I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING. My knees were pulled to my chest as I sat on the neat bed, my eyes darting between my feet to the window noticing it was starting to get dark.

My heard palpitated in my chest as I reached for my phone coming across the numerous missed calls from my sister. I was quick to call her back placing the phone to my ear.

"You scared me. You weren't picking up." I could hear the relieved sigh escaping her lips as she shouted into the phone. I jerked my head back wincing from her volume letting out a chuckle.

"I'm sorry. I just needed some time to process everything." I mumbled into the phone running my hand over one of my toes I accidentally hit the dustbin with on my way in.

"I honestly thought mama was joking when she told me. I was speechless and hurt. I wasn't there to support you." She complained. "Where are you right now?" She added.

"In my room." I mumbled darting my eyes to the dresser beside me noticing a paper bag resting on it. I furrowed my brows running a hand down my face tiredly.

"That's the best option. Has he said anything to you at all?" Safiyya questioned causing me to remember the brief conversation we had earlier.

"We did talk about how it would be, and we just decided to do what we want to do. Something like that." I mumbled scratching my eye.

"Have you eaten?" Safiyya asked me making me furrow my eyebrows before letting out a laugh.

"How could I?" I wheezed hearing Safiyya scoff on the other line.

"I'll order for you. Wait, you don't even know your address how can I order?" She said and I facepalmed at the fact that she didn't even think about that.

"How did I manage to take the whole brain." I mumbled as she screeched shouting into the phone making me laugh.

"What did you say!" She cried out dramatically.

"I don't think I'll be able to eat. Anyway I need to go get some water. I'll call you back." I said ending the call, looking down at my outfit which was a thin strapped silk nightgown that was under my knees. I quickly snatched the robe off the hanger throwing it on.

I pulled on my robe, making sure to tie the bands tightly incase he wanted to make a move. I silently sneaked down the stairs hoping he wasn't there. I switch on the lights to the living room finding it empty. I sighed in relief not bothering to switch on the lights of the kitchen considering it was already on.

I walked to the fridge to get some water but jumped when I heard slight movement beside the fridge. I slammed the door shut coming to face with my beloved husband. He was holding a mug in one hand and the other resting in his pocket.

At the abrupt sound, he turned to face me slowly running his eyes over my figure before walking out of the kitchen. I quickly gulped down the water I retrieved from the fridge releasing a satisfied breath.

Tired of sitting in my room doing nothing, I leaned my upper body onto the island as I tapped away on my phone. Some minutes later, Ibrahim walked into the kitchen with an empty cup.

My eyes unknowingly followed him as he moved across the kitchen. My eyes were getting low as he met my gaze, his eyes lowered. If I wasn't mistaken, he just finished drinking coffee but he looked like he was any minute from falling asleep.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. It was uncalled for." I called out causing him to turn around with a cocked brow. I smiled staring down at my hands before looking up at him.

"It's understandable. That's the normal reaction." He shrugged.

"I—" I cut herself off mid sentence, tucking my lips in her mouth. "I want us to start over without the dramatics." I confessed, my eyes boring into his.

He nodded slowly leaning against the counter nodding his head in understanding. "I guess. Anything you want to know?" He asked with his eyes on me making me feel a bit self conscious.

"Anything at this point." I muttered fiddling with my fingers.

Ibrahim hummed at this, pushing himself off the counter waking towards me until he was standing in front of me, his hands resting flat on the island on either side of me making my breath hitch.

"I'm not sure you'll want that." He mumbled and I hummed, not understanding where he was going with this.

"And why's that?" I asked tilting my head to the side. He sighed before he pulled away leaning on the counter opposite me.

"I'm a soldier. I can be called at any time and there's a fifty percent chance I might not come back. I think that's why my parents insist I get married. I don't want that for you. It's obvious our parents have our common interest at heart, but I can't subject you into something that will hurt you in the end." He explained, his tone low but audible. It was kind of soothing to be honest.

"And what makes you so sure of that?" I tilted my head to the side, my brows furrowed.

"Because that's the life I chose to live. A pointer for you." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Why are you talking like you've already accepted what's coming your way?" I asked genuinely curious. He looked like he was ready to die today and I wasn't a fan of that.

"I have." He replied flatly.

"Why? It can't be that bad. I've known people who have been soldiers for a long time and they've still lived. What makes yours any different?" I asked standing straight.

"Not everyone gets dispatched to a war zone, Sumayya." He licked his lips letting out a breath as a laugh. I didn't know why my stupid self liked the way my name sounded on his lips as I folded my lips together trying to suppress the smile desperately trying to make an appearance.

"Then why bother getting married?" I asked.

"My mother insists I do. At this point I just do what she wants. I had no idea this was going to happen. And even if it were to happen I thought you would have the knowledge of it." Ibrahim explained shrugging his shoulders lazily.

"But—I'm sorry I'm turning this into an interrogation. I'm trying to make sense of things I guess." I scoffed shaking my head averting my gaze to the marble counter behind me.

"It's okay. I would've done the same thing. This went well actually." He let out a laugh causing a brief smile to take over my face, his laugh being infectious as it bounced around the kitchen.

"How?" I mused staring closely at him.

"I expected us to be on each other's throats as we shouted trying to make sense of it, which wouldn't make sense but here we are sharing a cup of coffee." He motioned to the empty cup sitting beside him making me roll my eyes playfully.

"Do we have—" I cut myself off midway looking away, feeling too embarrassed to continue the sentence.

"Do we have—what?" He trailed off just like I did feigning ignorance as he pulled his brows together, trying to appear confused but I could see the mischievous glint in his eyes, his lip slightly tilting up.

"Do we have to—" I bit my lip letting out a nervous chuckle as I caught him staring at me amusedly from the corner of my eye. "I feel like you know what I'm taking about." I chuckled causing him to raise his hands up in defense.

I know what you might be thinking, I'm a twenty four year old and I can't even utter the word "sex" to my husband, but I don't know why, it just felt weird to. If it were under any other circumstance, I would've finished the sentence with care in the world, not bothering to care what he'll think of me whether it was good or bad. But I don't know why I felt the need to paint a good image of myself for him and nothing else.

"Just messing with you." He laughed pushing himself off the counter standing at his full height, easily towering over me. "You can take as much time as you need." His eyes flickered to the knot I tied around my waist before looking back into my eyes, letting out a low chuckle walking past me and out of the kitchen.

CHAPTER FOUR FINISHED

Sparks are flying between the two👀

What else will?