Alina had always been a woman of strength, but in the days following the discovery of her pregnancy, she felt as though she was barely holding herself together. The secret weighed on her, a constant reminder of everything she wasn't ready to face. Zain was the only person who knew, but that didn't ease the burden. She had made a decision—she would carry this burden alone, for now. Telling Aariz felt impossible; the thought of facing him, of dealing with his reaction, was too much to bear.
Work became her refuge, a place where she could focus and push everything else aside. Each meeting, every report, every email was a distraction. She kept herself busy to avoid thinking about the one thing she couldn't avoid—the pregnancy and what it meant for her life.
But even as she threw herself into her work, Alina couldn't ignore the subtle changes in Aariz. The way he watched her when they passed each other in the hallway, the way his gaze lingered during meetings. She could feel it—the concern, the confusion—but she was careful to keep her distance. If he knew what was really going on, it would change everything. She couldn't let him know.
At the office, they continued their routine—meetings, reports, and the usual work dynamics. But each time Aariz spoke to her, Alina couldn't help but notice the weight of his words. It was as if he was waiting for her to crack, waiting for her to reveal what was wrong. And Alina? She made sure she never did. She deflected his attempts, kept her answers short, and avoided his questions with practiced ease.
It was in one of these meetings that the tension between them became palpable. Alina sat at the far end of the conference table, pretending to be engrossed in the proposal in front of her. Aariz spoke up, asking for her opinion, his voice cutting through her thoughts.
"Alina," he called, his tone more insistent this time. "What do you think?"
She snapped back into the moment, keeping her face neutral, her thoughts carefully guarded. "I think it's solid, but we need to refine a few details. Let's go over them before moving forward."
Her voice was professional, but there was a coldness to it that she couldn't disguise. Aariz seemed to notice, but he didn't push. He nodded, signaling for the meeting to move on, but his eyes didn't leave her.
---
After the meeting, as the team filed out, Aariz took a step toward her, clearly intent on speaking with her. She felt the familiar pang of anxiety in her chest but masked it with a calm exterior.
"Alina," Aariz started, his voice softer this time, "I've been meaning to talk to you. About… us."
Alina's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't let it show. "There's nothing to talk about, Aariz. We're fine. Let's focus on the work," she said, her tone firm and unwavering.
Before he could respond, she stood up quickly, gathering her things and moving toward the door. "I really need to go, Aariz," she said, keeping her voice steady, though her insides were anything but calm.
She made a swift exit, the sound of his footsteps fading behind her. She didn't look back.
---
Later that night, alone in her apartment, Alina sat on the couch, staring blankly at the wall. Her phone buzzed with a message from Zain, asking how she was holding up. She smiled faintly but didn't respond immediately. She had been avoiding everyone, keeping her emotions locked away, and Zain had been the only one to check in on her.
When she finally replied, her message was short, almost to the point of being dismissive. "I'm fine. Just need some time."
She stood up, pacing the room, trying to push back the rising panic inside her. She couldn't keep doing this—avoiding Aariz, keeping secrets, pretending that everything was fine when it wasn't. But what other choice did she have?
Alina sat down again, her head in her hands. This wasn't how she imagined things would go. She had always been in control, always the one with a plan. But now, everything felt out of control.
The thought of telling Aariz, of opening up to him, seemed impossible. She couldn't bear the idea of him knowing about the pregnancy—not yet. And so, she continued to run.
---
The next day, Alina received a few more messages from Aariz, each one more insistent than the last. But she ignored them all, knowing that replying would only bring more questions. She had to keep the distance.
And so, she did. She stayed busy with work, focusing on the details, throwing herself into projects and meetings. Every time Aariz tried to engage with her, she skillfully deflected, making sure to keep the conversation professional and brief.
Her avoidance didn't go unnoticed, though. Aariz began to wonder if something had changed between them. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was a shift in her behavior that he couldn't ignore.
But Alina wasn't ready to confront him. Not yet.
---
Days passed, and the tension continued to build. Alina knew she couldn't keep running forever. Eventually, she would have to face Aariz, face the truth. But for now, she needed space—space to think, to breathe, to make decisions.
One evening, after another long day at work, Alina made a decision. She packed a small bag, just enough for a short getaway. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew she had to leave. She couldn't stay here, not with everything hanging between them.
Before she left, she quickly typed a message to Zain. "Gone for a bit. I need space. I'll be okay."
She didn't leave a note for Aariz. There was no need. She couldn't let him know where she was going or why. Not yet.
She slipped out of her apartment in the dead of night, leaving behind a life she wasn't ready to face.
---
Aariz, meanwhile, continued to reach out to her, but his messages went unanswered. He felt the growing distance between them, but he couldn't figure out why. Alina had always been straightforward with him—until now.
He tried to convince himself that it was just stress or work, that it would pass. But deep down, he knew something was wrong. She wasn't just avoiding him—she was running.
But from what? And why?
He had no answers, only questions. And the silence between them was suffocating.
---
Alina had disappeared, leaving Aariz to wonder where she had gone. She had left no trace, no hint, no explanation. The only thing he knew was that she wasn't coming back—at least, not yet.
As Alina ventured into the unknown, she was determined to find peace, to figure out what her next steps should be without the constant pressure of Aariz. The truth of her situation, her pregnancy, and her future were still uncertain. But for now, she would keep the answers to herself.
And Aariz would remain in the dark.