WHISPERS OF ENCHANTÉ

35: priceless prices

Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Siyama woke up the next day with her cramps half-gone, but without taking any medication, the relief was barely enough. She had forgotten that she wasn't supposed to pray after performing ablution for Fajr, so with a groan, she slipped back into bed.

Sleeping alone without Yasmin had taken a toll on her. Her mother used to stay by her side until she pretended to fall asleep, but honestly, chatting with Mahmud made the scaredy-cat in her vanish. Like it just disappeared into thin air.

Speaking of Mahmud, she quickly reached for her phone, unplugging it from the charger to see it was fully charged at one hundred percent. She turned off the torch light she'd accidentally left on and snuggled back into bed, folding her legs in front of her.

She could have gone back to sleep, but missed out on whatever Mahmud had said while she was asleep? Not a chance. The thought of seeing his messages in the morning keeps her really high enough to sleep alone.

Every night, he left her a message, knowing she'd fallen asleep, and that small gesture tugged at the edges of ice around her heart.

Well, the ice had already started to melt —it was just still cold for now, but maybe, with time, it would warm. No one knew for sure, but she couldn't deny how much she looked forward to his messages, the way they made her feel.

Mahmud: I really really want this, Seema. And I'm so fucking serious about us. I want you and only you.

Mahmud: Don't freak out! I will be very patient till you get used to it. If you are ready to talk about the past relationship so I know how to not fuck this up. I don't plan on doing it though.

Mahmud: Good night, my love. I hope you dream about me/us...

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as she reread the chat. Her hands trembled, so she placed the phone on her lap, sitting up straighter on the bed. This was a serious matter, one that required her full, undivided attention.

After he gave her that bag earlier, she hadn't bothered to open it after showing her mother. She knew it was expensive, and so did her mom. She also knew Mahmud wasn't some local man out there but well, she doesn't want to find out.

Wealthy people scare her.

But knowing Siyama wasn't feeling well, her mother didn't probe further when she explained it was from the guy she met at Baaba's stall. They had left it at that until the topic was opened again.

Their mother had always warned them about accepting things from men, especially strangers. Siyama had promised her that Mahmud had no ill intentions, but her mother had only given her a long, knowing look and shook her head. Her daughter was halfway gone.

Siyama had always been a lover girl at heart, but when her one relationship had fallen apart, she swore off love. She told herself she didn't want to get involved again, not after the hurt. Her focus had been solely on finishing her national diploma and finding something to do to help her family.

But now, suddenly, a man had stepped into her life, and this one seemed to be slipping through her defenses more easily than the last. It was all happening so suddenly that they didn't even get time to talk about it. Her school, project, work and now cramps.

There was a glow about her now, a subtle shift when she was chatting that her mother had noticed. She was starting to pile up emotions she hadn't expected.

Siyama tried to come up with a reply, but for the life of her, she couldn't think of anything. Her brain hadn't fully woken up yet, her thoughts still muddled.