***
A kitten played around the park. It had been abandoned.
The groceries rested in his hands, and we both stood there, watching the little kitty chase its own tail.
My heart ached as I stared at it.
I wanted it.
He glanced at me before speaking in his usual indifferent manner.
"It's a stray."
"Yes."
He gently placed the groceries on the ground and approached the kitten.
Then-
He lifted the tiny creature into his arms, its small body fitting perfectly against his hands like the final piece of a puzzle.
A soft smile curved upon his lips as he brought it closer to me and murmured,
"You can name him."
A breathy laugh escaped my lips.
He had read my mind.
As we stepped into the elevator, we were both carrying something.
In my arms was a fluffy ball of joy.
In his were our groceries.
"What do you reckon?"
he asked, gazing fondly at the kitten resting quietly in my arms.
I pondered for a moment.
The kitten was covered in soft gray fur, with two stunning green orbs for eyes. He remained silent and composed throughout, even while being held by someone unfamiliar.
He almost resembled the man standing beside me.
I brushed the kitten's fur gently with my fingertips. Slowly, he melted into my warmth, his eyes growing heavier as he became drowsy.
My gaze immediately shot up to Haider, excitement filling my expression, and without a second thought, I answered,
"Lion!"
He froze in surprise.
His lips parted slightly as he stared at me in bewilderment.
It was understandable why such a name would startle him.
There were two reasons it was rather unusual.
The first:
I had named a cat after another animal. Although they belonged to the same feline family, they were completely different species.
The second...
The more significant reason.
His name.
Haider.
A name that carried two meanings.
Lion.
Brave.
A name often given to sons with the hope that they would grow courageous like a lion and embody the meaning it carried.
Yet I still had to discover whether he had truly lived up to his own name.
Fearlessness.
Strength.
Wrath.
Those were qualities I had yet to witness.
Until now, I had only uncovered a fraction of him—no more than a pinch of salt compared to the endless ocean that was Haider.
A few days ago, he had been nothing more than a silent man, resembling the suffocating stillness of the deep sea.
Yet now...
There was a strange feeling of curiosity blooming within me.
"Meow."
The kitten squirmed gently in my arms as the elevator came to a halt. That finally gave Haider the chance to voice his opinion.
"That is a weird name."
He paused.
Then, unexpectedly, a smile appeared on his face, the same grin remaining as he continued,
"But it suits him perfectly."
He walked away, and that same smile flashed before my eyes for what felt like the millionth time—still as vivid as the first.
His smile was captivating...
Perhaps I felt that way because I rarely saw it.
Yet it was unforgettable.
More than that, I willingly refused to let it fade from my memory.
That smile alone had the ability to do so much for me.
He might have never intended it to be reassuring, but somehow, it brought me a comfort I could not explain.
I noticed him glancing back from the corner of my eye, making sure I was following behind him.
Somehow, something took over me.
I bit my lip and gently tugged on the back of his shirt.
He looked back, only to find me standing there in a vulnerable state.
I lowered my gaze and whispered beneath my breath,
"You are really unfair..."
"Yes?"
He asked, not catching my words.
His brows furrowed in confusion when I remained silent.
"Meow."
I quickly rushed past him, unable to control the warmth spreading across my face.
'DAMMM'
I closed the door behind me with a loud thud, startling Lion admits it. I slapped my forehead and sighed deeply, my heart racing.
Ba-thump
It was unforgivable if I was never married to him. At first it was admiration but now....
On this day...
The sky was filled with dissappearing stars, the groceries staff went on their day. Naima and Ireen snacked on some popsicle after seeing me off. Lion scratched the clean black sofas.
Figuratively, when the emotional waves would come crashing down when I meet his eyes again. I should erase them with an awkward laughter.
Beacuse, there was something more far beyond the sentiment of comfort and pride.
They say that every person would one day come to know it.
Some felt it in a young age and some in their late days.
However, it cane to everyone.
It was a blessing.
More than a marriage.
And more than honour.
How deep did my feelings sink in.
I couldn't consider them before but today.
His gaze and his actions.
The breakfast waiting on the table, the gentle voice he used whenever he addressed me, and the peace he unknowingly gifted me.
Whether it was Lion, his sudden acts of kindness, or the way he smiled at me with so much care hidden behind that smile...
And today, I wanted to call this feelings...
As love.