Just the two of us (EDITING)✔️

Chapter Twenty~Three

*AFAAN's POV*
I sat back, still tapping on my laptop, but my mind was far from the work in front of me. Afrah's words from earlier played over and over in my head. That anger, the way she'd stood up to me, it was new, unexpected.

I had to admit, it left me unsettled.

It wasn't that I liked being challenged. No. But there was something about her fire tonight that made me take notice. This wasn't the quiet, shy woman I'd married. She was supposed to keep to herself, wasn't she? Not shout at me, not throw things at me like she was entitled to anything in this arrangement.

Still, her words stung in a way I didn't want to admit. "Is this the thank you I deserve for being ignored as your wife for a month?"

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. Ignored, huh? Was that how she saw it? Maybe. But what else was I supposed to do when I didn't feel anything for her? There was no connection, no spark. We had been thrown into this marriage, two strangers expected to play house. How was I supposed to just... feel something?

And Anisa.

She'd been there for me long before Afrah entered the picture, always understanding, always waiting. Anisa was simple. There were no games with her. But even she had started acting up lately, especially since the wedding. Her constant rigima was starting to grate on me. The calls, the texts, the demands for attention. She knew I was married. She knew the situation. But still...

"Afaan!" Anisa's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She was calling from the guest room. I could hear the irritation in her tone.

I groaned internally, knowing this wasn't going to be anything pleasant. Anisa's moods were unpredictable lately, and I wasn't in the mood to deal with more drama. Closing my laptop, I pushed myself off the bed and made my way to the guest room, trying to mask my frustration.

As I entered, I found her sitting cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through her phone with an annoyed expression on her face.

"What is it, meh ne ne Anisa?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing.
"What do you mean what is it? You've barely spoken to me since we got here. You just dumped me in this room while your precious wife runs the house."

I sighed. Here we go again.

"Anisa, I've got things on my mind. It's not just about Afrah. I told you things would be different after the marriage. You knew that."

She threw her phone on the bed and stood up, pacing the room. "Different? This is more than different. You've been ignoring me, treating me like I don't exist. I came here because I missed you, and all you care about is keeping up appearances with that woman."

I watched her for a moment, feeling a headache forming. "What do you want me to do, Anisa? You can't keep coming here, barging into my life like this. Afrah's still my wife, and whether I like it or not, she has to be respected."

She stopped pacing and turned to face me. "*
Respected?" You call what you did earlier respecting her? You're bringing me into your house while she's still around. You're playing games, Afaan."

Her words hit harder than I expected. Playing games? Was I?

"Listen," I said, stepping closer, lowering my voice. "This isn't a game. I'm doing what I have to. Afrah and I... we don't love each other. But it doesn't mean I can disrespect her, not in front of her face like that. She's already angry enough."

Anisa scoffed, crossing her arms. "Angry? About what? That you're not giving her attention? Well, maybe if she wasn't so cold, you wouldn't be looking elsewhere."

That made me pause. Was that it? Was I drawn to Anisa because Afrah was distant? I shook my head, dismissing the thought. It wasn't that simple.

"I'm not doing this because of her. I'm with you because I want to be," I said firmly, though the conviction in my voice wavered.

Anisa took a deep breath and walked up to me, resting her hands on my chest. "Then prove it," she whispered. "Prove that you want me here."

I glanced down at her, feeling the weight of her touch, but something felt off. My mind flashed back to the kitchen earlier, the way Afrah had looked at me, her defiance, her fire. There was something about it that stuck with me, a part of me that didn't want to admit it.

"I'll talk to Afrah," I muttered, stepping back from Anisa's touch. "We'll figure things out."

Anisa frowned, her eyes searching mine. "You're still thinking about her, aren't you?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I turned and walked out of the room, leaving her standing there.

I needed space. I needed to figure out what the hell was going on with me.

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. Some days are just bad days, that's all. You have to experience sadness to know happiness, and I remind myself that not every day is going to be a good day, that's just the way it is!"