The Untainted
Chapter 13 – The Interrogation
"Big bro…"
Faridat threw her brother a dramatic side glance before shifting her gaze to his friend. Then she looked back at Basit again, one brow arched, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.
"Aren't you too scared right now or maybe you are just being a coward,....brother?" she asked sweetly. Fine, if you dont want me to. I can always find her in school sha!
Basit narrowed his eyes. "what do you mean exactly?"
She clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on her heels. "Will you two like to stay outside all day, bros, or are you coming inside?"
Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and marched back into the living room like a queen dismissing her guards.
Ridwan leaned closer to Basit. "Basit… I want to—"
"No way, akhi." Basit cut him off immediately, grabbing his wrist. "We're entering together. You are not escaping. Not today. Not even to your house."
"Basit!" Ridwan hissed as he was dragged inside. "You're wicked."
"If you had keep your mouth shut in school, she wouldn't have arrived today like a news reporter. If you had not just told her, she wouldn't be here this early!" Basit whispered urgently. "I haven't even prepare my answers yet. Do you know what I've been facing since morning? Like an all-night chatter of questions and answers on phone. Since you told her in the morning, she has been disturbing me. My head is already pounding and you are the cause. So prepare yourself."
Ridwan's heart skipped. "Prepare myself for what? Basit, what are you planning? Don't you dare throw me under the bus. I swear if you—"
"What are you both whispering!!!"
"Gbam!"
The two young men jumped like they had been caught committing a crime.
"Can you stop that?!" Basit clutched his chest dramatically. "I'm not talking to you! Don't burst my chest, ah-oh!"
"I called you like five times," Faridat said defensively. "You didn't answer."
Basit exhaled. "Fine. Have you eaten?"
"Yes. I got here an hour ago. Your food is in the kitchen."
Ridwan muttered under his breath, "At least she knows how to care… just a chatterbox, professional interrogator."
"What are you saying?" Faridat snapped instantly.
Ridwan jolted as if electrocuted. "Ah! No dearie, not you. Never you. I was just saying… I'm hungry, very hungry. Please, can someone dish me food?"
Basit smirked wickedly as he headed to the kitchen. "Oh don't worry, I will get yours, akhi." He paused at the doorway and looked back at Ridwan with a devilish glint. "Enjoy your stay. I will dish your food. And don't thank me."
"Bad boy," Ridwan muttered. "Who wants to thank you? I will rather curse you."
He almost felt like crying.
Ridwan narrowed his eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Basit paused at the doorway and winked. "Enjoy your stay."
Ridwan felt a chill
Faridat turned slowly toward him.
"Soooo…"
"Eehh… little sis?" Ridwan forced a smile.
"Soooo…" she repeated, dragging the word with delicious anticipation. Her entire face screamed, Start talking. I'm waiting.
Ridwan swallowed. "Ah… okay. But not now. Maybe you should ask your brother. And also I need to eat. I'm famished. Story time later."
He practically fled toward the kitchen.
Unfortunately for him, Faridat followed like a shadow.
She puckered her lips and grumbled, "Eat fast and tell me everything I want to know. Or else…"
Ridwan stiffened.
"Or else I will tell Daddy that you bully me. I will call your dad too Ridwan. And Mom. Let's see how you hide then!"
Basit's hand trembled where he was dishing the food. The plate nearly slipped from his grip.
Ridwan froze completely.
Slowly—very slowly—he turned to face her with the most painful forced smile in human history.
"Princess… can you stop teasing us? It's not fun."
Inside, he was lamenting his entire existence.
"Fine," he added quickly. "We will tell you. Let's eat first, okay?"
Faridat squealed internally. It always works, she thought proudly.
Just then, Basit cleared his throat and handed Ridwan his plate. "Wait. Take your food." he added casually, "Basit, stop them from leaving the kitchen, winking at his lovely fortunate friend."
Faridat immediately grabbed Ridwan's arm and dragged him back to the living room.
But before they could sit properly, a blurry figure zoomed past them.
"Basit! Come back here!!!"
"No way, bro!" Basit winked and dashed toward his room.
"Brother…" Faridat called.
"Don't worry," Basit replied without turning back. "He will accompany you and tell you everything you want to hear. Ask him any question. There is nothing he doesn't know. But your brother has a migraine, so he needs rest. I will join you later."
And just like that, he disappeared into his room and shut the door.
Silence.
Faridat slowly turned to Ridwan.
She crossed her legs elegantly and leaned back like a news anchor about to conduct an exclusive interview.
"Now," she said calmly. "Let's begin."
Ridwan's spoon shook in his hand.
"Begin what?"
"Don't pretend." She leaned forward. "Who is she?"
"Who is who?"
"The girl."
Ridwan blinked. "What girl?" acting ignorant
"The one that made my brother lose sleep. The one you both are whispering about like secret agents." She narrowed her eyes. "The one you refused to tell me about." and stop acting like you are not the one that tells me
She grinned proudly. "So Continue."
"Continue what?"
"The story!"
"There is no story!" he denied.
She folded her arms. "Should I start dialing Daddy?"
Ridwan panicked. "No! No need for that. Why are you like this?"
"Like what?"
"Like… like a detective!"
She beamed. "Thank you."
Ridwan sighed deeply. "Okay fine. There is… someone like I told you. And you already know her."
Faridat's eyes widened. "Omo, its true!"
"
"Shhh!" Ridwan nearly dived across the table. "Keep your voice down!" the people in the compound are hearing you.
Faridat burst into laughter. "This is the best day of my life."
Ridwan buried his face in his hands. "Basit is a traitor."
From inside his room, Basit's faint laughter could be heard.
"Basit!!!" Ridwan shouted.
No response. Just more laughter.
Faridat wiped tears from her eyes. "Don't worry. I won't tell Daddy."
Ridwan looked up cautiously. "You won't lie on us again?"
She smiled innocently. "On one condition."
Ridwan narrowed his eyes. "What condition?"
"I want full details. Everything. From the beginning."
Ridwan sighed dramatically and leaned back on the couch.
"Fine," he said.
Faridat grinned victoriously and adjusted herself comfortably.
"Start from the first day basit saw her."
"How will I know that when I'm not basit?!"
"Ok fine, start anyhow, her gossip mode tune fully now."
And so Ridwan began.
From the first accidental glance during matriculation …
To the awkward conversations in class…
To the confusion in his friend's heart he still didn't fully understand.
Faridat listened like her life depended on it— interrupting occasionally with gasps, teasing comments, and dramatic reactions.
In his room, Basit lay on his bed smiling.
Mission accomplished, he thought.
Because if anyone deserved to be interrogated today…
It was definitely Ridwan. The blabbermouth.
His thought were cut short when faridat busted into the room to drag him out "you are not sleeping, your laughter could be heard in the third building, come outside." She pulled him out forcefully with Ridwan the perpetrator.
The next morning-------***
In the living room ridwan sits, eyes checking the door to folakemi's room to make sure she's still sleeping so they can leave for school without another episode that morning. Even though they didn't have any lecture that early, they wanted to leave because Ridwan has not fulfilled her wish of hearing the story from the horse mouth, her brother.
Unfortunately for them she walked out immediately ridwan turn to check again. Ridwan ran to basit to inform him.
Basit was trembling when Ridwan entered.
His hands were not steady. He nearly dropped the spoon in his hand when he saw ridwan thinking it was his sister that came in.
Ridwan noticed. "You're shaking."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Basit glared at him. "This is your fault."
"My fault?" Ridwan whispered loudly. "You're the one that likes—"
"Keep quiet!" Basit snapped.
Too late.
From the doorway—
"Soooo…"
Both of them froze.
Faridat leaned against the wall, smiling sweetly. Too sweetly.
"Soooo… what exactly is my brother hiding?"
"Nothing!" Basit and Ridwan said at the same time.
She gasped dramatically. "Ah! When two people answer together, something is definitely wrong." Are you trying to run away basit?!
Okay, who is she?"
Basit tried to maintain composure. "Just someone from school."
"Just someone?" she repeated. "Since when does 'just someone' enter your dreams, your brain, your system. You never bother with other ladies before?"
Ridwan coughed to hide his laughter.
Basit shot him a deadly look.
Faridat's eyes sparkled. "You like her."
"No, I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You do."
Ridwan raised his hand. "As an eyewitness, I can confirm—"
"Ridwan!" Basit barked.
But it was too late.
Faridat clapped excitedly. "He does! I knew it!"
Basit ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "It's not like that."
"Oh?" she challenged. "Then what is it like?"
Basit hesitated.
Ridwan leaned against the counter, enjoying the show. "Tell her about yesterday."
Basit closed his eyes briefly. "Ridwan…"
Faridat turned sharply. "What happened yesterday?"
Ridwan grinned mischievously. "Nothing much. Just that your brother almost walked into a pole because he was staring at someone."
Faridat gasped loudly. "No!"
Basit covered his face. "It was not a pole. It was a pillar."
"That makes it worse!" Ridwan laughed.
Faridat was practically jumping. "Describe her!"
Basit sighed deeply, defeated. "She's… calm."
"Hmm."
"And intelligent."
"Ohhh."
"And she doesn't talk too much."
Ridwan burst out laughing. "That's why you like her. Complete opposite of your sister."
Faridat threw a cushion at him. "Excuse me?!"
Basit couldn't help the small smile that slipped out.
Faridat noticed immediately.
"Aha!" she pointed dramatically. "That smile! That is not 'just someone' smile. That is serious smile."
Basit rubbed his temple. "Why are you like this?"
"Because I'm your sister," she said proudly. Then she lowered her voice. "Does she like you?"
Basit paused.
Ridwan leaned forward.
Faridat held her breath.
"I… don't know," Basit admitted quietly.
For the first time, the teasing tone softened.
Faridat studied his face carefully. "Have you told her or maybe like hints....you know?"
"No."
"When will you?"
Basit didn't answer.
Ridwan nudged him lightly. "You will."
Faridat suddenly grinned again. "Okay. I will help you."
Both boys shouted, "No!"
She placed her hands on her hips. "Why not? I can investigate."
"That's exactly the problem," Basit said quickly.
Faridat laughed. "Relax. I won't embarrass you."
Ridwan raised an eyebrow. "That's a lie."
She ignored him. "But on one condition."
Basit groaned. "What now?"
"I want full details. From the first day you noticed her."
Basit hesitated… then sighed.
Ridwan smirked. "Start from the pillar incident."
Basit glared at him again.
Faridat dragged them both to the living room and sat down like she was hosting a talk show.
"Okay, brother," she said dramatically. "Tell me about Rihannat."
Basit leaned back, finally giving in.
And as he began to talk — about the first glance, the quiet admiration, the way his heart behaved strangely around her — Ridwan watched with amusement.
Because today…
It wasn't him under interrogation.
It was Basit.
—.
***********
So… what do you think about Ridwan right now?
Is he brave… or just unlucky?
What do you think about Basit too?
Shy lover boy or secret romantic? 😌
Let's hear your thoughts.
Thank you for reading .