Eternity

Chapter 53

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu

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Over the next few months, something subtle but undeniable began to shift between Ayzal and Zayan. It wasn’t something either of them had planned, but rather something that happened naturally, as if they were finally finding a rhythm, a new way to exist together. Their lives had been turbulent for so long but somehow, in the small moments, things began to change.

They settled into routines without even realizing it. Mornings were no longer filled with awkward silences or hasty retreats to opposite corners of the house. Instead, there was a quiet familiarity that made the air between them feel lighter. Ayzal would wake up first, usually to the sound of birds outside their window. She would stretch lazily under the covers before slipping out of bed and heading to the kitchen to make tea. Zayan, always a little slower to rise, would eventually wander in, hair tousled from sleep, eyes still half-closed.

“Good morning,” he would mumble, his voice deep and groggy as he passed her on his way to the fridge, searching for milk for his coffee.

“Morning,” she would reply, a small smile tugging at her lips as she would watch him struggle to function before his first cup of coffee. It had become a little ritual of theirs, these quiet, sleepy mornings where they shared space without pressure or expectation. Zayan wasn’t a morning person, and Ayzal had always been amused by how grumpy he could be before he was fully awake. But now, instead of tiptoeing around each other, they had grown comfortable in the routine.

One morning, as Zayan sat at the kitchen table, sipping his coffee and flipping through his phone, Ayzal decided to test the waters a bit. She placed his tea in front of him, but instead of simply walking away, she leaned on the counter, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“You know,” she began, a teasing lilt to her voice, “you look kind of adorable when you are half-asleep.”

Zayan paused mid-sip, raising an eyebrow at her over the rim of his mug. “Adorable, huh?” he repeated, his voice still rough with sleep but carrying a hint of amusement. “I think you are confusing ‘adorable’ with ‘barely functioning.’”

Ayzal chuckled, shrugging as she moved to sit across from him. “Same thing,” she teased. “Either way, it is kind of cute.”

Zayan rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. “I am glad my morning incompetence is so entertaining for you,” he said dryly, but there was no bite to his words.

Ayzal took a sip of her own tea, grinning. “It is the highlight of my day,” she replied with mock seriousness. “Watching you try to find the milk every morning like it is some kind of mystery.”

He shook his head, chuckling softly. “You are lucky you make good tea, or I would be offended.”

“Oh, please,” she shot back, leaning forward slightly. “You would be lost without me.”

Zayan looked at her for a moment, his eyes warm. “Well,” he said after a pause, his voice soft, “you might be right about that.”

Ayzal blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone. Her smile faltered slightly, but only because her heart had started beating a little faster. She hadn’t expected that. There was something in the way he was looking at her now, something that made her feel… seen.

She cleared her throat, trying to shake off the moment before it became too serious. “I know I am right,” she said, standing up and brushing imaginary crumbs off her hands. “And don’t you forget it.”

Zayan laughed, the sound rich and warm, and for a moment, Ayzal let herself enjoy it. There had been so few moments like this between them—moments of shared joy, of easy conversation—and she realized how much she had missed it. How much she had craved it, even when she hadn’t known it.

As the days went on, they found themselves falling into more of these small, quiet routines. Zayan started to linger in the kitchen with her after breakfast, helping with dishes or just sitting at the table while she moved around, preparing food for the day. They would chat about mundane things—what to make for dinner, how the weather had been—but beneath the surface, there was something else. A warmth, a sense of togetherness that hadn’t been there before.

In the evenings, after work, Zayan began joining Ayzal in the living room, where she usually sat reading or watching TV. At first, they would sit in silence, each of them absorbed in their own activities. But over time, the distance between them on the couch grew smaller, and they started talking more—about the shows they watched, about their days, about little things that made them laugh.

One evening, Zayan plopped down on the couch beside her, scrolling through his phone aimlessly. Ayzal was curled up with a blanket, her favorite book in hand, but she found herself stealing glances at him every now and then. He was wearing a loose, comfortable shirt, and there was something about the way he looked—so relaxed, so at ease—that made her smile.

Zayan caught her staring and raised an eyebrow. “What?” he asked, his tone playful.

Ayzal quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be engrossed in her book. “Nothing,” she said, trying to hide the smile creeping onto her face.

Zayan leaned closer, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “Are you making fun of me again?”

“No,” she replied, biting her lip to keep from laughing.

Zayan reached out, gently nudging her shoulder. “You totally are. I can see it on your face.”

Ayzal finally broke into a grin, setting her book down. “Okay, fine,” she admitted, her eyes dancing with mischief. “I was just thinking about how you look so comfortable in that shirt. Like a big teddy bear.”

Zayan stared at her, clearly offended, but unable to keep a straight face. “A teddy bear? Really?”

Ayzal giggled, nodding. “Yeah, you know, all cozy and soft.”

Zayan shook his head, laughing. “I don’t know if I should be insulted or flattered.”

“Flattered,” she replied without missing a beat. “Definitely flattered.”

He chuckled, leaning back on the couch and stretching his arms out. “Well, I guess I will take it. Better than being called grumpy.”

“True,” Ayzal agreed, her smile softening as she looked at him. “But I think you are getting less grumpy lately. It is kind of nice.”

Zayan glanced at her, his expression unreadable for a moment before he smiled, a genuine, soft smile that made something flutter in Ayzal’s chest. “Maybe it is because I have been spending more time with you,” he said quietly, his voice full of warmth.

Ayzal felt her cheeks heat up, but she didn’t look away this time. Instead, she let the moment settle between them, the air feeling lighter, softer. “Maybe,” she whispered, her heart feeling lighter too.

They continued sitting there together, the silence between them comfortable and easy. It was in these moments, these little pockets of peace, that they began to find each other. Slowly, piece by piece, they were rebuilding something new—something stronger, something better.