The days passed in a blur for Rahan, each one more hectic than the last. His responsibilities at Line Cross Ltd. were piling up, and the pressure to meet deadlines weighed on him like a heavy cloud. He found himself constantly stressed, his mind occupied with meetings, presentations, and endless paperwork. As much as he wanted to spend time with Saher, his newfound relationship seemed to be slipping between his fingers.
Every time he logged into the game, Saher's presence brought a brief moment of joy. Her voice, her laughter, and the way she greeted him with that familiar excitement never failed to lift his spirits. But lately, even that couldn't shake the tension that had taken root in him. He tried to hide it, putting on his usual cheerful persona, but Saher wasn't fooled.
"Is everything okay?" she asked one evening as they played together. It was the third time she'd asked him that week.
"Of course," he replied quickly, not wanting to burden her with his stress. "I'm happy, really."
But Saher wasn't convinced. She had noticed his change in mood. He wasn't as talkative or playful as before, and it felt like he was holding something back. Her heart ached with the fear that something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She wondered if he was growing distant from her, and the thought gnawed at her.
That night, after finishing a long task in the game, Rahan sensed Saher's quiet unease. She had been unusually silent, only offering short responses. It was unlike her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, breaking the silence.
There was a pause before she replied. "I've just been wondering... are you really happy with me?"
Rahan's heart sank. He had tried so hard not to let his work stress affect their relationship, but now Saher was questioning his feelings. He didn't hesitate in his response.
"I am happy," he reassured her. "I love you, Saher."
Though his words were sincere, he could feel her hesitation on the other side of the screen. Something was still bothering her.
After a few moments of silence, Saher typed slowly, her message appearing in fragments on his screen: "Were you ever hurt... before we started dating? Did you have someone else... in your mind?"
Rahan sat back, staring at the words. He hadn't expected this question. For a moment, he considered brushing it off, but he realized this was something that had been weighing on her heart. Saher deserved the truth.
With a deep breath, he began typing, carefully choosing his words as he shared his past with her.
"I've had three relationships before," he admitted. "The first one was with someone I considered a close friend. We got along well, but it ended as quickly as it began. No hard feelings, just drifted apart."
Saher read quietly, waiting for him to continue.
"The second one... was different," he typed, pausing as memories came flooding back. "I was with her for years. She was someone I thought I'd spend my life with. Even after we broke up, I couldn't get her out of my mind for a long time. I even carried those feelings into my third relationship."
Saher's heart tightened as she read, imagining how much that second relationship must have meant to him.
"But that's all in the past," Rahan added quickly. "The second one is still a close friend, but she's moved on, and she's dating someone else now. And as for me... I only have you in my heart now."
Rahan hit send, his fingers trembling slightly. He had never talked so openly about his past with anyone before, especially not with Saher. But in that moment, he realized something: it felt good to let her in, to trust her with the parts of his life that weren't so easy to talk about.
Saher took a moment to process his words. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she thought about what to say next. Part of her felt relieved to finally understand what had been weighing on his mind, but another part of her couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
"Thank you for telling me," she finally typed. "I just... wanted to understand."
"I get that," Rahan replied. "And I'm sorry if it seemed like I was distant. Work's been tough lately, but I don't want you to ever feel like you're not important to me."
That night, for the first time in a long time, Rahan felt lighter. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and for the first time, he felt like he could truly be himself with Saher. They continued talking late into the night, sharing stories about their lives, their dreams, and the parts of themselves they had kept hidden.
Rahan smiled as he looked at the screen, feeling closer to Saher than ever before. He wasn't sure what the future held for them, but for now, he was content in knowing that they were both willing to be open with each other, even when it wasn't easy.
Would this newfound openness bring them closer together, or would the shadows of the past continue to linger?
End of Chapter 2