Chapter 20%
Jean stood frozen, staring at their clasped hands like he’d just been punched in the gut. His chest tightened, breath caught in his throat. That was when it really sank in. She wasn’t his anymore. He didn’t belong in her world now didn’t have a place beside her.))
He stood there for a long moment, numb, before finally turning around and walking away, slow, dazed, like every step took effort Meanwhile, Samira walked ahead, lost in thought. It wasn’t until she had gone a few blocks that she realized, she was still holding Yosef’s hand
Startled, she stopped and pulled away quickly. “Oh, sorry. I kind of dragged you into that,”
Yosef just smiled, completely unbothered. “Honestly? I didn’t mind. Glad I could help.”
She noticed the warmth in his expression, the lightness in his voice and before she could stop herself, she asked, “Do you… like me?
The words were out before she could think. Both of them froze. The air seemed to pause around them.
Samira’s eyes widened and she quickly waved her hand, flustered “Forget I said that. That was just a dumb thing I blurted out
She turned to leave, cheeks burning, but Yosef reached out and gently caught her wrist. “I do,” he said, quietly but with conviction. Tike you
She stopped in her tracks.
Yosef took a shaky breath, his voice low and steady. “I’ve liked you since college. I didn’t believe in love at first sight until you walked into that lecture hall”
He gave a soft, slightly nervous laugh. “I was just about to tell you… and then you sent me a wedding invitation
“You looked so happy in that photo,” he continued, eyes distant with memory. “That smille of yours… I didn’t want to ruin it. I figured the best thing I could do was wish you well, even if it killed me inside.”
He looked up at her, more serious now. “I was jealous, yeah. But I still hoped you’d be happy.”
Then his voice dipped, quiet, a little hesitant. “When I saw you again here.. and found out you were divorced… I know it sounds selfish, but I felt relieved. Like maybe I still had a shot”
He let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding “I didn’t expect it. I thought you’d be living your happily ever after. I really did.”
Samira tumed to look at him, stunned. She hadn’t expected that. Not from Yosef
She had always seen him as a friend, steady, kind, the type of person who always showed up when you needed someone.}
But nothing more. Not because he wasn’t good enough, but because, back then in college, she barely saw value in herself
Too many things had happened. Her world had turned upside down and her self–worth had crumbled.X
She thought she was hard to love. Thought no one, especially someone like Yosef, would ever see her that way.
Now here he was, looking straight at her, voice calm but heartfelt. “Samira. would it be okay if I tried to pursue you?” he asked. “I know it’s out of the blue, but I’ve waited for so long. I just hope you’ll give me a shot
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her mind was spinning and her heart was too much of a mess to make sense of anything. So, she simply left, walking home in a haze.
That night, she tossed and turned in bed, replaying the moment again and again. She couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was like someone had flipped a switch and everything between her and Yosef had suddenly changed
And then, the next morning, she came downstairs and froze. Jean was standing there. Right outside her building. Holding flowers. For a second, she just stared, not knowing what to think. He moved first, stepping toward her with a faint smile and the bouquet still
clutched in his arms.
Apparently, after he left the village yesterday, he overheard a few locals gossiping, saying she had been seen with Yosef.
That was when he found out they weren’t actually together. And just like that, his emotions shifted.
Yeah, he still felt the sting of what she’d said. The bitterness. The heartbreak. But underneath it all was relief. There was still a
a chance.”
He stayed up all night, trying to make sense of his own feelings. But one thing kept coming back: He didn’t want to lose her. Not to someone else. Not without fighting for her
Their past had been easy. Natural. They had just slipped into love without needing to say much. He never chased her. He never even proposed. They just got married
No effort. No grand gestures.
Now, standing there, flowers in hand, Jean was trying to do what he should’ve done a long time ago, show her he meant it. That he still loved her. And this time, he wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.
