How Love Happens - Chapter 23


 

The following day, her stepfather, Jalaal, had organized a fishing trip, especially for Aish. When Haifa returned from work, her mother and aunt were bustling about, preparing snacks for the excursion. Afa, although a bit annoyed, was getting ready for school. Her mother gently assured her that Aish wouldn't have another chance during her stay and promised to take her on a fishing trip soon.

Aish, bubbling with excitement, chatted incessantly as the family made their way to the docked fishing boat. The day was sun-drenched, with a clear blue sky, and Jalal informed them that the weather was perfect for a fishing trip. The trip took nearly half an hour, and the spot they had chosen was renowned for sport fishing.

Aish and Haifa were both handed fishing reels and the men onboard patiently showed them how to use the equipment. Since it was their first time fishing, neither Haifa nor Aish had high expectations of actually catching anything. They spent the initial moments learning the ropes and sharing stories from Male' to pass the time.

Haifa noticed Saira sitting with Jalaal and her mother. She realized that they were intentionally giving her alone time with Aish to catch up. It was heartwarming to see her family's understanding of her needs, even without her having to explicitly express them. The maturity she saw in Saira, despite being younger than her, was astonishing.

Haifa sensed that Aish was deliberately avoiding discussing anything too exciting to spare her feelings. She appreciated the gesture but still felt a bit left out. They had been close friends for a long time, and their group always had a great time when they were together.

Aish mentioned that most of their friends had started working, except for two who were preparing to go abroad for higher studies.

"Daddy asked me if I wanted to go abroad for a master's degree, but I refused," Aish explained as she adjusted her ponytail and brushed away the strands of hair that the evening breeze had blown onto her face. "I told him I wanted to gain some work experience first and decide later on what my next academic steps would be."

Haifa nodded, "Yeah, I thought the same."

"Do you have a campus here?" Aish asked.

"No, but there are online programs I can apply for," Haifa said. "I was thinking of going abroad for an internship later on, maybe."

Aish smiled, "Wow, that's nice. I want to do that too."

Haifa gazed out at the sea. Her dream of becoming a professional photographer felt like a long shot. She didn't expect to become a famous photographer in the country, but she aspired to establish it as a legitimate career.

Aish looked at her sideways. "I know something is bothering you. I saw it when you came from work," she said, looking ahead. "I will not ask if you do not want to talk about it, but I am here."

Haifa didn't look at her when she replied after a moment, "I saw a comment on Aseel's Facebook status from Rizu today," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. She had just finished her work and wanted to check if Aseel had messaged her. When she found he hadn't, Haifa thought of checking where he was since he normally posted his whereabouts on either Facebook or Instagram religiously. She did feel a bit guilty for snooping, but she did not want to send him another message since she had already sent two messages in the morning before coming to work.

The photo of him was amazing, and the scenery was breathtaking. Haifa could have looked at the picture forever. His long hair was styled to fall like a waterfall down his shoulders. He wore dark shades and sported a wide smile. He was dressed in a white cotton shirt with the first few buttons open, displaying his fine muscles. He stood wearing black jeans and ankle boots, looking like a GQ model. The excitement of being with him in just a few days coursed through her.

As she was about to scroll through the feed, she spotted the name Rizu, enclosed in hearts at both ends. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, and she felt like she was going to have a panic attack. Just seeing the name brought back waves of anxiety, and it took her a few minutes to regulate her heartbeat after reading the comment.

Haifa told herself it didn't mean anything. It was just a comment. Aseel had apologized and came back for her. He had said he would cut all ties with the girl. But here she was, commenting on his post as if they were still in contact.

Aish remained silent, sitting with her reel in her hand, waiting for her to continue.

Haifa continued, "He had posted a photo of himself in the Arabian Desert, with the caption ‘best place to see in Dubai'. Ans she commented, saying, 'The only place we missed the last time.'" The lump in her throat made it difficult to speak.

"He did go to Dubai when he was with you the first time. She must have been with him," Aish said.

Aish had been there when the whole thing had unfolded. Haifa remembered the day she had called her, crying when she found out. Aish had come instantly and stayed with Haifa the whole day, offering support and comfort. She had even gone through every available piece of information about Rizu on social media and provided a comprehensive bio. Haifa was amazed at how Aish could gather so much information; she could have given FBI agents a run for their money.

Haifa nodded, "It doesn’t mean anything, I guess. But the fact that she's still around and commenting means they're still talking. It just brought back all the pain and hurt from before."

Aish looked at her with empathy, "Have you talked to him about it?"

Haifa shook her head, "No. I'm still trying to make things right from our last fight. I know asking him would lead to another argument. I don't know how many more fights I can handle."

Aish placed a comforting hand on Haifa's shoulder, "You know, it doesn't necessarily mean anything. What's crucial is whether you trust him or not."

Haifa lowered her gaze, her voice filled with uncertainty, "I know. I want to trust him. I really do. But I trusted him so blindly before that I didn't see what was happening right in front of me." She then looked at Aish, questioning herself, "Do you think I'm foolish for wanting to continue the relationship?"

Aish met her gaze with understanding, "No, not at all. We love who we love. The person we love may not be perfect, but when we truly love someone, we accept them with their flaws." She continued, "The important thing is to understand why you want to stay with him. Is it because you genuinely love him, or is it the fear of losing him?"

Haifa let out a wistful laugh, "Is there really a difference?"

Aish nodded, "Yes, there is. Sometimes we become so emotionally invested in a person, or the idea of a person, that we lose sight of whether we truly love them or if it's our anxiety speaking."

Haifa sighed, "I wish I could understand the difference. You're so good at this, and here I am feeling completely lost."

Aish shrugged with a smile, "Don't sell yourself short. Trust me, I'm not much better. I'm just great at giving advice." She flashed a grin.

Rolling her eyes, Haifa continued, "I even borrowed money from my mom to buy a ticket to Male' so I could surprise Aseel when he comes back. Now I just feel silly."

Aish squeezed her hand supportively, "No, don't think that way. It's incredibly sweet of you to put in so much effort. I might not understand what you see in him, but he's truly fortunate to have someone who loves him so deeply."

Haifa gazed at her friend, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "Do you think I should go?" she asked.

Aish considered her words carefully. "It's ultimately your decision. If you genuinely believe that seeing him would strengthen your relationship, then you should definitely go."

Haifa sighed, her voice tinged with sadness. "I don't know anymore. Even my mom asked last night why he would go to Dubai when he could have visited me. He had promised to visit." She shook her head. "I don't know why it always has to be me trying so hard to make it work. He doesn't even want to meet me halfway. I just feel so tired."

"Then don't go," Aish said simply, her voice filled with concern. "You have a lot of work left for your project, and you don't need the extra stress of seeing him."

Their conversation was interrupted when Aish felt a strong tug on her line. Her stepfather and the crew helped her reel in the fish. Aish was beyond ecstatic, and Haifa, along with the rest of the family, cheered for her first catch. They took photos of Aish proudly holding the fish. The fishing trip came to an end just before sunset.

***

Haifa lay on the living room sofa with Aish and Saira, binge-watching a series on Netflix. Aish had decided to stay in for the night since they were still tired from the outdoor trip in the evening.

Saira, engrossed in her phone and the TV, asked, "When is your flight?"

Aish replied, "Friday morning."

"Just one more night to go? You should have come for a longer stay," Saira commented. "What do you want to do on your last day here?" she asked.

Aish thought for a moment. Haifa could sense that she was wondering what else there was to do in Vavathi but was too polite to say it. There weren't many typical tourist activities to enjoy on this remote island, and they had already explored most of the available spots during the first two days of Aish's stay.

"Hey, I know, there's a new restaurant opening on the island next to us. We can take the ferry. It's one of those big, posh kinds. We can have dinner or just coffee with cakes. They have lots of cake, and some of them are free for their grand opening." Saira chimed, showing her phone to Aish.

Aish's eyes lit up, and she replied happily, "I could go for some cakes."

Haifa nodded and smiled along as she observed the excited duo planning away. However, deep inside, she felt a stab of hollowness. Aseel hadn't replied to her all day, and the comment on his social media still weighed heavily on her mind. She wished he would just call her, so she could put her racing thoughts at ease. She didn't want to bring it up via text, and she wasn't even sure if she was ready to talk to him about it over the phone.

When they finally called it a night it was well past ten. Haifa lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling and listening to Aish's gentle snores. Haifa often had trouble sleeping, especially when she had fights with Aseel or felt overly anxious. Her insomnia had worsened since he left for Dubai. She tried to toss and turn as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake Aish.

Unable to sleep, Haifa finally decided to check Rizu’s comment once more, just to make sure she wasn't overthinking things. She turned to her side, retrieved her phone from the desk, and checked Aseel's profile to find the post. She noticed that he had made five more posts, yet he hadn't found the time to send her a single reply.

Clenching her teeth, she reminded herself that she just wanted to check the comment, not get angry about his lack of response. One problem at a time. She blinked at the comment, and her heart seemed to stop when she saw that Aseel had replied with a simple "I know." She closed the app and lay back on her bed as tears fell uncontrollably down her face.

Did you love the chapter, please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Have a wonderful day!

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