52~To A Lifetime Together X Epilogue #2
She laughed. "So you ordered it?"
"Of course. I couldn't let my wife start our honeymoon with an empty stomach."
"Aww..." She smiled warmly. "That's so thoughtful."
She walked over and gently nudged him. "Now go freshen up so we can pray first before eating."
"As you wish Mrs Najib Aminu Garba."
She couldn't help laughing. "I'll have to get used to that name."
A few minutes later, Najib returned wearing the matching airline pajamas.
They spread out their prayer mats, observed their salah together, and afterward settled at the table for dinner.
Between laughter and endless conversation, they fed each other bites from their plates, occasionally teasing one another until every dish had been emptied.
Not long after, their attentive flight attendant knocked softly before entering.
"May I clear these for you?"
"Yes, thank you." Hanan replied with a grateful smile.
The attendant efficiently cleared the dishes before asking,
"Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No, thank you." Najib answered politely. "We're all set."
"Very well. If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to call."
"Thank you."
The attendant smiled before wheeling the trolley out and quietly closing the cabin door behind her.
Silence settled over the suite.
Najib leaned back comfortably.
"So..." He smiled.
"What should we do now, Habibti?"
Hanan glanced toward the TV screen.
"Let's convert the seats into beds and watch a movie."
"Movie?"
"Yes." She grinned. "We have Netflix, comfortable beds, and six hours before we land. Sounds like the perfect plan."
Without waiting for his answer, she pressed a few buttons, transforming the reclining seats into cozy beds. She dimmed the cabin lights until only a soft lighting remained before picking up the remote.
"I'm choosing."
Najib rested his chin on one hand, watching her scroll through dozens of movie titles.
He wasn't paying attention to the television.
He was watching her closely.
She caught him staring at her and frowned.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, sitting upright to meet his gaze.
Najib folded his arms with an exaggerated sigh. "Tell me something."
"Hmm?"
"What's today?"
"Friday."
He raised a brow. "Only Friday?"
She smiled. "Our wedding day."
"Exactly." He leaned back with a grin. "And what comes after the wedding?"
"Our honeymoon. Which we're already on."
"And what usually happens on the first night of a honeymoon?"
Hanan immediately caught on and her eyes widened.
"Najib..." She warned.
"What?" He asked innocently.
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you're thinking about doing it... here?"
"Why not?" He whispered drawing closer to her, he leaned to her ear whispering...
"Please Habibti, you told me to be a good boy and wait till we are married, and I listened so don't go back on your words..." His voice trailing off as his fingers found their way to the buttons of her shirt, she immediately pushed him away.
"We can't." She muttered while adjusting her shirt.
"You can see that we're not alone." She continued. "The flight attendant is moving around, and what if there are cameras on board, be patient for now." She explained while observing his face not being bothered about all she just said.
"I'm out of patience, and there aren't any cameras, I assure you that, and for the air hostess, she knows what privacy means, that's why we have a door."
He said grabbing her close, he moved his lips to her neck, kissing her till he got to her jawline and once he got to her lips, Hanan couldn't suppress the moan that left her lips making him smirk.
"I can see you want this too so don't starve us Habibti." He whispered dropping soft kisses on her lips, and just as he tried to deepen their kiss she pulled away.
"No, Najib." She sighed.
"Why? You're legally mine, and I'm yours, so what's stopping us?" He said softly.
"Don't be cruel Habibti, don't deprive us." He whispered moving closer again, she moved away.
"No... Hmm... I'm..." She stammered into every word while creating more distance between them.
"You're what?" He sighed.
"I'm... I'm...on my period!" She whispered.
Silence.
Najib blinked once.
Then twice.
A smile slowly crept onto his face before he burst into laughter.
"You're on your period?" He repeated between laughs.
Hanan folded her arms, refusing to look at him. "Don't laugh."
"I'm trying not to!" He exclaimed, wiping the corner of his eye. "But you literally just prayed Maghrib with me ten minutes ago."
Hanan froze.
Silence.
Then... "Yeah." She muttered.
"Exactly." He grinned.
She groaned, covering her face with both hands. "Can this plane make an emergency landing so I can disappear?"
"No chance." He chuckled.
"Pretend I never said that."
"Never."
"Najib..."
"I'm going to remember this forever and tease you about it."
She reached for the nearest pillow and lightly tossed it at him.
He caught it effortlessly. "Violence now?"
"You deserve it."
"I deserve an apology."
"You'll get neither."
He laughed again before shaking his head. "Come here."
She hesitated.
He reached over and gently took her hand. "Relax. I'm only teasing you."
She peeked at him through narrowed eyes. "Stop teasing me."
"Okay, I will not tease you anymore."
And slowly, he pulled her closer to him.
"You know." He said with a warm smile. "We've waited this long. A few more hours, or even a day won't change anything."
Hanan finally let out the breath she had been holding. "Thank you."
"Besides." He added playfully. "I think seeing you flustered is far more entertaining."
Hanan rolled her eyes. "Stop teasing me already... You're impossible."
"And yet." He said with a grin. "You still married me."
"Unfortunately."
"That's not what you said when I proposed."
She rolled her eyes, unable to hide her smile.
"Let's just watch our movie before you make me say another embarrassing thing."
They both laughed sitting beneath their blankets as the awkward moment dissolved into comfortable silence, the movie continued playing in the background while the aircraft soared through the night sky.
In each other's arms, every now and then, soft laughter escaped them at the comedy show playing on the screen.
"Najib, I would like to discuss something important." Hanan whispered.
There was no reply.
She lifted her head from his chest only to find him fast asleep, his breathing slow and steady.
A smile spread across her face. "He's already sleeping."
Carefully, she laid him down, pulling the blanket over his shoulders before gently brushing a few strands of hair away from his forehead.
"Good night, my love." She whispered.
She reached for the remote, switching off the TV and dimming the cabin lights until it became completely dark.
Taking out her phone, she unlocked it and reopened the page she was reading earlier.
Top Nigerian Law Schools.
A smile spread across her face as she read the admission requirements.
A law degree with a good CGPA.
She had achieved that.
Her heart swelled with quiet pride as memories of her university days came flooding back. She missed the lecture halls, the endless assignments, the late night reading sessions, and the excitement of learning something new every day.
"I think a year's break from school is enough." She murmured to herself.
"It's time to go back to school."
Her gaze shifted to Najib, who remained peacefully asleep beside her.
"I'll tell you tomorrow."
She locked her phone, placed it beside her, then snuggled closer into his arms.
After planting a gentle kiss on his cheek, she closed her eyes.
Within minutes, sleep claimed her too.
Welcome to Paris! Bienvenue à Paris!
The announcement flashed across the cabin screen as the aircraft descend.
Hanan's eyes lit up with excitement. "We're finally here."
As soon as the plane safely landed, she unfastened her seatbelt and eagerly took Najib's hand.
Together, they stepped out of their private cabin and out of the aircraft, welcomed by the morning air of Paris.
Their hotel chauffeur was already waiting at the arrivals terminal, holding a placard with Najib's name neatly written on it.
After exchanging brief greetings, he collected their luggage and escorted them to a sleek black luxury vehicle waiting outside.
The moment they drove onto the streets, Hanan rolled down the window, allowing the cool Paris breeze to brush against her face.
She couldn't stop smiling.
Paris was even more breathtaking than she had imagined.
Every street looked like a painting.
Elegant tall buildings lined the roads, their balconies decorated with flowers. Luxury boutiques, charming cafes, and art galleries stretched endlessly along the famous Champs Elysees.
People bustled through the sidewalks dressed in stylish outfits while the aroma of freshly baked pastries drifted from nearby bakeries.
Street musicians filled the air with beautiful melodies, blending perfectly with the laughter and chatter of tourists from around the world.
Then... There it was.
The Eiffel Tower.
Towering proudly against the bright morning sky.
Hanan gasped. "Oh... my."
Her eyes widened as she leaned closer to the window, unable to look away.
"It's beautiful." She squealed in excitement.
Najib watched her reaction with an amused smile. "You like it?"
She turned to him, her eyes sparkling.
"I love it! Pictures don't even do it justice."
He chuckled. "I'm glad you like it."
She looked back at the tower once more. "I don't think anything could be more beautiful than this."
"Really?" Najib smiled. "Well, there are plenty of things in Paris that will steal your breath away."
She looked at him curiously. "Like what? What could be more breath taking than the Eiffel Tower?"
"It's a surprise." He gently squeezed her hand. "And you have two whole months to find out."
Hanan smiled, resting her head against his shoulder.
For the first time in a long while... She felt like life had finally chosen to be kind to her.