29~Just an ex
"Nanny Ann, it's noon already and we still haven't heard from Hanan." Abdul sighed, glancing at his phone for what felt like the hundredth time. "I hope everything is alright."
Nanny Ann folded her arms and gave him a thoughtful look.
"Tell me the truth, Abdul. Are you worried about Hanan... or your car?"
He scratched the back of his neck.
"Both." He admitted honestly. "The way she left this morning was disturbing enough, and on top of that, I've never seen her drive before. Yet she drove off in my new car."
He sighed. "So yes... I'm worried about both."
Nanny Ann chuckled. "I tried calling her a while ago, but her phone was unreachable."
"Same here." Abdul nodded. "I even tried calling Najib, but his phone has been switched off since morning."
His expression grew serious.
"I just hope those two are okay."
"They will be." Nanny Ann smiled reassuringly.
"Now come. I made your favorite dish just as you requested. The table is already set."
"Alright."
Just then, the sound of a car horn echoed through the compound.
Abdul immediately looked toward the gate.
"Hanan..." He hurried outside.
Nanny Ann followed behind him.
The moment Abdul saw his sports car pulling into the compound without a single scratch, relief instantly spread across his face.
"My car..." He breathed out.
"It's in one piece."
Nanny Ann rolled her eyes.
"Hanan!"
She hurried toward the driver's side.
The moment Hanan stepped out of the car, both of them immediately froze.
Her eyes were swollen.
Red.
As though she had cried for hours.
"What happened?" Nanny Ann asked anxiously.
"Have you been crying?"
"Did Najib do something to you?" Abdul asked at the same time.
"Did he hurt you?"
"Hanan, talk to us."
For a brief moment, she simply looked at them.
Then...
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
She walked straight into Nanny Ann's arms and hugged her tightly.
"I'm finally getting justice for Little Me."
Her voice trembled despite the smile.
Nanny Ann's eyes softened. "You found out the truth?"
Hanan nodded before turning to Abdul.
"The truth you both hid from me..."
She smiled faintly.
"You really made a fool out of me."
Abdul lowered his head. "I'm sorry."
"I never wanted you to find out this way."
"It's alright." She stepped forward and hugged him too.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood."
He laughed softly.
"I'm just glad you finally know the truth."
He sighed.
"Every time I looked at you, I felt guilty for keeping it from you."
"But I guess Allah wanted you to know when the time was right."
"He did." She nodded.
"And Hajiya was behind everything."
Nanny Ann shook her head in disbelief. "That woman is truly evil."
She smiled. "But gladly... the truth has finally come out."
"We heard the court hearing starts tomorrow?" Abdul asked.
"Yes. Ten o'clock."
"We should all be there."
Nanny Ann gently cupped her face.
"So... How do you feel now?"
Hanan paused before answering.
"I don't know."
She laughed softly through her teary eyes.
"I feel relieved."
"I feel guilty."
"I feel lighter."
"It feels like I've been carrying a mountain for three years... and someone finally lifted it."
She smiled. "I can finally breathe."
Nanny Ann smiled warmly.
"So these swollen eyes...they weren't only tears of sadness?"
"They were tears of relief."
Hanan answered. "And gratitude."
Abdul folded his arms. "So... Zaitun is really dead?"
Hanan's smile disappeared.
"Yes."
"Hajiya burned her alive."
"My God..." Nanny Ann covered her mouth in utter shock.
"That's terrible."
Abdul sighed deeply. "It's called karma."
"I honestly can't bring myself to pity her."
Nanny Ann slowly nodded. "She made countless lives miserable."
"I only pray justice is served to everyone involved."
Hanan looked toward the house.
"I'm going to freshen up."
"I'll see you both inside."
"Take your time." Nanny Ann smiled.
After Hanan disappeared into the house, Nanny Ann turned to follow her.
"Nanny Ann." Abdul called softly.
She stopped and looked back.
"What is it?"
He hesitated.
"I can't stop thinking about something."
"What?"
He looked toward the door Hanan had just entered.
"Now that she knows the truth... I'm worried about Faruk."
Nanny Ann frowned.
"What does learning the truth have to do with Faruk?"
Abdul sighed. "Najib still loves her."
"And I'm certain Hanan and Najib reconciled today."
He looked conflicted. "I don't know what happens next."
Nanny Ann couldn't help but smile. "Abdul... Najib is her past."
"Whether they've made peace or not doesn't automatically mean they'll find their way back to each other."
"Faruk is the man in her life now."
"He cares about her."
"He respects her."
"And as far as we know... She chose him."
"You really believe that?" Abdul scoffed.
"I do." She nodded.
"Unless Najib decides to create more problems."
"If he truly loves her... then he'll respect whatever choice she makes."
Abdul remained quiet for a while before speaking again.
"I know Faruk is a good man."
"He truly is."
"But Hanan and Najib didn't fall apart because they stopped loving each other."
"They were torn apart by lies."
He sighed.
"That's why I'm worried."
Nanny Ann looked at him gently.
"Love alone isn't enough, Abdul."
"Trust was broken."
"Pain was caused."
"Trauma doesn't disappear simply because the truth has finally come out."
She smiled softly.
"In the end... It's Hanan's life."
"Her choice."
"And her happiness."
"She's no longer that frightened young girl anymore."
"She's grown."
"I trust she'll choose what's truly best for her."
She gently patted his shoulder.
"So stop worrying, Abdul."
"Come inside, our food is getting cold."
She walked into the house.
Abdul remained standing on the porch.
His eyes drifted toward the bright afternoon sky.
He let out a slow breath.
For the first time... He truly had no idea how this story would end.
"Now that she knows the truth... would she really walk away from her first love? His best friend."
He rubbed his forehead.
"After everything, could she still choose Faruk? His best friend's cousin."
But whichever choice she makes... Someone's heart would inevitably be broken.
"Should I call Najib and find out what he's planning? Or should I ask Hanan what she truly wants?" Abdul wondered.
He let out a slow breath rubbing his forehead.
"Abdul!" Nanny Ann called from inside.
"I'm coming!"
Fresh out of the shower, Hanan changed into clean clothes before spreading her prayer mat.
She performed her Zuhr and Asr prayers slowly, her heart overflowing with gratitude.
For three long years, she had prayed for justice.
Today, Allah finally answered.
Although the battle wasn't over, she finally felt as though the weight crushing her chest had eased.
She could finally breathe.
After folding her prayer mat, she remained seated on the floor, deep in thought.
"Come to think of it..." She whispered to herself.
"I never even saw the face of the person who ran me over... It was only the car."
"So why did I believe it was Najib so easily?"
"Because you already made him the villain in your head."
She looked up.
"Abdul?"
He sat comfortably on the chair beside her dressing table and smiled.
"Can we talk?"
"Of course."
She shifted slightly to face him.
"What is it?"
He hesitated.
"I'll apologize in advance if this sounds too personal."
She smiled. "Go ahead."
"Did you and Najib... reconcile today?"
"Yes."
She nodded gently.
"We did."
"And... How do you feel about that?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Relieved."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"For years I believed he murdered our baby."
"I cursed him."
"I hated him."
"I wished him nothing but pain."
She sighed.
"Knowing he was innocent... made me realize I had been hurting him."
She looked away.
"It wasn't just my loss."
"It was his too."
"So yes... I'm relieved we finally cleared the misunderstanding."
Abdul watched her carefully.
"Only relieved?"
She laughed softly.
"What are you trying to ask?"
"I think you already know."
She smiled knowingly. "You want to know if I still have feelings for him."
Abdul nodded.
"I do."
Silence settled between them.
Hanan stared at the floor for a long moment before speaking.
"I don't."
Abdul blinked.
"You don't?"
She slowly shook her head.
"But I know that I don't hate him anymore."
"But whether I still love him..."
She smiled bitterly.
"I don't, he's just an ex."
Her voice grew calmer.
"I've forgiven him."
"But forgiving someone isn't the same as forgetting everything."
Abdul remained silent.
"And Faruk?"
He finally asked.
Hanan leaned back slightly.
"Faruk has never given me a reason to cry."
She smiled faintly.
"He's patient."
"Kind."
"He respects me."
"He gave me peace when my life was falling apart."
She looked at Abdul.
"Right now... He's the man I want."
Abdul searched her face.
"So... You love him?"
She smiled helplessly. "I care about him."
"I genuinely do."
"And every day, I'm learning to love the peace he brings into my life."
She sighed.
"I don't know what tomorrow holds."
"But today... I'm choosing him."
Abdul lowered his gaze.
"I understand."
He forced a smile.
"That was all I wanted to know."
Hanan narrowed her eyes playfully.
"That was a lot of questions."
He chuckled. "I warned you."
She laughed. "Fair enough."
"Come on."
"Nanny Ann must be waiting for us."
She stood up first.
As soon as she opened the bedroom door, she found Nanny Ann standing awkwardly outside.
Their eyes met.
Hanan folded her arms.
"If you wanted to know too... you could've just come inside instead of eavesdropping."
Nanny Ann jumped. "I wasn't eavesdropping!"
"You were."
"I was only passing by."
"Passing by for five whole minutes?" Abdul teased.
Nanny Ann cleared her throat.
"Let's just go and eat before the food gets cold."
Hanan couldn't help laughing as they followed her downstairs.
Lunch was unusually quiet.