Saad drove through the quiet streets, his thoughts racing as fast as his heart. Maya's message had rattled him—she had seen him with Zara. This wasn't how he wanted things to go, not after he had promised to be honest with her. But fate had brought him face-to-face with the part of his life he was still struggling to let go of.
He arrived at Maya's apartment and parked the car, taking a deep breath before getting out. The cool night air did little to ease his nerves. He rehearsed the words in his head, trying to find the right way to explain everything. But no matter how he framed it, there was no escaping the truth: he had met Zara, and it was complicating everything.
As he knocked on Maya's door, he braced himself for the confrontation. She opened the door, her face calm but eyes full of questions. The silence between them was thick, laden with all the things that were left unsaid.
"Come in," Maya said softly, stepping aside to let him in.
Saad entered, feeling the tension in the air as he walked into the living room. He could see the remnants of a conversation—two coffee cups, an empty plate, and Maya's phone still glowing with Ayesha's last message. She had been talking, thinking, and waiting for him. He felt a wave of guilt.
Maya sat down on the couch, and Saad took a seat across from her, the distance between them feeling symbolic of the growing emotional gap.
"I saw you today," she began, cutting straight to the point. "With Zara."
Saad nodded, swallowing hard. "I know. I was going to tell you."
"Were you?" Maya's voice was steady but hurt. "Or were you just hoping I wouldn't find out?"
"I wasn't hiding it," Saad replied, trying to sound sincere. "I met with her because I needed to clear things up. She reached out, and I thought it was best to deal with it instead of avoiding it."
Maya looked at him, her eyes searching his face for the truth. "And what did you clear up, exactly?"
Saad hesitated, unsure how much to say. "She wanted to talk about the past... about us. She still has feelings for me, Maya."
There. It was out.
Maya's expression shifted slightly, the hurt deepening. "And what about you, Saad? Do you still have feelings for her?"
He hesitated again, but this time the answer came more clearly. "I care about her, yes. She was a big part of my life. But... I'm with you now. I want to be with you."
Maya's lips tightened, her frustration evident. "That's not an answer. You can't be with me while you're still emotionally tied to someone else. Do you want to be with Zara?"
"No," Saad said quickly, leaning forward. "I don't want to be with her. I just... I needed closure, that's all. I want to move on, but seeing her brought back a lot of memories."
Maya crossed her arms, her posture defensive. "And what about us, Saad? Where do we stand in all of this?"
Saad ran a hand through his hair, feeling the pressure build. "I want to make this work, Maya. I know I've been distant, and I'm sorry. I don't want to lose you."
Maya shook her head, her voice quieter now. "I don't know if that's enough, Saad. You say you want to be with me, but your actions keep pulling you back to her. I need to know where your heart is."
Saad's chest tightened. This was the moment of truth, and he couldn't avoid it any longer. He had to make a decision.
"I'm with you, Maya," he said firmly, his voice steady now. "Zara is part of my past, but you're my future. I'm sorry if I've been confusing, but I'm clear now. I choose you."
Maya's eyes softened slightly, but the hurt was still there. "It's not that simple, Saad. You can't just say the words and expect everything to be okay. I need to know that you're really committed to this, to us. Otherwise, I'm not sure I can keep going."
Saad nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. "I get it. I'll prove it to you. I'll cut off contact with Zara. No more messages, no more meetings. You're the one I want to build something with."
Maya let out a sigh, the tension between them easing just a bit. "Okay, Saad. But this is your last chance. If you're not fully in, I'm out."
Saad felt the weight of her ultimatum, but he knew she was right. He had been teetering on the edge for too long, and it was time to commit fully. "I understand. I won't let you down."
They sat in silence for a few moments, both processing everything that had been said. Maya finally stood up, her expression softer now. "I think we both need some time to think. Let's not rush anything."
Saad nodded, grateful for the space she was offering. "Yeah, I agree. I'll give you time, but I'm not going anywhere."
Maya smiled faintly, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Goodnight, Saad."
"Goodnight, Maya."
As Saad left her apartment and walked back to his car, he felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. He had chosen Maya, but he knew that their relationship was still fragile. It would take time to rebuild the trust he had shaken.
And then, just as he was about to start his car, his phone buzzed again. It was a message from Zara:
"I'm sorry for everything. I just needed closure too. I won't bother you anymore. Take care, Saad."
Saad stared at the message for a long moment, feeling the finality of it. He typed a quick response:
"Thank you, Zara. I wish you the best."
With that, he put his phone away and drove off into the night, hoping that the future he was choosing would be worth all the pain and confusion that had led him here.