Episode 7

"Faster, honey," panted a young woman breathlessly in the room.

Sofia was rooted to the spot. Clearly, the sound of a woman's voice was discernible, but whom it belonged to, she did not know. Her chest rumbled with agitation, yet she strived to keep her composure. She was still eavesdropping on the noises coming from her lover's room.

"Command accepted, darling," he said with a smirk. Leo was nestled between the legs of a woman, his tongue at play, inducing spasms of pleasure in her.

"Do you like that, hm?" Leo asked amidst his indulgent act.

"Do it more, honey?" She teased Leo lightly.

The two, engrossed in their passionate embrace, were oblivious to the fact that the door was slightly ajar, and that Sofia had inadvertently witnessed their adulterous act.

"Astaghfirullah," Sofia steeled her heart. She fought the tears from falling. The girl handed over the cake and flowers she had brought to the building's cleaning staff.

Sofia exited with her heart slashed open by the scene she had observed—the man she loved entwined with another.

"You are strong, Sofia. You should be thankful that Allah has shown you directly that Leo is not the man for you," Sofia encouraged herself.

Now at home, the young girl greeted her mother with her signature gentle smile. "Assalamualaikum, Ma," the hijab-clad girl reached for her mother's hand and kissed it lingeringly.

Raina sensed something amiss with Sofia but decided to inquire later. "Have you had your dinner yet?" Raina's gentle nature was inherent in Sofia.

"Not yet, but I will later, Ma. I'd like to take a shower first," she declined politely.

"Sofia, if you're troubled, seek guidance from Allah," Raina advised before her daughter ascended the stairs. As a mother, she understood her child's condition without being told if she was troubled. Sofia nodded knowingly.

Once in her room, the door closed firmly behind her, her resolve crumbled, and the tears she had been holding back flooded forth. She never anticipated that Leo, the man she envisioned as her future husband, would betray her so secretly.

"Why does it hurt this much?" She massaged her tightening chest. Not wanting to wallow in sorrow, she quickly took ablutions for the nearly overdue Maghrib prayer.

During her prayers, she beseeched for the strength to forget Leo's betrayal. "O Allah, if he is my destined partner, draw him closer, but if he is not, lead me to my true destined one."

Sofia introspected about possible reasons that could have led her lover to stray. She didn't want to place blame solely on others. Surely there was a reason - after all, until now, Leo had seemed perfect in her eyes. Despite her ruminations, no answer presented itself.

Sofia drew a deep breath and tried to erase the day's bitter events. "I mustn't mourn over a man who betrayed me. I am not weak, so come on, Sofia, you cannot be sad again." She repeated these self-affirmations, despite the ache of suppressed sobs. Her throat felt choked, but she could not give in to sadness, especially in front of her parents.

The next day, Sofia returned to her work routine. She busied herself with her patients who poured out their woes as if she was their sole confidante. Sofia's job as a psychologist often involved advising her patients, so she had to maintain her own sanity to help heal others.

During lunch, Leo approached Sofia. "Sofia, I've been looking for you," he spoke softly. Sofia smiled, but it was a forced smile. She kept walking, ignoring Leo.

"What's wrong? I've been trying to contact you since yesterday, but you haven't replied to my messages or calls," Leo was confused by Sofia's suddenly cold demeanor.

Sofia glanced at Leo briefly and gave a thin smile. "I'm sorry," were the only words that she offered. Leo continued to follow her.

"Have I made an unconscious mistake?" Sofia eyed him sharply.

"He's still clueless," Sofia thought furiously. She was tempted to slap Leo right there but refused to resolve issues with such recklessness.

Leo awaited Sofia's response, but she remained distant. David watched Sofia from afar. He had long harbored affection for the hijab-wearing woman ever since she joined the same hospital. Yet, to Sofia, he was but a joke.

"Sofia," Leo whined, still not receiving an answer.

"Excuse me, I'd like to purchase a boyfriend, please. Without infidelity, wrap it up. Extra dose of love, double the loyalty. Separate the past, blend it with a future."

David choked on his drink when he heard Sofia's words. He held back laughter, recognizing the jab at Leo.

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