Ibrahim looked at her shocked expression and started to feel worried about her. “Anna.” He called.Anna forced herself to look at him. “Why…. Why is she there? What does she want…. And does it have something to do with you?” She asked, and fear is so visible in her tone—the fear of him wavering in his love towards her.Ibrahim feels that fear and he knows what she is fearing about. He pulled her up and made her sit on the bed, taking a seat beside her, as his hands reached her shoulder as he made her face him. “I didn't mean to lie to you, but after I told you this, please don't doubt my feelings for you.” said Ibrahim.Can she believe him? His voice sounded so stern and sincere. That every word made her tremble in fear of losing him.“I…. I’m listening.” Said Anna inhaling as much air as she can to fill her lungs. The news made her feel like she was drowning in the water.Ibrahim took another deep breath. This is the time to tell her about every inch of the truth, hoping that she wil
Anna smiled lightly as she looked at the sleeping little baby girl, who was wrapped in a fluffy blanket up to her chest. She couldn't pretend that she doesn't feel sorry for her for having such a clueless mother. And she's a little angry too about why Natasha didn't cherish her own daughter; she's willing to have one, but it seems like the time hasn't come yet.“Good night, baby girl.” Anna said softly as she stroked the little girl's hair.Ibrahim couldn't hide his happiness when he saw how much Anna actually cared for Emily as if she were her own daughter. Now that he understands, he can see why that little boy from her school adores her so much. She always has that warmth with her through which everyone around her feels safe. And he too feels it.“Did you know that the first time I saw her, I was very positive that she wasn't my daughter.” Said Ibrahim as they exited the room they had prepared for Emily.She raised one of her eyebrows. “Why?” She asked, curiously.“Because I couldn
Ibrahim felt relieved upon hearing her, and he stepped out of the room to pick up the phone call, leaving only Anna and Natasha alone. Anna absolutely felt the awkward atmosphere between them, and she doesn't know how to conclude the situation as Natasha just kept silent.“Natasha, would you like me to peel the apple for you?” Said Anna, attempting to ease the awkwardness between them.Natasha smiled forcefully. “It's okay. I don't really like apples.” She replied.“Apples are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which are good for your body. Ibrahim always has it every morning.” Said Anna.Natasha gave her a little chuckle. “Anna, how well do you know him?” She asked.“What do you mean?” asked Anna looking at her confusedly.Natasha looked at Anna and she got to admit that she's indeed beautiful, very beautiful. “What is his hobby? What is his favorite flavor? What is his passion?”Anna smirked. Is she implying that she knew Ibrahim better than she did? “He is very enthusiastic about
Two years ago, Bristol. It was autumn, and the color of the leaves had turned orange as they slowly fell from the branch. The weather has turned cold, but the presence of the people you love might make it warmer. Ibrahim and Natasha were walking through the roads of Castle Parks, which is one of the best spots to watch the autumn scenery. It feels good as they are walking through maple trees surrounded by a sensory herb garden while intertwining their hands with each other. After arriving at the airport and leaving their luggage at the hotel, they come straight here.Ibrahim looked at his girlfriend as he stroked the side of my face with a gentle hand. “It is very beautiful. Do you like it?” He asked.Natasha gave him a light nod. “It is indeed. I can't believe that we're going to get married next month.”Ibrahim chuckled at her childlike behavior. “I can't wait to lock you in my home so that you can't go anywhere.”“Why did you sound like a psycho?” She laughed as she leaned her hea
2 years ago,Ibrahim smiled as he looked at his own reflection in the mirror. The day that he has been waiting for will come very soon, and he just has to wait for one night in order to change the girlfriend title to wife. Words cannot express how happy he is. It's just that he couldn't stop smiling. He looked at the watch, and it showed eleven in the night. It's quite late, but it's just that he couldn't sleep due to the excitement, although he ought to get up early tomorrow. He decided to pick up the phone and call Natasha, the love of his life and soon-to-be wife.He furrowed his brows when Natasha didn't pick up his call. It never happens before but the past few months she’s been acting quite differently. But he wouldn't just surrender like that. He again dialed her number, and his lips curled up when she finally picked it up.“Hello, Ibrahim?” Natasha answered.“What are you doing? You didn't answer my call earlier.”There was a brief silence before she answered him again.“I was
Day passed, and his people still had no information about Natasha. It started to feel odd for him. It's like everything has been prepared so well that he couldn't even trace her. There is no record of her leaving the country, nor of her visiting a hospital or a hotel. Things like this couldn't be prepared in several hours. Although he doesn't want to believe it, it seems like she has been thinking about it for quite some time, to go smoothly like this.Even though he was broken, he tried to stay strong because a part of him still wants to believe in her. He doesn't want to lie, but he truly loves her. However, Natasha successfully kills the lingering part of him. His people managed to find her, and he could see pictures of her with a man that he barely knows.“Are you sure it's her?” Ibrahim glared at the three guys in front of him.Luke nodded his head. “Yes, sir. We found her living in a small flat unit. We tried to gain as much information as possible from people around her neighbo
“Ibrahim, I think I should really tell you about how bad Natasha’s condition is.” The doctor's face turned green, and he massaged his own temples several times as he looked at the pages of the medical report.Ibrahim sighed. What exactly is it now? Why does it appear to be an endless problem?“What is it?” asked Ibrahim.“She tried to kill herself again last night.”“Again?”The doctor nodded. “As I told you, depression is not a disease that can be cured only by medication. It needs the support of people around her. She was screaming and crying, as she kept saying she wanted to see you. To save Natasha you’re the only hope we can see right now.”“Then shall we do now? Do you have any solution.”“We'll try to give the best treatment and therapy. It will be better to keep her company. I don't know what kind of relationship you had with my patient, but I think the best thing is to have Natasha if you have to be around her, to look after her.”Ibrahim came out of the doctor's room, lookin
The night has arrived, the sky has darkened, and the moon is shining brightly. Ibrahim kept on looking at the sky with a blank gaze while his thoughts were wandering everywhere. His revenge, Natasha, and Emily. He began to wonder if she would be happy in this marriage because there are so many obstacles that they must overcome. He has hurt her from the beginning, causing her to leave him.What scares him the most is that she will leave him again for the second time, and he dares not imagine if it really happens. He realized that he was a very complicated man, but why did she still manage to stay faithful to him? Moreover, her mother once told him that he is the man for whom she has been waiting all this time, and she could never hate him because she is just capable of loving him.He is clearly a jerk at the start of the marriage, and how could she fall in love with someone like him? There is only one possibility; they met before they married, but it's impossible, he reasoned himself.
In the next second, Anna could feel his lips brush over hers, giving her a warm yet passionate kiss. A kiss that they missed, both. Each time he has her in his arms, she feels frozen. Why does his touch feel so magical? She can feel his tongue asking for entrance as she parted her lips only to let the kiss go wilder. She circled her hand on his neck, and as soon as she wanted to kiss him even deeper, she felt something kicking from her belly again, making her push Ibrahim away.“Why?” Asked Ibrahim frustrated.“He kicked again, it seems like he doesn’t like it when you kiss me.” Anna replied, rubbing her palm on her stomach.Ibrahim grinned at her. “He kicks because he can feel pity for his father that his mother kept on asking his father to go.”Anna glared at Ibrahim. “Don’t make such excuses! Look at the time. It’s almost evening and you should go back now.”“No, I’m not leaving yet if you don’t let me kiss you properly.” Ibrahim shook his head in stubbornness.She immediately stan
Sitting on the dining table, Anna poured the chocolate syrup on Sofia’s pancakes. “I know you liked your pancake with honey but we only have chocolate sauce and agave syrup. You won't mind right?” asked Anna because she knew her husband could be a little picky eater sometimes.Ibrahim was a little touched by her action. She still remembers little things about him. “It’s fine actually I’m very hungry as I haven’t had my dinner last night so I can eat anything.”“The last time I remember you didn’t eat Alan’s restaurant noodles, complaining that it’s too spicy and oily for you. And why didn’t you have your dinner last night? I've told you not to skip it.”Ibrahim smiled. “You still think of me all the time, isn’t it? And no, because I wasn't able to find a good stay here, all the hotels were previously booked because it's a holiday.”“So, where are you staying then?”“Don’t worry the room is small but it’s okay I can manage it.”Anna didn’t ask any further but focused her attention back
The night had turned into day in just a blink of an eye, but Ibrahim couldn't seem to forget what happened between him and Anna. He couldn't give up just because she was giving him the cold shoulder. Even if she keeps on pushing him away, he will always try to come back to her. He couldn't able to endure losing her for the second time. So that’s why now he is here, in front of a two-story bungalow that's located not too far from the beach where he met her.Ibrahim rubbed his palms together to warm himself because the air was getting colder. “Why is it taking her so long to open the door?” He mumbled on his own.However, not long after that, the door was opened. His lips curled up, thinking maybe it was Anna who opened the door, but the smile faded when he saw it was a little girl instead.“Who are you?” The little girl asked, looking at Ibrahim with a confused gaze.Ibrahim was confused as well. He looked at his surroundings and his phone screen, checking if he really had the right ad
Ibrahim heaved a deep sigh. He took off his spectacles as he massaged the bridge of his nose gently. He couldn't help but force himself to concentrate on his work as he looked at the piles of documents he had to go through. He put on his spectacles and moved his gaze back to his notebook screen. At the same time, his phone rang.“Yes Jessica.” He picked up the phone with his left hand while clicking the mouse with his right.“Sir, the annual shareholder conference will be held this afternoon after lunch. I have the documents and presentation slides ready.”Ibrahim kept quiet for a while when he heard Jessica say the annual shareholder conference because it usually takes place somewhere near the end of the year. Oh, how time flies, and it should be his wedding anniversary soon, but he is still here, alone.“Sir, are you there?” Jessica's voice was heard again.“Ah, yes. Notify me when we're about to start.” Ibrahim replied.“Noted.”After sleepless nights, skipping meals, and consuming
Anna POVHow does it feel to live in circumstances where you have to battle with your own feelings? To me, it feels like torture. People said feelings are more dangerous than ideas, because they aren't susceptible to rational evaluation. They grow quietly underground before exploding all over the place. You tend to act in the opposite way from the rational side if you act based on your heart, and vice versa, because your heart doesn't have thoughts.I loved that man. Oh no, I still love him. If the feelings could not be forgotten after sixteen years. I doubt if several months can. Day by day, I missed him a little more than yesterday. I missed his voice. I missed his smile. I missed his smell. I missed his hug, and I missed how he made me feel wanted. I missed how he praises every bit of my body while making love with me. If I love him that much, why would I leave him? I left him not because I no longer love him, but because I love him so much that it started to hurt me.I realized th
The cool breeze blew through her hair softly. The leaves have turned yellow and are slowly falling, filling up the street. Summer slowly collapsed into fall. There is a saying that goes, Autumn leaves don't fall; they fly. They take their time, wander around, and this is their only chance to soar.Anna tightened her coat as soon as she got off the taxi, walking into one of the most famous barbeque restaurants in London Road.Her lips curled up upon looking at the faces that she recognized wholeheartedly. She could see one of them waving their hand at her, and she didn't think twice but to approach them and hug them tightly.“Sorry for the delay. There was a lot of traffic.” Said Anna as she took a seat.Lily laughed softly. “It's okay, Anna. We are used to it.” She joked.“Let's order something first. I'm very hungry.” Jacob interrupted them before they could even start their bickering.Just like in the old days, the three had a nice barbeque meal with cheers and laughter. Anna couldn
“Dad!”Anna shrieked with delight as she noticed her father seated on the couch in their living room, smiling broadly at her. She didn't hesitate, but immediately plunged herself into her father's embrace.“Dad, are you alright? You didn't get hurt anywhere, right? How are you?” Anna bombarded the questions at her father, her eyes welling up with tears.Paul laughed amusedly. “You stupid girl. I’m fine.”“Dad, when did you get home? And why did no one even tell me that you came home.” Anna pouted, still hugging her father. Rachel and Paul looked at each other letting out an awkward laugh which didn’t fit into the environment. She looked confusedly at her parents’ reaction.“It's not such a big deal, Anna. The thing is that I will be fine.” Said her father trying to convince Anna.Anna sighed. “Why didn't you tell me? I have been so worried about you.”It's not that he refuses to tell her daughter. She just got discharged from the hospital and he does not want to add more pressure to h
“Okay. I will do everything you want, but could you please consider your thoughts again?” Asked Ibrahim as he looked at Anna with an expectant gaze.Could she really tell him to stop giving her that look? It feels like she is going to break down soon. He had become her weakness as much as she became his.“I have told you. We are done, and there is nothing more that we can do. I can’t even if I want to.” She replied the last sentence like a mere whisper without looking at him, trying to sound firm, but deep inside her heart, she's crying hysterically.Ibrahim tried to inhale as much air as he could to calm himself down because the atmosphere started to become suffocating for both of them. There was a brief moment of silence before he dared to look into her eyes, again.“Anna, do you remember when I first met you in the French restaurant?” Asked Ibrahim.Of course, she does, and things in her head start to fly back to the first time they met, when Luke had to gather all of his forces to
Alan patted Ibrahim's shoulder lightly, as if he were giving him strength. He even gave him a light smile. “Everything will be alright, Ibrahim.” He spoke.Ibrahim sighed instead. It has been two days since Anna was admitted in the hospital, and he couldn't see her since she was awake because he was told that she didn't want to see him. It feels extremely excruciating for him.“Do you think she wanted to see me now?” Ibrahim asked with his head held low.“Where did the strong headed Ibrahim Saunders go?” said Alan trying to calm him down. He understands from which phase his best friend is going through and he knows how to make Ibrahim face this situation, a little push is what he needed right now. Ibrahim looked up at Alan in confusion. “What do you mean? It's not the time to joke around.”“I have known you for how many years… twenty years Ibrahim. You’re a strong and capable man that everyone in his office is afraid of, but the one in front of me now is a coward.” Alan said, trying