[New] Our Forever After

Chapter 2: Crossing Paths

It had been a few weeks since the jazz bar night, where Djena and Malik's relationship had shifted into something neither of them could quite define. The teasing, the shared looks, and the easy conversation continued, but there was a new undercurrent now—a silent acknowledgment that something deeper was blossoming between them.

One evening, Malik found himself at his usual gym, focused on his workout. He liked the discipline of pushing his body, the way it mirrored the intensity he brought to his work. As he finished his last set, his phone buzzed with a message from Carlos.

Carlos: "Bro, we're all hitting this new rooftop bar downtown. You in?"

Malik glanced at the clock. Normally, he'd turn down offers like these, preferring quieter evenings, but tonight, something pulled him toward the idea of getting out of his routine.

Malik: "I'll swing by."

As the night deepened, Malik found himself at the rooftop bar, surrounded by the warm buzz of laughter and conversation. Carlos was there, surrounded by his usual group of friends, blending the Spanish they spoke with English. Malik smiled, knowing Carlos was always the life of the party, effortlessly switching between his roots and his new life in New York.

"Malik!" Carlos called, waving him over. "Finally, you made it out! Thought I'd have to drag you from your apartment."

Malik chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm here, aren't I?"

They spent the evening talking about work, life, and Carlos's latest obsession—learning to dance salsa. As much as Malik enjoyed these moments, his mind kept wandering back to Djena.

Meanwhile, Djena...

Across the city, Djena was in her apartment, staring at her laptop screen. She was supposed to be finishing a project for a new client, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She clicked out of her work, opened her messages, and there it was—her last conversation with Malik.

She remembered the way he looked at her that night in the jazz bar, how his presence made her feel grounded. Djena wasn't sure what to make of her growing feelings for him. Was this the real deal? Malik wasn't like the guys she had dated before—there was something so solid about him, something that made her feel safe and understood.

A message from Amina popped up.

Amina: "Girl, you coming out with us tonight or nah? I know you're not working AGAIN!"

Djena smiled and replied.

Djena: "I'm in. Where we meeting?"

Soon enough, Djena was getting ready, slipping into a sleek outfit she had just bought. As she headed out the door, she couldn't help but wonder what Malik was up to tonight.

Two Worlds Collide

As fate would have it, Djena and Amina's group ended up at the same rooftop bar where Malik was hanging out with Carlos. Djena spotted him almost immediately, sitting at a table with Carlos and a few other people, laughing and relaxed.

"Isn't that Malik?" Amina nudged her, noticing the way Djena's eyes lingered on him.

"Yeah..." Djena replied, suddenly feeling a rush of nervous energy.

Before she could decide whether to approach him, Malik turned and caught her gaze. For a moment, everything else faded—the noise of the bar, the people around them. It was just them, across the room, sharing that unspoken connection they had been dancing around for weeks.

Malik stood up, excusing himself from the group, and made his way over to her. "Djena," he said with a smile, "didn't expect to see you here."

"I could say the same," she replied, her heart racing.