Chapter 3 – Jealousy, Confessions & Hearts Aligned
Roshel had returned to work, her mind still tangled in the whirlwind of emotions from her week away. The memory of Alden's text,"Nakupenda sana, Kamama" ( I love you very much sweetheart), made her cheeks warm even now. She had never imagined hearing those words, not in a million dreams.
But the bliss was fragile.
One evening, as usual, she found herself at Alden's apartment for dinner. The familiar warmth of his presence made her sigh in relief. Plates clinked softly as they ate, and soft music drifted from the stereo. Then, unexpectedly, the door opened.
Merile.
Roshel froze. The girl's smile was bright, casual, too casual and the sight of her standing there unannounced made Roshel's chest tighten. A flame of jealousy ignited, sharp and unrelenting.
"Hello, my name is Merile. Alden is my friend," the girl introduced herself, her voice cheerful.
Roshel blinked, forcing herself to respond, "Hello Merile, I'm Roshel. A friend of Alden's," she said with a polite smile, unsure what to say since their relationship hadn't been clearly defined.
"Ooh, pleased to meet you! I came over because I was bored, and Alden had promised to take me out. I wasn't sure I'd find him home, but I came anyway. Sorry to interrupt you guys. I'll be on my way," Merile explained.
But by this point, Roshel's mind couldn't think straight. She suddenly realized Alden had stepped out at some point, leaving just the two of them alone.
No. I can't do this. I need to get going, she thought. Clutching her bag, she headed for the door and closed it with a bang.
At home, her fingers shook as she typed a message, pride and hurt spilling onto the screen:
"I can't do this. A man having a lady randomly show up at his place this time of day is not the kind of man I see myself getting entangled with. I'm out gracefully."
She hit send before second-guessing herself. The message flew into Alden's inbox.
Alden's phone buzzed immediately. He read her message and froze, a pang of panic gripping him. "Roshel…" he whispered, but she was already gone. He sent a flurry of messages and tried calling, but all went unanswered.
For the next few days, silence stretched between them like a vast canyon. Alden tried reaching out at work, but Roshel avoided him like a plague. The unspoken tension was unbearable, yet it forced her to confront her true feelings.
One afternoon, she overheard him on a call with a female friend, laughing and joking. Her heart twisted painfully when he told the friend to save his contact with a love emoji. To anyone else, it might have been harmless but to Roshel, it felt like a betrayal. Emotional security, the one thing she craved seemed to slip through her fingers.
By the weekend, she resolved to leave before her contract ended. "Out of sight, out of mind," she told herself, packing with cold determination.
But fate had other plans. Her manager needed last-minute corrections on her documents, forcing her to stay a few more days. The extra time almost drove her crazy; she still had to see Alden at every corner, interacting with other women. There was no choice. With that in mind, she sought out Belinda, a knowledgeable colleague, to help her make the necessary corrections.
Yet even while working, her eyes couldn't help following Alden as he passed by, chatting and laughing with a female colleague. Jealousy brewed in her heart.
Belinda noticed the storm behind Roshel's eyes.
"You okay?" she asked gently.
"I'm… not okay. My mother hasn't been feeling well; she was admitted for a week and just discharged yesterday, but she isn't doing well," Roshel replied, offering a half-truth. She couldn't exactly confess she was suffering from jealousy over a relationship that hadn't been defined.
"Sorry about your mom. Have you talked to her?" Belinda asked softly.
"I have, but she keeps assuring me she's fine. Still… from her voice, I can tell she's not getting better," Roshel continued. Her excuse wasn't entirely fabricated as her mother had been slightly unwell but it was enough to cover her true feelings.
Belinda decided to give her space for an hour to talk to her mother and get back to work when ready. But Roshel knew exactly what her problem was and decided to confront it. She picked up her phone and called Alden, asking him to meet for a few minutes.
In the stillness, Roshel's heart spoke louder than her fears. She loved Alden. She needed him. Every stolen glance, every shared laugh, every small gesture, the jacket in the rain, the shoulder for her head, the playful teasing it all pointed to the same truth.
No matter the fear, no matter the pride, she could not deny it any longer.
With trembling hands, she dialed his number.
"Roshel?" Alden's voice came instantly, warmth and concern lacing every syllable.
"Where are you? I need to see you right now," she said urgently.
A pause. Then softly:
"Where are you? I'll come find you." She gave him her location and hung up.
Relief and joy surged through her, warm and unstoppable. Moments later, Alden arrived. Without wasting words, she rushed into his arms.
"I love you, Alden. I always have. You're all I need," she muttered softly, only the two of them hearing.
"I love you too," Alden said with a smile, pulling her closer.
Then, with a playful yet tender tone, Alden whispered:
"So… from today, 1st August 2025, we're officially ours?"
Roshel's face lit up. "I'm yours," she whispered, burying her face in his chest.
And so it was.
The world could wait. For Roshel and Alden, this moment, this connection was enough.
From pecks on the lips to deep kisses not yet defined, from late-night strolls to hugs on a bridge, from walking under the rain to whispered words, they finally connected. At this moment, nothing else mattered.
Premium tears were no longer a worry. They were now a symbol of love, of moments that mattered, and of a bond that would endure.
She was his. He was hers.
The End.