~~~~~~ Chapter 9 ~~~~~~
“Happy birthday, Lina” They were in their favourite restaurant waiting for their desserts when suddenly Saufiq gave her a small box. Lina felt a little bit over whelmed when looking at that box. Saufiq always gave her extravagant gifts for her birthday, but she knew that today’s gift was a bit different.
“Open it” Saufiq’s smile was a bit nervous.
“But …. Saufiq” Lina tried to push back the box to Saufiq. She did not want to confirm what she knew was inside the box.
“Take it, Lina. Please. You know how I felt about you, even though I never say it to you. You know all those supposedly girl friends were not what I was looking for. I want you to take it. This is to show how much I love you. I know I was a fool for not telling you all this before." Lina glad that they had this conversation after their meals. She was not sure whether she could eat even a bit if Saufiq gave her this much earlier.
When Lina did not say anything, it was like a dam burst for Saufiq. He could not stop from telling Lina what had been in his mind and heart all this time. "If you accept my love, I want you to think this as a pre-engagement ring. I would ask my family to properly request for your hands of marriage from your Mom. If you can’t accept my love, I want you to think this a gift from your best friend who always wanted what is the best for you”. Saufiq knew he has nothing to lose but a lot to gain by baring his soul to Lina.
“Ohhhh … Saufiq … What am I supposed to say to you?” Lina did not care if people were watching. She was trying very hard not to cry. She was choking with emotions.
“Don’t say anything. Accept it. Think about it. Sleep on it. You know I will always respect and accept whatever decision that you are going to make. But I want you to know this, I love you. I have been in love with you for years. I never said it before because I was a fool. Maybe I thought I was not good enough for you. Whatever the reasons were, I was a fool.” Saufiq voice held a very determined note in it.
For the next few days, Lina was in pensive moods. Mom had been calling her asking for her decision whereas Saufiq had stopped calling or texting her after that night. Lina was torn. She knew Saufiq was just giving her the space and time that she needed. But, she missed Saufiq badly. She never realised how all these whiles that he was always there for her. On the other hands, here she was, realising that her first love was just within her arms’ length, so to speak. She had always dreamt her life with Hakim since her teenagers' years. She knew her life with Hakim would meant that her dreams were fulfilled.
After much soul searching, Lina knew that she had made her decision. She knew she was going to hurt the feelings of a good man, but this was her time. She was going to be selfish and for once to make a decision for her own, and not others.
She had to call her Mom to make some preparations, but first, she had to call two important men and tell them on her decision.
Taking a deep breath Lina dialed the number that she knew by heart. “Hi. Please don’t say anything before I finish my words. I need to say this to you uninterrupted. I need to be brave to say this, and I am sorry for not saying this face to face."
After a moment of silent, with a teary voice Lina knew she had to say what she had to say; "I want you to know that you were my first love. You were a big puzzle in my life. But that life puzzle was completed fifteen years ago. All these times I was pinning for something that was already completed. I just realised that I have a new life puzzle and you are not a big part of it anymore. I am sorry to say that I am in love with someone else.”
Hakim was silent for a long moment after listening to that. “I understand Lina. It was a long time ago. I wish you all the happiness in the world because you know you deserved it. Be happy always. I want you to be happy. I hope you could look back with some fond memories. Good bye Lina. You know I won’t be calling you anymore” Lina heard a soft click on the other end and knew the closure that she was looking for had finally completed. She could not help from feeling a hint of melancholy for those sweet times, but her future was looking much brighter.
With a touch of giddiness, she dialled Saufiq’s phone. “You know I have been wearing this ring for the past few days and it feels right. I don’t expect we are going to have a long engagement since we had lost so much time already. So get your butt out from that office, and ask your family to meet my Mom.” She was laughing while saying this to Saufiq.
“I love you” It felt right to say it to Saufiq and when he said “I love you too” she felt so much warmth and happiness. She knew she made the right decision, and looking forward for her next life adventures.
------------------THE END -----------------
P/S
To all my friends, thank you so much for spending your times reading this short story. I really appreciate your comments and encouragements. Maybe we can meet again in another adventure.
xoxo
Comments
Hi Jason. Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it. Yes, sometimes we can never understand how some hearts work.
It took almost one and hald hours to read this wonderful and romantic story. To be honest, I was surprised when I got the main result the leading character chose Shafiq. In my mind, I expected and admired she would choose her first love. But every story has its own reasonable end.
Thanks to give us a good short novel, and it is so beatiful.
Hehehehe Mehr n^_^sh .. and what do you have in your bones and soul?? Hmmm .. don't tell me ... let me decipher about you :-P
You have poetic bones too, if you scrap away the monologues and stop dispensing unnecessary remedies to some people. Romantic soul??? Hmmm.... I'm sure you have romantic soul too. So, start now girl.... go and find your poetic bones and catch your romantic soul. LOL. Don't be too lazy.
Hi WMW .. you have a very poetic bone and romantic soul in that body of yours. I never would have guess it. LOL.
Mehr n^_^sh .. just to let you know, I'm still keeping an eye on that gold fish. Don't worry
Mehr n^_^sh, Mehr n^_^sh, Mehr n^_^sh, Mehr n^_^sh ... What am I going to do with you? :-P. In the first place, my so called annoyingly-long so-called short story was posted way before your exams' schedules. And don't try to put the timing on my part. :-P
Well.. finally I'm going to give that annoyingly-uncooperative gold fish some rest, and go to sleep, you know, just to let it think that I'm no longer interested so it would let its guard down.
lolz ..I love you and your story and the end of your story and i am blind i cant see the pic that you put here :(
Hehehee Sima .. Thank you for your patient, and reading the story until the end.
Pishy ..I dont know what to tell i wasnot agree with return lina to Hakim ..but maybe she was looking for her come back ...lol that was really great story ..i really enjoy and had very nice end ..you are wise lady and showed you tactful in this story :)"
That is always nice when your audience agrees with the ending. You did a great job on it. I can't wait for the next story.
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