A/N: I know I've been linking a lot of songs that inspire a chapter recently but these really help fuel the emotion when I'm writing! The one I linked above [90 Days by P!nk (feat. Wrabel)] really hits different during the second half of this chapter. Of course, I'll let you know when to play it!

- - -

- Noor's POV -

Let me tell you, waking up to the waves of the sea and beautiful sunlight is completely different than waking up at home. It's more of a gentle way of starting your day instead of the usual hectic alarm clock scaring the living life out of you.

Now, you all must be wondering the juicy gossip of how my night with Yasir went... I would love for someone to tell me too because I knocked out minutes after taking a shower and when I woke up, Yasir wasn't beside me.

Though I can tell he did sleep beside me because of the impression on the mattress on his side of the bed.

I quickly get up to check my phone, it's 6:30 AM. I have never in my entirety of life have ever woken up this early all by myself with no life-threatening alarm.

What's the first thing I do? Take a photo of the view so I can post on my Instagram story, of course. Am I showing off? Just a little bit... let a girl live out her dreams!

I quickly freshen up and perform Fajr nama'az, thanking Allah for this blessed opportunity. The view of the sea from the room has fulfilled my spirit for the next while.

I also take a note to take a bath in the master suite's bathtub before we go home because the bathtub is gorgeous! I'd like to experience this even though I'm more of a shower person than a bath person.

Once I get dressed, I decide to finally look for Yasir.

"Yasir?" I call out.

I haven't seen him in the last hour and haven't heard a single sound from anyone.

"What if he ditched me here so he can go back home and spend time with Nadira?" I say out loud in slight panic. "That'd be stupid, how would he even get away with that?"

I laugh at myself for thinking of something so outraged but hey, I'm a little suspicious.

I walk down the stairs, calling out Yasir's name a few times. This time, panic really sets in because I couldn't hear anything expect my own breathing.

"Ah, shoot. My hands are getting cold..." a clear sign that my heart will start pounding like crazy because my anxiety is peaking through.

I stumble across the backyard, which is anything but a normal backyard. It has an eight chair outdoor patio and a large pool, which also overlooks the sea.

But right now, all I can think about is finding Yasir.

"Please tell me he didn't leave me..." my voice starts shaking.

"Boo!" Yasir's loud voice erupts from behind me.

When I tell you my soul left my body, I'm sure I'm not joking.

"Yasir!" I smack his arm. "Why would you scare me like that?"

"I didn't think a small 'boo' would scare you..." he laughs uncontrollably.

"Not that. I thought you left me by myself." I mutter.

"Why would I do that?" He asks, confused.

"I don't know! Maybe gain an opportunity to go on a rendezvous with Nadira!" I answer honestly.

"No, my panicked princess. I know you don't like being left alone in unfamiliar places. If I were to ditch you, I'd make sure you're somewhere comfortable." He says as he bites into an apple.

See? He says stupid, little nice things like this, which makes me want to love him even more!

"Funny." I roll my eyes. "I thought I was your impudent and heartless princess?"

"You're also panicking all the time." He answers. "Hey... how come you only ever refer to me as your rich prince?"

"Because that's your only personality trait." I tease him while eating the breakfast that was laid out for us on the patio table.

"That's extremely rude." He furrows his eyebrows. "I deserve a better adjective."

"You act like impudence, heartlessness and panic are honourable traits to describe me with." I argue.

"I guess you're right. It's better to be your rich prince." He grins.

"Exactly." I laugh.

For the rest of breakfast, we actually enjoyed a nice, funny conversation. The more I think about it, the more I notice the cracks in Yasir's personality revealing the old Yasu. The thought of knowing that the old him still exists warms my heart.

• • •

[A/N: You can play the song starting now, if you'd like!]

"What are we doing today?" I ask as I shut the car door.

"Probably driving around to see beaches, museums and bazaars." He says. "Bodrum is a more smaller, less touristy city compared to Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale. There's less to see but everything is nice and calm."

"I'll be down for anything. I haven't left our city in years, this is a trip of my dreams and I didn't even dream it." I grin.

"Next time, when we have more time, we'll visit Istanbul and Cappadocia. They're gorgeous cities." He smiles.

I couldn't help but notice how much happier Yasir looks right now, despite being here because of his fight with Nadira.

As he looks on at the road, his lips have been slightly upturned into a small smile. The wind is rushing through us, twirling around our heads and whistling in our ears. I can tell he feels free, even I feel free.

I can watch him be this happy for the rest of my life. You know what's funny? Falling in love with Yasir was probably the easiest part but admitting to myself that it actually happened was tougher than I expected.

He's right here, right beside me yet there's still a distance between us and that terrifies me. I keep telling myself to imagine myself hiding from him, that way it might hurt less.

But I keep falling in love with him and it doesn't get better because every time I do, it's harder than the last. Every time he's sweet, the feeling is deeper and captivating.

I know I would do everything to keep him safe, I would do anything to keep him from getting hurt. He's never going to have to ask me to care for him, he'll never have to ask me to show him affection because it'll always be there.

I have admitted all this to myself but will I ever tell him any of this? This feeling, driving around with him, making memories, laughing, teasing; what happens to all of this if Nadira does want him back?

I know I'm somebody who he'll leave within a heartbeat if she asked him to run away with him. I don't even know if this is something I can prepare for.

"Noor, look—are you okay?" Yasir asks, taking short glimpses at me.

"Uh, yeah." I quickly snap out of it.

"Did someone say something?"

Yes, you.

"No, I'm just glad you're enjoying yourself." I smile. "I don't think I've seen you like this ever since I started working for you. Good to know that you still remember how to have fun."

He looks at me with the eyes I've been longing for; with the gentle, soft gaze that rests on me with admiration.

My chest instantly feels like mush. I wanted to give him the longest hug, but I couldn't... not because he was driving but because if I make us a habit, how would I ever be able to break it when time comes?

"Oh? Is my heartless princess indeed not heartless?" He interlocks his hand with mine as he laughs.

But how do I tell him to be gentle with me? How do tell him to break it to me slowly so it might hurt less?

"I'm not heartless, just protecting it." I mumble under my breath.

"You need to stop worrying so much. I'll keep you and everything else in my life separate." The everything else he's hinting at is Nadira. "Just enjoy the moment, it's something I need to work on too."

I wanted to scream, yell and kick him for trying to take care of me but how do I tell him it'll never be enough unless he chooses between Nadira or I?

I wanted to ask him, I wanted to ask him about something that I know I wouldn't like the answer to. I know my heart would shatter into unfixable pieces from his answer. I know my mind, body or spirit wouldn't be able to handle the answer. But one day, when time comes, I'll ask him.

I'll ask him to choose, I'll ask him what and who he thinks is worth fighting for: lifelong happiness or recurring destruction? Love or suffering? Life or death? Myself or Nadira?

I don't know what we are. We're husband and wife yet we aren't lovers. We're friends yet we're enemies. We're lonely yet enjoying our time together.

My eyes glance over at the scars on his wrist... the pain Nadira must've caused him, the pain she's still causing him is unbearable.

I'll wage war, I'll cause a battle to make a place for myself in his heart. I won't go down without a fighting chance. However, I should always prepare for loss, to have him choose the one he's been waiting for most his years.

But he's right, I should live in the moment for now. I lift up his hand to give the back of his hand a gentle kiss.

"Thank you for this." I say genuinely.

Instead of moving his hand away, he gives my hand a reassuring squeeze.

We're both struggling, fighting an inner battle with our conscience, ethics and morals. But we're also doing it together, that counts as something.

"Should we visit the bazaar or old town?" He asks.

"Which would be emptier?" Crowds make me uncomfortable.

"Old town." He answers.

"Old town, it is then." I smile.

We spent the day with nothing but smiles and laughs on our faces. I had the most unexpectedly, wonderfully magical day of my life! I took lots of pictures and videos to treasure as memories because these will always be happy moments, no matter when we look back.

"Shall we go out for dinner?" Yasir asks.

I wrap my arms around his. "Can we please eat back at the villa?"

"I have something planned." He winks.

- - -

- A/N -

• THESE TWO ARE ALWAYS STEALING MY HEART. I LOVE THEM. LOOK AT HOW CUTE THEY ARE!

• I really do be hyping up my own fictional characters.

• Who are we rooting for? Obviously Team Yasir and Noor. ✊🏼

Next Update: Friday and Saturday, Insha'Allah!

Please vote and comment and let me know how y'all feel!!