Share
017
Related chapters
Behind A Smile 018
Zynah's heart suddenly began to beat faster, if that was even possible. She fidgeted with her fingers as she waited for her to approach. Due to extreme nervousness, she turned her back on the gate immediately she heard the footstep getting louder, and finally, the cracking sound of an opening door. "Who are you?..." She suddenly trailed off and tears instantly welled up I'm her eyes as a flicker of recognition dawned on her. "Zy...Zynah!" She exclaimed.Not able to suppress her feelings anymore, Zynah broke down. Her entire body trembled aggressively as she cried. The mere presence of her mother, Hafsa crumbled all the composure she had been building — the same woman who used to be her strength, her confidant, her courage...but overnight, she lost all of that strength, traded it for a love that turned out to be nothing but a cruel illusion. Turning around, Zynah finally got the chance to see her mother's face - the first face she had ever known, now etched with worry lines that had
Behind A Smile 019
Vomiting the chyme content of her stomach, Zynah rinsed her mouth and flushed the mess away. She crouched down against the wall of the bathroom and more hot, fat tears emerged and ran down her cheeks. "Dad. Please forgive me. I'm the worse daughter ever. Please forgive me, daddy." She sobbed, clenching her heart tightly in the hopes of relieving the unbearable pain there. "What are you doing, sitting on the floor!" Hafsa exclaimed. "Please get up." She helped her up and practically dragged her back to the living room. "What happened?" Silence."Are you alright now?"Silence"Why did you suddenly throw up?"Silence "I'm worried sick here, please talk to me, Zynah." Hafsa beseeched, grabbing her arm in an attempt to pull her up. Zynah ignored her. Compared to the tightness in her heart after hearing the news about her father, her heath was secondary. "When... Did it happen?"Hafsa gazed at her questionably. "When did what happen?" More tears escaped Zynah's red and puffy eyes. "Whe
Behind A Smile 020
Not able to hold back her emotions any longer, Zynah lunged forward, throwing her arms around Ramlah in a tight hug. "I miss you so much," She choked out. "I miss you, Ramlah." Ramlah stood in total bewilderment, seemingly in a state of shock. "How have you been?" Zynah inquired, disentangling her arms from around her. "You're in your final year in the university, right? Mum told me... I'm so happy for you. You look so beautiful. Much more beautiful than before. I can't believe I..." She trailed off, realizing she had begun to ramble. "Ramlah," Zynah called, softly. "Why aren't you saying anything to me? Are you that shocked to see m—" Before she could finish her statement, Ramlah enveloped her in a suffocating hug. "OMG! Is this really you, Ya Zynah?" Ramlah pulled back for some sort of confirmation, before wrapping her arms around her again, her tears drenching Zynah's shoulder. "What happened to you? Why didn't you contact us? Me, especially. Why didn't you at least contact me
Behind A Smile 021
Meanwhile, downstairs, a storm was brewing. "Ramlah! Get the food flask already! Why are you acting sluggishly all of a sudden?" Hafsa bellowed, her voice laced with barely contained excitement. To celebrate her daughters return, she decided to prepare all of her favorite dishes. "Mum." Ramlah rolled her eyes and face palmed. "I just did a while ago, It's right in front of you." "Oh! Right!" She smiled sheepishly. "How about the cupcakes in the oven, have you checked them?" Ramlah rolled her eyes again. "Mum, you literally put them in the oven like a minute ago. There is no way they are baked already." She groaned. "Can you blame me, my dear? I just want everything to be ready before she wakes up. I hope you didn't set an alarm for her? Let her sleep for as long as she wants. She looks exhausted." "No alarm, mum," Ramlah reassured her. "Good, good. Now, let's get back to cooking. While I check on the rice in the kitchen, why don't you start setting the table." Hafsa inst
Behind A Smile 022
Ramlah couldn't believe her ears. Her grip against the plate she was holding loosened, making it shatter on the floor. "What did you just say?" She asked, her voice quivering.. "Rashida." Hafsa roared. In a flash, her hand lashed out, a stinging slap landing on Rashida's cheek. "How dare you!" Hafsa grabbed Rashida by her hijab and lifted a hand, ready to slap her again, but stopped when Rashida challenged her. "Go ahead! Do it! I have had to endure this my entire life. It isn't new and I'm not surprised by what you're doing. You obviously will choose her over me. Like always. I wasn't surprised when you asked me to leave in her place and I most definitely aren't surprised that you hit me because of her, so go ahead and slap me again. Slap me till you cannot anymore." Rashida dared, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Why so much hatred?" Hafsa asked, her voice breaking. "Zynah is your sister! What has the poor girl ever done to you? Is this how your father and I raised you? Y
Behind A Smile 023
Muffled by her hands, Zynah's sobs wracked her body, the tears slipping down her cheeks. Her legs trembled, barely holding her upright. She couldn't believe her ears. She was not part of their family? She was adopted? A stranger? The revelation hit her like a truck, leaving her gasping for air. In that very moment, she felt the pain she had never felt in her entire life. Her heart felt too heavy for her chest to carry. She couldn't grasp what was happening around her. It had to be a dream. A nightmare. Her family wasn't hers? Her father wasn't really her father? She betrayed the family who had mercy on her after her real parents abandoned her, and she chose to repay them by choosing a man over them? The thought made her feel like the worse person on the surface of the earth. She couldn't even begin to imagine the sacrifices they made to adopt her, yet she betrayed them. It became crystal clear to her why Rashida hated her so much. She finally had the answer to her lifelong questio
Behind A Smile 024
"Eat some more, Zynah," Hafsa prodded. Ramlah had been extremely quiet the whole time, picking her food and stealing glances at Zynah. "What do you even know? You're so dumb to even realize what is going on in this family, but I'm not. Well, enjoy living in the shadow of a stranger." Rashida's sharp words kept repeating themself in her head like a mantra. She shook her head to get rid of it, but it only got louder. "Are you alright?" Hafsa asked, snapping her out of her trance. "Why are you zoned out?" "I am fine," Ramlah lied, avoiding her mother's gaze. Zynah offered a smile. She knew Ramlah wasn't telling the truth. It seemed to Zynah that Rashida's words were getting into her head. All the while they were eating, Ramlah hadn't utter any word to her, which was unlike her. Her body language proved Zynah's hunch right. "Where is ya Rashida?" Zynah suddenly asked, breaking the tension that settled in the air. "Hmm..." Hafsa hummed, then trailed off, seemingly sea
Behind A Smile 025
Regaining consciousness, Zynah's eyes opened to Hafsa and Ramlah sitting beside her on the bed, and surprisingly, Mr. Aliyu sitting on a chair at the extreme of Ramlah's room. "Zynah! Alhamdulillah, Zynah, you're awake." Hafsa squeaked, relief flooding her features as she embraced her tightly. "I was so worried." "Ya Zynah, are you alright now?" Ramlah asked, her voice laced with concern. Zynah managed a weak nod, her gaze fixated on no one else, but Mr. Aliyu. "Why didn't you tell us you are pregnant?" Hafsa asked with furrowed brows. "Why didn't you?" Realizing they had already found out about her pregnancy, she hung her head in shame. She really didn't want them to find out, especially since she wasn't going to be living with them. She didn't see the need to add to their burdens. "I'm sorry," Zynah mumbled, her voice barely audible."It's alright, dear. It must have slipped your mind," She smiled, reassuringly. "Why don't you stay the night here? You can leave in the morni—"
Latest chapter
