The Untainted
Chapter 20 – Mercy in Disguise
"Rest well for today. Your brother, Olalekan, will take you back to school tomorrow."
Mrs. Folakemi's voice was calm, but it carried authority. After saying that, she stood up and walked toward the bedroom with her husband, leaving the living room behind.
And then…
Silence.
Not the ordinary silence.
The heavy kind.
The suffocating kind.
The type that presses against your chest and makes breathing feel like work.
Oladeji and Olalekan sat on the long couch opposite Rihannat, their backs straight, their expressions unreadable. Folakemi stood a few feet away from her friend, her fingers trembling slightly at her sides.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Even the ticking wall clock sounded louder than usual.
Folakemi swallowed hard.
She knew.
She knew she deserved whatever was happening. Her brothers were not scolding her. They were not shouting. They were not even looking at her with anger.
And somehow… that was worse.
She had disappointed them.
Disappointed her parents.
Almost ruined someone innocent.
"I deserve this," she thought bitterly. "Whatever comes today, I deserve it."
Taking slow, heavy steps, she walked toward Rihannat.
Each step felt like a journey.
Each breath felt like a confession.
She stopped in front of her.
And then—
Thud.
She dropped to her knees.
"Rihannat… please forgive me."
Her voice broke.
"I don't even have words. I don't know what to say except… I'm sorry. I was wrong. I was foolish."
Her fingers tightened against her dress.
"I still want to be your friend. Please… will you accept me?"
Her voice was barely audible, like a whisper carried by guilt.
Rihannat watched her quietly.
Even in her own fragile state, she could see it — the sincerity. The remorse. The trembling of a guilty heart.
And she thought…
Is this Allah's way?
What if this was meant to guide her back?
Alhamdulillah.
Nothing happened to her in the end. Allah protected her from the evil that almost befell her. If He chose to forgive and shield her, who was she to hold onto grudges?
Folakemi didn't harm her directly.
It was bad influence.
Bad association.
And her family… her family had been nothing but kind.
Rihannat cleared her throat and decided to tease her a little.
She folded her arms and feigned anger.
"How can I trust your words when you people are die-hard fans of each other?" she asked, raising a brow. "Even your parents can't separate you from that friend. How do I know you won't go back to her tomorrow?"
"No! No! I won't!" Folakemi rushed out desperately. "Never! I promise. I've been a terrible daughter… a terrible sister… I swear by Allah, I will change. Starting today."
Rihannat's lips twitched.
Then she smiled.
Then she giggled.
Then she pulled her into a warm embrace.
"Okay," she said softly. "But friendship with me comes with terms and conditions."
Folakemi sniffed. "Anything."
"You will start praying regularly. On time."
"Yes."
"No clubbing."
"Yes."
"No bad friends. No alcohol."
"Yes."
"No skipping classes even if you still score high."
"Yes."
"No late-night outings."
"Yes."
"And…" Rihannat paused dramatically, "no unnecessary hanging around with males."
Folakemi sighed. "…Okay."
"Not okay. Yes or no?"
"Yes!" she corrected quickly.
"And no more short dresses. Knee-length is no longer acceptable. Lower than that. If we are going to flock together, we must resemble the same birds."
Folakemi laughed weakly. "Yes, madam."
Rihannat grinned.
"Then welcome to friendship."
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The two girls froze.
They slowly turned their heads.
The living room — which had only contained four people minutes ago — was now filled.
Parents.
Elegant women.
Distinguished men.
Their outfits screamed wealth and influence.
Even Folakemi's parents had returned, accompanied by their close friends from the party.
Rihannat blinked.
"When did all these people enter?" she whispered.
Folakemi looked at her brothers accusingly. "How did we not notice?"
Olalekan chuckled. "You two were too engrossed in your emotional reunion. We didn't want to interrupt."
Soft laughter filled the room.
Then a well-dressed woman stepped forward.
She had a warm smile and commanding presence.
"You are such a beautiful soul, my dear," she said, looking directly at Rihannat. "Now I understand why these two couples haven't stopped praising you since we arrived."
She extended her hand slightly.
"My name is Madam Felicia."
Her husband stood beside her proudly.
"You are amazing, kind, and principled. I would be honored if you could be friends with our daughters. From what I just heard," she chuckled lightly, "you clearly won't be making friends with boys."
The room laughed gently.
"I am a Christian," she added politely. "But goodness recognizes goodness. And I believe my children can learn a lot from you."
She turned to the others.
"What do you all think?"
The room responded in unison.
"Yes!"
Rihannat's throat tightened.
This was too much.
"I… I don't think I deserve—"
"Who told you that?" Folakemi's father interrupted firmly. "Who said you don't deserve good things? Because of the goodness in you, you deserve even more."
Mrs. Felicia Adamson clapped her hands joyfully.
"Then it's settled! You are welcome into our families as a daughter too, Rihannat dear. Visit anytime."
Applause filled the room.
Cheers followed.
It was overwhelming.
Hours ago, she had been close to danger.
Now she stood surrounded by honor.
Almost in doom… but it became victory.
Allah turns situations.
He flips scripts.
He elevates whom He wills.
Rihannat smiled softly.
She knew not all their children would be saints. Some might be spoiled. Some arrogant.
But she would choose wisely.
Build wisely.
This was not about borrowing money.
Not about showing off.
Not about dependence.
It was about connection.
About planting seeds.
About building networks for her future company.
Partnerships built on trust. Loyalty. Shared values.
Allah had just laid a foundation for her.
"Which of my Lord's favors will I deny?" she whispered inwardly.
Allahu Akbar.
Subhanallah wa bihamdihi.
Subhanallah il Azeem.
The Most Merciful.
The Most Wise.
The One who replaces fear with honor.
She lowered her gaze slightly, her heart full.
Mercy had found her.
And it came disguised as a test.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^&&&&
What do you think about this chapter?
Do you believe forgiveness truly opens doors to greater blessings?
This chapter carries powerful lessons about repentance, accountability, association, and divine mercy.
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