Mr captain

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Unspoken Words

The days that followed passed in a flurry of mundane routines. Faisal spent his mornings with family, listening to his father recount the days of his youth, while his afternoons were often spent on casual drives around Bida or visiting friends. But no matter where he went or what he did, his thoughts seemed always to circle back to Sumayah.

His phone buzzed on the table in front of him, pulling him from his musings.

It was a message from Sumayah. He slipped a note with his phone number into the zobo bag the other day and she finally texted him.

"Mr. Captain, I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to say thank you again for breakfast the other day. You really made my day."

Faisal's fingers hovered over the screen. He could feel the weight of her words, the sincerity behind them. His thumb moved, typing back quickly.

"Glad you liked it. I just thought you deserved something special after that long shift. Hope your day's been easier."

The response came almost instantly.

"You're kind to think of me. My day's been much better, thank you. Work never stops, but it's nice to know someone notices."

Faisal's chest tightened as he read the words. There was something about the way Sumayah spoke that stirred something inside him—something deep and protective. But as he typed his next message, he found himself pausing, unsure of what to say.

"I'm glad to hear that. You've been on my mind since the other day."

There. It was out. The words had slipped from his fingertips before he could stop them. He sat back, his heart racing. His phone vibrated, and he immediately grabbed it.

"You've been on my mind too, Faisal. But I'm not sure what this is yet. Maybe it's just a passing thought, or maybe something more. Either way, I don't want to rush anything."

Her honesty left him breathless. Faisal didn't want to rush either. But he felt that strange pull toward her—an undeniable connection.

Before he could respond, his phone buzzed again, this time with a call from Salamatu.

"Ya Faisal! I need your help with something. Can you come over?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Sure, Salamatu. What's up?"

She explained her problem quickly: one of her schoolmates had taken something from her, and she needed him to come and settle things. Faisal knew that despite her playful attitude, Salamatu had a fiery side when it came to family. He agreed to meet her and promised to handle it as soon as he could.

At the same time, Sumayah found herself pacing around her small apartment in the staff quarters, phone in hand, her thoughts tangled. She had read Faisal's message several times, and his words lingered in her mind. She had never been one to fall quickly, to let her guard down. Her past had taught her to protect her heart, to keep it safe. But something about Faisal—his sincerity, his kindness—tugged at her.

What was she supposed to do with this?

Her heart said one thing, but her mind was full of doubts. She had been hurt before, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to risk it again. But then, she couldn't deny the warmth she felt whenever she thought of him, the excitement that bubbled in her chest when they spoke.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

"I'm overthinking this," she muttered to herself.

She glanced at the clock. It was nearly time for her next shift. As much as she wanted to be lost in her thoughts of Faisal, duty called. She grabbed her bag and left her apartment, heading back to the hospital, her mind still whirling.

Faisal arrived at Salamatu's school, parking his car outside the gates. He was quickly greeted by his sister, who led him to a group of her friends. The issue turned out to be a trivial one—a misunderstanding over a missing textbook—but Faisal couldn't help but feel the tension rising. Salamatu's fiery nature was in full display, and he found himself playing the role of the peacemaker.

"Don't worry, Salamatu. It's fine," he reassured her, patting her on the shoulder. "Let's just talk this through, okay?"

As he spoke, his thoughts again drifted back to Sumayah. He knew he was playing a role he hadn't planned on—a protector, a listener, someone who wanted to be there for her—but he couldn't deny the way he felt.

The conversation with Salamatu ended on a calm note, with promises of reconciliation. As Faisal got into his car and drove back to the family compound, he found himself contemplating the complicated nature of relationships. He wasn't used to uncertainty, but with Sumayah, everything felt different.

Back at the hospital, Sumayah was once again thrown into the chaos of emergency room duties. She tried to focus, but her mind kept wandering back to Faisal. It wasn't just his kindness that had captured her attention; it was his presence, his ability to make her feel seen and valued without saying much.

When her shift ended, she stepped outside, exhausted but unwilling to admit just how much she was thinking of him. Her phone buzzed again. It was a text from Faisal.

"How was your day? I know you're probably tired, but I hope it was a bit easier than yesterday."

She smiled to herself and quickly typed a reply.

"It was better, thank you. Busy as always, but I'm managing. And yes, I'm tired, but a message from you makes it all feel a little easier."

Her finger hovered over the screen for a moment, as if she were deciding whether or not to reveal too much. Then, with a deep breath, she added:

"I don't know what this is, Faisal, but I'm willing to find out."

Her heart raced as she hit send. There was no going back now.

In the quiet of the night, Faisal stared at his phone in his room. He had received Sumayah's message, and his pulse quickened as he read the words.

"I'm willing to find out."

He smiled to himself, his fingers quickly typing a reply.

"I'm glad to hear that. Let's take this one step at a time, Sumayah. No rush. I'm here when you're ready."