Ann's phone buzzed at 8 AM, the alarm ringing persistently. But this morning was different; Ann got up quicker than usual. Typically, she would stay in bed for a few more minutes or snooze the alarm, but today was the start of something new. Excitement coursed through her, but worry crept in as well—a feeling that sometimes bordered on a panic attack, as if the world was ending. She brushed her teeth quickly and prayed, unaware that Adam, despite having the day off, had woken up just to pray for her. He made dua, asking God to ease her heart and make this new experience smooth and beautiful for her.
Ann double-checked her outfit, though she had already spent about 30 minutes carefully selecting something formal yet stylish. She wanted to look both beautiful and professional. Adam, on the other hand, was feeling a pang of jealousy. He knew she wasn’t his wife yet, but he couldn’t help thinking of her as his future partner. He hoped her attire wouldn’t draw too much attention from other men, though he trusted her completely. Ann wore wide-leg pants, a white blouse topped with a black vest, and her black princess shoes. Her beautiful face was framed by a white hijab, which contrasted with her strawberry-hued cheeks. She worried about sweating or appearing oily in the sun's heat, but her mother, Sabreen, paused her for a moment to snap a picture in the salon, standing in front of the old golden wood furniture and orange curtains. Ann sent the picture to Adam for his approval.
“You look fabulous. How can you go out like that? I’ll get jealous!” Adam teased.
Ann felt shy but reassured by his words. “I wish you could be with me, carrying you in my pocket or my mommy bag,” she replied.
Adam smiled, charmed by her pure and beautiful soul. “I’m always there for you, with my heart before my mind,” he assured her.
Ann's uncle drove her to the bank where she would begin her training. As they got closer, her heart pounded faster. She tried to breathe regularly to calm herself, but her thoughts raced: *Who am I going to meet there? Are they good people? Will they make fun of me if I don't know something? What if there are men there? Will they be looking at me?*
She remembered Adam’s reassuring words: *It’s just an experience, an internship where your job is to observe. You won’t have responsibilities, so you’re safe.*
The car arrived at the bank, and Ann hurried inside, relieved by the cool air conditioning. Her uncle introduced her to the departments, and she soon found herself in the legal department, meeting her mentor, Yasmeen, who was lovely and protective, especially around male colleagues who seemed interested in Ann. Despite her initial nerves, Ann’s first day was easier and more enjoyable than she had anticipated. She spent the day getting to know the team and the place, and step by step, she learned more about how banks operate legally, from contracts between the bank and its clients to corporate agreements.
Ann had always been someone who almost had a mental breakdown when things went wrong. Adam noticed that she tended to be more afraid of the future than focused on achievable goals. He tried to understand her objective in taking on these internships, which seemed randomly chosen and consumed most of her free time. He wasn’t trying to discourage her, but he struggled to understand her logic. He realized she didn’t have a specific goal; she was trying to discover what she wanted. Yet, he worried that her approach, driven by a fear of lacking, was not the best path. He wanted to help her sort out her thoughts, set a plan, and understand that she didn’t have to fall in love with her job—she just needed to be good at it. And if she ever wanted to shift careers, she could do so whenever she liked. Adam reassured her that he would support whatever decision she made, as long as it didn’t harm her life.
Deep down, Adam wished he was already her fiancé. He longed to pick her up, take her out with her brother, enjoy a day at a beautiful restaurant, visit the penguins at the mall, perhaps go skiing, and take a lot of silly, warm, and serious photos to remind them of such everlasting memories.
Day by day, Ann shared every detail of her day with Adam—the people she met, what she learned, and how she felt. She talked for hours, her voice a mix of excitement, worry, frustration, and love.
“Omg, I’m talking so much about myself… I must be giving you a headache,” Ann said, suddenly self-conscious.
Adam smiled, his heart swelling with affection. “Tell me more… please.”
“Really? I love you so much, you know that?” she replied, her voice soft.
“I love you much more than much, Annie,” Adam said tenderly.
As Ann continued to pour out her thoughts and feelings, Adam's mind wandered to how he could lighten her heart as a fiancé. He knew they needed to meet in person for it to feel genuine. *Maybe I should surprise her,* he thought, his mind racing with possibilities. But he was conflicted—he didn’t want to do anything inappropriate, yet he yearned to make her happy. *I wish I could hand her a rose, just to show her how I see her—her soul is the most beautiful, and ours are the most compatible. I just hope we still are when we meet in real life.*
His thoughts were interrupted when Ann said, “I wish you were there with me, Adam.”
Adam felt a mix of anxiety and determination. “Why wish when I can make it happen?” he responded, his voice steady.
“What, really? Omg… Adam!” Ann exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
“What?” Adam asked, amused by her enthusiasm.
“I’m really excited… I can’t wait, Adam. When? How? Where?” she rattled off before pausing, her voice turning hesitant. “But wait… I might not be beautiful for you.”
“Don’t be silly, Ann. You’re the most beautiful in my eyes,” Adam reassured her. “I can come to you, and we can meet in public. It won’t be anything wrong; we’ll just talk for a bit, and then each of us can go home.”
“Oh, Adam, you made me so excited. You’re really going to travel just for me? I love you,” Ann said, her heart swelling with affection.
“It’s not like I’m traveling to another country. It’s just an hour’s drive, and time will fly because I’ll be eager to meet you. But I’m also anxious, to be honest… what if you don’t like me?” Adam admitted.
“No, you’re so handsome, and I can’t wait to see you,” Ann replied, her excitement infectious.
The day ended with both of them full of anticipation. Finally, these long-distance lovers would meet in person for the first time. Ann worried about how he would see her, how she would appear in his eyes. She wanted to be the most attractive to him. Adam, too, was nervous, but he also saw this day as the first step in confirming that she was the one for him. As the hours passed, both Adam and Ann felt their hearts swell with joy, knowing that the beginning of their dream was just around the corner, and with it, the promise of a future they had longed for together.
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YOU ARE READING
Two crossing paths
RomanceA story of unexpected love that grew in the hearts of immature couple, seeking their different paths and goals, not knowing how deep will they fall for each other and will choose to fly their different paths together as two matching birds that compl...
