Chapter 3 – Jealousy, Confessions & Hearts Aligned
Roshel had returned to work, her mind still tangled in the whirlwind of emotions from her week away. The memory of Alden's text,"Nakupenda sana, Kamama" ( I love you very much sweetheart), made her cheeks warm even now. She had never imagined hearing those words, not in a million dreams.
But the bliss was fragile.
One evening, as usual, she found herself at Alden's apartment for dinner. The familiar warmth of his presence made her sigh in relief. Plates clinked softly as they ate, and soft music drifted from the stereo. Then, unexpectedly, the door opened.
Merile.
Roshel froze. The girl's smile was bright, casual, too casual and the sight of her standing there unannounced made Roshel's chest tighten. A flame of jealousy ignited, sharp and unrelenting.
"Hello, my name is Merile. Alden is my friend," the girl introduced herself, her voice cheerful.
Roshel blinked, forcing herself to respond, "Hello Merile, I'm Roshel. A friend of Alden's," she said with a polite smile, unsure what to say since their relationship hadn't been clearly defined.
"Ooh, pleased to meet you! I came over because I was bored, and Alden had promised to take me out. I wasn't sure I'd find him home, but I came anyway. Sorry to interrupt you guys. I'll be on my way," Merile explained.
But by this point, Roshel's mind couldn't think straight. She suddenly realized Alden had stepped out at some point, leaving just the two of them alone.
No. I can't do this. I need to get going, she thought. Clutching her bag, she headed for the door and closed it with a bang.
At home, her fingers shook as she typed a message, pride and hurt spilling onto the screen:
"I can't do this. A man having a lady randomly show up at his place this time of day is not the kind of man I see myself getting entangled with. I'm out gracefully."
She hit send before second-guessing herself. The message flew into Alden's inbox.
Alden's phone buzzed immediately. He read her message and froze, a pang of panic gripping him. "Roshel…" he whispered, but she was already gone. He sent a flurry of messages and tried calling, but all went unanswered.
For the next few days, silence stretched between them like a vast canyon. Alden tried reaching out at work, but Roshel avoided him like a plague. The unspoken tension was unbearable, yet it forced her to confront her true feelings.
One afternoon, she overheard him on a call with a female friend, laughing and joking. Her heart twisted painfully when he told the friend to save his contact with a love emoji. To anyone else, it might have been harmless but to Roshel, it felt like a betrayal. Emotional security, the one thing she craved seemed to slip through her fingers.
By the weekend, she resolved to leave before her contract ended. "Out of sight, out of mind," she told herself, packing with cold determination.
But fate had other plans. Her manager needed last-minute corrections on her documents, forcing her to stay a few more days. The extra time almost drove her crazy; she still had to see Alden at every corner, interacting with other women. There was no choice. With that in mind, she sought out Belinda, a knowledgeable colleague, to help her make the necessary corrections.
Yet even while working, her eyes couldn't help following Alden as he passed by, chatting and laughing with a female colleague. Jealousy brewed in her heart.
Belinda noticed the storm behind Roshel's eyes.
"You okay?" she asked gently.
"I'm… not okay. My mother hasn't been feeling well; she was admitted for a week and just discharged yesterday, but she isn't doing well," Roshel replied, offering a half-truth. She couldn't exactly confess she was suffering from jealousy over a relationship that hadn't been defined.
"Sorry about your mom. Have you talked to her?" Belinda asked softly.
"I have, but she keeps assuring me she's fine. Still… from her voice, I can tell she's not getting better," Roshel continued. Her excuse wasn't entirely fabricated as her mother had been slightly unwell but it was enough to cover her true feelings.
Belinda decided to give her space for an hour to talk to her mother and get back to work when ready. But Roshel knew exactly what her problem was and decided to confront it. She picked up her phone and called Alden, asking him to meet for a few minutes.
In the stillness, Roshel's heart spoke louder than her fears. She loved Alden. She needed him. Every stolen glance, every shared laugh, every small gesture, the jacket in the rain, the shoulder for her head, the playful teasing it all pointed to the same truth.
No matter the fear, no matter the pride, she could not deny it any longer.
With trembling hands, she dialed his number.
"Roshel?" Alden's voice came instantly, warmth and concern lacing every syllable.
"Where are you? I need to see you right now," she said urgently.
A pause. Then softly:
"Where are you? I'll come find you." She gave him her location and hung up.
Relief and joy surged through her, warm and unstoppable. Moments later, Alden arrived. Without wasting words, she rushed into his arms.
"I love you, Alden. I always have. You're all I need," she muttered softly, only the two of them hearing.
"I love you too," Alden said with a smile, pulling her closer.
Then, with a playful yet tender tone, Alden whispered:
"So… from today, 1st August 2025, we're officially ours?"
Roshel's face lit up. "I'm yours," she whispered, burying her face in his chest.
And so it was.
The world could wait. For Roshel and Alden, this moment, this connection was enough.
From pecks on the lips to deep kisses not yet defined, from late-night strolls to hugs on a bridge, from walking under the rain to whispered words, they finally connected. At this moment, nothing else mattered.
Premium tears were no longer a worry. They were now a symbol of love, of moments that mattered, and of a bond that would endure.
She was his. He was hers.
The End.
Epilogue; A Glimpse Of Life After
Roshel and Alden had finally made it official. Their hearts still raced with the thrill of the new beginning, and to celebrate, Alden invited her for dinner.
The restaurant was warm, candlelight flickering softly across their table. Roshel could barely focus on the food; Alden's eyes, dark and steady, seemed to draw her in with every glance. They laughed, shared bites, and for a moment, the world outside didn't exist.
When Alden drove her back to his place afterward, the tension hung between them, sweet, heavy, undeniable.
"Roshel," he said softly as they stood by the door, his hand brushing hers, "are you sure…?"
She nodded, heart thudding. "Yes. Tonight, I just want to be with you."
He pulled her into a kiss gentle at first, then deeper, warmer, as though neither wanted to breathe. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer, until every barrier between them blurred. She trembled against him, her fingers curling into his shirt.
Alden's lips traced her jaw, then her neck. His voice came low, teasing: "You're making it hard for me to stop, Kamama."( kamama- darling/ sweetheart)
"Then don't," she whispered, cheeks burning but eyes steady.
Slowly, he led her toward the bedroom. With care, he began to unbutton her blouse, his fingers lingering on her skin as if memorizing every inch. Roshel's breath hitched; her nerves melted into anticipation. When he slid the fabric off her shoulders, he kissed her again, softer, reverent. She tugged at his shirt in return, and soon they were tangled in both laughter and desire.
They didn't rush. Every kiss, every touch was unhurried, a promise of the love they had just begun to claim. That night became their first memory as lovers, intimate and tender, sealed with whispers only the two of them would ever know.
Days slipped by like honey, sweet and fleeting. But the time for Roshel to leave drew near.
At the bus station, Alden carried her bag as though it weighed nothing, though his heart felt unbearably heavy. They clung to each other in a long embrace, neither wanting to let go.
"Stay," he whispered against her hair.
"You know I can't," she replied softly, her throat tight.
The bus driver's whistle cut through the air. They pulled apart reluctantly, eyes locked until the very last second, when Roshel finally boarded. As the bus pulled away, Alden raised his hand in farewell, forcing a smile though his chest ached.
That was the start of their long-distance chapter.
They lived through each other's voices, through WhatsApp texts and video calls that stretched late into the night. Sometimes, they joked. Other times, silence carried their longing across the screen.
One night, after hours of chatting, Roshel whispered, "I miss you so much, it hurts."
Alden smiled sadly through the camera. "Just one month, Kamama...( Darling).Then I'll hold you again."
And true to his word, a month later, Roshel returned.
Their reunion was sweet chaos tight hugs, stolen kisses, laughter spilling like water from a full glass. Alden didn't want to leave her alone, so even during his hospital shifts, Roshel tagged along.
One evening, they sat side by side in the hospital lounge. Roshel spread out her notes and assignments on the table. Alden leaned over, pointing out sections, helping her explain microbiology concepts with the patience of a tutor. She teased him whenever he got too serious, and he rewarded her with a kiss on the cheek.
"You're distracting," she complained, hiding a smile.
"Good," he said simply.
That week was theirs; days of study, nights of whispered love, and moments stitched into the kind of memories one never forgets.
A few weeks later, the unexpected happened.
Roshel realized she was late. Nervous, she bought a test, and when the lines appeared clear and undeniable, her hands shook. She was pregnant.
When she told Alden, his reaction left her speechless. He lifted her off the ground in pure joy, spinning her gently before setting her down and kissing her forehead.
"Roshel," he breathed, eyes shining, "we're going to be parents."
Later that night, as they lay curled together, Alden's playful side emerged.
"So, what do we name our little one? I was thinking… Proteus mirabilis. Strong, unique."
Roshel burst into laughter. "If you ever want our child to be named after bacteria, then you better be the one to go to the labor room and push!"
"Alright, alright," he chuckled, feigning defeat. "What about Desiderata coli? Sounds exotic, doesn't it?"
Roshel smacked his arm lightly. "Alden! You want to name our child after E.coli? Dream on!"
"Fine, fine. Casei then, after Lactobacillus casei. At least it's a friendly one."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop laughing. " That's still a bacteria, besides It's barely a month old, Alden. Relax!"
Soon after, Alden took Roshel to meet his family. He only had his mother and a younger sister. Nervous, Roshel clutched his hand tightly as they walked in.
Alden's mother embraced her warmly the moment they were introduced. "So, this is the girl who makes my son smile differently," she said with a knowing grin.
His younger sister, bright-eyed and curious, pulled Roshel into an instant friendship, chatting away as though they had known each other for years. Their acceptance washed over Roshel like sunlight, melting away her worries.
"We're happy to have you in our family," his mother said sincerely, her hand resting gently on Roshel's. "And we can't wait to welcome the little one."
Roshel's heart swelled. Thankful she would not have to deal with a hateful mother -in- law. she felt truly at home.
Months passed, and the pregnancy journey unfolded. Roshel battled morning sickness, cravings, and sudden tears, but Alden was there for every moment, rubbing her back, fetching midnight snacks, whispering encouragement.
Then came the ultrasound. They had expected to see one heartbeat. Instead, the doctor smiled and said, "Congratulations, you're having twins."
Roshel blinked in disbelief. "Twins?"
Alden squeezed her hand tightly, his grin stretching ear to ear. "Two? Kamama, do you hear that? Two little miracles!"
/Kamama- endearment in Swahili/
That night, Roshel sat on the bed, her hand resting on her belly. She whispered softly to the life growing inside her. "Two of you… I can hardly believe it." Her eyes misted, but her lips curved into a smile.
Alden crouched down beside her, pressing his ear gently against her stomach. "Hey, little ones," he murmured, "your daddy's here. And I already love you both."
Roshel brushed her fingers through his hair, her heart overflowing. For the first time, she fully believed their love had created something far greater than either of them alone.
Nine months later, their world changed forever.
Roshel gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy. Their cries filled the room, raw and beautiful. Tears streamed down Roshel's cheeks as Alden kissed her forehead, whispering words of love and pride.
They named their daughter Raven Mirielle and their son Riven Mariel.
A month later, Roshel stood proudly in her graduation gown, holding her degree in Medical Microbiology while Alden stood beside her with the twins in his arms. Their little family was complete.A picture of love, growth, and beginnings.
For Roshel and Alden, the journey had only just begun.
Behind the Cover
The inspiration behind the cover comes from the little things that made our love unforgettable. The royal blue symbolizes loyalty, the kind that held us steady through doubts. The rain recalls the moment Alden took off his jacket to cover Roshel's hair. The bridge reminds me of our night strolls, where we hugged each other, neither willing to let go. The kiss reflects those moments we shared freely, enjoying each other without defining what we were yet. Sometimes even sneaking around during work hours just to steal one more kiss.
The book cover was inspired by an image that holds the essence of our love. Every time I look at it, I see not just a picture, but our story, the smiles, the storms, and the promises that keep us together. This story was born as a gift for him, but now it stands here as a gift to share with you, too. It