Caught In The Cyber trap

College Life and Friendship

The sun blazed over the campus as students bustled around, heading to lectures or gathering in groups. Afnan walked alongside Lailah and Amani, her bag slung over her shoulder, her mind elsewhere. College life was as hectic as ever, with assignments piling up and lectures seeming endless. But amidst all of this, something else had been weighing heavily on her mind her relationship with Maalik.

It wasn't that Maalik had changed; he was still the same caring and loving fiancé she had known for years. But lately, he had been distant, preoccupied with work and other responsibilities. The long conversations they used to have had become shorter, and their messages less frequent. Whenever they did talk, he was always in a rush, apologizing for being too busy. It made her anxious, even though she knew Maalik had a lot on his plate.

Afnan glanced at Lailah as they made their way to the cafeteria. She needed to talk to her friend, someone who could give her an honest perspective. Lailah had always been the voice of reason in her life, and right now, she needed her calm wisdom more than ever.

Once they sat down at their usual spot, Afnan sighed, stirring her drink absentmindedly. "Lailah, can I talk to you about something? It's been bothering me for a while."

Lailah looked up from her phone, sensing the seriousness in her friend's tone. "Of course, Afnan. What's wrong?"

Afnan hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to begin. She didn't want to seem insecure, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. "It's Maalik... He's been so busy lately. He hardly has time for me anymore. We barely chat, and when we do, it's always short. He's always rushing off somewhere or caught up with work. I don't know, I just feel like he's... distant."

Lailah raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful. "Have you talked to him about it?"

Afnan shook her head. "Not really. I don't want to come off as needy, and I know he's working hard, but it's just... hard. We used to talk so much, and now it feels like he's too busy for me."

Lailah took a deep breath, setting her phone aside to give Afnan her full attention. "Look, Afnan, I get it. It must feel strange, especially with the wedding coming up. But you must remember, Maalik isn't rich. He's working hard to make sure everything goes smoothly for the wedding, and for your future together. His family depends on him too, especially his mother, from what you've told me."

Afnan nodded, knowing that Lailah was right. Maalik wasn't just focused on their wedding he was also supporting his family financially. His mother, Umma, was always demanding more from him, and though Maalik never complained, Afnan knew how much pressure he was under.

"I know he's not rich, and I know he's trying his best," Afnan admitted, her voice softening. "But it's just hard, you know? I miss how we used to be. I miss talking to him."

Lailah smiled kindly. "I get it, Afnan. But you must be patient. Maalik loves you, that's obvious to anyone who sees you two together. He's probably just overwhelmed with everything his family, the wedding, work. You don't want to add to that stress by making him feel guilty for not spending more time with you."

Afnan sighed, stirring her drink again. "I know, I just wish things could go back to how they were."

"They will," Lailah assured her. "But for now, give him space. He's working for both of your futures. Don't do anything you'll regret, like rushing to conclusions or getting angry at him. Just talk to him calmly when you get the chance. Let him know you're there for him."

Afnan nodded, feeling a little lighter after their conversation. Lailah always knew how to put things into perspective, and she was right Maalik had a lot on his plate. She needed to trust him and be patient.

"But what if he's not just busy with work?" Afnan couldn't help but voice her lingering doubts. "What if something else is going on?"

Lailah gave her a knowing look. "Afnan, don't let your mind go there. You've known Maalik for years. He's always been loyal and honest with you. Don't start doubting him now just because things are a bit tough. He's doing all of this for you, for your future together."

Afnan bit her lip, still unsure. But deep down, she knew Lailah was right. Maalik wasn't the type to stray. He had always been loyal to her, even when other girls tried to get his attention. She just needed to have faith in their relationship and trust that everything would work out.

As they sat in the cafeteria, Amani joined them, her usual bright energy filling the space. She plopped down beside Afnan, grinning. "What's up, ladies? You're both looking so serious!"

Afnan forced a smile, trying to shake off her worries. "Just talking about life, you know."

Amani gave her a teasing nudge. "Or is it, Maalik? You're always thinking about him, aren't you?"

Afnan blushed, but before she could respond, Lailah interjected with a laugh. "Of course, she is. The wedding's coming up. It's only natural."

Amani's grin widened, though Afnan noticed a slight glint in her eyes. "Well, just remember, Afnan, not all guys are what they seem. But I'm sure Maalik's different, right?"

Afnan frowned, unsure if Amani was joking or not. Before she could ask, Amani changed the subject, talking about a new course they were all taking.

As the conversation moved on, Afnan couldn't help but feel a little unsettled. Amani's comment, though light-hearted, left a small seed of doubt in her mind. But as Lailah had said, she needed to trust Maalik. He had never given her a reason to doubt him before, and she wasn't going to start now.

After a long day of classes, Afnan returned home, her mind still replaying the conversation she had with Lailah. She resolved to talk to Maalik later that night, just to check in and remind him how much she missed him. But for now, she would be patient, just as Lailah had advised.

As Afnan got ready for bed that night, she sent Maalik a simple message: ' miss you. I hope you're doing okay. Call me when you can.'

She stared at her phone, waiting for the familiar ping of his reply. But as the minutes passed, no message came. Afnan sighed, setting her phone aside. Maybe Lailah was right. Maybe he was just busy.

But as the night grew darker and the silence in her room grew heavier, Afnan couldn't help but feel a small, nagging sense of doubt.