21~Past VS present #2
The sudden panic.
The flushed cheeks.
The sparkle in her eyes.
The refusal to meet her gaze.
"So..." Nanny Ann thought with an amused smile.
It wasn't Amira after all.
It was you.
She hid her smile before speaking again.
"Trust me."
She moved closer to Hanan.
"Tell Amira her friend has fallen in love with her."
"No man kisses a woman like that without feelings."
"Lustful feelings, you mean?" Hanan muttered.
Nanny Ann shook her head.
"No."
"It can be genuine affection."
"I don't think it was lust."
She watched Hanan closely.
"But tell me..."
"Does your friend like him back?"
"What?!" She exclaimed.
"No!"
Hanan answered immediately.
"She doesn't."
"Are you sure?" Nanny Ann asked knowingly.
"Because from the way you're... I mean, she's reacting..."
"It sounds like she's affected."
"No, she's not."
Hanan folded her arms.
"She only wants to understand why he kissed her."
"That's all."
"Why would she be affected?"
Nanny Ann simply smiled. "I see."
She decided not to expose Hanan's lie.
"So... When did this happen?" She asked turning away slightly to hide the smile tugging at her lips.
Every expression on Hanan's face was only exposing her more.
"Today."
Hanan answered quietly.
"This morning."
"When you went to collect your things from your apartment?"
Hanan froze.
Then she hurriedly corrected her.
"It didn't happen to me, Nanny Ann."
"You're getting confused."
Nanny Ann laughed.
"I'm not saying it happened to you."
"I'm asking if it happened around the same time you went to Faruk's house."
"Oh..."
Hanan nodded absentmindedly. "Yes."
"So you met Faruk?"
"Hmm. I returned his house keys..."
"...and my resignation letter."
Nanny Ann's smile disappeared.
"He offered you a job and you resigned?"
"Yes. I don't want to work for him anymore."
"I'll find a job on my own."
"Why?" Nanny Ann asked gently.
Hanan shrugged.
"No special reason."
"I just think it's better this way."
Nanny Ann studied her for a moment before nodding.
"If that's what your heart tells you..."
"Then do what you believe is best."
Hanan smiled faintly. "I'm planning to start job hunting this week."
"Why don't you speak to Abdul first?"
"He has plenty of connections."
"He could easily help you."
Hanan shook her head.
"No. This time..."
"I want to achieve it by myself."
Nanny Ann smiled proudly.
"Alright."
"Your wish is our command."
Just then...
The bedroom door burst open.
Abdul rushed inside, looking unusually anxious.
"What is it?" Nanny Ann hurried over the moment she noticed Abdul's anxious expression.
"Alhaji Aminu..." Abdul said, trying to catch his breath. "He just collapsed."
"What?!" Hanan and Nanny Ann exclaimed at the same time.
"They've rushed him to the hospital." Abdul grabbed his car keys. "I'm heading there now."
He turned toward the door.
"Bye."
"Wait." Hanan quickly picked up her veil.
"I'm coming with you."
Abdul looked at her in surprise but said nothing. He simply nodded, and together they hurried outside.
A few minutes later, they were already on the road.
The silence inside the car lingered for a while.
Every now and then, Abdul stole a glance at Hanan instead of keeping his eyes on the road.
Finally, Hanan broke the silence.
"Why do you keep looking at me?"
She frowned playfully.
"Do I have something on my face?"
Abdul smiled.
"No."
"I'm just... surprised."
"Surprised?"
"I honestly didn't expect you to come. I thought you wanted nothing to do with that family anymore."
Hanan let out a slow sigh.
"So did I."
She rested her head against the seat.
"But when I thought about it..."
"Alhaji Aminu has never personally wronged me."
"When I first came to Lagos, he willingly sponsored my education even though that was never part of the arrangement."
She smiled faintly.
"The least I can do is visit him now that he's ill."
"So... I'm only going because of him."
She glanced sideways at Abdul.
"Now please keep your eyes on the road."
That earned a laugh from him.
"Thank you for being this mature."
Hanan raised an eyebrow.
"I've always been mature."
"Oh, really?" Abdul smirked.
"Oh yes."
She folded her arms proudly.
"I've always been the mature one."
They both burst into laughter, instantly lightening the heavy atmosphere.
Not long afterward, Abdul drove into the hospital premises.
The moment the building came into view, Hanan's smile faded.
Goosebumps spread across her skin.
She instinctively rubbed her arms.
"You okay?" Abdul asked after noticing the sudden change in her expression.
Hanan nodded slowly.
"Yeah... It's just..."
"Hospitals bring back too many memories."
Painful memories.
Accidents.
Loss.
Heartbreak.
She had spent far too much of her life within hospital walls.
Abdul gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Come. Don't worry, I'm here."
He led the way inside.
With every step she took, Hanan's anxiety grew stronger.
Walking through those corridors felt like walking straight into a lion's den.
Most of the people she was about to meet were people she considered enemies.
One wrong move...
One wrong word...
And everything could spiral out of control.
Without realizing it, she tightened her grip around Abdul's hand.
They soon reached the waiting area.
Only Grandma and Hajiya were there.
Both women sat in silence.
Grandma's eyes were swollen from crying, while Hajiya looked pale with worry.
The moment Hanan saw Grandma's tear stained face, something inside her softened.
She was almost close to tears to finally see Grandma again after three long years.
Her heart clenched painfully.
It wasn't the reaction she had expected.
Why... Why did she suddenly want to run into the old woman's arms?
Why did she want to wipe away those tears?
The feeling caught her completely off guard.
She quietly stood beside Abdul as they approached them.
Her eyes instinctively searched the hallway.
Not seeing him, she let out a silent breath.
"Thank God..."
"Najib isn't here." She murmured under her breath.
"You?!" Hajiya shot to her feet the second she saw Hanan.
"What is she doing here?!" She snapped, glaring at Abdul.
"Why did you bring her here?!"
Before anyone could answer, Grandma noticed Hanan.
Fresh tears streamed down her face.
The sight alone made Hanan's chest tighten.
She wanted to cry too.
She wanted to run to the old woman and comfort her.
Instead, she clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms, forcing herself to remain expressionless.
How was she managing to suppress everything she felt?
She didn't know.
Hajiya stormed toward her.
Abdul instinctively stepped between them.
"Hajiya..." Hanan whispered, gently moving past him.
She stepped forward herself, meeting Hajiya halfway.
"Good afternoon, Hajiya."
Her voice remained calm.
"How is Alhaji?"
"You dare ask about him?!" Hajiya exploded.
"You are the reason my husband is fighting for his life!"
"He suffered a heart attack because of you!"
"Hajiya, please calm down." Abdul pleaded.
"I'll only calm down when she leaves!" Hajiya shouted, pointing at Hanan.
"She's a curse upon my family!"
"The moment she came back into our lives, she almost ruined my daughter's wedding, destroyed what little relationship Najib still had with his father, and now she comes here pretending to care?"
"I don't understand, Ma." Hanan sighed.
"I only came because I was worried about Alhaji. I'm not here to cause trouble."
"Oh, spare me the lies!" Hajiya scoffed.
"Have you forgotten how you disgraced this family at Amina's wedding?"
"And now you're pretending to be innocent?"
She glanced toward Grandma.
"You think acting sweet in front of her will fool me?"
"It won't."
"Leave!"
She shoved Hanan's shoulder.
Abdul immediately stepped in.
"Hajiya, enough... I know you're hurting, but please don't do this."
"I will!" Hajiya snapped.
"This girl is a snake."
"A chameleon."
"She's evil!"
Hanan felt her blood boil.
Every insult pushed her closer to losing control.
For a split second, she imagined slapping Hajiya across the face.
Instead...
She smiled.
That smile unsettled Hajiya even more.
Hanan stepped closer until they were almost face to face.
Then she leaned in and whispered,
"Not everyone is as evil as you."
Hajiya's eyes widened with fury.
Without thinking, she raised her hand to slap Hanan.
Abdul quickly pulled Hanan backward.
The slap struck nothing but air.
That only enraged Hajiya further.
She lunged again.
Before she could reach Hanan...
Paaa!
The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the hospital corridor.
Everyone froze.