42~A psycho lover
Fetching the last spoonful of porridge yam into her mouth, Hanan rose from her chair.
"Goodnight, Nanny Ann. Thanks for dinner. I'll be heading to bed now."
"So early?" Nanny Ann frowned. "It's only nine."
"I know." Hanan smiled. "I'm exhausted."
"Are you sure?" Abdul smirked, resting his chin on his palm. "I think she's going to bed for a completely different reason."
Hanan folded her arms.
"And what reason would that be?"
Abdul grinned mischievously.
"I saw someone checking the time difference between Nigeria and France."
He wiggled his eyebrows.
"Which can only mean one thing."
"You plan on staying awake talking to your lover."
Nanny Ann laughed. "Oh? Is that true?"
Hanan felt warmth rush to her cheeks.
"Firstly." She cleared her throat. "Learn to respect people's privacy."
"Secondly..."
She pointed at Abdul.
"You're becoming extremely annoying."
"And thirdly..."
She fought back a smile.
"You're wrong. I'm simply tired and I want to sleep."
She hurried toward the staircase before either of them could tease her further.
"Goodnight!"
Behind her, Abdul and Nanny Ann burst into laughter.
She couldn't stop herself from laughing too.
The annoying part was... Abdul was absolutely right.
She had every intention of staying awake just to hear Najib's voice.
He had only been gone for a few hours, yet she already missed him terribly.
The moment she entered her room, she reached for her phone.
"It's only nine..."
She glanced at the time.
"He's probably still at the airport... or maybe he's already on the plane."
Just then, her phone vibrated.
Her heart leaped.
She smiled instantly, expecting Najib's message.
Instead... Her smile disappeared once she saw Faruk's message.
Her fingers froze over the screen.
You're mine. I won't let anyone take you away from me. I'll never let you go... no matter what.
Before she could even process the message, another notification appeared.
Her phone began ringing.
Faruk.
She stared at his name flashing across the screen, unable to bring herself to answer.
The call ended.
Only for another message to appear seconds later.
I know you're seeing my calls. Why won't you answer me?
Another.
You can't leave me, Hanan. I won't allow it.
Her breathing became uneven.
Faruk was still typing...
Without another thought, she blocked his number.
She let out a shaky breath.
"What does he want?" She whispered to herself.
"I already told him it's over."
"Why won't he just let me go?"
She was about to switch off her phone when another notification appeared.
An SMS.
Since she had blocked his WhatsApp, he had switched to text messages.
Her stomach tightened as she opened it.
I swear to God... I would rather destroy everything than let someone else take you away from me. You can't do this to me, Hanan. Please... come outside. I'm waiting for you.
Her eyes widened.
Her heartbeat pounded soundly against her chest.
Slowly...
Almost unwillingly...
She walked toward the window.
Pulling the curtain aside just enough to peek outside, her breath caught in her throat.
Faruk's car was parked directly outside their gate.
Waiting for her.
She knew that if Abdul spotted Faruk outside the house, a fight would be inevitable.
Not wanting things to escalate any further, she quietly slipped out of the house to meet him.
The moment Faruk saw her, relief washed over his face. He rushed toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Hanan..." He breathed shakily. "Why weren't you answering my calls? I kept calling because... because we can't end our relationship like this."
He buried his face against her shoulder.
"I love you."
The strong smell of alcohol on his breath hit her immediately.
She frowned and pushed him away.
"Faruk."
She took a step back.
"Please stop."
"I already told you it's over."
"This... this is becoming suffocating."
"Suffocating?" He stared at her in disbelief.
"No... don't say that."
"I love you more than words can explain."
He took another desperate step toward her.
"Can't you see how much this is hurting me?"
"Please don't do this." She shook her head firmly. "This isn't love anymore... It's obsession."
"Please leave before I call the police."
He laughed bitterly. "You would call the police on me?"
Before she could answer, his expression changed completely.
His eyes darkened.
He grabbed her wrist so tightly she gasped.
"We're getting married whether you like it or not."
His voice became frighteningly calm.
"You don't have a choice anymore."
"The Imams are already waiting."
"So here's what's going to happen."
"You'll either walk to the car willingly... or I'll make you."
She struggled against his grip.
"You've lost your mind!"
"Let go of me!"
She slapped him.
Then punched his shoulder.
Then dug her nails into his arm.
Faruk barely reacted.
He simply tightened his grip and dragged her toward the car.
Panicking, she drove her knee upward with all the strength she had.
It landed squarely between his legs.
Faruk cried out in agony.
His grip loosened instantly.
He dropped to one knee, clutching himself.
Hanan staggered backward, breathing heavily.
"Faruk..."
She folded her trembling hands together.
"I'm begging you."
"Forget me."
"Please don't come here again."
"If you ever come back... I'll call the police, I mean it."
She turned to run back toward the gate.
Before she could reach it...
Faruk grabbed her again.
He stood directly in front of her, blocking her path.
"Don't leave."
His chest rose and fell violently.
"If you walk away... I'll..."
"You'll what?" She challenged him. "What exactly are you going to do?"
His eyes became frighteningly empty. "I'll hurt Najib."
She froze.
"I'll hurt anyone who stands between us... Even you."
Fear spread across her face as she swallowed hard.
"Faruk... You're scaring me."
"Good." His voice was almost emotionless.
"You should be scared."
"Because I'm the only man who truly loves you."
"Not that beast who betrayed you."
She shook her head repeatedly.
"No. I've made my choice."
"I choose Najib."
"So please... respect it."
She shoved him aside and ran toward the gate.
She had barely taken three steps before he caught up.
Without warning, he lifted her over his shoulder.
"No!"
She kicked wildly.
"Faruk!"
"Put me down!"
"For Allah's sake, stop!"
"You can't do this!"
He ignored every scream.
"We're getting married today."
"Whether you like it or not."
Realizing he wasn't stopping, Hanan screamed with everything she had.
"Abdul!"
"Nanny Ann!"
"Help me!"
Before they left the gate, she slammed both fists repeatedly against the metal.
The loud banging echoed through the compound.
A man walking along the road stopped.
He stared in horror.
"Please!"
Hanan screamed desperately.
"Go in..." She pointed at her house "Tell Abdul! Hanan is being kidnapped! Please!"
Faruk cursed under his breath.
He quickly shoved her into the back seat.
Before she could crawl out, he wrapped a rope around her wrists, another around her ankles, and covered her mouth with black tape.
He slammed the door shut.
Jumping into the driver's seat, he started the engine.
At that exact moment...
The gate burst open.
Abdul came running outside.
"Hanan!"
He saw Faruk's car speeding away.
"Nanny Ann!"
He shouted without looking back.
"Call the police!"
"Faruk has kidnapped Hanan!"
He sprinted toward his own car.
Seconds later, his tires screeched across the road as he chased after them.
Inside the moving car, tears streamed endlessly down Hanan's face.
She couldn't scream.
She couldn't move.
She could only pray.
Faruk picked up his phone.
"Mom... They're with you already?"
"Good."
"Tell the Imams to get everything ready."
"I'm bringing her."
"We'll be there soon."
Hanan felt sick.
He was really planning to force her to marry him.
She twisted her bundled wrists desperately until she managed to lift them.
With every ounce of strength she had... She repeatedly punched the back of Faruk's head.
He cursed loudly.
Unable to concentrate on the road, he slammed on the brakes.
The car screeched to a stop at the roadside.
Furious, he climbed into the back seat.
Before Hanan could move...
Smack!
His slap over her face echoed inside the car.
The force ripped the tape from her mouth.
Blood instantly spilled out of her mouth.
She stared at him in disbelief.
Her trembling fingers touched her broken lip.
When she looked down...
Her fingertips were stained with blood.
Faruk froze.
The anger disappeared from his face immediately.
"H... Hanan..." His voice cracked.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't mean..."
He reached toward her.
She moved away immediately.
"Please... Don't touch me."
She sobbed staring at his shaking hand.
"I'm sorry, Hanan."
"You forced me."
"If you had just stopped resisting... I wouldn't have to do this."
He wiped tears from his own face before forcing a smile.
"Just cooperate."
"The Imams are waiting."
"This is our chance."
"Najib isn't here."
"No one can stop us now."
He climbed back into the driver's seat.
Just as he started the engine...
Bright headlights flashed through the rear window.
Hanan's eyes widened.
She recognized the car immediately.
It was Abdul's.
Hope surged through her.
She threw herself against the window.
"Abdul!"
Faruk glared at her.
"Shut up!"
She instantly fell silent, terrified another slap would follow.
He looked into the rear view mirror and cursed.
"Damn it."
"Your lunatic brother is still following us."
His grip tightened around the steering wheel.
"If killing him is what it'll take to get rid of him... then so be it."
Hanan's eyes widened in horror as he stepped harder on the accelerator.
The car drove into the opposite lane at a terrifying speed, forcing in coming vehicles to swerve violently to avoid colliding with his.
Faruk glanced into the rearview mirror.
His jaw tightened.
Abdul's car was still behind them.