𖥻﹕𝖥𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖮𝗇𝖾𝗌﹒ຯ - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Between Us, Everything and Nothing
...Year 2020.
Afreen, 16 years old.
Fahmid, 19 years old.
Over the years, both best friends became more protective and possessive of each other. Their adoration, respect, care, affection, and love-everything just deepened with time. Yes, they fought often, got jealous, and their arguments sometimes lasted for days. But they always found their way back to each other, and each time, their bond only grew stronger and more unbreakable.
For Fahmid, however, the love he held for Afreen had long stopped being just the love of a best friend. He had already accepted the truth within himself—he was deeply, irrevocably in love with her. And that love only grew stronger with every passing day. Every glance of hers, every little smile, every tantrum, every goofy expression, and every time she called out to him-it all made him fall harder. He did not just care for her; he cherished her. He did not just admire her; he worshipped her. His feelings were not new—they were steady, rooted, and blossoming more deeply with time.
Fahmid always wanted to protect her and care for her more than anything and anyone else. He would pick a fight with anyone who dared speak ill about his Angel. He wanted to be the one Afreen would depend on, right after her parents and herself. He wanted to be her life partner, not just her Lion-ie or best friend-but only with her consent. So every day, every second, he silently prayed and hoped that Afreen would love him back the same way. He was ready to do anything to make that happen.
Afreen surely loved her Lion-ie more than anything, but in a platonic way. She did not really know what romantic love felt like yet. Sure, she would get angry and jealous when someone tried to flirt with Fahmid, but in her mind, it was just normal best-friend behavior.
"LION-IEEEE!" A loud, cheerful voice echoed through the school corridor. The said male, who was chatting with a friend about their lectures, turned to see his sunshine running toward him with a radiant smile, holding two cotton candies-one in each hand.
Fahmid smiled fondly and opened his arms, ready for impact. Afreen finally reached him and jumped straight into his embrace, making him spin her around as she laughed joyfully. As always, nothing had changed between the two sweethearts. They still played around, shared cotton candies, and Afreen still jumped into Fahmid's arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Ahh, Lion-ie! Put me down already or the cotton candies will be squished!" She squealed.
Fahmid quickly set her down, only to gasp in surprise. Her hair-once chocolate brown-was then a vivid teal. Yes, over the years, Afreen had developed the habit of dyeing her hair frequently based on her mood.
"Afreen, may I know what led to this hair color this time?" Fahmid asked, clearly unimpressed. And did I say that Fahmid always disliked that habit of hers? Oh, I just did. The ravenette liked the natural chocolate brown hair of the female. But no, Afreen always had to go and ruin that.
Afreen pouted, doing her best to melt his heart. "Lion-ie, I'm sorry, really! But this is the last time, pinky promise! Please, don't be mad at your Angel. I'm your precious one, remember?"
Those puppy eyes-his ultimate weakness. Actually, Afreen herself was his weakness. And so, once again, he let it go, much to his friend's amusement. His friend just face-palmed at his whipped behavior.
"This guy's whipped beyond saving," his friend muttered, shaking his head.
"Fine, I'll let it slide this time. But it better be the last. I love my brown-haired Afreen more than this version, okay?" Fahmid said, trying to keep a stern face. But they both knew he was not mad for real.
"Of course! Last time, promise! Now come on, try these new flavored cotton candies! I had to elbow through a crowd to get them! If I'd waited even a minute, they'd be sold out!" She said, handing one over.
Just as they were about to enjoy the treat, the bell rang-signaling Afreen's class. Her smile faded into a pout. "I wanted to have it with you..."
But Fahmid was quick to cheer her up. "Don't worry. We'll buy more on the way home, alright?"
Her face lit up again as she nodded and skipped off after giving Fahmid a quick goodbye and receiving a soft kiss on the forehead.
"When are you going to confess to her, Fahmid?" Rashid, his friend, asked, breaking Fahmid's daze.
"What are you talking about, Rashid? She's just my best friend," he said, laughing nervously.
Rashid rolled his eyes. "Do I look like a fool to you or is it written over my face that I am a fool? I've known you for five years. Don't even try lying to me."
Fahmid sighed, defeated. "I don't know, man... I just don't want to lose her. I want her to love me the same way I love her. But I can't force her or take advantage of her respect for me to love me. I don't want her to feel obligated because of our bond. I'm just... clueless."
"Hey, it's alright, man. Take your time. If your love is true, she'll come around. And if not, at least you loved her the right way. I'm here for you, no matter what." Fahmid smiled at his friend's reassurance.
"Okay, now let me have a bite of this cotton candy," Rashid said, reaching for it, only to get a playful slap on his wrist. "Ouch! What, buddy? Jealous much? Why so jealous? It's just cotton candy!"
"Not just any cotton candy. It's the one my Angel fought a crowd for. So hands off, buddy!" Fahmid said as Rashid made exaggerated annoyed faces, making both of them laugh before they headed off to their classes.
...Year 2022.
Afreen, 18 years old.
Fahmid, 21 years old.
Along with the number of years, the bond between Fahmid and Afreen only deepened, evolving from childhood friendship into something far more intense. For Fahmid, his feelings had long drifted past the shores of friendship. What had started as innocent affection grew into a love so fierce, it became the heartbeat of his world.
As Afreen bloomed into a striking young woman—with her wide black bambi eyes, natural chocolate brown hair, and a presence that outshined everyone—Fahmid's heart found itself falling deeper, helplessly. She had kept her promise. She had not dyed her hair again—just as he had asked her not to—claiming brown suited her best. And it truly did. The shade made her look ethereal, drawing eyes wherever she went.
But to Fahmid, it was not just her beauty. It was the way she laughed with her whole heart, the way her nose crinkled when she was annoyed, and how her eyes lit up when she talked about the things she loved. He had known for a long time—it was not a passing feeling. He loved her. And he loved her quietly, deeply, and without condition.
Afreen had matured over the years—becoming more aware of the world, more attuned to emotions, and wise beyond her years. She could read people easily, sense their intentions, and judge right from wrong. Yet, there were still two things she remained oblivious to and never learned: Fahmid's feelings for her and how to not be stubborn with her Lion-ie.
But could anyone really blame her? Fahmid never let her feel anything less than adored. He spoiled her with endless patience; he stood by her during every tantrum, every emotional storm, every wild whim. No matter how reckless or dramatic Afreen got, Fahmid never wavered. He was her constant—a safe harbor. He was her calm in every storm.
To Fahmid, Afreen was still his angel. A little more fierce now, maybe more difficult. Though, truth be told, the female acted more like a devil most times. But it was Fahmid Bilal, duh! He loved every version of her. Angel or firestorm— it did not matter. She was his. He loved her wholly, relentlessly. He was that of a goner for her.
And though Afreen did not realize it fully, her feelings for Fahmid had begun to shift too. The way she got possessive over him, how her mood would change if he gave too much attention to another girl, the way her heart fluttered in his presence—none of it felt like simple friendship. He was her comfort, her constant, her warmth. However, she did not want to think too hard about it, brushing it off as a result of years of closeness and familiarity. Fahmid had always been her person. Her comfort. Her warmth. Maybe that was all it was. Or maybe not.
Fahmid was supposed to get into military service. That was because he was a bright student—sharp, focused, and well ahead in his academic pursuits. Having almost completed his studies, Hamza wanted him to take the next step: enrolling in military service as a patriotic duty. It was something his father deeply believed in—serving the nation, building discipline, and carrying on the legacy of honor.
Out of respect, Fahmid had given the entrance exam, not expecting much to come out of it. Deep down, he thought he would not get selected. But fate had other plans-he passed. He was chosen. Yet... he was not interested. Not even a little. His heart belonged elsewhere.
He was not built for uniforms and salutes—his world revolved around soft giggles, sleepy eyes, and the angelic warmth of someone he called his Bunny.
He did not want to leave. Three years of training meant three years away from his home, his comfort, his love. What if someone else wooed his angel during that time? What if he returned only to find the arms he wanted to run into now belonged to someone else? No. Just no, thank you! Not when his heart beat for only one person.
And thus, he made up his mind. He would confess. He did not care if he had to wait or to court Afreen slowly. He just needed to take the first step. He would wait, just like he did all these years. But he needed her to know. Except... fate had other plans.
It was a Friday evening, and Fahmid just returned home after planning his venue for confessing to the love of his life. With his heart full of plans and hope, he entered the house, only to find it strangely quiet. He thought that his parents might be at Hadid Villa, as his mother and Afreen's mother tend to do evening gossip sharing the tea of the society while their fathers would just discuss share market values. Typical desi parents, you see.
He made his way to the villa, ready to pick Afreen up for a walk and perhaps a soft, quiet confession. What he walked into, instead, shattered him. He entered just in time to witness Ashraf embracing an old man around his age. "I'm so glad to turn our friendship into a relationship, Mr. Liam Ahmed."
"Aree, we are relatives now. What's with the formalities? Call me by name only." Liam laughed as Ashraf and Hamza did the same. Fahmid was clueless as to what was happening. He entered the scene as everyone's eyes fell on the ravenette.
Before he could process the scene, Ashraf spotted him. "Ah, Fahmid! Perfect timing. Come have some sweets. There's big news—and you've got a lot to help with this week. After all, you're like my own son." He exclaimed while putting a piece of sweets in Fahmid's mouth.
Fahmid smiled politely, though it barely reached his eyes. "Okay, I would take care of everything, Uncle. But...what's the matter?"
Yasmin, without missing a beat, chirped in, "Your little angel is going to become someone else's. Afreen's marriage has been fixed—with Mr. Liam's elder son, Ayaan Ahmed."
The world tilted. The words hit like bullets. Fahmid's mind went off and got stuck on two things:
Someone else's angel.
Afreen's marriage.
Fahmid's heart dropped. His hands turned cold. The laughter in the room faded into a dull hum. His mind went completely blank, his smile faded, as he felt his heart break and his breathing got heavy. He felt the room spin, the floor tilt beneath his feet. He did not know what to feel anymore. His mind was just repeating those two things. His voice cracked as he abruptly whispered, "No... That's not happening!"
The room fell silent. Fahmid's chest tightened as he looked around, desperate for someone to say it was a misunderstanding. A joke. A horrible joke. "Does... does Afreen even know about this?" He thought the female might not know, or else there was no way it was going to happen.
But all misconception and hope broke when they said, "Of course. She only said yes. Thus, we are going forward."
That was it! Everything inside Fahmid collapsed. His knees felt weak. He could not stay there another second. The walls around him spun. Therefore, he did what any human would do at that moment. He turned and ran. Back to his house.
He ran his hardest. Away from the laughter. Away from the sweet betrayal. Away from the truth that Afreen—his Angel—was choosing someone else. His hands trembled. His vision blurred. His heart ached in ways he did not know it could; it was unbearable. He needed to breathe, to think, to break in silence. All those years of love, all those unspoken words—what were they even worth anymore?
Back in the villa, a few people exchanged confused glances. "What happened to him?" Mrs. Ahmed asked.
"Nothing, I guess he is just upset, you know. His childhood best friend is going to go to someone else's house, so he was startled. Don't worry. Those two are like this from childhood." Hamza answered on behalf of his son, and everyone seemed convinced. Well, everyone except two people.
Sabrina, his mother, did not need words to understand. A mother always knew when her child was breaking. She knew what her baby boy had for Afreen. She always had. Fahmid never had to say a word. A mother could simply know, as they say; your mother could see through you.
And the second was Ayaan. He had seen it too. He could say it was not just the pain of his friend leaving, not the reaction of a best friend. But rather, that was the silent scream of a man watching the love of his life slip through his fingers.