Over the next few weeks, Rami lived in a haze of emotions he couldn’t shake off. He was consumed by a painful mixture of confusion, sadness, and, above all, humiliation. The weight of what had happened between him and Lina pressed down on him, making it hard to focus on anything else. He had been so naïve, so foolish, to believe that he stood a chance with her. In his heart, he knew that she had never misled him, but it still hurt that he had read everything so wrong.
Despite the crushing disappointment, Rami found it impossible to fully distance himself from Lina. Even after she had told him about the older man who had broken her heart, he still clung to the small moments they shared. He told himself that maybe, just maybe, if he stayed close, if he supported her during her vulnerable time, she would come to see him differently.
He knew how pathetic it sounded. Each time they talked, even casually, Rami felt like he was setting himself up for more pain, but he couldn’t stop. The hope, however irrational, was too tempting to let go of. And Lina, knowingly or unknowingly, kept him tethered to her.
In the weeks after his confession, their conversations became lighter, more like friends again. Lina would smile and laugh with him, and for fleeting moments, Rami could almost forget the truth she had laid out for him. Almost. But every so often, she would mention her ex—the mysterious older guy who had occupied her heart for two years—and each mention of him was like a dagger twisting deeper into Rami’s chest.
It was obvious to Rami that the relationship had been toxic. Lina spoke about him with a mix of anger, hurt, and longing that made it clear she was still emotionally entangled in the worst possible way. She would vent to Rami about how badly this man had treated her, how he had played with her emotions, disappearing and reappearing in her life whenever it suited him. How he had ultimately discarded her when she had been at her most vulnerable.
Rami could see the damage that had been done to her, but the worst part was watching Lina still pine for this man, despite everything. She still loved him. She admitted as much, repeatedly. Even though she knew he wasn’t good for her, even though she knew he didn’t care for her the way she cared for him, she couldn’t let go of the feelings she had for him.
Every time Lina spoke of her ex, Rami’s heart ached. He wanted to be the one to take away her pain, to show her that she deserved better than someone who treated her like an afterthought. But instead, he found himself trapped in a torturous loop—always the supportive friend, always there to listen to her heartbreak, while she remained blind to the fact that he was breaking too.
What made it worse was the way she sometimes leaned on him, as if testing the boundaries of their friendship. There were moments when Lina would act particularly warm toward him, resting her head on his shoulder while they sat at the café, or casually holding his arm while they walked through the market. It was nothing overtly romantic, but to Rami, those moments were like drops of water in the desert—enough to keep him coming back, despite the pain.
But deep down, he knew what was happening. Lina wasn’t leading him on intentionally, but she was using him in her own way. She was hurting, and Rami was a convenient source of comfort. She could be affectionate with him because she knew it was safe—knew that Rami would never push her or demand more from her than she was willing to give.
And Rami? He kept humiliating himself. Day after day, he let himself be pulled along, clinging to the fantasy that maybe, somehow, things would change. Maybe she would wake up one day and realize that Rami was the one who had been there for her all along. Maybe she would see that he was the one who truly cared for her, that he would never hurt her the way her ex had.
But reality was harsher than any fantasy.
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One evening, Rami and Lina sat in their usual café, a quiet spot just off the main street, where the soft clink of cups and the scent of cardamom filled the air. They had been meeting here more often lately, sharing conversations that oscillated between light banter and Lina’s increasingly raw admissions about her past relationship. Today was no different, except Lina seemed more distant than usual.
