She said:
"I abandoned everything I held dear, trusting Allah with my heart. If He decrees us to be together, no power on earth can defy His will. But if not, then I pray He grants me the strength to endure this storm."
He said:
"I despised the fire...
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AUTHOR POV
The night draped Jungkook in its chilly embrace as he reclined on the balcony couch, his gaze fixed upon the shimmering stars above. The cool breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it a sense of solitude that matched the turmoil in his mind. Raised in a home devoid of religious teachings, where faith was dismissed as superstition, Jungkook had grown up with a worldview shaped by materialism and self-gratification.
"Why is it so hard..." His voice trembled slightly as he spoke aloud, the words hanging in the stillness. "Why does she believe in you so much..."
He couldn't fathom Zara's unwavering faith. It was a foreign concept, one he struggled to grasp. The idea of a higher power had always been abstract to him, a notion brushed aside in favor of more tangible pursuits. "If you are even there," he continued, his tone tinged with skepticism, "why don't you just show yourself to me..."
Jungkook's thoughts drifted to Zara, to the way her faith guided her actions with a quiet strength he found both admirable and perplexing. He had seen her pray, witnessed the serenity that enveloped her during moments of devotion. It was a stark contrast to his own restless existence, where success was measured in achievements and personal conquests.
"Zara's Allah," he murmured, testing the unfamiliar words on his lips. "If you exist, if you're listening, help me understand. Help me see why she finds solace in you, when all I've ever known is doubt."
Unknowingly, tears began to form in Jungkook's eyes, betraying the turmoil within him.
"Why doesn't she believe that I love her? Why can't she see her through my eyes? Why do these religious beliefs have to come between us? Is it a sin to love her?" His voice was a whisper, choked with emotion, tears streaming down his cheeks unchecked.
He flinched as he felt a comforting hand placed on his shoulder. Quickly wiping away his tears, he looked down, struggling to compose himself. His mother, sensing his distress, sat beside him on the balcony couch.
"Kookie, what's wrong, hmm? Is something bothering you?" Mrs. Jeon's voice was gentle, her touch reassuring as she smoothed his hair. She knew her son well enough to sense when something weighed heavily on his heart.
"N-nothing, eomma. I'm fine," Jungkook whispered, avoiding her gaze. But Mrs. Jeon smiled knowingly. Her son always called her 'eomma' when he needed comfort, when emotions threatened to overwhelm him.
She placed a hand on his arm, her voice soft and understanding. "You can tell me, Kookie. I'm here for you, always."
Jungkook hesitated, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Eomma, why don't you believe in religious things? Why don't we have a religion? Why don't we believe in God?" Jungkook's voice was earnest, his eyes wide with curiosity as he posed these questions to his mother. Mrs. Jeon's initial surprise was evident as she took a moment to collect her thoughts, her expression thoughtful.
