AFTER 168 HOURS [BOOK 2,168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 6: An Exposed Secret

Since after the kiss, the relationship between Zainab and Idris wasn't the same again. It's just hours actually, under 168 hours and it looked like they haven't talked for years.

Everything changed. Especially Zainab. She stopped talking to Idris. She avoided him as much as possible but Idris was finding a way to see her again. He needed to apologize for what he did the other day. But his feelings for her were as transparent as water. Even though his family doesn't like her a bit.

Deep inside, Mr. Abdullahi's feelings on both of them are "whatever" while his wife, Amina's thoughts about both of them are "never". She doesn't want them to be together. She hated seeing her son being close to Zainab, the little witch as she usually calls her. Amina thinks she's too low for her son to be friends with let alone date. So, she's trying to separate them from each other, making Zainab look bad, worse, and ugly every single day she stays there but Idris loves her even more.

Everyone I'm the Bala family knows they had this closeness and a special type of keen connection for one another that might be; maybe unrepeatable but it's a complicated type of friendship.

Since Zainab was avoiding him, Idris was also trying to get closer. He had a plan after all. To expose his parents. To tell Humaira about how they've maltreated Zainab all these years and she's not still willing to tell specifically anybody for no reason.

It was just a couple of days when Humaira came back to Abuja.

She made a phone call to inform the Bala and informed them that she would be coming to pick up her junior sister the following day.

"Awn... She's such a lovely girl. We're just going to miss her. Mr. Abdullahi muttered over the phone as if he was really sad about Zainab's leaving. He wasn't sad at all.

Mr. Abdullahi and Amina were just angry. They wanted her out of their house for long but they kept her... As a slave. For some selfish reasons, they still wanted to keep her.

"Don't worry sir," Humaira laughed over the phone. "She would come to visit you guys from time to time. I'll make sure of that."

"Okay... Wow!" He exclaimed excitedly. "That would mean a lot. You know Zainab is like a daughter to me."

"Yes sir, I know. And I know I can't pay for all the love and care you've shown towards her. I'm forever grateful to you, Mr. Bala."

"Subhanallah... It's nothing. Thanks for being understanding my dear."

"I should be the one saying that sir. Jazakillahu khayran fil jannah. Extend my greetings to Mrs. Bala and the rest of the family. Please, help me get her ready for tomorrow."

"Yes! Sure, I will. Goodnight Humaira."

"Goodnight sir." She cut the call with a smile while Mr. Abdullahi hissed hatefully.

He was in his room with his wife. Meanwhile, Idris was silently recording everything.

He was going to use it to prove how his parents hate Humaira and her sister, faking hate for love. He was going to expose them no matter what. At least, Humaira shouldn't be left in the dark any longer.

"Imagine that idiot, she's coming to pick her sister here tomorrow!" He blurted and threw his phone under the pillow.

"Whatever! Zainab should just go. At least, we will have rest of mind again, the way we used to before she stepped into our lives with all her bad fortunes and curses."

"What's paining me is that... The girl is so ungrateful. I passed their house the other day and you won't believe what I saw."

"What was it, my dear?"