I couldn’t believe what I just heard.
The words kept echoing in my head like a slap that refused to fade. Did Jamiu really speak to me that way? The same Jamiu that smiled so softly… that acted like he cared?
So it was all an act.
All this while, he had only been pretending to be kind… pretending to be patient… pretending to be everything I thought he was. Humans… you can never really know them.
I almost fell in love with him.
The thought made my chest tighten. A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
I should be the one crying… not standing here like a fool while he walks away in anger as if I’m the problem.
Hmmm… too many problems.
I dragged myself inside, my body heavy, my head even heavier. The bathroom tiles were cold beneath my feet as I stepped in. The water ran over my skin, but it did nothing to wash away the confusion sitting deep in my chest.
After dressing up, I was about to leave when my phone started ringing.
The sound felt too loud in the quiet room.
I picked it up quickly.
Summayah: hello?
Abdulhakeem: (thick voice) hello baby, good morning.
Summayah: good morning oh… please who is this?
Abdulhakeem: you don’t recognize this voice?
Summayah: no…
Abdulhakeem: you have got to be kidding me. Anyway, this is Abdulhakeem.
Summayah: oh! So sorry sir… good morning. Thank you for yesterday. In fact, I was even planning to call you. God will bless you, Allah will enrich your pocket double.
Abdulhakeem: Amin! Thank you, Hajia. I just called to ask about your sister. Any improvement?
Summayah: no improvement oh… we are still praying.
Abdulhakeem: and how is your mum?
Summayah: she is fine. She also said I should send her greetings and appreciation to you.
Abdulhakeem: it’s nothing. Finally… how are you?
Summayah: hmm… I’m fine oh.
Abdulhakeem: are you sure?
Summayah: yeah.
Abdulhakeem: that’s a relief. I just couldn’t get you out of my head all night.
(She pauses slightly, caught off guard.)
Summayah: sorry sir, no vex oh… but why is your voice so thick like this? Like lion own.
Abdulhakeem: (chuckles softly) seriously? I just woke up, and this is just 7:10am. And you really have to compare my voice to a lion’s?
Summayah: oh sorry… I just didn’t recognize your voice on the phone. Aren’t you going to work today?
Abdulhakeem: I will… just a little bit tired today. I’ll soon be on leave… so tired. You must be tired as well. Are you still at the hospital?
Summayah: no… I’m at home now. I came to cook and take my bath.
Abdulhakeem: so you are seriously not going to come back to our company?
(She hesitates, her tone drops.)
Summayah: I don’t belong there, sir… that’s not my place.
Abdulhakeem: why did you say that?
Summayah: please just forget about it… I want to cook.
Abdulhakeem: okay… you must be a great cook. Anyway, there’s something I want to say about your sister. Her condition is very critical, and it can only improve when you engage her mind… give her reasons to come back.
Summayah: really? Like what?
Abdulhakeem: things she loves… when she is happy. Talk to her, gist with her, even dance. Tell her how much you love her and need her. You understand?
(She nods slowly, even though he can’t see her.)
Summayah: yeah… (a small smile forms)
Abdulhakeem: I promise you, by the grace of Allah, those reasons will pull her back.
Summayah: thank you so much sir.
Abdulhakeem: you’re welcome. I’ll go get ready for work. See you later, bye.
Summayah: bye sir. (ends call)
I slowly lowered the phone and pressed it against my chest.
A strange warmth spread through me… soft, unfamiliar.
Hmmm…
I never knew someone could care about me like this… for who I am.
A small smile crept onto my lips.
Aww… I’m blushing.
Summayah, go and wear your clothes jor.
(Curtain)
When I got to the hospital, the familiar smell hit me immediately… antiseptic, quiet, heavy.
I stepped into the room and saw my mum.
She was gently cleaning Suliyah’s body with a damp towel, her movements slow… careful… like she was afraid her touch might break her.
“Mum…”
She looked up briefly, her eyes tired, then continued.
I dropped my bag and joined her without another word.
After a while, I told her everything Abdulhakeem said.
She didn’t even hesitate.
She leaned close to Suliyah’s ear, her lips trembling as she spoke.
“My daughter… do you hear me? I love you… I love you so much…”
Her voice cracked, but she kept going. Then she started singing… a soft, shaky song, the kind only a mother would sing.
My chest tightened.
I forced myself to join in. We began to gist… to talk… even laugh a little, though it didn’t feel natural.
We asked Suliyah questions.
“Do you remember this?” “Do you miss us?” “Are you hearing me?”
Silence.
Nothing.
But we didn’t stop.
Other people in the ward started watching us. Some smiled faintly. Some whispered.
Then I noticed another family… their patient had been in a coma for three weeks. Slowly, they started doing the same thing… talking… calling… hoping.
Hope was spreading in that room, fragile but stubborn.
We kept going… singing, talking, even dancing a little just to make it feel alive.
Then suddenly—
My mum broke down.
The sound of her cry cut through everything.
I rushed to her and held her tightly.
“Mum… please…”
I rubbed her back gently, trying to steady her before her emotions took over completely.
“It’s okay… she will be fine… please…”
I don’t even know where the words came from, but I kept talking. About life. About death. About Allah’s will.
It didn’t feel like me.
It felt like something was speaking through me… something bigger.
My mum slowly calmed down.
Later, my uncle came, stayed for a while, and left.
Around 3:43pm, my mum and I were still talking quietly when I suddenly heard a familiar voice.
“Summayah!”
I turned sharply.
Alia was running towards me, her long hijab flowing behind her, her niqab slightly shifting as she moved. Before I could react, she pulled me into a tight hug.
She was crying.
I froze for a moment, confused… then slowly wrapped my arms around her.
She greeted my mum and tried to console her.
“It will be fine… In shaa Allah, it will be fine…”
I explained everything to her… what happened… how things had been… how life suddenly became this heavy weight on my shoulders.
She told me how she heard. Our neighbours had told her and gave her the hospital address. She also mentioned the job opportunity they got for me.
I just looked at her and smiled faintly.
No tears came out.
It felt like I had cried everything inside me already.
After almost two hours, she left. I followed her outside.
And that was when I saw them.
Jamiu… and his dad… walking into the hospital.
At the same time, Abdulhakeem stepped out of his car.
My heart skipped.
So many thoughts rushed through my head at once.
Did Jamiu report me? Why is he here with his father? And why now… why at the same time Abdulhakeem arrived?
I quickly moved aside and hid, my back pressed against the wall as they walked in.
But then… they went straight into the VIP room.
I blinked.
So… they didn’t come for me?
I was still trying to process it when—
A hand tapped my shoulder.
I jumped.
Summayah: (turns sharply) ahh! You scared me.
Abdulhakeem: who are you hiding from?
Summayah: uhmmm… nobody…
Abdulhakeem: are you hiding from me?
Summayah: no! Not you.
Abdulhakeem: (smiling) then who?
Summayah: no one actually… please come in.
Abdulhakeem: you are always weird. Anyway, how is your sister’s health? (they walk inside)
(She glances back briefly towards the VIP room, her curiosity lingering.)
Summayah: uhmm… she is fine.
Summayah’s P.O.V
Abdulhakeem and I walked into my mum’s room together.
He greeted her warmly, his voice soft with respect, then turned to Suliyah… lying there, still… quiet… unmoving. He tried to joke with her, saying little playful things as if she could hear him, as if she might smile at any moment.
I found myself watching him.
There was something about the way he spoke… gentle, patient… like he truly believed she could hear every word.
A small smile crept onto my face.
I glanced at my mum. She was smiling too… faint, but real.
For a moment, the room didn’t feel so heavy.
Then suddenly… it hit me.
Jamiu.
And his dad.
What were they doing here?
The thought refused to leave my head. It kept pressing, disturbing the little peace I had just found. I didn’t want to ruin the moment… not with Abdulhakeem here, not with the way he was trying to lighten the mood.
So I forced a calm expression.
“I need to see a nurse,” I said quickly, already stepping back.
Before anyone could question me, I slipped out.
My steps were fast… almost too fast. I moved through the corridor like a bird escaping danger, my heart beating louder with every step.
I headed straight for the VIP floor.
The moment I got there, I slowed down.
Everything looked… different.
Quiet. Clean. Expensive.
The air itself felt heavier, like only important people were allowed to breathe there.
I frowned slightly.
What exactly does VIP mean? Aren’t we all human?
So many questions ran through my mind, but I pushed them aside and started peeping into each room, careful… cautious… hoping to find them.
Then I saw them.
Jamiu… and his dad… sitting beside a woman lying on a bed.
She looked weak. Fragile.
I froze.
Who is she?
Why are they here with her?
I stepped back from the door, my heart suddenly uncertain.
Should I go in?
Or stay?
“This is none of your business, Summayah,” I whispered to myself.
Don’t you remember how he spoke to you this morning?
Still… something kept me there.
Should I just go? Or—
“Summayah?”
My heart jumped into my throat.
I turned sharply.
Summayah: (startled) sir?… sir!
Jamiu: what are you doing here?
Summayah: uhh… uhhmm… I… I came… to see a nurse. I thought she was up here.
Jamiu: are you following me?
Summayah: no! No! I’m not following you… I—
Jamiu: then what the hell are you doing here? So you are stalking me now?
Summayah: ahh! No! I swear I wasn’t… please what is stalking first?
(Jamiu’s face tightened with anger. Before I could react, he grabbed me roughly.)
Jamiu: (dragging her down the stairs) now tell me, what are you doing in this hospital? Because now that you are jobless, you are stalking me? Tell me!
Summayah: (struggling, shaken) why are you yelling at me? I understand you are going through something, but you don’t have to shout at me!
Jamiu: you better avoid me from now on… or what? Are you that desperate and in love with me?
Summayah: (stunned) what? Me? Love you? Is that what you think of yourself? I never knew you are this full of yourself.
Jamiu: if you are not in love with me, then what are you doing here?
Summayah: whatever I’m doing here is none of your business. And for your information, I don’t love you, okay?
(Jamiu smirked… a cold, mocking smile.)
Jamiu: of course you don’t. Get out of my sight.
Summayah: (shocked, speechless)
Abdulhakeem: (appearing suddenly) she is not going anywhere. Do your worst.
(Jamiu turned, surprised.)
Jamiu: what are you doing here?
Abdulhakeem: I should be asking you that.
Summayah: (embarrassed, lowering her gaze)
Abdulhakeem: you can’t talk? I said, what are you doing here?
Jamiu: whatever I’m doing here is none of your business!
Abdulhakeem: and whatever she is doing here is none of your business as well. Don’t you ever speak to her like that again. I thought you used to protect her… so it was all pretense? You are full of surprises.
(He held my hand firmly.)
Abdulhakeem: let’s go.
(Jamiu let out a sharp laugh.)
Jamiu: ohh… so now Summayah is your target for real? I never believed you would go this far just to win a challenge.
(My brows furrowed.)
Abdulhakeem: are you deaf? I told you I’m not part of that challenge anymore. I quit. So stop bringing it up.
Summayah: (confused, voice low) what challenge?
(Jamiu’s smile widened… cruel.)
Jamiu: since you don’t know… let me enlighten you. My dear brother and I made a challenge… who would win your heart first. If I win, I take the company. If he wins, he takes over and I leave.
Everything inside me went still.
Summayah: (shocked) what?… wait… is that true?
(My eyes moved slowly to Abdulhakeem.)
Summayah: is what he’s saying true?
Abdulhakeem: no, Summayah… I mean, it happened before, but it’s in the past. Believe me, I truly love you now. I told him last week I quit. That was when I realized my feelings are real. Please… believe me.
Summayah: (voice trembling) just answer me… yes or no.
Abdulhakeem: (desperate) I swear by Allah, it’s over. He’s only saying this to ruin things between us.
(Jamiu burst into laughter.)
Jamiu: you already fell for him? So you love two brothers now? You loved me before, now him? I never knew you were this cheap.
Summayah: (hurt, stunned) excuse me?
Jamiu: yes… you heard me.
(That was it.)
Before I could even react—
Abdulhakeem’s fist landed on Jamiu’s face.
The sound echoed.
Everything happened so fast. They grabbed each other, anger exploding, pushing, struggling… like all the hatred between them had been waiting for this moment.
Their father rushed in just in time.
Boss: what is going on here!
(They pulled apart, breathing hard.)
Boss: (looking between them, then noticing me) what are you two doing here?
Abdulhakeem: I should be the one asking that.
Boss: we came to visit your step mum. She is very sick.
Jamiu: why tell him, Dad? Does he even care? All he cares about is a woman who is worthless.
(My eyes filled instantly.)
Abdulhakeem: (clenching his fist) you better watch how you speak to her.
Jamiu: what if I don’t? What will you do?
(My vision blurred with tears.)
Jamiu: oh please… stop that fake crying.
(Another punch.)
This time, harder.
They clashed again, anger burning hotter.
Boss: enough!!!
(His voice shook the space.)
Then—
A voice.
Rukayah: (shocked) what is going on here?
(They froze, letting go of each other.)