What He Saw
312 Words
Chapter 8: What He Saw
The knock came without warning.
Three sharp knocks.
Tife's heart skipped.
Umar walked to the door and opened it.
Idris stood there.
His eyes moved from Umar... to Tife.
He didn't miss how close they had been.
The silence.
The tension.
The unspoken connection.
Something dark flashed across his face.
Jealousy.
"So this is where you've been," Idris said quietly.
Tife swallowed hard.
"It's not what you think."
"No?" His voice was calm, but his eyes burned. "Then tell me what I should think."
Umar stepped forward.
"You should leave."
Idris laughed.
"I don't take orders from strangers."
"I'm not asking."
The air turned heavy.
Tife quickly stepped between them.
"Please... don't."
Idris looked at her, his expression softening for only a second.
"You really don't remember, do you?"
She frowned.
"Remember what?"
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small velvet box.
Inside was an old engagement ring.
Tife stared at it, confused.
"What is this?"
Idris held her gaze.
"You were engaged."
Her breath caught.
"To who?"
His answer landed like thunder.
"To me."
The room fell silent.
Umar's jaw tightened.
"That's impossible."
"It isn't," Idris replied. "Our families arranged it years ago."
Tife shook her head.
"No... I don't remember any of this."
"You were hidden to protect you," Idris said. "Before you disappeared, that ring was yours."
Umar stepped closer.
"Enough."
"No," Idris shot back. "She deserves the truth."
The two men stood face-to-face.
Neither willing to back down.
Then Idris spoke, his voice low and steady.
"No matter how close you get to her..."
He looked directly at Umar.
"I was hers first."
Tife felt the walls closing in.
Her past.
Her present.
Two men.
Two truths.
One impossible choice.
This wasn't just about love anymore.
It was about secrets.
Power.
Destiny.
And a war that had only just begun.
- Writer
