
"Has he arrived?"
Hanan hesitated. "About that..."
Before she could finish, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"Hanan!"
"Amira!"
Both women turned at the sound of Lucy's voice.
She came running toward them with excitement written all over her face.
Amira laughed. "Easy there!"
She pointed at Lucy's graduation gown.
"Slow down before you trip and fall."
"Good morning, Lucy... and happy graduation to us!" Hanan smiled warmly, her gaze lingering on Lucy's elegant dress. "I have to say... you look absolutely stunning."
Lucy laughed, smoothing down her outfit. "Aww, thank you, sweetie. But have you looked at yourself? You're gorgeous."
"And I'm glad I found you two." She continued with a relieved sigh. "I've been searching the entire campus. What are you both still doing in the dorm? The ceremony is about to start."
"My graduation gown arrived late." Hanan explained. "We were just heading out."
"The hall is already packed!" Lucy beamed excitedly. "Families are arriving, everyone's taking pictures... the atmosphere is amazing." She suddenly gasped. "Oh! I almost forgot. Amira, I came to get you. Your parents are here."
"My parents?!" Amira pointed at herself in disbelief.
"They came?"
"Mama and Baba?" Her eyes widened with excitement. "I thought they couldn't make it because of my brother's wedding preparations!"
"They're waiting for you." Lucy smiled.
Amira squealed happily.
Hanan couldn't help but smile too.
"You two should go ahead." She said casually. "I forgot my phone."
"Alright! Meet us at the hall."
As soon as Lucy and Amira disappeared down the hallway, Hanan slowly reached into her purse and pulled out her phone.
Her smile vanished.
Abdul's messages filled the screen.
Three years.
Three long years...
Yet the ache inside her heart remained as fresh as the day it happened.
Abdul had sent her to America hoping distance would heal her wounds.
To study.
To rebuild herself.
To forget.
But how was she supposed to forget?
How could she erase the people who shattered her entire world?
The people who stole her peace...
Her happiness...
Her identity...
The people who transformed Habiba, the girl whose greatest dream was simply to be loved by the man she loved, into Hanan, a woman whose heart now beats for revenge.
Every passing day only fed that fire growing in her.
It grew hotter.
Darker.
More consuming.
She hasn't forgotten the betrayal.
The humiliation.
The tears.
The trauma.
Especially him.
She would never forget Najib.
Not until he paid for everything he's done.
She read Abdul's disappointing message for what felt like the hundredth time before blinking away the tears threatening to escape her eyes.
Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.
Her graduation.
Yet she had no family beside her.
No familiar face waiting proudly in the crowd.
No one cheering her name.
"What an ill luck." She whispered bitterly.
After forcing a smile onto her face, she slipped her phone back into her purse and made her way toward the graduation hall.
Families embraced one another.
Parents proudly adjusted their children's gowns.
Cameras flashed endlessly.
Laughter echoed through the air.
She spotted Lucy's family.
Then Amira's.
Their faces glowed with pride as they congratulated their daughters.
Hanan watched from afar.
Her chest tightened.
At that moment...
She missed her mother more than words could ever describe.
Her vision blurred.
Just as the tears threatened to spill...
A voice sighed. "Tears don't suit you."
She turned.
Faruk stood beside her, smiling softly, his dimples appearing as he extended a neatly folded handkerchief.
"I wasn't crying." She sniffled, quickly wiping her eyes before turning to leave.
"You owe me an apology."
His words stopped her in her tracks.
She looked back. "What apology?"
He folded his arms. "You forgot already?"
She frowned. "You tried to kiss me after hugging me last night."
"Oh, God."
Without thinking, she slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Shut up!"
"Ouch!" He groaned after pulling her hand away. "That actually hurt."
A grin spread across his face. "Are you embarrassed?"
"Don't flatter yourself." She folded her arms. "It was a mistake. I was drunk. I would never try to kiss you if I were sober."
Faruk chuckled. "They say drunk people tell the truth."
His smirk widened. "So... maybe you kissed me because you wanted to."
"Eww."
She made a disgusted face.
"Over my dead body."
She rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Look, it was a mistake. I'm sorry. Happy now?"
"No. Your apology isn't accepted."
"Unfortunately..." She replied dryly. "I don't care."
She attempted to walk away.
He stepped sideways, blocking her path again.
"Have one drink with me."
She sighed heavily. "Faruk..."
"Come on. From what I've seen, we're the only two graduates here without family."
Her expression softened for the briefest second.
Then she shook it off. "You're exhausting."
"I'll let you be..."
He casually pulled out his phone.
"...if you're okay with me uploading this on the school platform."
He played a video.
Hanan's eyes widened.
It was the video of her drunkenly trying to kiss him.
"What is wrong with you?!" She snapped. "Who records something like this?"
"I didn't." He shrugged innocently.
"A freshman recorded it. I caught him, deleted it from his phone..."
He smiled mischievously. "...after sending it to mine."
Her jaw dropped. "So you're blackmailing me?"
"Not really."
He tucked his phone away.
"Now come."
With an annoyed sigh, she followed him toward the refreshment counter.
She ordered apple juice.
He grabbed orange juice.
They sat side by side, quietly watching the bustling crowd.
"Delete the video when we're done."
"I'll think about it."
"You are unbelievably annoying."
"Yet you're still sitting here."
She took another sip. " I have no choice, you forced me and thank goodness this is the last time I'll ever have to see your face."
"Going back to Nigeria?" Faruk chuckled.
"Yes."
He nodded. "Then I doubt this is goodbye."
She looked at him skeptically. "I thought you said you had no family in Nigeria."
"I lied."
His smile faded. "My family is there. So is the company I'm supposed to inherit."
He studied her face, waiting for anger.
For more disappointment.
Instead...
Nothing.
She simply nodded.
He blinked. "...That's it?"
She shrugged. "You lied."
"Yes."
"And?" He stared. "You're not angry?"
Hanan calmly sipped her juice. "You don't owe me every detail about your life."
She looked ahead. "We all have things we choose not to tell people."
Faruk found himself smiling. "I like that."
He leaned back.
"My dad sent me here to study since highschool. Now that I'm done with my first degree, he wants me home to take over his law firm."
He sighed dramatically.
"And apparently, I'll spend the rest of my life being compared to my impossible cousin..."
"Hanan!"
Amira's voice interrupted him.
Both of them turned.
Amira hurried over with a bright smile. "There you are! My parents have been asking for you. Everyone's already seated."
"Well, I'm paying for last night's mistake." Hanan replied, gesturing toward Faruk with her juice.
"We're sharing a drink."
Amira's face lit up. "Aww! So you two made up?"
She clapped happily. "I knew it! Forgive and forget."
The words made Hanan's smile stiffen.
Forgive and forget.
She hated that phrase.
Some things weren't meant to be forgotten.
She looked at Faruk. "You heard her."
She stood up. "We're cool."
She offered him a brief smile. "So... may I leave now?"
He nodded. "You may."
"Have a nice graduation."
She picked up her bag. "And goodbye."
He smiled. "I don't think this is goodbye."
"My instincts say we'll meet again."
She laughed softly. "Keep believing your lame instincts."
Setting down her empty glass, she walked away beside Amira.
Neither of them noticed Faruk watching her disappear into the sea of graduates...
Still smiling.
Time slipped by as Hanan sat among the crowd of graduating students, listening attentively while the Vice Chancellor delivered his annual commencement speech.
Excitement buzzed through the auditorium, growing louder with every passing minute as everyone eagerly awaited the presentation of their certificates.
One by one, names echoed through the hall.
"Amira Ahmad."
Amira shot to her feet with a squeal, nearly tripping over her gown before laughing at herself. She hurried toward the stage where her parents were already on their feet, cheering louder than anyone else.
Their pride was impossible to miss.
Her mother wiped away tears.
Her father couldn't stop clapping.
Watching them celebrate their daughter so wholeheartedly stirred something inside Hanan.
A quiet ache.
The ceremony continued until Amira returned to her seat, still grinning from ear to ear.
"Congratulations dear." Hanan said sincerely.
Amira wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Congratulations to us, love."
Hanan smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Your mom looks beautiful."
She glanced toward the cheerful couple again.
"She reminds me of my mother."