Hers to Love

Chapter 40

Amir had been missing Maria more than he cared to admit. Every moment he spent away from her only amplified the silence in his heart. Despite the complications, despite Elodia, he knew he had to reach out. His fingers hovered over her contact on his phone before finally hitting "Call."

The phone rang, and for a moment, Amir wondered if she'd answer. But then, her voice came through—calm and collected, but distant.

"Hello?" Maria said.

"Maria, it's me... Amir," he said softly, unsure how to begin. He had ghosted her once, hurt her unintentionally many times, but hearing her voice now only made him realize how much he missed her.

"Oh, hey," Maria replied. There was a pause, the weight of their complicated relationship hanging between them like unspoken words. "How are you?"

"I'm... okay. Just been thinking about you a lot lately. I—I miss you, Maria," Amir admitted, his voice carrying the weight of months' worth of feelings.

Maria sighed on the other end, but not the usual warm sigh Amir had grown used to. This one was laden with exhaustion. "I miss you too, Amir. But I've been thinking as well. I might stay in the Philippines for a while longer. Maybe another four months... I need to sort things out."

The words hit Amir like a brick. "Four months?" he echoed, trying to mask the panic in his voice. "That's a long time."

"Yeah," Maria replied, her tone careful. "It's just something I have to do. Some space, you know? For myself."

Amir's mind raced. The thought of not seeing her for that long—it made his chest tighten. He had messed up, he knew that. He didn't say the things he should have when he had the chance. And now, she was slipping away even further.

"I could come to you," Amir blurted out, almost without thinking. "I'll come to the Philippines, be with you. We can... we can figure it out together."

Maria was silent for a moment, clearly surprised by his offer. "You'd come all the way here?"

"Yes," Amir said firmly. "If that's what it takes. I need to see you, Maria. I don't want to let this—us—slip away."

There was a heavy pause. Maria seemed to be weighing her words before speaking. "Amir, it's not that simple. You've got your family. Your dad wants you to meet Diane, and there are other things in your life. I don't want you to come here just to run away from that."

"Maria, Diane doesn't matter to me," Amir said, frustration creeping into his voice. "My dad can insist all he wants, but I... I want to be with you."

"You've said that before," Maria replied, her voice tinged with doubt. "But every time, something gets in the way."

Amir's heart sank. She was right. Every time they got close, something always pulled him back—his indecision, his family, his fear of messing up. But this time felt different. He was ready to fight for her, to show her he meant it.

"Let me come to you, Maria. I'll prove it. Please," Amir's voice softened, almost pleading now.

Maria exhaled deeply. "Amir, I don't know if that's a good idea. It might just make things more complicated. And I don't want you to regret leaving everything behind for me."

"I won't regret it," Amir said, his voice steady. "I'll talk to my family. I'll explain everything. I'm coming, Maria. I'll be there, no matter what it takes."

"You're serious?" Maria asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"More than ever," Amir assured her. "I've never been more certain about anything in my life."

Maria hesitated. "Alright," she said finally, her voice soft. "If you're sure... but only if you really mean it, Amir. Don't come here unless you're ready for whatever comes next."

"I'm ready," Amir said, with more conviction than he'd felt in a long time.

As he hung up the phone, Amir knew there was one more hurdle: his father. He was bound to resist, to push for Diane, but Amir's mind was made up. He was going to the Philippines, no matter what his father said.

Later that night, as Amir sat across from his father at the dinner table, his heart pounded with anxiety. His father's gaze, as always, was stern and expectant.

"Amir," his father began, "I spoke with Diane's family. They're expecting us next week for dinner. It's time you got to know her better. You'll see, she's a good match for you."

Amir took a deep breath. "Baba... I can't. I'm going to the Philippines."

His father's fork clattered onto his plate. "What? Why would you—"

"It's for Maria," Amir said, cutting him off. "I need to see her. I've already decided."

"Maria?" His father's eyes narrowed. "Maria who's much older than you? We love her but only as a family friend! Amir, this is foolishness! You need to think of your future, your family. Diane is a good girl. She—"

"I know what you're going to say, Baba," Amir said, his voice steady. "But this is something I have to do. I've made up my mind."

His father shook his head in frustration. "You're throwing away a perfectly good match for a woman who's already half out the door. Think about your family, Amir."

"I am thinking about my family," Amir said quietly. "But I also have to think about myself. I need to figure this out on my own."

His father sighed heavily, clearly displeased. "You're making a mistake."

"Maybe," Amir admitted. "But it's mine to make."

Amir's father didn't say another word. The silence between them stretched, thick and heavy with unspoken tension, but Amir knew one thing: he was going to Maria. And this time, he wouldn't let anything stand in his way.