<p>Inna quickly stood up and fetched water from the clay pot, bringing it to him. "Here, drink this. It might help," she said with concern.</p><p>His trembling hands took the water as he drank. By God's will, the choking subsided. Al’amin looked at him with sympathy and said, “You should eat more carefully. You always rush your food.”</p><p>Lawal, however, said nothing. He just kept staring at Bety, as fear gripped him.</p><p>Al’amin followed his gaze and saw Bety standing there. His heart skipped a beat. What is she doing here? He thought. Could it be that seeing her made Lawal choke? Tsk, Lawal is such a coward! Afraid of a mere woman!</p><p>Annoyed, he clicked his tongue and focused back on tutoring Faruk.</p><p>Inna turned to Bety with warmth. “Oh, dear, forgive me for keeping you standing. Let me get a mat.”</p><p>Bety, feeling slightly uneasy, forced a smile. "Oh no, Inna, it's fine. I can sit here." She pulled a small stool nearby and sat down.</p><p>She greeted Inna respectfully, who responded with a cheerful smile. “I don’t recall seeing your face before.”</p><p>"That’s true," Bety admitted. "I came to this neighborhood once and forgot my phone at the store." She pointed at Lawal. “Faruk returned it to me. I was so grateful that I promised to visit and say hello.”</p><p>Inna beamed. “How kind of you! Thank you very much.”</p><p>She turned to Faruk. “Faruk, won’t you greet your Aunty properly?”</p><p>Faruk stood up with a respectful smile. “Good evening, Aunty.”</p><p>Bety smiled. “Good evening, Faruk. How's school?”</p><p>"Alhamdulillah," he replied before returning to Al’amin’s side.</p><p>Al’amin stood up and stretched. “Faruk, let’s continue later tonight.”</p><p>"Okay, Yaya," Faruk agreed.</p><p>Bety also stood up. “Inna, I’ll take my leave now. I’ll visit again soon.”</p><p>“You’re leaving already? But you haven’t told me your name yet.”</p><p>She smiled. “My name is Aisha Humaira, but most people call me Bety.”</p><p>“Ah, Humaira, thank you again. Greet your family for me.”</p><p>"I will," Bety replied, taking Faruk’s hand. As they reached her car, she handed him a bag of snacks.</p><p>Faruk hesitated. “But Inna will scold me.”</p><p>Bety frowned playfully. “No, she won’t. Just take it.”</p><p>He finally accepted it, thanking her before running inside.</p><p>As soon as Bety left, Inna turned to Lawal with a glare. “And you! What’s wrong with you? Someone is being kind to you, and you just sat there gawking at her like an owl!”</p><p>Lawal looked guilty but remained silent.</p><p>Al’amin came out of his room and smirked. “You were so scared of her, weren’t you?”</p><p>Lawal sighed. “You don’t get it. She’s the same girl I told you about—the rich one we saw at Uncle Salmanu’s place. What if she’s here to take revenge using Faruk?”</p><p>Al’amin scoffed. “Did she say that, or is it just your paranoid mind?”</p><p>Lawal frowned. “Did she have to say it? Think about it!”</p><p>Inna sighed in frustration. “Enough, Lawal! You must apologize to her!”</p><p>Lawal hesitated. “I will, Inna. I promise.”</p><p>“Good. Now go inside before I lose my patience!”</p><p>Later that night, Faruk faced another round of scolding from Inna for accepting gifts. Al’amin also warned him, “Don’t get used to taking things from people, okay?”</p><p>Meanwhile, Bety and Lawal began chatting frequently over the phone. Their connection grew strong, even though they had never met in person.</p><p>One evening, while lying on the couch, they were on a call.</p><p>"Aisha, why do you always refuse when I ask to visit your house?" Lawal asked playfully.</p><p>She pouted, her voice soft. “It’s not that I don’t want you to.”</p><p>“Or is it because your family wouldn’t accept someone like me?”</p><p>“That’s not true!”</p><p> </p><p> </p>
