SHE

Chapter Nine : Whispers of the Heart: The Unveiled Emotions

Asiye gracefully exited Emmanuel's car, the soft glow of the evening sun bathing her in a warm embrace. She waved goodbye to him, her heart still fluttering from their time together. The bags in her hands held the essence of their date, and her heart felt lighter, yet burdened with new emotions. Unbeknownst to her, Jabir had been watching from the shadows, his heart a tumultuous storm of emotions. "This Emmanuel guy..." he muttered, frustration and jealousy churning within him.

Asiye, still lost in the memory of their date, made her way into the hostel compound. Her arms were laden with bags filled with thoughtful gifts from Emmanuel. Little did she know that Jabir was discreetly observing, his curiosity and emotions getting the better of him.

Layla, who was in their room, couldn't help but tease Asiye as she entered. "Hmm... what are all these?" Layla inquired, her curiosity piqued by the bags Asiye carried.

"Gifts, of course, from Emmanuel," Asiye replied, her voice filled with a mixture of joy and uncertainty. She placed herself beside Layla and began to inspect the contents of the bags.

One by one, they unveiled the thoughtful presents: a box containing an exquisite fountain pen, a delicately fragrant perfume, and a sleek power bank. Layla was impressed. "OMG! This guy is really good at choosing unique and exquisite gifts," she commented. Layla, however, had questions of her own. She wanted to understand her friend's feelings better.

"Hope you're not already in love?" Layla inquired.

Asiye paused, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. She finally stammered, "I'm... in love already."

Layla's heart sank slightly at Asiye's response, as her own reservations about Emmanuel began to take root. Layla didn't fully support the budding romance, but she couldn't dictate Asiye's heart. "Hmmm... okay. But I hope it's not just because of the gifts he's giving you?" Layla probed cautiously.

"Ahn ahn, am I that cheap?" Asiye responded, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "No, no, I'm just asking," Layla replied, backtracking slightly. "It's not about the gifts. Can't you see how he cares? He makes it clear he only has eyes for me. He's not a flirt who would make me jealous. I think he's genuinely good."

Layla's reservations remained, but she knew when to respect her friend's choices. "Alright, just be careful," she advised.

They continued to examine the gifts and chat about their growing feelings until the late hours. The following day came quickly, as time in university days always does. Early in the morning, Jabir had prepared a heartfelt letter for Asiye and a thoughtful gift. With gentle steps, he placed the gift outside her room, unbeknownst to her.

It was Layla who first noticed the unopened gift when she stepped outside. She retrieved it and brought it back to their room. "What's this?" Asiye asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's a gift from an anonymous person," Layla replied. "But I'm sure it's for you, your birthday gift." She encouraged Asiye to open it, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

With a sense of anticipation, Asiye carefully unboxed the gift to reveal a brand-new laptop. Both she and Layla couldn't contain their surprise. "OMG! It's a laptop!" they exclaimed together. Layla playfully teased, "Omo, you have a lot of admirers, huh?"

Asiye, overcome with a mix of emotions, slowly opened the accompanying letter and began to read it aloud to Layla. The room was filled with a sense of mystery, anticipation, and intrigue.

Asiye's voice trembled as she read the words on the letter:

"Dear Asiye,

This is Jabir, and I hope this message finds you in the best of health. I want to start by wishing you a happy and joyful birthday. Although we may not be as close as I hope we could be, I can't help but admire you from a distance.

I have been carrying this feeling in my heart, and it's time I let you in on it. From the moment I first saw you, it was as if the world stopped, and everything else faded away. It might sound cliché, but it was truly love at first sight. I am not one to express my feelings so directly, but I don't want to risk losing the opportunity to let you know how much you mean to me.

I understand that we are not that close yet, and you may not feel the same way. That's perfectly okay. I just wanted to share my genuine feelings with you, with the hope that maybe, someday, we could build a connection that goes beyond friendship.

Your friendship would mean the world to me, and if, by some chance, our feelings align in the future, that would be a beautiful bonus. But, for now, I just wanted to let you know how much you are appreciated.

Once again, happy birthday, Asiye. I hope your day is filled with happiness and laughter.

With admiration,
Jabir"

After reading the heartfelt letter, Asiye and Layla were left in a state of mixed emotions. Asiye was the first to react, and her initial response was surprise.

She hadn't expected such a declaration of affection from Jabir. Her heart fluttered as she realized that Jabir had deep feelings for her, a feeling she had never truly experienced before.

Her cheeks flushed a rosy shade as she looked at Layla in amazement.Layla, who had read the letter with Asiye, was equally taken aback. She knew that Jabir had a soft spot for her friend, but she hadn't expected this level of confession.

Layla's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at Asiye. She couldn't help but tease her, saying, "Omo! You have a lot of crush, oo," to which Asiye responded with a nervous giggle.

Asiye's heart was now entangled in a web of emotions. On one hand, she was flattered by the sincerity of Jabir's words, but on the other hand, she was still processing the feelings she had for Emmanuel.

She felt both happy and confused, not knowing how to respond to Jabir's affectionate gesture. The bond between her and Emmanuel had blossomed in a short time, and she wasn't ready to let it go.