Chapter 13. part 1 until 5
763 Words
📖 Chapter 13: The Storm He Didn’t See Coming
🌧️ Theme: Sometimes the people who look the strongest are the ones slowly breaking inside.
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🌙 Part 1/5: Her Silence Was Louder Than His Words
It was raining again.
Qisya sat by the window, chin resting on her knees, eyes tracing the trails of water down the glass. The notebook was beside her, open — but untouched. Today, even writing felt heavy.
Hariz was at the dining table, flipping through a work file.
But he wasn’t reading it.
He was watching her reflection in the window. The way she curled into herself. The way her shoulders barely rose with each breath.
Something wasn’t right.
She hadn’t said much in two days. No gentle sarcasm. No soft smiles. Even her footsteps were quieter, as though she was shrinking.
And for the first time, Hariz noticed.
Really noticed.
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“Qisya,” he said softly.
She didn’t look up.
“Have you eaten anything today?”
She shrugged. “Not hungry.”
“You didn’t eat last night either.”
She hugged her knees tighter.
“Stop acting like you care,” she murmured.
That hit harder than it should’ve.
Hariz stood up slowly, unsure of himself. “I do.”
She looked at him now.
Her eyes were tired.
“No, Hariz. You feel things. I believe that. But you never show it until it’s too late.”
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🌙 Part 2/5: The Cracks in Her Strength
Later that evening, Qisya stood in the kitchen trying to make tea. Her fingers were trembling slightly. The mug slipped from her grasp and crashed into the sink.
Hariz rushed in.
“You okay?”
She didn’t answer.
Her eyes were glassy.
Her body swayed a little.
“Qisya—”
She collapsed against the counter.
He caught her before she hit the floor, arms locking around her waist, heart racing.
“Hey—hey, look at me,” he whispered, tapping her cheek gently. “Qisya?”
Her forehead was burning.
She was burning up.
Without thinking, he lifted her into his arms.
She didn’t protest.
Didn’t even speak.
Just rested her head against his chest — like she had no energy left to fight.
And in that moment, Hariz realised something terrifying.
She had always carried the weight of this marriage.
And now… she was breaking.
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🌙 Part 3/5: The Care He Never Gave
He laid her gently on the bed, pulled the blanket over her and grabbed a wet towel to place on her forehead.
Qisya blinked weakly. “You don’t have to…”
“I want to,” he said, firmer than he intended.
She looked at him — surprised.
Maybe even confused.
He sat beside her, brushing her hair away from her damp face.
“I should’ve noticed earlier. I’m sorry.”
She closed her eyes.
A tear escaped from the corner of her eye.
Hariz stared at it like it was a punishment.
He had caused too many of her tears.
But this one… this one broke something in him.
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He stayed by her side the whole night.
Changed the towel.
Checked her temperature.
Held her hand when she stirred in her sleep.
At one point, she whispered something barely audible.
He leaned in close.
“…don’t go.”
His heart clenched.
He didn’t move.
“I won’t,” he whispered back.
For once, he meant every word.
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🌙 Part 4/5: The Letter He Found
The next morning, Qisya was still asleep, her breathing steadier.
Hariz stepped out quietly to let her rest.
On the desk, he noticed her notebook. The lavender one. The one he had sent without signing.
He hesitated.
But something made him open it.
Just one page.
“I think I’m falling in love with someone I was told to marry.”
He froze.
His chest tightened.
He read it again.
And again.
The page was dated two nights ago.
That was after the coffee. After the argument. After he said he didn’t know what he felt.
She had written this… even after all of that.
Even when he’d done everything wrong.
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🌙 Part 5/5: The Fire That Lit Too Late
When Qisya woke up, she found a small white flower on her nightstand. Wild jasmine. Her favourite.
She blinked.
Then saw the note underneath.
“For the girl who still has the strength to love even when she’s tired.
– H.”
She held it to her chest.
Tears slipped down her cheeks again.
But this time, they didn’t hurt.
They healed.
- Writer
