Searching Soul - a Mikhaiah au

Chapter 2: Laundromat

Gibrael stole a glance at Soul for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. It was a Tuesday, and they were at the laundromat that Gibrael owned. Soul was patiently slouched on the couch, her eyes occasionally drifting to the clock, waiting for customers to arrive. Gibrael had told her she could stay at the penthouse, but Soul was persistent and said she wanted to explore the city and accompany Gibrael.

But as the hours dragged on, Soul's curiosity faded into something like melancholy. She sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes as if trying to block out the world. Gibrael noticed the change in her demeanor and felt a pang in her chest. She knew that look all too well.

After a while, Soul opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. "This place... it's so quiet. How do you stand it?"

Gibrael shrugged, trying to mask her discomfort. "It's peaceful. Gives me time to think."

"But don't you ever get lonely?" Soul's voice was soft, almost fragile, like she was revealing a part of herself she usually kept hidden.

Gibrael hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Sometimes. But I guess I got used to it. The quiet can be comforting when you've got a lot on your mind."

Soul turned her head to look at Gibrael, her eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and sadness. "What do you think about?"

Gibrael wasn't sure if she wanted to answer, but something in Soul's gaze made her feel safe, like it was okay to be vulnerable. "I think about... how different things could have been. If I hadn't disappointed them. If I'd just followed the path they wanted for me."

Soul shifted on the couch, her brows furrowing with concern. "Disappointed who?"

"My parents," Gibrael said quietly. "They wanted me to be someone... more. Someone who could continue their legacy, an heiress to their Distribution Company. But I chose a different path, I didn't want to be in that toxic business world. So I opened this Laundromat. And now they barely speak to me."

Soul's expression softened. "Gibrael, I'm sure they love you. They're just... they probably just don't understand your choices yet."

Gibrael let out a bitter laugh. "Love me? They've made it pretty clear that I'm a failure in their eyes. I've let them down in every possible way."

Soul sat up, her posture more serious, her eyes intense. "You are not a failure, Gibrael. You are strong and brave for choosing your own path. For building something from the ground up with your own hands. That's not a failure—that's courage."

Gibrael looked away, her throat tightening with emotion. "But it's not enough for them."

"It's enough for me," Soul said, her voice unwavering. "And it should be enough for you too. You don't need anyone else's approval to validate your worth."

Gibrael's eyes flickered with a mixture of gratitude and pain. "Why are you being so kind to me?"

Soul's expression softened, and she reached out to gently touch Gibrael's hand. "Because I see you, Gibrael. I see the strength it takes to stand on your own. I see the sadness in your eyes that you try so hard to hide. And I care. I care because you matter."

Gibrael felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, embarrassed by her own vulnerability. But Soul didn't let her pull back; instead, she scooted closer, her touch warm and reassuring.

"You're not alone in this, Gibrael," Soul continued, her voice soft but steady. "I may not know everything about you, but I'm here. And I will to be here, with you, through all of it."

Gibrael looked at Soul, her heart pounding in her chest. No one had ever spoken to her like this before, with such raw honesty and care. "I don't know what to say," she whispered.

"You don't have to say anything," Soul replied, her eyes glistening with emotion. "Just know that you're not a disappointment to me. Not even close."

Gibrael smiled through her tears, a mix of sadness and relief washing over her. "Thank you, Soul. You have no idea how much that means to me."

Soul's lips curled into a gentle smile. "I think I do." She squeezed Gibrael's hand, her touch full of warmth and reassurance. "And I'll keep reminding you until you believe it too."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling in the air. The laundromat, usually filled with an emptiness that mirrored Gibrael's own loneliness, suddenly felt like a place of solace. Gibrael looked at Soul, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she thought.

Gibrael sighed deeply, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. "You know, Soul... you have this way of seeing right through me."

Soul smiled softly. "I think it's because I know what it's like to hide parts of yourself. But you don't have to hide from me, Gibrael. Not anymore."

Gibrael felt a lump in her throat, her voice trembling as she spoke. "It's hard, you know? Being vulnerable. Letting someone in."

"I know," Soul whispered, her eyes filled with understanding. "But sometimes, letting someone in is the only way to heal."

Gibrael nodded, her defenses slowly crumbling as she allowed herself to lean into the comfort that Soul offered. "I'm scared," she admitted quietly.

"I'm here," Soul reassured her, her voice a soothing balm. "You don't have to be scared alone."

Gibrael felt a tear escape her eye, followed by another, until she was crying softly, her emotions finally breaking free. Soul wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly, as if she could shield her from all the pain and doubt that had plagued her for so long.

And in that moment, Gibrael realized that she didn't have to carry the weight of her loneliness alone anymore. For the first time in years, she felt like she could breathe again, like the world wasn't such a lonely place after all.

As Soul held her, gently rocking her back and forth, Gibrael knew that she had found something precious—something she never thought she would find again. A connection. A friend. And maybe, in time, something even more.