Echoes of Agony

Chapter Eight

It was their last day on their honeymoon. The room was too quiet, even their breathing echoed among the wind along with the gentle breeze.

Zaytun decided to break the silence by asking her husband a question.

"Do you want to go back home?"

AbdulJalal hummed, his voice tired and sleepy. Normally, Zaytun was a quick sleeper. But now she wanted to spend most of her time with her husband because, once back home, they would both be busy. She for academic reasons, as her exams started next week, and AbdulJalal would be busy in his office as usual. Not much time to spend together because of that.

During their casual conversation, AbdulJalal mustered the courage to ask Zaytun about something that had been on his mind for a while. He wanted to know more about how long she had been crushing on him and what prompted her to develop those feelings.

"I'm curious though."

"About?"

"You said that you had a crush on me before even getting to know each other, how come?" he finally asked the question.

Zaytun felt a lump form in her throat as she nervously swallowed her saliva. She knew he was going to pry for more information about her confessions, and the thought of revealing more made her feel even more anxious.

"Hmm, I-I don't know what you want to know?"

"Everything."

"Everything?"

"Yep."

"I clearly remember the first time I had the pleasure of meeting you. It was at the Borno state government's festival of companies, where your business was being awarded the top prize for its outstanding economic contributions. As I walked towards you with my father and brother, my heart was racing with excitement and anticipation. When we finally reached you, I extended my hand for a congratulatory shake, and our eyes met for the first time. I was struck by the depth of your gaze and the warmth of your smile, and I knew right then that I was in the presence of someone truly special." She inhaled,

"Romantic," AbdulJalal said, a tone of mockery visible in his voice.

"It's embarrassing." Zaytun hid her face between both hands.

"Keep talking."

"You're going to make fun of me again."

"Not at all."

"Since that special day, I've been unable to stop thinking about you. At first, it was just admiration, but as time went on, my feelings grew stronger. And then, something incredible happened – you asked me to marry you! With each passing moment, my crush turned into something deeper, until I realized that I was truly in love with you. It's an amazing feeling, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you!"

Zaytun waited for the teasing to go on, but he remained silent. She turned to face her husband, and he was just staring at the ceiling.

"Abdul, I want you to know that I do not expect you to reciprocate my feelings immediately. I am willing to be patient and wait for you. However, I do believe that we need to work on our communication ability to ensure a healthy and successful relationship. Let's promise to be open about our thoughts and feelings, even if it's uncomfortable. We cannot let misunderstandings or arguments go unaddressed. If I ever cause you any distress, please tell me verbally. I will do the same for you. This way, we can avoid having a silent fight and build trust and respect between us." Her eyes were filled with hope as she looked at him.

AbdulJalal remained silent. He did not want to acknowledge that he would have to adjust to having a new life. He found it difficult to look at Zaytun's face now and did not desire all the affection that she had for him. It was unclear to him why she had fallen in love with him. He believed himself to be a flawed individual, a fact that was known to his friends and acquaintances, including Zaytun.