The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. And yet, beneath it all, there was a small, fragile flicker of hope. A whisper of something that refused to let go.
After the conversation with Rayan, Nuha feels a mix of emotions—confusion, hope, and uncertainty. She can't hold it in anymore and decides to text Dua and Sana, sharing what happened.
Nuha: I just talked to Rayan.
Dua: Did you sort everything out?
Nuha hesitates for a moment before typing. The weight of Rayan's words still lingers in her mind, leaving her unsure how to explain. Finally, she recounts everything he said, pouring it all out as if trying to make sense of it herself.
Sana: So, your heart was telling you the truth all along.
Dua: It usually does. The heart sees things clearly, even when your mind is clouded with doubts.
Nuha: But even then, I'm still confused. At first, his vibe felt so off, like he didn't care. But then he spoke so nicely, almost as if he wanted to fix everything. It caught me off guard.
Sana: Nuha, But don't rush into anything. Give yourself time to process everything. The next time you talk to him, keep your head clear, and you'll see if he's being sincere.
Nuha: You're right. Deep down, I still want to trust him, but I can't let old feelings cloud my judgment.
Dua: Talk to him however you feel. And if anything ever gets too much, you've got us.
Sana: Yeah.
Nuha's phone buzzes, and she glances at the screen. Her heart skips a beat as Rayan's name lights up.
Rayan: Hey!
Her chest tightens, anxiety and excitement blending into a mix of emotions she can't quite place. Butterflies flutter wildly in her stomach, but there's also a faint knot of unease. Why is he texting again?
Rayan: Are you busy? Can we talk?
She stares at the message, her fingers trembling slightly as she types.
Nuha: Sure.
The reply feels too simple, but her mind is a whirlwind, unable to settle on anything else. A moment later, his response pops up.
Rayan: We're good, right? Can we have simple conversations?
"Simple conversations?" The words feel off to Nuha, almost dismissive, but she doesn't want to jump to conclusions. Deep down, she wants to talk to him, to understand what he's really thinking.
Nuha: Okay.
There's a pause, long enough for Nuha to question her response, but before she overthinks further, another message pops up.
Rayan: You're quite conservative, aren't you? You don't laugh much either.
Nuha: Yeah, I am like that, I guess.
Rayan: Well, not everyone's meant to be a comedian. Some people are the mystery in the room.
Nuha: (chuckling softly) That's one way to put it.
Rayan: I mean it. You've got that whole serious-but-interesting vibe. Keeps people curious.
Nuha feels her cheeks flush at the comment, though she doesn't entirely know how to respond.
Nuha: I don't think I'm that interesting, honestly.
Rayan: That's the thing about people like you—you never realize it, but everyone else does.
The lightness in his tone catches her off guard, and before she knows it, they're talking about the most random things. The conversation is simple, casual, and unexpectedly easy.
Rayan: So, what's your go-to comfort food? Like, when life's too much to handle?
Nuha: I'm not really fond of food.
Rayan: (pauses) That explains why you're so weak.
Nuha: Weak? Do I really seem like that?
Rayan: (teasing) Oh, absolutely. Just looking at you, I feel like you could topple over any second.
Nuha: (rolling her eyes) Very funny.
Rayan: I'm serious! You should eat like me—burgers and all that good stuff.
Nuha: (laughing) Burgers? That's junk food.
Rayan: So what? A little junk food won't kill you. C'mon, live a little!
Nuha: I'm pretty sure I wouldn't even finish the whole burger.
Rayan: (mock sighing) You're such a killjoy. You're making me feel guilty for enjoying life.
Nuha: "I'd rather play it safe than end up regretting it."
Rayan: (laughs) "You're determined, huh? I can't change your mind, can I?"
Nuha: (laughing) "I guess I am."
There's a brief pause. The conversation naturally slows down, and the lighthearted vibe they shared fades into a comfortable silence. Nuha feels at ease, the tension from earlier replaced by a more relaxed feeling. She hadn't expected to enjoy talking to Rayan this much—his casual, teasing tone made her smile more than she realized. She was surprised by how easy it had been to just talk with him, how different he seemed from the way she'd imagined him to be before. It was like she was seeing a different side of him, and she kind of liked it.
For the first time in a long while, Nuha felt the weight on her chest lighten. She had never imagined herself casually chatting with Rayan like this—had never thought they could have a conversation so effortless, so... normal. It felt strange, almost surreal. She remembered how tense things had been between them before, the awkward silences and misunderstandings. But now, she found herself laughing, feeling relaxed in a way she hadn't expected.
She hadn't expected this—after everything that had happened, she didn't think they'd ever get to this point. In fact, part of her had never even imagined this day would come. Talking with him felt so natural now, like they were starting to get back to something real, something that wasn't clouded by their past. It almost felt like she was meeting him for the first time—seeing him in a new light. And that light was different from what she'd anticipated. She liked it. She liked him, in a way she hadn't let herself before.
Yet, at the same time, something about it felt... strange. The ease of their conversation, the lightness they'd somehow fallen into—it was unsettling in a way she couldn't quite explain. It was as though the tension that had always been there between them had suddenly disappeared, leaving a space she wasn't used to. The simplicity of it all made her feel both comforted and wary. She found herself questioning why it was so easy, why it felt like none of the past even mattered now.
It was good. It was really good. But it was also just... weird.
Nuha's phone buzzed again, pulling her attention back to the screen. She frowned slightly—it was Rayan once more.
Rayan:"Hey, you still there?"
Nuha:"Yeah, I'm here."
The message came in so casually, but something felt different this time. She could almost feel the weight behind his words, like there was more he was trying to say. Her mind raced as she waited for his next message, the playful vibe from before now replaced with an underlying tension that she couldn't quite put her finger on.
A few seconds later, another message popped up.
Rayan:"Actually, I need to ask you something important."
Nuha:"Sure, what is it?"
There was a pause. The kind of pause that made her wonder if he was choosing his words carefully—or if he was waiting for something. Just as she thought the conversation might trail off again, his next message appeared.
Rayan:"Do you want to be in a relationship with me?"
The silence between them stretched out, each second dragging as it seemed to hold its breath. The casual, lighthearted energy that had filled their conversation moments ago now felt like it had vanished, leaving an unfamiliar stillness in its place. Nuha's mind raced, trying to catch up with the shift. She had braced herself for something more complicated—something that might have made her feel hesitant or even defensive—but instead, she was met with a strange sense of calm. The weight of the question still hung in the air, pressing on her chest, but there was an odd comfort in it, too.
"Do you want to go in a relationship with me?"
The words cut through the silence, sharp and unexpected. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, everything around her seemed to blur. The room, the sounds, the familiar warmth of her own thoughts—it all faded into a distant hum. The casual banter they'd shared just moments before felt worlds away, like a fading memory she could hardly reach. She hadn't expected this. In fact, she hadn't expected anything like it.
Was this real? Was he serious?
Nuha's breath hitched, her chest tightening. She had imagined this moment a thousand times in her head, but none of her imagined scenarios had prepared her for this. There was no grand, dramatic declaration, no tension building to a peak. It wasn't complicated. It wasn't messy. It was just... simple. And yet, it felt like everything was changing at that very moment.
Her thoughts collided with each other, fragments of uncertainty mixing with waves of emotion she couldn't even identify. A part of her wanted to ask him to slow down, to give her a moment to breathe, to process everything that had just shifted between them. But at the same time, another part of her felt a strange sense of urgency, as if she had waited for this moment without even realizing it. There was a yearning to keep the moment alive, to not let it slip away into confusion or doubt.
In that quiet pause, she realized something that took her by surprise. After all the days spent wondering where they stood, after everything they'd been through, maybe this—this quiet, simple shift—was exactly what she had been waiting for. There was an almost painful beauty in the vulnerability of the moment, the way their connection felt raw and real. It was like a door had opened, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to walk through it, but she knew, deep down, she wanted to.
This was unexpected, yes—but maybe it was exactly what she needed. Maybe it was exactly what they both needed.
Her breath felt shallow as she typed, her fingers trembling slightly, the weight of his question still pressing on her chest.
Nuha: "Are you serious?"
There was a pause. It felt longer than it should have, as if Rayan were weighing his words carefully, giving her the space to really think about what he had just asked. When he finally responded, his words were calm, but there was an unmistakable firmness in them, something Nuha hadn't expected.
Rayan: "Yeah, I'm serious. Take your time and think about it... I don't need an answer right now. And it's really late. You should get some rest."
His last words hung in the air, almost gentle, a suggestion more than an order. He didn't push for a decision, didn't rush her, but there was an underlying understanding that this was something important—not just a passing thought or an impulsive question.
Nuha exhaled slowly, the tension in her body easing just a little. She hadn't expected him to be so considerate, to give her the space to breathe and think.
Nuha: "Okay... I'll think about it."
Rayan: "Good. Rest up. We'll talk tomorrow."
Nuha sat still for a moment, her fingers trembling slightly as she nodded to herself —The conversation had shifted so quickly — from playful laughter to something far heavier, something that settled deep in her chest. It felt like the beginning of something… or maybe the quiet end of something she hadn't even realized she was holding on to.
She put her phone down slowly, her fingers lingering over the screen as if hoping for one more message — one more reason to believe this wasn't over.
But nothing came.
Her heart thudded in the silence, caught somewhere between hope and hesitation.
As the night wrapped itself around her, a soft breeze slipped through the window, brushing against her skin like a whisper — a promise that not all endings are final. Sometimes, they're just detours in a longer story.
She closed her eyes.
And for the first time in a while… she let herself smile.