The final day of the examination arrived sooner than expected.
To most of the students, it felt as though the first day had only been yesterday. Yet somehow, the weeks had flown by. Now, the only thing left was to wait for their results.
The usually empty classroom that served as Rihannat's study space was unusually crowded that afternoon. All of them had gathered there, and the room was filled with laughter, loud chatter, and the occasional sound of someone teasing another.
Rihannat rubbed her forehead tiredly.
"Can you all keep your voices down?" she asked.
"Why?" Folakemi replied immediately. "We've finally finished our exams. Can't we do whatever we want now, Miss Bookworm? Don't tell me you're going through the questions again."
Rihannat said nothing.
But the silence was answer enough.
Rayyan and Balkis exchanged a look before sighing.
Basit, Faridat, Ridwan, and Folakemi stared at her in disbelief.
"Isn't it better to score yourself before the professor scores you?" Rihannat asked, completely unbothered.
Ridwan's mouth fell open.
Basit chuckled.
Folakemi stared at her friend as though she had suddenly grown a second head.
"I'm only checking how I performed during the examination," Rihannat explained, waving her hand dismissively. "Don't mind me. Continue with your jokes and playing."
Faridat remained quiet, but the amusement in her eyes was obvious.
She admired Rihannat.
Despite having access to wealth and every resource she could possibly need, Rihannat had remained humble. She was still hardworking, disciplined, and determined to earn everything through her own efforts.
What a gem, Faridat thought.
When it was time for Asr prayer, they all left to observe the Salat before going their separate ways.
It had been an exhausting examination period.
Basit walked toward his apartment with Faridat following behind him.
Ridwan, who had accompanied them, stopped at the entrance and waved.
"See you later," he said.
Then he quickly turned around and walked away.
Basit watched him go.
Ridwan no longer entered Basit's apartment whenever Faridat was around.
If Faridat was staying over, he would remain cooped up in his own apartment until she left. If he needed something from Basit, he would either call him or knock, collect whatever he needed, and leave immediately.
But entering the apartment?
A capital NO.
Ridwan had made that boundary very clear.
Once inside, Basit glanced at his sister.
She looked dazed.
He stared at her for a moment.
"Can you stop looking as if your life has been folded into two?"
Faridat blinked.
"What? I don't look like that."
"Yes, you do."
"I do not."
"I wonder if that was how you looked throughout the examination too," Basit added.
"No, it wasn't. And stop it."
Faridat attempted to walk away, but Basit stopped her.
"Come here."
She turned around reluctantly.
"A proposal came for you."
"Reject it."
Basit stared at her.
"I don't want it."
"Until when will you keep rejecting every proposal? And why do you keep insisting on him?"
Faridat stopped.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she turned away.
"I don't know, Basit," she said quietly. "I really don't know. Maybe I owe him something from a past life or—"
Basit's eyebrows shot up.
"Do you think that is Islamic to say?"
Faridat slowly turned to him.
"What?"
"What past life? Tell me. What past life?"
She sighed.
"Leave me alone. I'm going inside."
"Wait."
Faridat stopped.
Basit studied her carefully.
"What if you're only obsessed because you have spent all these years wanting someone you couldn't have? What if the fact that he never looked at you made you want him even more?"
"No, it's not that."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"And if he is the one being proposed to you, are you ready for marriage?"
"Of course I am."
Her answer came without hesitation.
"I'm almost done with my education, and I can continue after marriage. We just have to discuss it properly."
Basit nodded slowly.
"Are you sure he will agree to that? Or will you lower your standards just because you want to be with him?"
"Definitely not."
Faridat folded her arms.
"But if he truly loves me and wants to marry me, I'm sure he will support my dreams."
"Fine."
Basit nodded.
"But are you sure your feelings are genuine?"
Faridat's expression changed.
"Basit, do you want me to start narrating how I—"
"Wait, wait, wait."
Basit quickly raised both hands.
"No. Don't worry. There is no need for a narration. I understand."
He had no desire to spend the next hour listening to his sister describe every single thing she had ever noticed about Ridwan.
His ears had suffered enough.
Faridat narrowed her eyes.
"You asked."
"I know. I regret it already."
She scoffed.
Basit laughed.
Then his expression softened.
"Well, I told you to pray about it, didn't I?"
Faridat's smile lightly "I did."
"And here we are."
"Allah has answered your prayers."
Faridat looked confused before her eyes widen.
"Though, technically, he is the one who sent the proposal."
"Yes. And since you said we should reject it, I will inform him that—"
"Wait!"
Faridat quickly grabbed his arm.
"I didn't say that!"
Basit burst into laughter.
Faridat joined him.
Their laughter filled the room—warm, genuine, and full of happiness.
And beneath it all was gratitude.
Gratitude to Allah.
As Basit laughed, his mind suddenly travelled back to the day he and the others had been trapped inside the school cafeteria.
Their phones had stopped working.
His car had also decided to betray him at the worst possible time.
They were forced to stay in the school with Seifullah who also came to join them.
It was on that same day, that Ridwan finally confessed his feelings.
Flashback
"Basit."
Ridwan suddenly stopped walking.
Basit turned around.
"What is it?"
Ridwan looked unusually serious.
"I have something to say."
Basit raised an eyebrow.
"And I also have a request to make as your friend and a brother."
Basit studied him.
"I hope you will honour it. I promise I won't disappoint you, by the grace of Allah."
Basit folded his arms.
"We've been friends for a very long time. We know each other almost as well as brothers do."
Ridwan nodded.
"You know I have never really had much interest in women."
He paused.
"Actually, forget 'much interest.' Nothing has ever interested me more than my books, laboratory research, and football matches."
Basit nodded solemnly.
"Very true."
Ridwan narrowed his eyes.
"Don't interrupt me."
Basit immediately raised both hands.
"Continue."
Ridwan took a deep breath.
"But recently..."
He paused.
"Wallahi, I cannot lie to myself anymore, Basit. There has been an addition."
Basit raised his eyebrows.
"Really?"
He pretended to look surprised.
But in reality, he already knew exactly what Ridwan was about to say.
Ridwan stared at him.
Something about Basit's expression seemed suspiciously fake.
But he had no evidence.
"So, what is it?" Basit asked.
Ridwan looked away briefly.
"It's your sister."
Basit remained silent.
Ridwan continued quickly.
"Wallahi, it started only a few months ago. I didn't want to tell you immediately. I needed to sort out my feelings first and be certain before speaking to you."
Basit nodded slowly.
"And how long is 'a few months'?"
Ridwan hesitated.
"I think several months now."
Basit smirked, his fake confusion plastered on his face..
"Wow. Impressive."
Ridwan frowned.
"Don't make fun of me. Can you please be serious, I'm not joking about this."
"I'm not. I'm listening."
Ridwan sighed. Are you not angry?
Why will I be when she will have to marry someday, and as my friend, I know you better than any unknown man from somewhere.
"Basit, I want to marry her." He finally dropped the word.
Basit's expression changed immediately.
"What?"
Ridwan flinched.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Like... marry her?"
"Yes, Basit."
"That fast?"
"Basit, I know it sounds fast. I know. But I can't seem to control these feelings anymore."
His voice became more serious.
"Every time I see her, I need all the strength I have to remain calm. I have to stop myself from staring too long at her. From observing every expression on her face. The way she speaks, smiles, frowns..."
He shook his head.
"I don't want to continue like that."
Basit's expression softened a little.
"So you want to marry her after this exam or after graduation?"
"Im not sure, I haven't tell umm and Abu yet but I hope soon. So, Yes."
I also need to hear from her before telling my parents.
Ridwan took a deep breath.
"I would rather do things the right way—the halal way—than continue stealing glances at her without meaning to."
He looked at Basit earnestly.
"And you know that isn't right in Islam."
Basit nodded.
"If someone is a non-mahram to you, there are boundaries. There are restrictions. You cannot simply behave as though the person is already lawful to you."
Ridwan's expression was earnest.
"Surah An-Nur clearly commands both men and women to lower their gaze. In fact, the command was first directed to men before women were instructed as well."
He lowered his voice.
"What you don't see cannot disturb your mind and heart in the same way."
Ridwan looked directly at his friend.
"So, brother, please help me."
Basit remained silent.
Ridwan continued.
"I promise to love her, cherish her, respect her, and be the best husband I can be for her, through the good days and the difficult ones, in shaa Allah."
For a few moments, Basit said nothing.
Then he finally spoke.
"What about your studies?"
Ridwan blinked.
"What about them?"
"Are you not planning to further your education?"
"I am."
"Then?"
Ridwan sighed.
"I will continue, bro. But I can't wait forever."
Basit raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"What if someone takes her away before I accomplish everything I want to accomplish?"
Ridwan shook his head.
"I don't want to take that chance."
Basit stared at him.
Ridwan continued quickly.
"And I believe she will want to further her education too. I just want us to make things lawful. To seal—"
"Don't use 'us.'"
Ridwan stopped.
Basit pointed at him.
"Use 'I.' For now, it is only you. You don't even know how she feels yet. Don't get too far ahead of yourself."
Ridwan sighed.
"I know."
"Good."
"But did you really have to dampen my mood?"
Basit smirked.
Ridwan suddenly looked at him.
"Wait."
Basit frowned.
"What?"
"Did you just give me your approval?"
Basit immediately shook his head.
"No."
Ridwan's eyes widened.
"Wait, what?"
"I said no. Let me take it back."
Ridwan grabbed his arm.
"Never! You can't take it back now."
Basit burst out laughing.
Ridwan grinned.
"Thank you, Basit. I promise I will keep my word."
"You better."
Basit's smile slowly faded, his expression becoming more sincere.
"But honestly..."
Ridwan looked at him.
"I know she will be in good hands."
Ridwan's smile, a heartfelt one.
"Thank you."
Basit suddenly laughed again.
"Besides, I knew about your feelings two months ago."
Ridwan froze.
"What?"
Basit laughed harder.
"You really were troubled, bro."
Ridwan stared at him.
"How?"
"You were always looking at everything but seeing nothing. Walking around like your body was present but your mind was somewhere else."
Ridwan rubbed his face shyly.
Basit continued, clearly enjoying himself.
"You were constantly lost in your thoughts. I kept wondering where your mind was all the time."
Ridwan groaned.
"So you knew?"
"Of course I knew."
"Then why did you allow me to suffer?"
Basit grinned.
"I wanted to see how long it would take you to admit it."
Ridwan shook his head.
"You are a terrible friend."
"No."
Basit patted his shoulder.
"I'm an excellent friend."
Ridwan sighed.
But despite his embarrassment, he smiled.
Because that day, he had finally taken the first step toward the woman he had come to love. No matter how he denied it, it was impossible to ignore.
And now, after all his troubled days...
His proposal will finally reach her.
And perhaps, by the will of Allah, the story he had been too afraid to hope for was finally beginning.
@olukoyazainab